Originally released in 2007 and reissued on vinyl in April 2025, Rude Mechanicals sees Pitch Black at the peak of their powers. Their fourth full-length album is a genre-busting journey through dub, electronica, and deep bass culture—embracing the full spectrum of dance music while still rooted in their unmistakable sound.
Opening with the lush atmospherics of “South of the Line” and journeying through the future-dub drive of “1000 Mile Drift” and the four-to-the-floor stomp of “Sonic Colonic,” the album shows off the duo’s broad musical vision. Tracks like “Bird Soul” nod to Paddy Free’s production work with Salmonella Dub, while “Harmonia” dives into ambient techno reminiscent of Black Dog or Speedy J. The title track features a rare vocal turn, with KP of Sunshine Sound System delivering sharp ecological commentary over glitchy textures.
From deep echoes to speaker-rattling basslines and lush melodies, Rude Mechanicals remains a standout in Aotearoa’s electronic music catalogue—an album as relevant, inventive, and weighty today as when it first dropped.
Tracklist
- South of the Line
- 1000 Mile Drift
- Sonic Colonic
- Transient Transmission (fig. 2)
- Bird Soul
- Harmonia
- Rude Mechanicals
- Fragile Ladders
- Please Leave Quietly