A tale of two packages:
There's a new Florence album on New Electonica - nice sleeve art, but
pressed thin vinyl and with paper inner sleeves. List: $24.98. Then there's
the new Source Lab 3 comp - beautiful design and thick printed cardboard
inner sleeves containing weighty vinyl. List:$21.98. Something's a bit
screwy here. Yeah, yeah, it's about the music, I know. =) But when you're
having your records sell for $25, I have to wonder why...
So about that music, then:
The Florence album upon first listen sounds excellent: Stefan Robbers has
been around for awhile and his sound keeps maturing and it feels like he's
quite adept at creating expressive compositions. The album falls squarely
in the realm of listening techno - down and midtempo tracks with intriguing
programming. If forced, I'd compare it a bit to B12, perhaps with more open
arrangement. A couple mellow drum & bass type tracks that work as well. If
you liked the Terrace album on Eevolute last year, you'll find this an
excellent companion.
Two versions of the Source Lab 3 comp. are out this week as well - version
X and version Y. Be warned, however - on the copies I auditioned, side C of
both versions were pressed identically, so you're shorted 3 trakcs if you
buy both. Can someone verify if all copies are like this?
I picked up X - another high quality comp. of quirky French acid house and
loungy downtempo with the odd organic drum & bass track thrown in. Some
great house tracks - nothing groundbreaking, but high quality and much more
interesting than standard boom-chick-sample shit that remains house music's
mainstay.
Joe
(:Joe Rice:________________:ambient@netcom.com:______________:joe@ednet.net:)
(:"Oh, the turntables are his instruments!" :)
(:"But I can't tell what sound that record is making!" :)
(:"I know! He puts them on and off and you never know! I've never seen :)
(: anything like it!" :)