Anis Hachemi & Alex Kaspersky link up for the epic new album Baths Of Antoninus on Dear Deer. Anis is a label regular, and Alex is the label head honcho, and they both come together here with a big techno sound that comes laced with melody.

Future Retro opens up with gritty bass and widescreen synths that wash over the groove and then Africa brings more afro tinged drums, Better Life is dark and edgy with a spraying synth line and Dogon Tribe then gets you in a trance with the lush chords. Rave in Sahara is hard-hitting and moody, with grainy chords and gritty textures, then tracks like African Rage and Future Acid show the range of this pair as they serve up more peak-time cuts with searing acid lines and bouncing drums. After the tense and adventurous Carthage with its gauzy chords, Decadence closes out with hands in the air.

This is a coherent and complete album that really takes you on a deep and cosmic techno voyage.

WWD: Hey guys, great to meet you both! How are you, how has this crazy year been for you?

Anis: Hello guys, first of all thank you for this interview! We are ok both, hard time but we have time for music now! 🙂

WWD: What things have most helped you through Coronavirus Lockdown? 

Alex: Well we think it’s sticking together with family and being stronger!

WWD: When did you guys first link up? And why?

Alex: It was around 4 years ago, Anis send me his demos and I sign it for Dear Deer Black. Then there was a few remixes and full EP by him and we became good friends. Now we have a lot of music coming soon! 

WWD: Who does what, do you both bring different skills? Different sounds and styles?

Anis: Different style and IQ in this business and others so it is always a good idea we think. We think that people try the same style or same melodies so we make we think something more interesting. We hope people will find it great at this really hard time for all, and it would be like a little sun for them!

WWD: What made you want to do a new album, was there a plan for it from the start?

Alex: That was around 4 month ago when Anis send me 1 track from the album called ‘African Rage’. Then we decide to work more under some ideas and yes here is our new LP coming out! 

WWD: How much work was it into making it good for listening as one whole work and not just a collection of club tracks?

Anis: Honestly I can say that it is not 1 month of work and then not 1 month of testing but not at clubs because all closed now … 

WWD: What gear did you use, is that important to you, the process and the tools?

Anis: Ableton Live, Electron Analog 4, TB3, Akai Force, Plugs, Moog V, Native Instruments Complete 12.

WWD: Alex, about the Dear Deer label, it has been non stop this year, what’s kept you going?!

Alex: Yes, I decide to work without stopping this year and next year! All labels would be working non stop so if you wanna send us your music, we welcome people from around the world!

WWD: What are you most looking forward to about the end of lockdown?

Anis: I wanna feel again that wave of festivals, parties, traveling. I think most of us need it, when music is life, not all what we can see now …

WWD: What’s the greatest dance music track of all time? 

Anis: Andrés – New For U!
Alex: For me that is Daft Punk – One More Time 🙂 

Alex & Anis’s “Baths Of Antoninus” is out now on Dear Deer MusicGrab it HERE