quoted 2 lines I guess I've got another Luke question: how does PHAT LAB NIGHTMARE compare
>I guess I've got another Luke question: how does PHAT LAB NIGHTMARE compare
>to THROBBING POUCH? I've got latter, but not the former.
Phat Lab Nightmare is very different stylistically. Very cold, sparce, and
sometimes beatless. You can still pick out bits of Vibert flavor, especially
when it comes to analog drum programming. From what I've been able to sort out,
Vibert recorded this album for Rising High because RH wanted an ambient record.
Vibert knew he wasn't an 'ambient artist' in the vein that RH wanted, but
recorded the LP to pay the bills.
PLN is the musical equivalent of essay exams in school. I've noticed that when I
have to exhibit what I've learned in an essay exam [rather than a standardized
exam], I'm almost 'forced' to give a reasonably good answer, even when I have no
idea what I'm talking about. In this case, Vibert is the student, Rising High is
the professor, Ambient is the subject of the exam, and Phat Lab Nightmare is an
A+.
This is a very fresh record; some people identify it closely to SAW85-92 as
a classic that has no real equal. It's not like Vibert's other
hiphop/drum'n'bass material. It's just different....
Mahadelic (12.54)
Very dark synths squeal and whine quietly. A vibe-like instrument attempts to
create a melody, building it one note at a time. Tribal drums develop. The
squealing goes away, leaving us with the drums. Various parts of the song
fade in and out. A faint moan can be heard. Then - nothing.
Glass World (12.44)
Mid-range synth growls to the beat of some percussive tip-taping. An ambient
swooning melody comes in. A low-range hum joins in. Strange acid farting.
This reminds me of some of the early material produced by Taylor Deupree and
Savvas Ystatis as SETI.
Phat Lab. Nightmare (13.33)
Smooth, somewhat funky acid melody starts of the track, accompanied by a glassy
synth. Mid-tempo hiphop beat that becomes more and more complicated. Everything
builds and the whole track becomes hectic, only to fade into some more
electronic groaning.
Aerhaart; From Within (6.00)
Beatless, analog moaning. Every now and again a distorted beat interrupts the
calm. Somewhat frightening melody spooks things a little. Then it spooks things
alot. _From Within_ gives me the feeling that I'm a character in one of those
horror flicks I watched on Saturday afternoon when the cartoons had ended. Very
disturbing track.
Aerhaart; Ahead (9.23)
The beat that disrupted _From Within_ becomes more uniform. A distant vocal
sample becomes louder and louder, changing pitch occasionally. A mid-tempo
techno beat comes in, followed by a more relaxed version of _From Within_'s
spooky acid melody. _Ahead_ builds into something that could be found on the
_Sunset Blvd_ EP. A cold, downtempo techno track. My favorite on the LP.
Aerhaart; Barrier (7.44)
More synth whining. A sampled drum loop (about 60 bpm) is given a slow EQ sweep.
We hear the vocalist from _Ahead_, only in a much slower pitch. Fantastic bass
line creeps in. A precursor to the _Throbbing Pouch_ material.
Panorak (12.43)
My favorite after _Barrier_. Has the most hiphop appeal. Hiphop melody and claps
start the tune. Lots of soft flanging and phasing. Some slapping on the keys
adds a jazzy flavor.
Dances With Francis (4.34)
More mid tempo hiphop beats, very distinct analog melody. Kind of silly in a
Mike P way. Somewhat out of place on the LP, but not a throwaway track.
This is a great LP! Lots of progression to it. Tunes never stay in one place for
too long. Very 'electronic' sounding; not the type of sampledelica we're used to
with the Plug material, or even _Throbbing Pouch_. Very cold, but very human.
And very Vibert.
If you can find it - snap it up! I'd really like to see Reznor repress this for
the US as well.
grant.h.horne
http://delta.is.tcu.edu/~ghhorne/