12"

genre: MINIMAL - CLASSIC DEEP TECHNO

label: Voyage Direct   Cat.No: VD31

Repress 2025

Yamaha’s DX synthesizer series has long been a source of inspiration for Tom Trago. The DX7, in particular, captivates the Dutch producer thanks to a unique sound he himself describes as "glassy yet classic and icy." 34 years after its release – the same year Trago was born, coincidentally – the synthesizer's sound is still rich with futuristic charm.
Trago, who received partial training on using the DX7 from studio friends Bok Bok, Sterac Electronics and Juju and Jordash, decided to pay homage to this distinctive synthesizer, using it as inspiration for Serene Waters, his first EP for Voyage Direct since the epic Hidden Heart of Gold in 2014.
Across five sparkling, spacious and melodic tracks, the Voyage Direct producer showcases the variety of sounds that can be obtained from the DX7. Compare, for example, the delicate and engaging melodies of the dreamy, deep electro opener "Harvest" and the two contrasting mixes of "Opulent"; variations on a pulsating, futuristic techno theme, rich with icy melodic lines, lively synth basses and spatial chords. The dancefloor possibilities of the synthesizer's sound palette come to the fore in the essential "Within Mix," where Trago's rolling stabs and cascading melodies are wrapped in harder, denser drums.
The sparkling nature of the DX7's distinctive sounds also emerges in "XYZ," a crisper, snappier electro output reminiscent of the effervescent brilliance of Trago's label-mate Sterac Electronics. The track's combination of squelchy basslines and alien, mind-bending electronics is as kaleidoscopic as ever. Nestled in the middle of the EP is "Rain Room," where Trago manipulates his machines to achieve a much more psychedelic sound. Despite the vibrant warmth of some seductive background pads and extended chords, it's the shimmering electronics and futuristic melody that capture attention. Like much of the rest of the EP, it treads the fine line between intensity and vibrancy. [distribution info sheet]