(2543) Real returns from oldschool Detroit game-players Strand, the trio of Brian Bonds, Brian Boyer and Kech Harrington. Long a fixture of the city's techno underworld, the group once again thread jazz harmonies and machine funk into sly, future-minded grooves here, keeping up the same spiral brand despite nearly 20 years OOA. 'Astral Plainsman' rides a supple bassline and shimmering chords, while 'Quantum Game Engine' nods to childhood gaming sessions with airy pads and a turbocharged rhythm section. Flip it for 'A Path Forward', where techno drive meets brass-like synth lines and strings that hint at their deep love of jazz fusion. Closing cut 'Quantum Game Engine (Reprise)' goes full percussive, revealing the complex body-language logic of a server-side dancefloor.
- A1 Astral Plainsman
- A2 Quantum Game Engine
- B1 A Path Forward
- B2 Quantum Game Engine (Reprise)
