After a two-year hiatus, i decided to revive my regular
Recoreview postings.
. Mandrake: shake your space traveller cd (Involve)
New Zealand producer Jeremy Coubrough, aka Mandrake, delivers his
debut release for the Involve label. 'Shake Your Space Traveller' is
a 17-track adventure into jazzy funky electro-tinged electronica very
much in the classic Clear-label style ala As One, Clatterbox, Gregory
Fleckner Quartet, Reflection, etc. should enjoy this one. To me
'Shake Your Space Traveller' is the first release in years that
accurately captures the sound and feel of the Clear label. I'm sure
that wasn't the intent of this release at all but that shouldn't
detract from the qualtiy of this release. This album is yet another
gem in the Involve catalog.
. Motion: pictures cd (Motion)
I picked this release up on the recommendations of several
listmembers who compared this to microstoria and that recommendation
is well deserved. 'Pictures' features the same type of warm organic
minimalism created by a variety of similar soundsources including
chimes, acoustic guitars, and synths. At times 'Pictures' is a little
more minimal (at times almost microsound) than some of the
Microstoria stuff but still good nonetheless. Is this cd anything
like the Motion/Matmos split on Fat Cat? And who is Motion?
. Metamatics: dope for the robot cd (Hydrogen Dukebox)
After getting over the disappointment of discovering that this
release is just a re-release of the 1995 Metamatics cd on Clear
(which itself is a re-release of the four metmatics 12" eps on
Clear), i rediscovered how good those early Metamatics 12"s really
were. Although Dope For The Robot contains three fewer tracks than
the original Clear label release, it still captures the beauty of the
initial release. The tracks have a little more of an electro-funk
feel but that's the way that the Clear label wanted things back then.
I just wish that the packaging had made it clearer that this was a
re-release. This is the third of fourth time that Hydrogen Dukebox
has repackaged, renamed, and then re-released records so the next
time you're going to buy a 'new' record on the Hydrogen Dukebox label
be sure to double check the track titles to make sure they're not
ones you already have.
. Freescha: kids fill the floor cd (Attack 9)
The second album by this Sherman Oaks, California contains thirteen
tracks of warm playful analog-sounding downtempo electronica very
much in line with what Boards of Canada and Casino Vs Japan have
done. Deep atmospheres, simple intertwining melodies, and plodding
percussions all mix with a vintage-sounding warm analog feel that
made Boards of Canada and Casino Vs Japan releases so special. Upon
the first few listens 'Kids Fill The Floor' didnt have as strong of
an appeal as their first self-titled album did. But upon repeated
listens the charm of this new release really sunk in and has moved
ahead of their first effort in my book. Quality vintage electronica.
For more info check:
http://www.attacknine.com
. Isan: salle d'isan cdep (Morr Music)
Isan is the outfit that brought the whole sadtronica sound to my
attention and i still listen to their earlyreleases with regularity.
So any new Isan release is always cause for excitement at my stereo
and the 'Salle d'Isan' ep doesnt dissapoint. The ep starts with the
dark b fleischmann-sounding track 'days & later' then moves onto the
much lighter, poppier 'Disruptive Elephant.' Then it's back to the
darker sound with 'Fullen Brimm' and then finishing with the lighter
e-vax-sounding 'Serene Driver.' Isan also include to short interlude
tracks within this ep to move between the darker and ligher moments.
Six tracks clocking in at under 18 minutes is somewhat short for my
tastes but for those 18 minutes your ears are treated to some solid
meloncholy pop-electronica that Isan are so good at doing. The 'Salle
d'Isan' ep is also a very appealing taster for the 'Lucky Cat' album
due on Morr Music later this year.
. Aspen: music from passing cars cd (Involve)
After the superb 'Sugar & Spice ep,' Aspen returns with another album
which ventures into the realms of quietly introspective and
remarkably fresh-sounding downtempo electronica. There are few
'familiar' melodies or rhythmic patterns on this album. Instead Aspen
creates a very hypnotic mix of melodies (and a few rhythms) to
deliver his subtle sonic messages. Over this 13-track affair none of
the tracks really stand out but i attribute that to the fact that
'Music From Passing Cars' is an album that needs to be listened to as
a whole - not as parts. An album you could put on the car stereo and
drive cross-country and not really realize it. Overall 'Music From
Passing Cars' is not as initially catchy as previous Aspen releases,
but it is a nice step in the evolution of the Aspen sound and a
wonderfully cohesive album. Subtle and impressive at the same time.
Questions and comments about the artists, labels, and
releases reviewed above are welcome...
--
-->-Lance----
PO Box 450715
Westlake, OH 44145
United States
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