John Shima has proven himself to be a natural disciple for the kind of emotive techno sound B12 were pioneering in the early 90s, and so it makes sense to see him working closely with Steven Rutter’s FireScope label now. More than meeting a pre-meditated formula, the focus here is on expression through the machines, and Shima is a dab hand at getting his synths and sequences to sing. After 2019’s The Lonely Machine, he’s back with The Empty Lands, an engrossing long player which journeys through enchanting, interwoven synth lines and delicate drum machine patter that will keep you invigorated and inspired for aeons.

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