Soma proudly present a label debut from one of electronic music’s most influential figures, Keith Tucker aka Optic Nerve. With a detailed discography on some of Techno & Electro’s most well respected labels, stretching back to the 80s & 90s either via solo projects or as part of genre defining group AUX 88, Tucker has been at the forefront of the Detroit scene since his beginnings. Considered by many to be the blueprint for modern day Techno/Electro Tucker is one of the scene’s most hard working artists devoting almost 30 years to his career as an electronic artist.

Appearing on Soma sub label, Avoidant, at the end of 2020 as DJ K-1, the opportunity to continue working together with his Optic Nerve pseudonym arose. Resulting in Soma’s 600th release, the Far Away EP. Combined with Scottish based artist Kyle Irvine’s unique Sci-Fi based artwork, Tucker has delivered a unique and modern day outlook on his famed Detroit Techno/Electro sound.

Title track Far Away is a classic take on the seminal Detroit sound. Distant and drifting vocals glide across sweeping textures and tripped out synth sequences, glued together by deep emotive strings. Channel Z captures the classic Optic Nerve sound perfectly; pure machine funk soaked in harmonic atmospheres. The ominous Techno Programming has a darker, edgier tone to the previous tracks but by no means less emotive. A funked up, warped baseline sets the tone backed by jacked up drums as the track exudes pure attitude. Fellow Detroit based artist Strand drops a remix of Techno Programming to close out the EP. Their version leans on more melancholic elements but retains the feel and demeanour of the original.