Hectic Electric CD Review
Tuesday 13 April 1999 (Michael Bugeja - The Malta Independent)
Hectic Electric is Duo Blank's debut album, the second techno release emanating from the Maltese dance scene after Owen Jay's Tinnitus late last year. Even then, Duo Blank had a share of that milestone launch, since they had collaborated with Owen Jay on no less than four of the tracks on his debut album, one of which, Soyuz 1.01 was also released on a 3-track 12" EP (Owen Jay's SØK14) on the German SØK label. But even before this, Edwin Balzan and Frank Cachia, the two elements making up Duo Blank, had already worked through several projects and collaborated with other DJ's such as Manuel Bella, Doppio Joe and David Dee. They moved into a new studio last year, chose a new name and made a fresh start, which just about brings us up to date.
This album then, presents us with Duo Blank - a new project that mainly verges more towards contemporary dance music trends yet still containing shades of the band's earlier influences. However, far from being labelled just techno, Duo Blank dabble in practically every form of dance music - from drum 'n' bass to house to techno to trance and even the odd electro cut. With the formation of this outfit, Duo Blank also founded the Noise Alliance label, on which 'Hectic Electric' is being released. This debut is a blend of styles leaning on techno alongside layers of electro, trance and even the odd dash of house. Owen Jay also makes an appearance, collaborating on the trancy patterns of Lost in Baikonur, one of the album's outstanding tracks alongside The Call, Paraffin and Money.' But, while the album is certainly important to the band, there is no doubt that Duo Blank are also dead set on indulging in their live PA sets, the first of which was performed at Sonic Mecca's INDUST3 in Bugibba earlier this month, alongside British techno prodigy Justin Berkovi and a host of local DJ's.