A lot of activity over the last couple of weekends has left my bank account
reeling, and my record box bulging. Here are some highlights, in no particular
order except I put the WARP stuff first :-)
ELEKTROIDS - Kilohertz (WARP)
Either these guys have been listening to an awful lot of Drexciya lately,
or they indeed _are_ Drexiya in disguise - the similarity is uncanny, from
the Electro rhythms to the synth sounds used. Due for full release next week.
Richard H Kirk - The Number of Magic (WARP)
An excellent intelligent chillout record, already enthused about by many on
the list. Strangely, I have bought this on promo, not having seen any full
copies. I think WARPs official release date is actually today, meaning
the States actually got it first!
Sabres of Paradise - Sabresonic II (WARP)
Dunno what's going on here. Why was the first Sabresonic deleted, only
to be superceded by this new release. Shades of the ISDN fiasco/ripoff.
I don't have a tracklisting but most of the stuff on here is familiar from
the first release - essential for Sabres fans, interesting for most
idm/ambient heads, but somewhat lacking in the Value-For-Money stakes for
completists.
Ippii Tombei - Fuct (FLAW)
A very strange 3-tracker of innovative sounds. I was attracted to this
by the fact that it is on the same label as the Red Snapper singles, but
the music is very different, being largely techno oriented rather than
Funk/Jazz based. "Uh-Hum" takes a vocal sample of just that and loops it
into a bizarre track. The title track is just the thing to do your head
in if you're already in that "Fuct" State. Hell I can't remember the title
of the other track.
Modulation and Transformation II (Mille Plateaux)
An excellent collection of twisted grooves from a wide range of Artists,
each contributing two untitled tracks - Oval, Scanner, Steel (who?), Alec
Empire and 4 more. Essential for anyone who wants to hear whats going on
at the extremes of electronic listening music at the moment.
ACV - "Shout" compilation
Eleven tracks of typical ACV tracks (that allows for considerable variety
btw), but all these are unrelased, making this too an essential, for lovers
of extraordinary banging grooves. Heazdfuck music for the feet.
Ambient Dub Volume 4 - Jellyfish (Beyond)
Beyond continue the excellent series after a long hiatus (They did at one time
say there would be no more after Volume 3, but we should be glad they changed
their minds. Very mellow for falling asleep to if played quietly, but plenty
of grooves for higher volume play. Perhaps not quite as oddball a selection
as some of the earlier volumes, but quality stuff, and good value at just
a tenner.
Model 500 - No UFOs (Metroplex)
Ooh a classic! Metroplex's first release, Copyrighted 1985. Ten years old
and still sounds wonderful, especially the "Instrumental" which cuts back
on the vocals a little, as stretches the lengthof the track too. The B-Side
cut "Future", also comes in 2 versions, and cuts a tight electro groove,
the kinda thing that is popular again now. A timeless record, and one which
I am ecstatic to own!
DJ Ungle Fever - Elemental force of Funk.EEE Noize (Rising High)
A 4-track promo 12" taster for the 4thcoming LP. One track from Walker, which
sounds like yet another Air Liquide track - I must admit that while I fell
for A.L. initially, I am beginning to find that most of the sounds are coming
around again. A tough acid bounder from Calhoun, and then two fierce banging
tracks from two other artistes whose names I don't recall. Overall a little
mixed and to be honest I for one won't be rushing for the album when it
appears.
Phenomyna (ART5.2)
Cannot say anything other than "Typical ART" here, beautifully crafted
Detroit influenced grooves on 3 tracks, and one succulent ambient fruit.
As far as I can tell this is a set of 4 remixes of tracks by "Phenomyna"
One is by Black Dog and for the life of me I can't remember the others
right now.
Domina
On the Basic Channel no-label, this of course has been included on the recent
Tresor 3 compilation, but I thought it was worth it anyway, for 2 reasons.
1: I can mess about phasing and mixing it to make it even longer
2: I get the Carl Craig mix, which, while I don't like it as much as the
Maurizio mix, is pretty excellent in its own right.
J
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________.__/_____ _||_/ James Skilton aka Steady J
_[]/_____________[.__\____-_ DJ and Party Animal
| | Part Time Hedonist
|____________________________| Full Time Technohead
|__|-' '-|__| Steady-J@Firefox.co.uk