A glut of reviews - some new stuff, and because I've nabbed all my mates
Axis records, a bunch of Mills reviews. Oh, and if anyone wants to swap my
_Empathy Box_ CD (with hidden track) for a vinyl copy, email me - I like my
Chris Jeffs on vinyl.
--
Reviewed:
Kinesthesia : Empathy Box (Rephlex)
Herbert : Parts One, Two and Three (Phono)
Jedi Knights : New School Science (Universal Language)
Juan Atkins : ? [TRESOR 48] (Tresor)
The Vision : The Vision (Metroplex)
The Aztec Mystic : Aztec Mystic (Underground Resistance)
Dean and Deluca : - (M-Plant)
Joey Beltram : Instant (Tresor)
Aphrohead : Legion (Bush)
Melting Pot : Break Butt EP (10 Denk)
Jeff Mills:
Purpose Maker : Purpose Maker (Purpose Maker)
The Purpose Maker : The Purpose Maker (Axis)
Millsart : Vista Humana (Axis)
Jeff Mills : Growth (Axis)
Jeff Mills : Confidential (Axis)
Jeff Mills : Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (Tresor)
Jeff Mills : The Extremist (Tresor)
H&M : Tranquilizer EP (Axis)
The Punisher : The Punisher (UR)
Kinesthesia : Empathy Box (Rephlex)
_SAWII_ is the nearest you'll get to _Empathy Box_ although where as
there seems to be a purpose (albeit intractable) to Richard James' LP,
Chris Jeffs takes a more meandering route. The LP is a lot more abstract
than the Kinesthesia 12"s - there's no banging _German_ style tracks
here - most of the tracks are beatless pieces and the complete and
accomplished sound of previous Jeffs favourites (_Kobal_, _Lave Trader_)
is deliberately cut-up and mistreated. The beatless tracks work but end
up being more interesting than emotional - however _Dyal Nein_ gets the
mix just right as does _Fenp..._. _Flicklife_ is the most complete track
on here - subtle percussive trickery and a leading analogue riff that
reminds me slightly of Mu-Ziq's _Caesium_. _Xodl_ too is a rich track
and wouldn't be out of place on a Kinesthesia 12". Dry, shuffling
weirdness abounds though on _Plasmoid_ and _Sanq_ - both are intractable
and overlong. For the anal trainspotters among you, you'll be pleased to
know theres a hidden 'medley' of weirdness at the end of the CD - it
sounds like a bad college band doing demo remixes of some of the tracks
- the brass-band track is thigh-slappingly funny though. A bit hit and
miss then - some tracks are Chris Jeffs at his best but others are Chris
Jeffs not really at his best and not seeming to give a fuck either way.
Interesting but maybe not really worth paying out for a full price CD -
if trimmed down, this could have so easily been another addition to the
nicely varied Kinesthesia 12" series.
Herbert : Parts One, Two and Three (Phono)
Warm house from mr Wishmountain, Matthew Herbert. The bass is so low and
agreeable, you can't help nodding your head. Jazzy, filtered organs and
slap-bass shuffle along over the top and the end result is totally
relaxed and completely groovy. A lot of it is similar to the synthy
house of Ludovic Navarre although Herbert isn't afraid to slap some
ear-ticklingly fresh percussive sounds over the top. Each 12" in this
triple set had a separate release and the third 12" is probably the most
accomplished, although _Deeper_ from the second one is sublime and
_Rude_ from the first, with it's jazzy break are both contendors.
Excellent house then - and not only that, it's a fresh but comfortable
and agreeable take on it too.
Jedi Knights : New School Science (Universal Language)
A six-track LP isn't too impressive - so I guess this is more of a
double-pack. Still, the Knights ooze competence at anything they turn
their hand to and the electro/house/funk fusion on _New School Science_
is no exception. _One for M.A.W._ (Masters At Work presumably) is a
housed-up disco number - almost too smooth and competent. _May the
Funk be With You_ is the same as it was on the Clear 12" - good lazy
electro. Highlight is probably _Solina (The Acension)_ - think of the
airy, chord-soaked Global Communications style but with an ear for the
dancefloor and you'll be there. The final side has two mixing tools -
_Airdrums from Outer Bongolia_ is rather obviously a mad, bongo-fest and
probably better than the funky bass of the other track. Competent cool
stuff then, but a few more tracks would have been welcome (although I
hear the CD has more tracks on it).
Juan Atkins : ? [TRESOR 48] (Tresor)
No details as it's a promo. _Game One_ is on here though and it's
probably one of Atkins finest dance-floor moments. I love this track -
it's the cut-up, funked-up (as only Atkins knows how) beats and those
airy analogue stabs that does it I think. Following it is a jumpy little
number - less complete but good fun. Flip it over for a total contrast -
a slow'n'dreamy, warm track with evasive chords that seem to be just out
of reach and a warm and (yes, funky) bass-line. Not a foot wrong.
The Vision : The Vision (Metroplex)
Complex, fractured techno from the top producing talent of Rob Hood. This
12" isn't as smooth as some earlier releases (such as _Internal Empire_)
but it more than makes up for this in the way he's pushing his own mis-
timed funk and style. _Spectral Nomad_ is probably the outstanding track
on here but _Detroit - One Circle_ with its repeating "Detroit" sample
is intricate and beautiful.
