Pantha du Prince: Elements of Light

Hendrik Weber, aka Pantha du Prince, crafts clinically precise techno with only the most Spartanic array of sounds, deploying slight sketches of percussive loops, hints of chordal vibrance, a rare guest vocalist (solely Noah Lennox so far), and a sparse sample of bells or chimes. Elements of Light, Weber's first LP since his 2010 breakout, Black Noise, maintains Pantha's singular electronic vision but with a modern classical gaze. The shifting and phasing of themes and melodies could be a reimagining of Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians." Each theme is presented organically and allowed just enough time to get comfortable before Weber dissects and processes the beauty of each moment within. It's a percussive exercise that blurs the line between symphonic experimentation and dance music. (4 out of 5 stars)