‘Central’ is the first new Technasia album in five years – and sure to be one of the musical highlights of 2010. The much-anticipated LP is powerful testimony to why Technasia is one of the most respected acts in electronic music.

Taking its name from the Hong Kong metro system, ‘Central’ is an emphatic creative statement that marks a new milestone an evolving story. Technasia mainstay Charles Siegling was in no hurry to put out an album: “I wanted to give my music time to evolve artistically before making a new record.” The result of his patience is the purest Technasia album to date – a seamless interweaving of sounds, styles and moods.

Opener ‘Apologia’ bursts to life in a swirling, symphonic wash of sound that instantly assures the listener they are in good hands for the duration of the ride on the ‘Central’ line. “I deliberately avoided writing a record to reflect the current scene,” Siegling says, “I wanted to do something that would last, to simply compose music the way I want to, and to reflect my different musical tastes. After a year of hard work I’m very pleased – I have achieved everything I set out to do.”

‘Central’ views house and techno through the lens of Technasia’s experience, creating a musical experience that is both refreshing and familiar. The melodic soul of the album may surprise some, who are most familiar with Technasia’s fierce live techno sets, but it evokes a longer heritage. Fans who cherish the ‘Fuse Presents Technasia’ mix as well as the 2000 hit single ‘Force’, respectively voted one of Resident Advisors Top 50 Mix CDs and Top 50 Singles of the past decade, also will instantly recognize the signature blend of house, techno and electro – driven by an artistry that both acknowledges and pushes the boundaries of electronic music.

‘Central’ is the locus where Siegling’s roots in Chicago house, epic Detroit soundscapes and the tough beats of early UK techno meet with the sensibility of futuristic European techno – particularly the crisp, clean style coming from Berlin – and the warmth of the house revival which has swept clubland in the past two years. ‘Central’ transcends trends, evoking the history of electronic culture even as the music leads listeners into the future.

Fans and critics will be equally pleased, as ‘Central’ whisks them into a musical universe that moves from midnight cityscapes (‘Music to Watch the City Lights Late at Night’) to Balearic sunsets (‘Tu Isla’) to the bowels of a dark, effervescent club somewhere outside of Chicago (‘Aries’). It is music in constant motion, evoking both the itinerant life of an international DJ and the global reach of electronic music.

Technasia has always focused on melting the boundaries between east and west, north and south. ‘Central’ both captures and comments on the interconnectedness of 21st century life, mixing space-age electronica (‘Phoenix’) with gritty street-level techno (‘Innocuous Clouds’). As a result, the album functions on both an instant aural level and on an emotional level. It sounds different from its contemporaries because it is different: it is designed to continually get further under your skin.

However, ‘Central’ doesn’t forget that dance music rightfully belongs on the dancefloor. It also comes in a DJ-orientated dub version called: ‘Central (Remixed)’ (out in September 2010) which is sure to become a cherished tool for DJs across the house and techno spectrum. The total ‘Central’ package is a meeting of sound, emotion and visuals (the stunning artwork is drawn from photos of the Hong Kong Metro by Chinese photographer Elden Cheung) that will draw listeners back time and again. Siegling says: “I set out to make the album I’ll be remembered for.” ‘Central’ is the sound of that dream come true.