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Crosstown Rebels, it seems, is the one underground techno label hell bent on capturing mainstream pop success these days. And now with label head Damian Lazarus joining the Underworld circus that goal seems closer than ever. One of the reasons for the Rebels' growing success is a commitment to a diverse spectrum of releases ranging from Jamie Jones to Dyed Soundorom, with no two sounding quite alike nor defining a core Crosstown Rebels sound. For their latest, techno legend Laurent Garnier dusts off his Alaska moniker to see what accolades he can add to the label's growing notoriety with this icy two-track blast of deep French techno entitled "Just Muzik".

"Just Muzik" is a simple cut that starts out with very electro leanings and what sound like treated guitar sounds being run through a wah-wah pedal, as if Garnier was channeling the Stooges. The track breaks down in to a long contemplative pause in the same way that Agoria uses giant sound washes as a way to build tension without using generic dance music clichés to get those hands in the air, The two parts then collide in ways that seem masterful in theory but cluttered and even bombastic in reality, mostly due to the dense layering of opposing sounds to achieve the effect. It's interesting and definitely fits in with CR's wide array of styles but doesn't quite measure up to the level of quality expected from Garnier.

On the flip side, "Stargazing" keeps things simple with a very minimalist focus on function over form. This one is more nuanced, however, focusing on slight changes in melodies, variations in pattern, and minute textural shifts. It comes across as equal parts Detroit-influenced techno and a dubby, after hours confection. The well-placed b-side gets expansive and dreamy while still chugging along to keep those tired feet moving and it's exactly the kind of polar tech expected from Garnier's Alaska. Here, once again he proves why he is the artful master of the genre.

Artist: Laurent Garnier presents Alaska Title : Just Muzik Label: Crosstown Rebels Tracklist It’s Just Muzik Stargazing www.crosstownrebels.com www.laurentgarnier.com Our Rating: 7/10