Given that it’s Mardi Gras today, one might be on the lookout for a whistle-capped street anthem. One could do worse than Håkan Lidbo‘s “Ultrachrome,” even though it’s more Berlin Love Parade than New Orleans Krewe spectacle. “Ultrachrome” is the title track of a five-song EP from the textone.org netlabel, and it’s a solid piece of minimal techno, more Plastikman than Monolake, its minimalism played out more in terms of rhythm than atmosphere; the cut’s hook is a ragged little whistle that toots every other measure.
As for the rest of the set, “Hypocrites” mixes in the bleeps of cute computer yapping, “Mass Reduced” goes deep into horror-soundtrack territory, “Froken Ur” skips the odd beat to disorienting effect, and “Ektoplasma” brings it home with a casual swing and hovering sound effects that linger like obedient robots. Ultrachrome is textone’s 12th release; it’s available for free download here. Lidbo is a prolific Stockholm, Sweden-based musician whose work has been included in the Clicks & Cuts series by the Force Inc. label.