From the murky depths of Germany’s alluring underground scene Nicolas Ruoff and Florian Harres, the duo responsible for the adventurous, innovative and disturbed voice of Phace, have emerged.

Having been in the production game since 1999 and finishing their first tracks in early 2000 the pair have worked relentlessly to bring together their first LP, Phsyco, released on Teebee’s Subtitles imprint.

The aptly named Psycho is a powerful and impressive collection of sub-infused tunes that intend to take the listener on a journey through the past, present and future of deep and dark Neurofunk.

After taking out the award for Future Music’s best drum and bass album and being voted as the second best German DJs in 2006 as well as featuring as February’s album of the month for Mixmag, Phace are no small-time experimental outfit.

With this and other dark releases to be dropped in 2007, there looks to be a refreshing shift to the newer and heavier drum and bass styles with a focus on the experimental and evolutionary bass-heavy sound.

This is not an album for the faint of heart or fans of cheesy melodies or the Jump Up junkies. Psycho is an epic, ominous adventure that reads like a fantasy novel for the drum & bass connoisseur.

As with many decent experimental styles the listener can’t expect to fall in love on the first hearing.

The intricately layered bass riffs and meticulous detail in Phace’s mixdowns take some serious getting used to, but once the melodically-challenged funk gets inside your mind, it works wonders.

Being close friends with Dutch drum & bass giants Noisia, and citing major influences like Optical, Photek, Matrix, Ed Rush and Konflict the Phace lads are no strangers to the roots of their psychotic and sinister sound.

They see the album as an evolution of Ed Rush and Optical’s early works from 1999 through to 2001 on Virus Recordings, the label that pioneered original and pure analogue Neurofunk.

The Phace sound certainly doesn’t fail to deliver in deep, impressive rhythms and cutting edge bass yawns. From the intense, mysterious horns in ‘Cataphiles,’ to the monstrously broad sounds of ‘3002’ and ‘Tranquilizer,’ and the funky step of ‘Fingerfood,’ this album provides an all-round experience for the mind and body.

Unfortunately, it’s not all one long creative streak.

Some of the tracks, particularly after a few listens, tend to repeat similar ideas and sounds.

Its easy to see how this twelve track LP could have been reduced to two four track EPs, omitting some of the less inspired tunes, like ‘Distortion,’ the album’s down-tempo.

As far as experimental styles go this album ought not be discredited for its apparent monotony.

Phace have provided a groundbreaking exploration into the possibilities of a deep, wide sound accompanied and enhanced by heavy digital distortion.

The LP sets a new benchmark in ever-evolving drum & bass production standards and carries the torch proudly for the bass-heavy sounds of continental Europe.

With Ruoff and Harres touring internationally on the back of Psychos release it can only be a matter of time before we’re able to experience their ‘psychosis’ Down Under once again.

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Tracklist:
1. Rehabilitation (Intro) 
2. Reservooir 
3. The feed 
4. Open your eyes 
5. Fingerfood 
6. Psyche 
7. 3002 
8. Cataphiles 
9. Crevice 
10. Tranquilizer 
11. Rational 
12. Distortion (Outro)