Album Review: Steve Bug - Noir

It's an odd intention naming an electronic music album Noir. Most people would not align '50s cinematic elements with electronic music, however, Steve Bug has chosen this word specifically to describe his fifth and most mature album to date. Originally designed as a concept album, Bug was obviously influenced by the ideas that film noir conveys, darkness, shady ongoings, private detectives and the like. The album was created over three years and includes the type of rich, atmospheric electronic production seen on most of Bug's work.

Most of the album does come under a darker, noir-ish, theme and this is when the album's at its best. These days, Bug is seen as one of the foremost players in the minimal-tech-house scene, propelled over the years by both himself and Poker Flat. Tracks such as The Seventh Victim and Moment Of Ease use some great piano lines to perfectly invoke the style that Bug is going for. Some of the more modern and darker electronic tracks really hit the mark as well. Those Grooves is a classic dark and minimalist four-to-the-floor track that combines some great synth riffs with a nice use of pace. Though the album was originally designed as a concept album, Bug abandoned that idea somewhere through the production process. This possibly led to some more questionable filler tracks that do detract from the album; No Adjustments seems to basically take you through the motions of a dancefloor banger, but I suppose this is dance music, and you have to keep everyone happy.

Overall however, Bug has created a very interesting and sonically pleasing album that sits atop his discography.