Temporary Insanity EP by Population One

Population One 12-inches were once keepers of Dixon's most out-there material, like Hippnotic Culture's deeply paranoid and isolated frontier of fast, slender techno. These days, Population One seems more like a change of outfit than a whole other persona, and "Temporary Insanity," the title track of Dixon's latest EP and one of his most straightforward dance floor tracks to date, underscores that. Lashing 909 hi-hats and concussive kicks prop up bass pads that stick together like wet pages—the muted percussion often takes a back seat to glacial loops and alien textures, but "Temporary Insanity"'s bold frame is a striking change of pace. "Multiple Choice" is more familiar. Underneath an icy melody, smooth bass notes move up and down in a frantic, unbroken line, and soft kicks keep time behind discordant synth bleeps. It has a shrill and somewhat astringent tone, but qualities that could be off-putting in the hands of other producers are Dixon's hallmarks.