SEVERANCE

Taking cues from both Detroit dancefloor fodder and jazz, Hanna's (aka Warren Harris) debut for Sublime is a respectable slab of otherworldly, atmospheric techno. The album exhibits enough variety to remain interesting, including drum 'n bass ("Severance"), trance ("White Box"), and retro hip-hop ("Dreamer"), but overall the tone is consistently deep and funky, with a laid back sensibility for which Hanna's liberal jazz inclinations are responsible. "Ghost", the album opener and high point, begins with stop-start bubbles of synth before evolving into a chilled showcase of Hanna's impressive instrumentation. The music is highly evocative, as is the case with all of Hanna's albums, and feels suitable for late, hot nights out on the town or on the dancefloor.