Underground legend 69DB, a pioneer of hardcore free techno active since the '90s, handles the A-side. "Hip Or Sick" (sample1) is high-pitched broken techno injected with all the energy of live production, and the sheer realness of its analog machine sound will give you goosebumps — tearing forward while pulling in high-frequency synthesis. On the flip, a collaboration between Sydney-born techno producer KAISEI KITADA (whose album on OPTIC PORTAL, the SPEKKI WEBU-helmed MIRROR ZONE offshoot, was superb) and SCAM ARTIST: "Pocket Of Your Brain" (sample2) carries you along on spatially-minded ambience and a hypnotic drum rush. A vivid physical presence, and a resonant interpretation of free techno that transcends generations. (Original Japanese text by Akie)