End Beginnings [LP], Sandwell District, Vinyl

Sandwell District's End Beginnings - the groups first music since Juan Mendez (Silent Servant) tragically passed away in January 2024 - is a majestic coming together of cinematic techno and mind-bending dancefloor dynamism. The album marries Drexciya's idea of techno being an act of seditionary innovation to a sense of unbridled fun, an imperative that means an awful lot to O'Connor. "Having a good time is pretty much why you get into it in the first place," he notes wisely. "And it is fun. I think we feel a lot more fortunate now, especially with what happened with Juan. We're grateful." End Beginnings is also a moving requiem. At the beginning of 2024, Mendez tragically died just as things were moving in the right direction for the collective. His stunning artwork and visuals were always a central pillar of Sandwell District. 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 honor their friend's contribution. It remains a fitting tribute to the stop-start nature of this rebel alliance.