Album: Doe, Yimino (Ominim)

There's something slightly dated about electronica duo Yimino's music on Autonoe Vora, which is ironic for a genre supposedly operating at the cutting-edge.

It's the kind of stuff that used to be called intelligent techno, which is what happens when musicians with natural prog-rock proclivities try to emulate dancefloor styles. The opener "Doe" is typical, with rhythmic squibs gradually added to perky but predictable synth progressions; an ensuing remix by Plaid refits the track with a more urgent drum'n'bass undercarriage, without significantly improving it.

The ominous loomings of "Moflek" and the watery limpidity of "Desumo" offer slight sanctuary, but the duo flounder badly when attempting a hip-hop crossover with "Nes (Sidd)", whose irritatingly staccato cut-up rap becomes even more annoying when allowed to flow undisturbed.