i don't recall seeing much discussion about the Wunder lp on here. it's
been out for several months, so perhaps i missed the initial mentions of it.
but i just picked it up over the weekend and i want to recommend it to
anyone that may have missed out on it at first.
it's produced by Jorg (aka Saucer) of Karaoke Kalk. it differs quite a bit
from the rest of the KK output in that it's largely sample-based. long
fluid vocal lines, mellow breaks -- the gentlest plunderphonics imaginable.
it's almost like a cologne take on dj shadow (kinda sorta). it's very
refreshing to me to hear something that's getting away from the "Amber"-era
sound of so much IDM -- in fact, there's not a single crunchy beat on it --
and doesn't resort to wistful, plaintive synth-pad melodies (like so much of
the nu-IDM like funkstorung). and yet it's so incredibly warm and, i'm
tempted to say, genuine. highly, highly recommended. there's a review up
(by sean cooper) with audio samples at www.urbansounds.com.
in a different vein, i received a promo of the upcoming We album, the Square
Root of Negative One, and i've got to give an early nod to this one. they
set themselves a bit of a challenge, putting out such a great first album,
at a time when very few north americans were producing experimental
drum'n'bass, and then waiting a couple of years for the followup (for the
record, i wasn't at all impressed by the dj tools 12"). but they've
certainly done it again. about half the album seems to follow the junglist
tendencies of As Is, with even sharper breaks and heavier basslines this
time out. there are a few drony ambient tracks, too, for good measure --
but the real pleasure, at least for me, is the increased dub influence on
this one (and all dub-heads out there should check out the We remix of...
oh, shit, i've forgotten, a chicago-ish indie rock band... anyone?).
they're still working wonders with back-masked guitar lines and uneven
tunings. and on top of all that, there's a bizarrely boards of canada-like
patina to at least one track, probably due to the sample of a stammering
child's voice. anyway. intelligent illibent? something like that.
recommended.
philip sherburne