Alec Blake’s techno is already well on its way toward establishing him as one of the genre’s brightest creative talents. The single “I Believed In You” mixes together many of the best elements defining techno, but dance and pop as well, into a seamless musical package. It is an expression of personal disappointment in a song but leave your preconceived notions at the door. Blake’s song, written by Sebastian Stigler, never lets invective fly but, instead, comes off as heartbroken and incredulous that something beginning with such promise has ended. Much of the lyrical point of view focuses on the “speaker” feeling chagrin for allowing themselves to be deceived.
Some may read that and say, wow, this will need to be pretty damn exceptional to get me to sit through another song about that. Blake’s three minute techno jewel, as hard as any diamond in some ways, also sparkles thanks to its unbridled life. The tempo is not out of control. Blake has concocted a song that has a steady onrush of energy and peppers it with an assortment of synthesizer flourishes along the way, but there is always a sense of artistic restraint guiding the recording.
It is certainly geared to find a wide audience. The all-encompassing sound imposes itself on the listeners from the outset and practically jolts your body to move. Blake has a varied arrangement to work with as well that is never content following one or two central ideas. “I Believed in You” has surprising nuance. There is a slightly raw sound present in the single, as well, that the production captures without ever making it sound artificial or over-exaggerated. It helps give the song extra punch.
It does not need it though. Plenty of listeners would remember Blake’s excellent foray into the world of techno/dance/pop production without that added spice. It shows his commitment, however, to laying down memorable and hard-hitting music for modern listeners. His new single is music that begs to be talked about, blasting from cars, and reverberating in nightclubs around the world.
It’s his stated aim – to deliver entertaining music to masses hungry for distraction. It may not be akin to world peace or ending hunger in terms of ambition, but the intent is pure and noble. Alec Blake wants to topple grief, ennui, stress, loneliness, and “I Believed In You”, despite its downbeat subject matter, accomplishes that. It allows listeners an opportunity to purge themselves of those negative attributes, screaming out the words, dancing, and the release will keep them coming back for more.
Make no mistake, Alec Blake will continue from here. It’s no one-off. He treats this song as a genuine vehicle for expressing his talents, no matter his intent for the audience, and it’s impossible to believe he’s accomplished everything he wants with the form. Success begets success. Countless as yet unnamed victories are ahead of this talented young German musician and producer, but “I Believed in You” will likely remain one of his peak moments.
Chadwick Easton