The Vinyl Factory has teamed up with French label Zone for another rugged techno four tracker, this time from close associate and well established production talent Maelstrom. Though his name suggests total chaos, Maelstrom’s music belies intention, focus and precision. Often marked as ‘exciting newcomer’ to French techno, Maelstrom has actually been making music for over fifteen years. With a cryptic history of aliases and side projects, illegal raves thrown in warehouses and fields and basements, the artist has really come into his own under this moniker. The ‘Optics’ EP showcases metallic techno, acid house, industrial noise and stark ambient sounds, forging smokey machine music for those with a penchant for post punk and a soft spot for the spikier end of the techno spectrum.