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Skin Contact
The Fine Line

Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2007
By: Dale Carlyon

The brainchild of one Kevin Breidenbach, Skin Contact has been putting out self-released material since 1999. The Fine Line shows a definite twist in the path of this project's development. As Kevin concedes on his wWeb site, this EP takes Skin Contact closer to the breakbeat and drum & bass side of electronic music and gets away from the darker, heavier techno sound that it originally explored. The difference is considerable, and the result will likely be a shift in the project's fan base. The title track begins with a light and varied beat that gradually gets harder and is supported by a synth line that moves up and down in pitch. Like the first track, "Under the Skin" begins with some foreboding vocal samples and then reveals the drum & bass leanings that largely define this EP's overall sound and aesthetic bent, crossing jungle with a futuristic, cyberpunk feel. This track is well crafted, and is probably the best song on this release. "Slipping" doesn't mess around - it begins straight off with a drum & bass beat supported by a high, liquid tone that moves rapidly up and down. "Nerves" continues with a rapid beat and adds a rapid, somewhat harsh high hat effect. "Collisions" is fast and contrasts a high, warm swell with low, rough tones and textures. "Over" provides an interesting conclusion, a collusion of echoing, hollow tones covered in an ominous static.

Skin Contact's sound has changed, but has it changed for the better? This is largely a question of personal taste and temperament. A purely instrumental project such as this one has to be able to make a bold and lasting statement, first by demanding the listener's attention and then keeping it. The songs on this EP have their moments, but that's all they have: fleeting moments that lose their impact while the music moves from one tepid progression to the next. Just when it seems like a track is getting somewhere, it reduces itself, only to begin building up another expression that eventually does the same thing. When compared to previously released and truly entertaining songs like "Carbon (Broiler)" from this act's 2001 release, the Carbon/Reset EP, The Fine Line cannot help but come up short. Although Skin Contact's older material does not have the same sophistication as these new songs do in the way of layers and production quality, the raw emotional element of the music is just not there. The Fine Line will hold some appeal for fans of both EBM and drum & bass, but overall, this release seems to miss the boat for both audiences.