Stack them nicely and wait for a rainy day...
. Casino vs Japan: via 10" (Wobblyhead)
After the strength of last year's album on City Centre Offices, I was
eager to hear more from this Wisconsin output and this 2-track 10"
was their first release since 'Go Hawaii.' The ep starts with the
uptempo track 'Via Hotknives' which features signature Casino vs
Japan shimmering muted melodies as a backdrop to a much punchier
uptempo Musik-Aus-Strom-esque percussive line not heard on previous
Casino vs Japan tracks. The b-side, ''Via Rouge,' starts with dreamy
shimmering synth bed quickly accented with hip-hoppy percussion and
finished off with a raspy-acidic bassline and another shimmering
synth giving this track a very layered swirling effect. Another nice
release from Casino vs Japan in-line with their previous releases
though maybe not as inviting as anything from 'Go Hawaii.' Nice but
not essential. Fans of warm playful uptempo electronics ala Freescha,
a Boards of Canada, or previous Casino vs Japan releases should enjoy
this one. For more information check the label website at:
http://www.wobblyhead.com
. Repeat: uptown downtown 12" (UXB)
Since the early 90s Repeat have produced some of the most memorable
detroit-flavored electronica while producing only a handfull of
releases and compilation appearances. At times the lineup for Repeat
has included members of Black Dog, Plaid, and Stasis but this time
around Repeat is comprised solely of it's two core members - Mark
Brook & Dave Hill. 'Easter' starts the ep with a lush majestic
b12-styled journey that would melt any fan of 'Artifical
Intelligence-era' electronica. Next, 'Studio 6-1-22' sees Repeat
mixing in a strong roots-dub flavor complete with reverb, guitar, and
horns in with the downtempo techno. 'Scattered' begins the b-side
with a bass-heavy trip-hoppy track adorned with melodic synth beds
giving this track an early Eevolute or 100% Pure sound. he ep closes
with 'Silver' an electro-tinged breakbeat number that also has a
dutch flavor. Overall, a solid and diverse ep from Repeat but quite
different from the styles on previous Repeat releases. Repeat's
'Uptown Downtown' is definitely not on the must have list but it's
worth a listen for those into melodic early-90s techno & electronica.
. Tikiman: dub it witaattitude 12" (False Tuned)
The debut release for the new Berlin-based False-Tuned label is a
4-tracker by label founder Tikiman (this time without Rhythm &
Sound's musical backing). 'Dubitwittattitude' starts off the ep with
a muted roots-dub sound with Tikiman chanting and sometimes even
adding some monotone Tricky-like rapping. Dub tradition mandates that
the next track on the ep is a dub version and it's called 'Witta
Dub.' This dub eliminates Tikiman's vocals and adds a few additional
dub effects. On the he flip side, which features 'Dis Day' and its
dub, sees Tikiman abandoning the dub sound in favor of traditional
(and rather formulaic) ragga-jungle with Tikiman and the MC and
vocalist. The highlight on this ep is definitely the dub-friendly
a-side, which is right in line with his Rhythm & Sound releases, but
the b-side foray into jungle is best ignored. For more information
check the False-Tuned label website at:
http://www.false-tuned.de/
. Reslab comp cd (Mitek)
The second release for Mikael Stavostrand's Mitek label is an
eight-track complation of tracks from Andreas Tilliander (aka Mokira
& Komp), Grecl (a swedish newcomer), Silent Comfort (aka bauri), and
Mikael Stavostrand (aka vita). First off is Andreas Tilliander with a
solid 15-minute piece of slow-building minimal dub with a ghosted
classic dub flavor. Next comes four tracks by Grecl which range in
style from sn-styled rhythmic minimalism to deep muted clicktechno to
glitchy looped experimentalism. Track 6 is by Silent Comfort whose
11+ minute piece of slow-building clicky skeletal dub is the
highlight of this compilation. The compilation closes with two
deep-murky clicktechno tracks from Mikael Stavostrand. Overall
'Reslab' nothing groundbreaking but a solid compilation nonetheless
of modern-mille-click-dub-techno-experimentalism that fans of the
recent Mille Plateaux, Force Inc, and Scape output should enjoy.
. Twilight Circus Dub Sound System: volcanic dub cd (M Records)
After a recent query to a panel of music experts regarding classic
dub, I was recommended the Twilight Circus Dub Sound System as a
contemporary equivalent worth checking out. But since Twilight Circus
Dub Sound System was the outfit of a member of the goth band
Legendary Pink Dots (Ryan Moore) I was a bit leery. Despite my
trepidation I picked up one of their albums and quickly discovered
that my reservations were unwarranted - instrumental melodic
reverb-drenched dub-reggae at it's finest that fans of the Burial Mix
or Rhythm & Sound label releases will love. My explorations into the
classic dub style are just beginning but it's off to a great start. I
will be buying more Twilight Circus Dub Sound System releases very
soon. For more information on Twilight Circus Dub Sound System check
out their website at:
http://www.twilightcircus.com
. Pop Ambient comp cd (Kompakt)
Kompakt, whose sound usually revolves about the gritty tech-house
style (with the exception of the Dettinger cds), takes a break from
that routine with this 10-track compilation of melodic ambient
electronica by Joachim Spieth, Dettinger, Gustavo Lamas, and the
Voigt brothers to name just a few. A majority of the tracks on 'Pop
Ambient' are of the beatless ambient variety with soaring melodies
and uplifing chords with three exceptions: Dettinger's ambient
hip-hop track entitled 'repeater,' Jorg Burger's (aka Geometric
Farms) light 4x4 ambi-techno 'men of many sayings,' and Woldgang
Voigt's (aka Mint) deep atmospheric 4x4 remix called 'All.' The Pop
Ambient comp features beautiful melodies with the occasional side of
percussion that combine to deliver a comfortable and familiar
listening experience - a throwback to the early 90s ambient-techno
sound. Recommended. More information at:
http://www.kompakt-net.de
Quesetions, comments, and carrots welcome...
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United States
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