Album Review: Solve by BVSIC
BVSIC’s Solve, released in 2018 under Egothermia Records, is a techno masterpiece that feels like it was crafted for the shadowy corners of underground clubs. Hailing from the Netherlands—a country with a rich history in electronic music—BVSIC dives deep into the raw essence of techno with this album. It’s not groundbreaking in the traditional sense, but it has this moody, hypnotic pull that keeps you hooked.
The album includes six tracks, with standouts being Inequality (Original Mix) and Array (Original Mix). These cuts are the ones I find myself coming back to, even years later.
Inequality (Original Mix) hits hard right out of the gate. The track builds tension with relentless percussion and an almost industrial vibe. It’s one of those tunes where you feel like you’re walking through a dimly lit factory at midnight—claustrophobic yet oddly thrilling. There’s no grand melody here, just layers of sound that stack up until you’re fully immersed. It’s simple, sure, but effective as hell.
Then there’s Array (Original Mix), which takes things in a slightly different direction. This one leans more atmospheric, with haunting synths weaving in and out of the beat. It’s less aggressive than Inequality, but don’t mistake subtlety for weakness. Around the three-minute mark, something shifts—an almost imperceptible change in rhythm—and suddenly the whole thing clicks into place. That moment sticks with me every time I listen.
The rest of the album follows suit, sticking close to its techno roots without straying too far into experimental territory. Tracks like Solve (Original Mix) and the non-original versions of Inequality and Array complement the lineup, though they don’t leave as lasting an impression as the two mentioned above. Still, it’s cohesive, and there’s a certain charm in how unapologetically “techno” the whole thing feels.
What makes Solve memorable isn’t necessarily innovation—it’s execution. BVSIC doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; instead, he sharpens it. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. Listening to this record feels like stepping into a world untouched by trends or commercial pressures.
Here’s the kicker, though: while revisiting Solve, I realized how rare it is these days to find albums that prioritize mood over flashiness. Sure, we’ve all heard techno beats before, but not everyone can make them feel this alive. Maybe it’s because I’m nostalgic for 2018, or maybe it’s because this album just knows what it wants to be. Either way, Solve deserves a spot on any serious techno fan’s playlist.
Oddly enough, writing about it now makes me want to grab my headphones and hit play again. You know what? I think I will.
