* RADAR "Antimatter" 12" on Om records
Radar's track on the first "Deep Concentration" compilation on OM just
plain floored me. Alien-sounding scratching skills on top of a
unstable low-end throat singer backdrop... all backed by a nice subdued
hoochy-hop beat. I was beginning to worry that this track was a
one-off when I heard Radar's collaboration album with a jungle DJ...
"Antimatter" not only restored my faith but increased it. Oh my fuck.
The scratching is even more amazing, more weirder sounding, and louder
than ever before.. and so is the beat and the bass synth pulse. The
B-side "Next Millenium" is just as brilliant, but in a different way. Not
as much scratching, but the music definitely gives me the same spacey
chill that Meat Beat Manifesto gives...
The 12" comes with a professional laid-out book that transcribes the song
"Antimatter" to music tablature.... every part of the song.. incidental
noises, the scratching, everything. I can't tell if Radar just takes
himself very seriously, is taking a joke way too far, or both. Maybe he's
hoping someone like Philip Glass would do the same thing to "Antimatter"
that he did with Aphex Twin's "Icct Hedral"?
* ARMAND VAN HELDEN "Killing Puritans" 4x12" on Armed Records
OK, OK. Tenuously IDM, I admit.
I don't know too much about Van Helden's history, but apparently this
new release showcases the best of both his sides. Almost too many guest
appearances: Common, Herbie Hancock, N'dea Davenport, Lord Sear, The
Mongoloids. Essentially, this is a nice chunk of quality house music..
more on the funky/sick side, with plenty of bass. "Koochy" is the
standout here. Sure, it uses the most well known Gary Numan song as the
basis, but "Koochy" really stands out as an anthem of sorts. "Hybridz"
and "Swamp Thing" are great, too.
* SI BEGG "Network Southeast Volume 2" 12" on Under 5's/Skint records
Mainly an EP of Si Begg (Buckfunk 3000/Cabbage Boy) doing some impromptu
loop stretching and fine cut'n'pasting. "Mardi Gras" is the standout
track.. taking an early 90s hoochy-hop beat and majorly fucking with it.
...some more to follow...
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Brian MacDonald <brianm@kuci.org>
KUCI 88.9 fM in Irvine, CA -- Orange County
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