ROBERT LEINER — Analog Days 2x12"

Robert Leiner – Analog Days De:tuned’s 50th release, catalogue ASGDE050, arrives as a 2×12-inch vinyl set that gathers ten years of the Swedish pioneer’s hardware-driven output. Framed by the label’s 15-year anniversary celebrations, the album bridges the early electro-experimental ethos of De:tuned with a contemporary sense of rhythmic nuance, offering a compelling snapshot of Robert Leiner’s long-standing relationship with the imprint. Within De:tuned’s catalogue, Analog Days follows the label’s foundational releases and precedes a series of 2026 outings that include Terrace’s Nodes (ASGDE059LTD) and several Sun Electric and Plug projects. Positioned at the midpoint of the label’s evolving aesthetic, Leiner’s record re-engages the same analog sensibility that helped define De:tuned’s early years while pointing toward the forthcoming, more dance-floor-oriented material slated for later in the decade. Side A opens with “Moln”, a title that conjures drifting textures and sets a spacious tone for the disc. The second track, the eponymous “Analog Days”, deepens the mood with a measured groove that feels both introspective and ready for subtle mixing. On side B, “Session 11111” and “Session 0510” continue the exploratory thread, each offering a distinct rhythmic character that complements the preceding cuts while maintaining a cohesive flow across the record’s mid-section. Side C expands the palette with three pieces that explore different facets of Leiner’s sound. “Sending” provides a gentle, melodic passage that bridges the more kinetic moments of the previous side. “Mechanical Souls” introduces a slightly more angular texture, hinting at the experimental edge that has long been a hallmark of his work. “Echobox” rounds out the side with a resonant ambience that underscores the album’s overarching theme of time-tied exploration. The record closes on side D with “Bakom Moln”, a reflective counterpart to the opening track, followed by “My Dream”, which offers a subtle, dreamy undercurrent suitable for late-night sets. The final cut, “Chords”, resolves the journey with a concise, melodic statement that ties together the album’s varied moods. Analog Days sits at an interesting point in Robert Leiner’s discography. Earlier this year the artist released a limited-edition version of the same material (catalogue ASGDE050LTD) on De:tuned, underscoring the significance of this moment for both the producer and the label. The current 2×12-inch set therefore serves as the definitive vinyl presentation of a decade-spanning body of work that originally unfolded across hardware sessions recorded between 2005 and 2015. For DJs, the record offers a range of entry points. The opening “Moln” and “Analog Days” provide sturdy, mid-tempo foundations for mixing into deeper techno or ambient sets, while the “Session” tracks deliver more percussive momentum suitable for building energy. The latter half of the album, particularly “Mechanical Souls” and “Echobox”, supplies atmospheric textures that can be layered under synth-heavy mixes, and “Chords” works well as a closing or transition piece in a set that values melodic resolution. The physical package arrives as a double 12-inch vinyl, mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and wrapped in graphic work by Kevin Foakes, whose visual language has become synonymous with De:tuned’s aesthetic. The format respects the album’s analog roots, delivering a listening experience that mirrors the hardware-centric production methods employed during its creation. Robert Leiner – Analog Days, De:tuned, catalogue ASGDE050, 2×12-inch vinyl, 10 tracks, electro/experimental, released 8 November 2024. Tracklist: A1. Robert Leiner – Moln A2. Robert Leiner – Analog Days B1. Robert Leiner – Session 11111 B2. Robert Leiner – Session 0510 C1. Robert Leiner – Sending C2. Robert Leiner – Mechanical Souls C3. Robert Leiner – Echobox D1. Robert Leiner – Bakom Moln D2. Robert Leiner – My Dream D3. Robert Leiner – Chords