Here's a quickie review of Thomas Fehlmann's "Flow EP" as well as an
old review of Locust's "Weathered Well" album that I was going to post
a while back but, erm, forgot to (sorry).
I'd welcome reviews/information on the following newies advertised in
the NME, so keep your eyes peeled :-)
Ken Ishii : Tangled Notes (R&S) RS 94046
New material.
Ken Ishii : Innerelements (R&S) RS 94038 CD
Selected old material from Ishii's R&S and Apollo releases.
Sun Electric : Aaah! (R&S)
Contains the "Hohner Afternooning" version of "Entrance". Apparently.
BTW, Global Communications are to release "Global Communication" LP on
Dedicated soon. Does this mean that Reload/Global Comms. are signed
to Dedicated now?
--
Thomas Fehlmann : Flow EP (R&S) RS94044[CD]
1. From Ape To Apollo [6.16]
Probably the strongest track (in terms of danceability) on here,
it has a great clattery, yet muted, beat with some nice sub-bass.
2. Flow, Form And Spiral [6.46]
This one could be straight off 'Bytes' such is the Black Dog
similarity. More gut-rumbling sub-bass (Thomas' trademark at the
moment, it seems) and lush chords tie this jazzy track off nicely.
3. Finger On The Map [5.37]
Another jazzy Sun Electric style-track, this one lacks the initial
grab of the first two; thus coming under the heading 'filler'.
4. Perfectly Natural [4.15]
And after the Black Dog impersonation, Thomas tries his hand at
being b12. And suceeds too; this sounds more like b12 than they
do. Solid techno with a vacuous, distant feel to it. Think of
"Obtuse" on "Electro-Soma".
5. Epique [6.38]
Another track that should have been on "Kitchen", this under-
stated track has a more intrusive beat than the others. More
techno-ish sounds built around a meandering synth loop.
6. Vivisection Experimentation [3.41]
And a nice little filler to finish with. This sounds a lot like
the "Osram <insert track times here>" mixes by Sun Electric.
Definitely harder than the rest, it also features Thomas' fave
method of triggering cymbal samples at different pitches.
Overall : Not bad; if you like Sun Electric then you'll like this
but there is nothing outstanding. It's just, well, nice I suppose.
Locust : Weathered Well (Apollo) AMB 3929 [CD]
1. Prospero [8.44]
2. Moist Moss [6.58]
3. Xenophobe [5.41]
4. Weathered Gate [8.10]
5. Tamed [6.03]
6. Still [10.08]
7. Music About Love [9.57]
8. Lust [6.36]
9. Fawn [5.10]
Having been Seefeel's engineer, you could well expect Locust's music to
be a mesh of layered sounds and textures and, to a certain extent, it
is. Mark Van Hoen's music is dry and very dark mainly due to a technique
he employs on some tracks which is to have dry droning sounds play
continually in the background, giving a layered depth to the tracks.
It's an awkward, uneasy technique; it might unsettle some listeners,
it scares the shit out of me. From the first deep sub-bass drones of
"Prospero", there is a dark, organic feel to the music; this is reflected
in the track titles which imply a feeling of age and nature.
Locust's material has been compared to that of Richard James; "Prospero"
reinforces this idea mainly due to it's awkward drifting chords which are
also evident on other tracks (eg. "Weathered Gate"). "Lust" and "Fawn"
also employ the technique of distorted, over-driven analogue drum sounds.
Whilst this comparison could be made, it is certainly not true for the
album as a whole. "Moist Moss" has a beatless, repeating chord structure;
Mixmaster Morris will love it. "Weathered Gate" would not look out of
place on a Biosphere album. One of the most unsettling tracks is "Music
About Love"; a continually building monster that creeps up on you and
finally ends up as a mass of intrusive loops.
The feel of the album is dry and dark and yet there exists an icy,
distant texture that adds to the unsettling atmosphere. If this album
was a place, it would be a tundra; inhospitable and alien to most,
simply because there is not one single bright or hopeful moment contained
in it.
If you like Biosphere or the darker Aphex tracks, this is the album
you've been waiting for. Me? It's just that bit _too_ dark for me to
listen to (and, more importantly, to enjoy). Yeah, I know I'm a pussy.
:'-( It still earns my respect though; it's an accomplished and
interesting album, if a tad repetitive. A warning though; if you are
off your face on any sort of substance, be prepared for brown trouser
time. It's scary stuff...
Overall : 6/10
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Simon Walley | 1E 76 9A 0D 78 3A 3B 1C | /\ \
<u9323899@sys.uea.ac.uk> | A1 60 73 AE 8B 0E E0 B6 | /--\_\