It has been said before and it still rings true — Cristian Vogel is a producer’s producer. The Inertials is the 14-ish album by the criminally under-acknowledged pioneer, who was handpicked to remix Maximo Park and Radiohead. If the astounding void of reviews for this album are any indication, most critics and the general population still appear oblivious to his immense skills, and yet, his skills are on dazzling display with this record. Utilizing a Venetian Snares approved tracker program and PledgeMusic funding, The Inertials sees Vogel reinvigorated in his exploration of the intersection of dub and industrial techno, rounded off at the end of the track listing by selections of ambient noise.
The record screams for a big system as the understated compositions positively luminescence at high volumes. The bass is massive, without resorting to lazy chainsaw bass lines and side-chain compression, while the subtle atmospheric effects gurgle and churn organically through time and space, the devil in the micro-details. Realized through Vogel’s top-notch sound design, on the level of Monolake and Amon Tobin, The Inertials is a thoughtful yet effortless experience.