Stasis
FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW
Peacefrog Records(PF 046 LP)
Tracks:
From The Old...
Utopia Planetia
Moon Bong
Behind The Smile
Beating Skins
Ale House Blues
Samba De Fat Bloke
Moody Old Teacher
Gun
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I don't think I can ever say anything negative about Steve Picton(aka
Stasis). The man is a genius. He makes music like no one else on his
Otherworld/Peacefrog labels(except possibly Luke Slater-"7th Plain", but
that is a GPR nom-de-plume...) I am at the point now where I'm trying to
find the bad track on the album, or something negative to say...but I
can't. I always end up loving everything for one reason or another...
This album isn't a "blow me out of my lazy-boy" affair, but rather a
continuation of what he began with INSPIRATION. Definitely one for both
experimental clubs, coffee houses, and for the home listener. Detroit
written all through the tracks, with a little flair of neo-jazz,
hypermodern jazz, or just plain good microchip music for the esoterik
techno masses...Uh, ok.
'from the old...' begins with some intense ambient drones, similar to
early Fax/Rising High material, then breaks out into a robotic percussive
thing, then back to the ambience. Funny, funky and very disturbing. I
love it. 'utopia planetia' is material we intellectual coffee table
ambient types can relate to. Very laidback, jazzy, New Electronica-type
IDM. With a spanish feel to it, for some reason.
'moon bong' reminds me of Kirk Degiorgio, and his REFLECTIONS album.
Still retaining a distinctive Stasis funk to it with it's clicking
hihats, and slick snare. Sounds a lot like that slap bass or "moog"
preset from one of Yamaha's famous DX synths. You know what I'm referring
to...
'behind the smile' was a bit long for my tastes but after 5 listenings,
it occurred to me that this sounds quite a bit like a pseudo-collaboration
between Jeff Mills and Kirk Degiorgio. Can I get away with that?
You have the strange percussion in the background (or loop) that sounds
like maracas, which builds and builds, and every so often you have this
warm organ-type sound keeping you locked into the groove. You tell me.
What do you think?
'ale house blues' gives you a sunday afternoon in the park feel. Jazzy,
bass driven blues-funk. Very retro in a lot of respects to '70's jazz
tracks, Miles Davis or Curtis Mayfield. I can safely say that a lot of
the cats in Detroit will dig this track more than the others, with
the exception being 'moon bong'. 'beating skins' is ok to listen to but
wasn't as focused as the other tracks.
'samba de fat bloke' is the stunner though, because of its comical title,
and how you can twist and turn this track(if you buy it on vinyl, of
course..) Lots of reverse reverb, and melody. Just a hauntingly beautiful
track. boooo weeee, bee wooo....
'moody old teacher' and 'gun' weren't very much to my liking, but I will
say 'gun' will go good in any ambient-jungle set. It is a bit of a
filler-type track, and very short as well.
This man is a genius. This album is worth it at any price. Get that
underpaid college bloke who works the counter at your local shop on the
horn, and tell him to order millions of copies of this one, get one
for you and yer mates. You won't be dissappointed. Oh, and get
INSPIRATION, too!
Derek Jordan
the unofficial "Stasis" groupie...
10/10