Hidden (Daniel Avery Remix) by Sandwell District

The recently released album sees O'Connor and Sumner return to Sandwell District with an out of the blue follow up to their era-defining 2010 album, "Feed-Forward." "End Beginnings" is a majestic coming together of cinematic techno and mind-bending dancefloor dynamism. It has its roots in underground techno - long-time connoisseurs will recognise Motor City impulses and 80s European industrial electro, while recent disciples will appreciate the post-Berghain rush - but it's also a considered home listening experience.

The album marries Drexciya's idea of techno being an act of seditionary innovation with a sense of unbridled fun, an imperative that means a lot to O'Connor. "Having a good time is pretty much why you get into it in the first place," he explains. "And it is fun. I think we feel a lot more fortunate now, especially with what happened with Juan. We're grateful."

Sandwell District have been a huge influence over the years, their fabric mix alone felt like an untouchable orb of energy when it first came out. All three members of the group have had an impact on me in their own way, not least Juan Silent Servant whose kindness was apparent to all who met him. During a reliably impeccable DJ set I once asked Juan what a track was. The next time I saw him he had bought me a copy of the vinyl. Small moments like that are what makes this scene beautiful and it's a joy to see the group continue in Juan's honour. It's a privilege to contribute to their next chapter with this remix.
Daniel Avery

"End Beginnings" is also a moving requiem to a fallen soldier - Juan Mendez [Silent Servant]. Soon after the box set reissue of their debut album, at the beginning of 2024, Mendez tragically died. Mendez's stunning artwork and visuals were always a central pillar of Sandwell District and he was working on a piece of art entitled "End Beginnings" that was mooted to be the album cover. That work was never finished, but O'Connor and Sumner took the title to honour their friend's contribution.

The initial catalyst for Sandwell District's reunion was unexpected. Over a decade since Sandwell District's last acrimonious blow out, O'Connor explains, "I struck up a really close friendship with Mark Lanegan before he died. Which was weird. Mark Lanegan - king of grunge, friend of Kurt Cobain - he told me to keep going, to revisit Sandwell District."

It took time for relations to thaw, "You have to decentralise the ego for the good of the project," O'Connor explains, and, with the lessons of their fractious relationship of the past learned, O'Connor and Sumner worked on the album remotely - in London and Berlin and brought in Simon Shreeve, Mika Hallbäck (Rivet), Seth Horvitz (Rrose) and Sarah Kranz (Sarah Wreath) to add to the collaborative spirit the collective has always benefited from.

Sandwell District - Hidden (Daniel Avery Remix)
Release Date May 2025
Label The Point Of Departure

Tracklist
1. Sandwell District - Hidden (Daniel Avery Remix)