AUX88 - "88 FM: AUX 88 MEETS ALIEN FM"
1. My Aux Mind *
2. Interface !
3. Journey ++
4. The 3rd Moon +
5. Art of Illusion *
6. Let It Ride !
7. The DJ +
8. Nightmare
9. Aux88 Meets Alien FM !
10. Out of Sight +
11. Universes +
12. The Future (Aux 88 RMX) +
*From 'AUX Mind' Direct Beat DB4W-009
!From 'AUX Quadrant' Direct Beat DB4W-004
+From 'Alien FM' 430 West 4W-230
++Alternate Mix of "Journeys in Dub" from 'Alien FM' (? According to
sleeve)
It is sometimes difficult for Techno artists to make the transition
from 12" DJ releases to a full length CD. A full length CD succeeds
or fails on how well it is a complete piece of 'listening music' to
be heard in it's entirety in a variety of settings.
This disc succeeds very nicely, in my opinion. The cuts here come
from 4 different 12" releases, with a of previously unreleased track,
yet it comes off very much as a smooth whole.
The Aux88 trademark sound is deep detroit -- crisp drum programming,
minimal looped bass lines, chewy electro sound effects, and synth
strings from another planet. Oh, and spoken vocals, given in a
serious monotone. "We control all that you see and hear", "As the DJ
spins the sounds". The intention is to build a Sci-Fi Horror mood,
at once alien, forbidding, and addictive. Despite the deadpan
delivery, you know these guys are goofing on you.
To some extent it's all been done before by others -- Juan Atkins
comes to mind. But these guys are masters of working inside the
limitations of a deeply stylized musical genre and coming up with
something fresh. Perhaps it's the improvised bell line in "Art of
Illusion" or the high strings in the last half of "Journey". But
Aux88 always keeps the priorities straight -- take care of the beats
and bass first, and then you can freestyle the melodic stuff over the
top.
So if you want your techno Detroit style straight up, this is one of
the toughest CD's of the summer.
--
Pamela Anderson? Nahhh. Helena Bonham Carter!
kent.williams@cadsi.com
[Kent Williams/CADSI/2651 Crosspark Rd/Coralville IA 52241/(319)626-6700]