Basic Channel – Octagon / Octaedre

I will it that when I bought this about 8 or 9 years ago, it was a bit of ‘also-ran’ purchase next to my other two acquisitions that day (Quadrant Dub and Infinition) but as times gone on, I’ve found myself listening to both tracks on here just as regularly. They fit slap bang in the middle of the BC sound for me - ready for a club, but also abstract enough for an in depth listen at home. Will also note that if you somehow have two copies (or more likely, a digital version of this release) combining the two together also sounds rather good in my opinion, with the chords on Octagon and syncopated hats on Octaedre meshing nicely - of course, the tracks separated are probably the best way to hear it!

1994!? wtf… timeless as anything. Probably one of the most beautiful techno releases of all time. 30 years old and still so playable.

I am going to dissent from the opinion of everyone else and say that Octaedre is the one. It is very basic, but hypnotic. Just a few elements weave their way in and out, but does this better than most other stuff in the Basic Channel catalogue, save the first release.

Still, I didn't like it enough to keep it, but I do still have the first release.

This thing is absolutely magic. I mean the Octagon of course. Incredible music. I very well the day I bought this record. I listened and listened and could not stop. Those detroitish chords... And in the evening, I quarreled with my girlfriend, and had to leave her house. I lived in another city, and since it was already night I could not get to my home. And now imagine: night, rain, puddles, and I with the Basic Channel 07 release in hand. I didn't know where to go, but I was absolutely happy that I bought this record and it's with me.

just got the 2020 repress. Is it the remastered one? What is the difference with the original version? Thanks.

Fast and as functional as Basic Channel gets (aside from being 13 minutes long, like a proto Ricardo Villalobos). Not quite as functional as Phlyps Track (which I read Pinch once mixed in and out of three times during an early stint in room 3 in Fabric), but effective dance floor wise, due to it being more heavily percussive (the little stab pattern which comes in at about 5 minutes gives it a counterpoint to the kick). The panning on the weird glitchy riff also gives it that hypnotic quality so beloved of Basic Channel. A small oceanic chord arises from time to time to give a cavernous feeling, but it is relatively reverb-free (at least by the standards of Basic Channel). Again, a Basic Channel track acting as a signpost to others, who took it to a destination that rarely was as good as the signpost itself.

I heard that this work is a work by jeff mills.
Composition style is also closer to Mills Mix of BC-01 than other basic channel works.

First time I've heard this tune, am just generally perusing the site.

But as a semi-fan of BC (they've made some awesomeage tunes, they've made some utter jank tracks) I have to more than agree with you@technogenic - just bought it right now and am going to listen to it on my 'fones and hypnotise myself the fugg out :)

In my humble opinion, Octagon is one of the finest pieces of electronic dance music ever recorded. Everyone seems to have their favourite BC 12", this is mine, the use of polyrhythms are what make this a stand out piece for me, and for the time, 1994, it sounded like nothing else, yes the elements are identifiable to some extent, but the way they are combined here is what make this a special record.