- First released in 1992, Teste's "The Wipe (5am Synaptic)" remains one of techno's most distinctive and most cherished tracks. With pumping percussion and those guttural, otherworldly synths, it's a fast, raw cut that can still be heard scorching dance floors more than two decades later. As the story goes, Tony Scott, AKA Edit Select, has played his own edit in DJ sets for years. His connecting with Teste now yields not only that one, but also "Ascend," a production collaboration between Scott and the heretofore inactive outfit, as well as an upcoming series of remixes from a cross-section of techno talent.
Unfortunately, this record is a rough start. Scott's edit is slower—about 12 BPM less than the 140 BPM original. And around the five-minute mark, where Teste's take would be winding down, this one pushes across a long drop and keeps going for three more minutes. It's about as straightforward and respectful as you could get with an edit, and it's more accessible: techno tempos these days tend to be lower. But there's nothing that matches the thrill of hearing a DJ drop the original at high speed. "Ascend" is promising if mostly unspectacular. It's a smooth, atmospheric and vaguely urgent cut, about the same speed as the A-side, with lightly rustling textures and a long, staggered synth riff that undulates through the mix. A rock-solid tool, for sure, but it doesn't do much else to set itself apart from similarly-minded contemporary stuff. Hopefully Scott allows himself a more ambitious rework at some point, and hopefully "Ascend" is just the beginning of his and Teste's collaboration.
トラックリストA1 Teste - The Wipe (Edit Select 2014 Edit)
B1 Edit Select & Teste - Ascend