The Aztec Mystic : Aztec Mystic (Underground Resistance)
This 12" is by Submerge DJ Assault Squad operative DJ Rolando. A UR
release is a sign of quality but this release falls slightly flat
somehow. The deep square-wave bass and flanging hi-hats are interesting
but the tracks themselves just don't seem to cut it although there is
plenty of mixing potential here. The elements are in place but the
groove isn't.
Dean and Deluca : - (M-Plant)
Techno tom-foolery from Vienna's Patrick Pulsinger and Erdem Tunakan. If
you liked the cut-up grooves of _Porno_ and Pulsingers other work,
you'll like this. No great departure but emminently usable and the
individuality of the Viennanese two is as present as always.
Joey Beltram : Instant (Tresor)
Another Beltram slammer. Like _Game Form_ but without the niggly riff,
this is probably less effective but slightly more interesting. Remix
duties come from Paul Johnson who turns in a wholly unremarkable but
identifiable and usable mix and Juan Atkins who does exactly the
opposite, which is probably the most listenable and intriguing track on
here.
Aphrohead : Legion (Bush)
Concentrated techno from Felix da Housecat. Like the Soma 12"
_Clashback_ this is dark and danceable with robotic voices saying
"Danger" and cool stuff like that. Two mixes and both are capable of
some dancefloor damage.
Melting Pot : Break Butt EP (10 Denk)
10 Denk is a Sheffield label setup with help from the Sumo skate boys.
And this second 12" is pretty good. Think clattery (well, it is from
Sheffield) tr*ip-hop and jungle and you'll be pretty bang on. There's
little light melodious relief - these boys haven't got time for that.
The beats hammer away and theres the odd kick of sub-bass but Mr. Melody
doesn't get a look in. As such, it's quite a unique sound - it won't fit
into the drum'n'bass genre and 'hop B-boys will find it too intense.
Whatever though - it rocks.
Purpose Maker : Purpose Maker (Purpose Maker)
First 12" on the new Mills label carries on where the 12" of the same
name on Axis left off. Once again, the grooves are slowly built up from
ethnic (or so it seems) percussion and rich bass loops. _The Dancer_
features some great Indian loops but it's _Java_ with it's sliced and
diced vocal loops that works best. _Gift of the Hills_ uses a softened
version of the _Waveforms 3_ clangs and attaches it to some funky
percussion. Good stuff that I can see working on house dancefloors too.
The Purpose Maker : The Purpose Maker (Axis)
The Purpose Maker signalled a slight shift in the Mills style. The
harsh filtered noise got dropped and in it's place Jeff put slick and
funky grooves. Check _In the Bush_ for a true floor-moving bassline and
the slightly tribal percussion on _Casa_ (complete with guitar lick).
All good stuff - the single-minded attitude of most of the tracks means
that they all work on the floor without resorting to the sheer intensity
of the early tracks.
Millsart : Vista Humana (Axis)
Probably Jeff Mills crowning moment this one - it showed that not only
could Jeff kick out the hardest beats around, he could also write music
of pure beauty. The opening chords on this 12" are awe inspiring - the
next track is warmer and smooth but with that hint of menace that he
does so well. The more floor-oriented tracks are also some of his best.
Jeff has eased up on the harshness but put back some of the smooth funk.
If you only buy one Axis 12", make it this one.
Jeff Mills : Growth (Axis)
Oh yes. What Jeff does best is his unnerving tracks - the paranoia
inducing ones that rely on tension rather than an all-out noise attack.
For your money you get three on here - emminently mixable and capable of
sounding amazing on a loud system. One builds darkly, hits the beats
towards the end and then enters a locked groove - clever and usable.
Jeff Mills : Confidential (Axis)
Almost anonymous this one - a gold label on one side, Axis black on the
other. This is four tracks of noisier Mills material - mistimed analogue
clangs and plenty of head-nodding drums. For light relief (although it's
still intense) there's also a beatless track with the chords from _X-103_
hovering in the background.
Jeff Mills : Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (Tresor)
Abrasive stuff. _Phase 4_ will blow you into the nearest wall - _The
Hacker_ will then smear your body all over it. Nasty corrosive stuff from
this earlier double-pack. Even the rocking piano riff from _Changes of
Life_ has a horrible, cheesey edge to it making it sound as though it
was sampled from a cheap transistor radio. Hearing some of these tracks
dropped in a club is a must-hear - as with most of his releases, the
bass grooves that Mills puts out sound woefully inadequate on a home
hi-fi system.
Jeff Mills : The Extremist (Tresor)
More noisy material from the man. Four mixes of the same track - each
one is a complex, layered banger and builds on the simplicity of the
noisy elements of _Waveform Transmission Vol. 1_. Fast stuff too.
H&M : Tranquilizer EP (Axis)
A Hood and Mills collaboration was the first Axis 12" and the hard 909s
and looped grooves signalled what was to come. It all sounds quite
simplistic compared to what both artists release now but the threads are
easy to see. Each track is single-minded in the Mills style but has the
filtered mis-timed stabs a la Hood. Simplistic yes, but still with the
all important floor-rocking ingredient.
The Punisher : The Punisher (Underground Resistance)
One of the tracks that just kicks pure and simple - when the bassdrum
and cymbals crash over that popular Beltram rave sound at the beginning
of _The Punisher_, you know you're onto something good.
|| [CiM]
|| s.walley@uea.ac.uk
||
http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/~u9323899/