Rhythim Is Rhythim - Icon / Kao-Tic Harmony mp3 download

Angana

It is hard not to shed a small tear when playing this record. Icon for me. is Derrick May's best work. No matter what you think of May, he nailed this release. Big up to Carl for his input into this record too.

The Rollers of Vildar

Maybe the best techno EP ever. So much emotion in its two tracks, a real miracle. Every time i listen to it, i'm lost in music. Composed more than 25 years ago, but still fresh, this EP is a must-have for all Detroit techno lovers, and others.

Karg

i really don't know which track is better. both are madness

Gholbirius

I don't understand why everybody talks about "Strings of life"... I don't like this track.I think Icon it's his best track ever. Bleep melody style of Derrick May at his best.

Runeterror

This was a massive anthem at Cream. Jeremy Healy rinsed this bad boy.

Hap

I really wonder myself why was this single released only in 1996, if the tunes were created in 1991? That’s the question that will remain on our minds… ‘Rhythim Is Rhythim - Icon / Kao-tic Harmony’ single is an absolutely essential chapter on the history of Techno. Both of the tunes are not only timeless, but represent a bolder, wilder and much more challenging perspective of Techno music composition. It’s not difficult to imagine Carl Craig with Derrick May behind the harmony’s chaotic sounds. Through their music from the end of eighties to the early nineties, they both brought a dimension for Techno never heard before. While “Icon” has a more Sci-Fi approach with electronic effects, simulated bongos and an emotional, mellow synth pad atmosphere, “Kao-Tic Harmony” brings a complete break of paradigms through a mixture of influences between the chords’ improvisations that almost instantly reminds us of Jazz, a growing sequence of notes of soulful-introspective climax, a rhythm influenced by Caribbean Salsa flavors (more than evident on the hi-hats) and the futuristic synthesizer timbres. Through these tunes, Derrick May (and Carl Craig) transformed the World of Electronic music into great art. Their creation, completely 'ahead-of-its-time', apply to something different, avant-garde driven, complex and almost impossible to define. Welcome to Techno.

Taun

Icon was exclusive to Virtualsex Album, Kaotic harmony was exclusive to Transmat Relics.released on 45 to supply demand from DJs who wished for a better press.

Nilarius

It was originally exclusive to the 1993 album Vitualsex on Belgium's Buzz label, and only 3 years later released on Transmat.

Tam

I won't deny the sheer beauty of this release but the 'Montage Mix' which appears on the Virtual Sex LP is even more perfect than the original version.

Saithinin

It's the same track. The original version was first released on the Virtual Sex compilation [1993] and was labeled "Montage Mix" there. It's the same version that appeared on Laurent Garnier's X-Mix-2 [1994] and that 1996 Transmat EP "Icon / Ka-otic Harmony" though the latter dropped the (Montage Mix) in the title. A few years later May released an alternative version on his "Innovater" LP and added the (Montage Mix) again though it's a different, beatless version. Hence the confusion. The only way I can make sense of it is that the Montage Mix is the widely known version originally released on Virtual Sex; the Innovater version is a different edit of the Montage Mix (the Innovater LP had quite a few exclusive edits of May classics) and the actual original version was never released, if it even existed. So there's two versions of "Icon" and both are called "Montage Mix".

Mohn

They're both 8'46 - what's the difference? There's a beatless version clocking in at 5'50 on the Innovator compilation though.

Lanin

I believe he wrote this track just after he broke up with his girlfriend. You almost wish that more relationships would end from time to time to create beauty like this.

Vizil

Derrick May should be writing film scores...music like this needs to be given visuals to compliment how emotional this track is! Techno simply doesn't get better than this!

Fearlesssinger

This introspective piece from Derrick May is easily one of the greatest techno tracks of all time...Complex yet precise; soulful yet symphonic; gritty yet beautiful...THE DEFINITIVE TRACK TO HAVE if collecting early Detroit Techno from the late 80's-early 90's...