Sam GreenwoodToday we premiere two tracks from Irish techno imprint, Awareness System. Pineal Navigation and Daniel Andréasson join up for a split EP on wax as the pairing deliver raw and minimalistic machine driven techno.
Swedish producer Daniel Andréasson focuses on experimental sides of dance music and forward thinking techno productions. His textured approach to techno has caught the attention of some of the industries most prominent names including Aphex Twin and more. Daniel is a regular on the Stockholm club scene, and has also graced the infamous Tresor Berlin.
Pineal Navigation, a.k.a. Niall Dunne, is a name that needs very little introduction within the Irish techno scene. Niall is widely known as one of the best techno DJs in Ireland, and has a pedigree for raw and driving machine driven techno. His journey first began when he won a DJ competition with Mixmag UK, giving him the opportunity to play at the renowned Dance Valley Festival, Amsterdam where he shared the stage with techno legend’s such as Kevin Saunders, Derek May, and Chris Liebing. Since then, Niall has been DJ’ing in the biggest clubs in Dublin and is a regular feature in some of Ireland’s biggest festivals, such as Life Festival, and Electric Picnic. Not satisfied with only expressing himself through Djing, Niall began experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines and began to immerse himself in music production. This process gave birth to the Pineal Navigation moniker which focused on capturing his productions through live jams in one take and keeping the energy of the process intact.
When Dublin based DJ and producer Pineal Navigation set up Awareness System in 2020, he intended to use the label as an outlet for music, specifically Techno & Electro, that told an evocative story. As the world went into lockdown, Niall, aka Pineal Navigation, decided to hone in on a sound that produced a positive frequency and dismantle the negative energy that started to seep into everyday life.
Two years on, the Dublin-based artist launches Awareness System with a split EP called ‘Combination 1’. Swedish producer Daniel Andréasson contributes two tracks to the release, adding another layer of intensity that aligns with the label’s aesthetic. Andréasson is an artist who approaches music with a no-frills attitude, which inspired Niall to invite his long-time friend into the fold of Awareness System.
On ‘Sensory Open’, Pineal Navigation creates an eerie atmosphere with swirling synths and gnarly basslines — a response to the chaos unfolding in the modern world. Daniel Andréasson cranks up the pace on ‘Enable’ with wonky drum patterns and distorted FX, veering into the darker textures of techno. The flip-side opens with Daniel Andréasson’s ‘Money Is A Motivator’ where he mutates bleeps and crackling percussion, luring the listener into a dystopian soundscape. Pineal Navigation closes the EP with ‘Off The Earth’, a stomping blend of rumbling bass and stabby percussion. A potent club-orientated track to mark the first chapter in the story of Awareness System.