A long damn time ago in 1978 Giorgio Moroder scored the soundtrack to Midnight Express (a movie whose title--though not the plot--was parodied by Pineapple Express), winning an Oscar for his trouble. I was far too young to see the movie when it came out, but the Kansas City Comets indoor soccer team used the intro to "The Chase" as its soundtrack in the early 1980s. The press box pretty much played the first minute of that song on an endless loop during the games. It was one of the first hype songs, a jock jam (way) before its time. And it was awesome. I just listened to the song for the first time in probably a decade, and it gave me chills.

Walter Wayne Twisted EP (SuperPosition)

Walter Wayne traffics in the same sort of propulsive techno. This Croatian producer knows exactly when to blast the bass and when to let the upper register dominate. And he's got a dead solid ear for thumping beats.

These four tracks burst with energy and impending doom. The music straps in the listener and does not let go for 20 minutes. The ride is harrowing--and thrilling. There's no escaping Wayne's throb.

Yes, excellent bits like this EP are further proof of Moroder's genius. But Wayne is his own man, and this music is a singular statement of his own. I'm not sure there's been a more enthralling four song set this year. My brain is wired.

Jon Worley