Muziq "Salsa With Mesquite" Planet Mu/Virgin/Astralwerks yadda yadda FLATCD18
Salsa with Mesquite
Happi
Loam
Reflectiv
Leonard
Balsa Lightning
Balsa Lightning (Jake Slazenger remix)
Well, Mr. Parradinas has the un-enviable distinction at this point of being
last year's model in the IDM fashion show. Those who are obsessed with the
Next Big Thing are rapidly jumping ship; the mixed reaction to "Makesaracket"
is a case in point.
The fact is, Muziq to some extented and redefined the musical vocabulary in '93
and '94. Once it's out there it's no longer strictly his thing -- everyone
from Luke Slater to Alec Empire to the bleeding Shamen have appropriated
elements of his style.
So what's a small greek letter to do? Apparently, hole up in your room and come
up with a few more "what the fuck was that?" tracks. Exhibit A: 'Salsa with
Mesquite.' In an age where Roland analogue boxes are selling at large multiples
of their price new 10 years ago, MP turns in a digital pitch bend and grungy
sample fest. Not only does he use the digital gear on this cut, he goes for the
timbres that the analogue types find the most offensive -- weird twisted bell
noises, DX-7 nylon guitar patches, the lot. "EEYAHH! WHOA!" indeed.
And yet, and yet, if you give it the three or four listens it takes to find
your way into it's internal logic, it's brilliant. I bought it at Gramaphone
in Chicago whilst visiting my mum & sister and drove them screaming from the
apartment playing it over and over.
Then comes 'Happi' which is a silly little happy face of a cut with one of
those patented poppy Muziq melodies. A lot of people might be looking for a
sinister undertone in anything so outre about it's cheerful, but it's just not
there. The man got laid the day he wrote it, or his mum made an especially
nice batch of bangers and eggs and he just couldn't contain himself. Don't
worry, be happi!
'Loam' brings us back to more familiar territory. A kick runs through it that
can only be described as Chewy, and then a syncopated bass line that interlocks
with a discordant repeating pattern. The fun of this piece is that the
percussion is very 4 on the floor simple, but the weaving bass, melody and
ostinato go all funky on you. And there's a snare sound that I could swear
came from a Soundblaster FM drum kit. Add to this some discordant drones and
you have the recipe: Find something that sounds wrong, and then magnify it
until it sounds right. This is the mutant dancefloor shit.
'Reflectiv' would at home on "Tango'N'Vectif" but gawd it's lovely. A very
simple chord progression -- think "If I were a Carpenter" and you're there. Add
lots of cute little interlocking synco-chunes, and that muted brass pad from
the 'On' remix, and some tinkling wind chimes. But keep it funky! [Gear
corner, for those that care: the weird ringing drum sounds at the start
comes from running the drum into a delay pedal with a very short delay and
playing with the regen.]
'Leonard' is a low key distorto-drum number that makes some harmonic motion.
There's more harmonic material in here than in all the German Trance records
released this year.
'Balsa Lightning' has some honest to god funky acoustic piano loops with
floating strings. And then a great Oboe-sounding melody. Then a FM ostinato
loop kicks in, and my god who could ask for more. Even a few 'Roy Castle'
Trumpet flourishes. I'm thinking 'Alberto Balsam' territory here for melodic
wonderfulness. And then, just to let you know where you are one of those fast
distorto breaks drums. If you don't love this you must have a heart of stone.
The Jake Slazenger mix emphasizes the piano loop and some big slow drums, and
distorto flute lines (think Megaphonk here). The string pads come in but
they're a little more shrill; the emphasis is on slipping and sliding around
the big snare back beat.
I don't know, people, but for my money Mr. Mike is this years model as well.
Anyone who's got so much going on -- an ear for melody, an ear for mega-groove
rhythms, and an ear for chaotic beautiful weirdness. There you have it:
another winner from the man with three ears. Listen and learn.
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kent.williams@cadsi.com
[Kent Williams/CADSI/2651 Crosspark Rd/Coralville IA 52241/(319)626-6700]
"Here is our family's history in a nutshell: 1850-1957: terribly hard
times, many adventures, charming stories. 1957-present: watch Matlock,
complain about grandchildren." - Ian Williams