Motown Duet by Shannon Davin

Chapter SL75.

— Look, how weird! — Cat brushed away the top layer of ash with his paw, revealing snow-white ice. — As if hell and winter had merged.
— This is Motown. Once a major mining town, now just ruins after an eruption.
— I didn't think we'd end up in a hole like this... Especially with Nomad missing.
— And you know what the worst part is? Nomad didn't just disappear. The portal absorbed him. But who opened it, that is the real question.

A massive tower was looming up ahead. Its antennas were sticking out like broken claws. Below, shattered adamantium slabs intertwined with charred tree roots. A sign, covered in ash, was barely legible: “SL75 Experimental Center.”

Once inside, they were greeted by an oppressive silence and icy air that chilled to the bone. The corridors seemed endless in the light of flickering lamps, and the floor was strewn with rusty wreckage of robots and instruments. The control room, once bustling with life, was now filled with empty workstations and displays that were broadcasting only static noise.

— What a creepy place.
— A man once worked here, — Spacelunch ran his palm over the panel. — Kujo. If anyone knows anything about the portal, it's him.

A metallic creak echoed down the corridor. An android appeared in the faint light of the lamps, staggering and dragging a damaged leg. A short stump where his arm used to be exposed tattered wires sparking in time with his footsteps. Empty eyes wandered through space as if trying to focus on the strangers.

— Looking for Kujo? — The mechanical voice was slightly distorted. — You're not the first...
— Do you know anything about him? I can give something in exchange for this information. An implant, for example.
The android made a rattling sound like a short laugh.
— I don't need an arm, but the brain module is another matter. It was stolen and pawned.
— And you didn't try to get it back?
— I tried, but it cost me my arm. If you get the module, I'll tell you where to find him.

The friends looked at each other. The road to answers was not going to be easy, but they were ready to do anything to save Nomad.

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Shannon Davin’s productions elegantly honor Detroit techno’s legacy, blending lush textures with driving rhythms for a timeless yet fresh sound.

'Motown Duet' delivers two main tracks that blend jazz, dub techno and minimalism with a sense of space and flight. In addition, Ludowick and Dive Craft each add their own versions pushing them into fresh sonic explorations to round out the 75th release of spclnch.

Opening with live drum textures and a moody ambiance, the first piece is underscored by jazzy horns that exude soul and sophistication, true to its title. Its airy deep house vibe channels memories of brilliant deep house in the vein of Wamdue Kids and Chris Brann's '90s classics. 'Strange Mojo' begins with robotic percussion morphing into a sleek nominal house groove. A funky electro bassline adds momentum, while expansive atmospherics evolve. In the final third, soaring chords inject energy, creating a dynamic close. Ludowick’s dub remix of 'Motown Duet' amplifies its symphonic interplay and infuses a richly textured dub techno approach. Spatial effects transform the track into a lush soundscape that builds on the original’s foundation. Dive Craft’s reinterpretation of 'Strange Mojo' sharpens its edge with a shimmering melodic motif and intensified echoes. As it progresses, tech-driven pieces and a tenser rhythm emerge, giving the track a bold, purposeful tone. By the conclusion, a stripped-back minimalism provides an introspective finish.

Tracklist

1.	Motown Duet	6:26

2.	Strange Mojo	6:46

3.	Motown Duet (Ludowick dub remix)	6:50

4.	Strange Mojo (Dive Craft remix)	9:03

Credits

released November 21, 2024

Original music by Shannon Davin
Remixes by Ludowick, Dive Craft
Mastering by Pheek
Artwork by Jubilee
Write-up by lowborg, Tim Humphrey
Catalog number: SL75

License