An artist not quite dialed to my particular tastes, yet legend in their own right, Freqgen is another side project by the prolific Klayton, best known as Celldweller. Future 1990s is a fascinating love letter to a once then blossoming electronic music scene. Its an intricate work of passion, craft and dedication, where we get to embark across ten individual tracks dedicated to each year of that fascinating decade.
As a listener who hasn't gone deep but knows well the various branches in this genre tree relatively well, I'm confident in saying, this absolutely nails a firm perspective on musical evolution. A great variety of scenes and subgenres exist, they can't all receive equal limelight. However the songs forged pick up on trends, both aesthetic, rhythmic and technological. One can hear specific attention given to emergences of synthesis and style that feels almost like a retrospect documentary in its intentional choices.
Everything's included, from the electricity of Dance and Acid House to Rave and Trance. Drums traverse the energy of Jungle, Drum N Bass and Big Beat, all garnished with a strong Trip Hop flavour that swirls the decade into a beautiful mix. It's not entirely sequentially accurate but the artistry reigns supreme, so many quirks and motifs get their moment on the journey with a true sense of transition as the first few years feel more attached to chronology.
I adored this, a beautiful set of electronic songs poking into genres I'm not too meshed with, yet doing it from a place that really resonates. Personal highlights included the years 92, 95 and a bonus track that went real hard like a club banger. Thumping Acid Trance with those decade locked full throttle orchestral stabs.
Rating: 7/10