_ _ _
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::::: ( (_ (_) \_/ ( (_ \/\/ _) ::::V 000.6 ::::
(in this issue)
Nigel Richards: Philadelphia Acid Experiments (white label)
Anthony Manning : Islets in Pink Polypropylene (Irdial)
FREQ : Red EP (Matrix)
Wagon Christ : At Atmos (Rising High)
Hertsi : Kohina (Sahko)
:::Nigel Richards : Philadelphia Acid Experiments (white label)
tracks: not listed
This white label 7" from Philadelphia's Nigel Richards comes as a limited
edition pressing of 500. The first side is a nice driving acid track
clocking in at around 150 BPM, but doesnt really go anywhere we havent been
before. The flip side, however, is where the action is. Backed by a
cascading drone, this track has some interesting percussion and a
captivating noise that sounds like a digitized version of cutting air
(?!) - works to nice effect.
:::Anthony Manning : Islets in Pink Polypropylene (Irdial 54irdaev2)
tracks: not listed
Nice experimental ambience from Anthony Manning. Somebody told me that
he gets all of his sounds out of a drum machine but that certainly doesnt
appear to be the case on this release. Very atmospheric ambience with
chimes and seemingly random tones that move around creating a series of
effects and transformations. Not really anything that you can listen too
as such, more background type stuff that at times reminds me a little of
part of the Aphex Twin's second ambient works. Surprisingly enough it
came on a CD from Irdial "Digital Deplored" Records but I was amused to
see the words 'digital convenience' written on the disc itself.
Incidentally, when I first got this disc I was quite intrigued by the
name and have since discovered its likely source. From 1980 to 1983 an
environmental artist named Christo worked on a $3.2 million project to
surround a series of small islands in the Biscayne Bay in Florida with 6.5
million square feet of pink polypropylene fabric. There were eleven small
man made islands or 'islets' in total, and the piece titled "Surrounded
Islands" was displayed for two weeks in May of 1983. Ahem, got a little
side tracked there. Anyhow, the disc contains five tracks which dont
really break and flow right into each other, lasting about 38 minutes.
Pleasurable listening.
:::FREQ : Red EP (Matrix MR1004)
tracks: not listed
After having the label reccomended to me by Morgan, I dug this Matrix 12"
out of the racks. Matrix is owned by Sean Deason and Dan Bell (DBX) and i've
heard them refer to themselves as "intelligent detroit techno" so I was
curious to hear what they had to offer. To be honest, I wasn't overly
impressed. Six tracks total, most of which really dont go anywhere for
me. Also as I mentioned before, though the vinyl wasnt that bad of a pressing,
it did seem extremely thin. Certainly more at home on the dancefloor than in
my headphones.
:::Wagon Christ : At Atmos (Rising High RSN91)
tracks: Inside Out -- Free Bass -- Metro Polish -- Hasjit -- Yeah
After getting my first taste of Luke Vibert from the impressive Weirs
collaboration on Rephlex, I had to have more. This EP comes in
trainspotter only format and was only released on tasty red vinyl with no
labels. More jazzy basslines, smooth almost hiphop beats and avant garde
quirkyness. Bliss. Now where can I find Phat Lab Nightmare?
:::Hertsi : Kohina (Sahko 004)
tracks: not listed
This is a sale bin pic from a while back and only cost me $1 - not bad
since there were only 1000 pressed and Sahko have been enjoying
considerable attention of late. I suppose if I was trying to classify
this record it would be an industrial ambient sound. Tons of low
frequency growling that on a first listen made me think I'd damaged the
stylus previous to playing it. The growls grow, move and transform and
eventually form rhythms. very repetative, very experimental. I like it.
:: Alan M. Parry
:: fluid@hyperreal.com
:: <finger me for PGP key>
::
http://hyperreal.com/~fluid