★★★★☆
Landmark techno that comprehensively breaks down age barriers, Steve Rachmad’s 1995 dance floor version of “The Borrowers” is in many ways the conventional out of body experience. The key is for the Dutchman not to be too pushy, as the science will take care of itself and self-develop – a tweak in formula here, a variable brought to a natural conclusion there, and the full bodied, single-minded sound getting into your head and flushing the faculties. The smooth new age travelling flourishes in kaleidoscopic loops, where “Astronotes” captures the techno life cycle, and “The Lost of a Love” gathers surprising emotion despite a rather standard deep techno setup. It can be abrasive, with the grinding ironmonger “Axion” more about sharpening elbows, showing what happens when the neatness of sonic mathematics drops in a rogue element. Rachmad nipping in between comes up with “Sitting on Clouds” and the classic sounding “Thera,” heavy going on the feet but simultaneously full of radiant bounce.
Techno purists, a bunch best avoided in confrontation, have expressed beef in certain quarters regarding omissions from the original tracklist. Five digital-only adjustments taking the package near the two hour mark, and a big league remix roster in support, are dubious appeasement. The counter offer is that if this is your first encounter with The Secret Life…, it’s probably your duty to backtrack and get an even fuller picture of an eternal techno sound.
File under: Esteban del Monte, Parallel 9, Ignacio