The Power And The Glory
Perc (aka London based Ali Wells) returns with his second album following 2011’s ‘Wicker & Steel’ the release of which pushed his sound to a wider audience than ever before. From making #5 on the Quietus’ best of 2011 list to The Guardian describing it as ‘a soundtrack for our times’ the album crossed into areas rarely reached by techno long-players. ‘The Power & The Glory’ takes the Perc sound and expands it outwards in every direction. The rhythmic tracks pulse with more energy and bite than ever before, whilst the freeform tracks add a melodic and occasionally political edge to Perc’s already expansive repertoire. Using the longer album format to its full potential Perc covers much ground across these 10 tracks. From the feedback-drenched 808 jam of ‘Lurch’ and the Tresor-storming ‘Dumpster’ to the majestic piano closer ‘A Living End’ the album finds Wells as open-minded as ever, maintaining his trademark sonic aesthetic whilst experimenting with new textual and rhythmic ideas with ease. The album features collaborations with two vocalists. ‘Speek’ includes a contribution from Nik Colk Void of Factory Floor (DFA/Optimo) whilst opener ‘Rotting Sound’ and lead single ‘Take Your Body Off’ feature Dan Chandler of London noise rock outfit Dethscalator. The last of these in particular is the kind of track that differentiates Perc from many of his peers. The piercing, guttural vocals, more akin to the short sharp shock of a metal performance provide the kind of sonic jolt techno used to trade in, yet which is rarely heard these days.
Ali Wells, aka Perc, has been making scraping techno bangers, with little rest or deviation, since 2002. His second album, The Power and the Glory, is a bold, roiling collection that feels looser and more chaotic than the rigid constructs he normally works within.
Perc sometimes gets lumped into the exhilarating maximalism of the UK's re-emerging techno scene.