Groove Slave/Thomas Barnett: Visillusion 10

Thomas Barnett delivers the second Visillusion EP of 2016 after seemingly a decade between releases. Barnett is Detroit – that simple statement is a mantra, it’s a well-worn cliche by this point but when it comes to Barnett it’s also true. Thomas is the man behind “Nude Photo,” a record mistakenly attributed solely to Derrick May in some circles (though curiously, never by anyone from Detroit, who have always known what a force Thomas Barnett is.)

“Captain Strangefunk” is thick deep Techno – massive fat bass blowing up speakers with quirky ColecoVision FX. “Naughty Time” is of the same inspiration if not the same recording session. On the B-side, Thomas releases two tracks under his given name. “Lord of the Sith” is remixed by Andrew Red Hand – glowering, fiery and… a strange set up for “Ravish” which is probably one of the most unique records I’ve ever heard. Piano pounds out beat more than the actual percussion while a 303 burps and bleeps beneath it. It’s a bit like Detroit Techno remade by King Britt and Sun Ra in a lost weekend.