having remixed depeche mode and dj hell as well as releasing a new fixmer/mccarthy single with douglas mccarthy (of nitzer ebb), 2017 has already proven to be a productive year for terence fixmer. with the new force ep, the berghain resident follows up on 2016 s beneath the skin ep (o-ton 97), offering four stylistically different but congenial techno scenarios for club use. the record s eponymous track on a1 doesn t think twice: the initial signal horn starts as sudden as the staggered kick drum rhythm, reoccurring throughout the cut s 6-minute playtime while sustained and oppressive screams from a synth, extra multifaceted ebm percussion and synth drones add to the overall sombre atmosphere of ôforceö. the musical vibe distinctly changes with ôsidewalkö which puts more focus on synth melodies û like its predecessor a techno cut per se, but with a stronger accent on hypnotic motifs. on b1 ômelting planetsö emphasises the kick: clocking in slightly slower than the other three tracks û at 122 bpm û the bass drum here sounds extra vivid, ever-present and spot-on, just as if terence was playing the drum kit sitting right next to you. with additional percussion and swirling melodies ômelting planetsö is a lulling, mesmerizing meditation in dub techno. ôstriking patternsö on b2 links to the best moments of force ep s a-side, combining bone-dry bass drum hits and distinctive brazen, banging noises, pulsing synths pads and sizzling surface sounds.