Totems Flare

Released in 2009 on Warp Records, Totems Flare represents Chris Clark's most direct embrace of techno and electro influences while maintaining his signature IDM complexity. Following the critical success of Body Riddle and Turning Dragon, this album serves as a bridge between his earlier melodic experimentation and a more aggressive, club-oriented sound. The production is characterized by heavy use of distortion, bit-crushing, and intricate side-chaining, creating a 'pumping' sensation that adds to its restless energy. Notably, the album features more prominent use of Clark's own processed vocals than previous efforts, though they are often treated as just another textural layer in the mix. The closing track, 'Steepgrass Five,' is a significant departure, offering a twenty-minute ambient excursion that provides a necessary comedown from the preceding intensity. It remains a definitive document of the late-2000s electronic landscape, showcasing a master producer at the height of his technical powers.