Måuriziö* – Ploy

The UR mix is Jeff Mills solo just prior to leaving the group

the track "eleye" alone is already worth purchasing this record,
an absolute underground classic, it does not get realer and deeper than this - MASTERPIECE

Wow, quite probably the only Basic Channel related release on discogs without a review, and I'm the one with the honors. What to say? Though many will disagree, this is still quite probably my all time favorite by the legendary Berlin based duo. While I sometimes lacked patience to sit through many of their BC and later Maurizio works, M-1 together with M-2 (Vainqueur's "Lyot EP") still marks the duo's hey day for me.
Ploy (Strategic Mix) is one of techno music's all time anthems. Before all the dubbed out, atmospheric and minimal stuff, these two dropped one of the tightest bangers of them all. Slamming four on the floor percussion, which at times sounds like those beloved trash can beats, absolutely uncontrollable and ecstatic sequences and some acid - all of which relentlessly pounds on for five plus minutes. A pure celebration of techno music, in my opinion. Really hard and noisy, one of the best early european techno cuts in my ears.
Eleye is more along the lines of their works from M-4 onwards, but with a faster pace and a more prominet kick. Other then that, it has these really cool, spacey effects, like tiny laser guns were firing. Very reminiscent of the X-102 sounds displayed on "Discovering the rings of Saturn". That aside, the track has that typical deep and overwhelming Basic Channel bass line hand in hand with a hypnotic, humming melody constantly present in the background. Great piece, only hinting of what was to come from these two.
After a short interlude (or Outerlude?) comes the epic remix by none other than Underground Resistance! Can you even imagine the combination between U.R. and BC? Funny thing is, ever notice how the A3 forty five second Outerlude is actually the forty five second introduction segment on B1? Their remix is not as hard and as intense, but remains awesome nonethelees. A vocal snippet during the entire track, multiple melodies walking in and out of the track, great use of sci-fi effects, and a hypnotic drive into the deepest parts of any dispersed constellation of your choice. Quite an achievement I must it, taking Maurizio's track and transforming into an epic Detroit techno classic, which walks a very fine line between soulful and moving, dance floor friendly while retaining that totally outer worldly, intergalactic feel Underground Resistance could deliver back in the day!
As you can deduce, I am totally in love with this one. Any given version of Ploy makes this a must, but both of these on the same record, then you know there really is no excuse. While people who have gotten into the whole Chain Reaction/BC deal with a little delay might find this one an odd ball, my infatuation with this record hasn't decreased one single bit with time. I have taken and used each and every opportunity to play Ploy out to whoever was willing to listen. Ploy (Strategic Mix) is the absolute party monster, Eleye relies more on the introspective and laid back flow, while Underground Resistance's remix of Ploy has that immaculate balance between both, the clubs and the living rooms. In my opinion, this record has it all in a nutshell, and along with the "Lyot EP", I can confidently claim this to be a full blown, and well deserved classic techno record. Although, you have to keep in mind that this came out before stuff like Domina, so those looking for early dub techno innovation might get slightly disappointed (although I cannot envision anyone who likes electronic music to find this release dissatisfactory), because it's only found on Eleye, but it isn't as obvious and emphasized as on many of their later productions.