My first take was that Hayden F was making a play on the old political nonsense "thoughts and prayers" with his title. But after listening, I'm not so sure. Yeah, he's definitely skeweing insincere believers, but he's also delved deeply into the techno ambient, a somewhat obscure corner of the electronic universe that exercises your mind just as much as your ass.

Hayden F Thoughts and Prayers (Silence Records)

I'm sure I didn't invent that term, but it fits this set very well. These pieces are all bangers, but they exist on a subliminal level as well. The beats are throbbing, but the melodies (and ideas) are far more introspective and complex. If this description seems impossible, just give a listen.

The hypnotic nature of the beats enhance the abstract ideas. It's so easy to fall into this hole without looking up. Getting swallowed by the sound is just the beginning.

It's always amazing to hear an idea this simple and perfect executed with such aplomb. Hayden F is well-steeped in the techno world, and he has created an album that adds to the lore of the sound. To go back a couple of paragraphs, I was around when some techno heads first coined the term "ambient." They did it in an entirely different way. The set keeps all the energy of techno and simply wafts in the ambient ideas. Not subtle, but certainly delirious.

Jon Worley