Jeff Mills & Matthew Dear, Pressure, The Arches, Glasgow, Feb 24 (WEB)

Pressure is becoming a firm fixture in the diaries of any self respecting house and techno fan, consistently bringing varied lineups to the last Friday of the month at The Arches. Texas-born and Detroit based Matthew Dear is a man of many aliases, but Pressure saw him focussing on the sound of his most recent project, Audion. The start of his 60 minute live set was marked by an elongated, distorted electronic discharge - the calm before the storm. Evolving from this into a frenzy of dirty, visceral 4/4, he uses serrated synths and beats to create furrows of tension and release. Inspired by instigators of the microhouse sound, Villalobos and Brinkmann, Dear manipulates the naked components of that sound and constructs a dancefloor frenzy from quasi-acid modulations and gritty, minimal but funky techno. At points the bass was so heavy it made nostrils flare, especially during his tougher Audion productions. Considered a don of the Techno scene, Jeff Mills finished off proceedings in the main arch. He didn't fail to dissapoint his diehard fans, who were baying for blood by the end of his schizophrenic set. Well known as a proficient turntabilist, Mills' method of showcasing only his favourite parts of records, in quick succession, created an unsatisfying experience for anyone unfamiliar with the tracks or his style. The rabid audience didn't seem to mind but the fragmented nature left some wanting more, add to this relentless light shows and a poorly laid out arch and you could be left wondering why Dear wasn't headlining. Similar to an exercise bike, it didn't really go anywhere. [Keira Sinclair]