this is getting to be a habit
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freeke reviews #2
to be folded, spindled, and mutilated at will...
this time
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Lifeforms - Future Sound of London (Virgin/Astralwerks)
Artificial Intelligence II - Various Artists (Warp)
Microset Morning EP (Telepathic/Intellinet)
Domina - Maurizio (label unlisted)
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Lifeforms - Future Sound of London (Virgin/Astralwerks)
I was quite harsh in my opinions towards _Lifeforms_' predecessor,
Amorphous Androgynous' _Tales of Ephidrina_. It's difficult
to pick out reasons why _Lifeforms_, which employs many of the
same compositional mechanisms, is so much more successful.
While the first half suffers from the same clinical coldness
as _Ephidrina_, the second finds a beating heart somewhere
beneath the fins, feathers, scales and petals.
Dougans and Cobain seem less concerned this time with showing
off their sample collection, and therefore manage to involve
the listener as something more than a studio prop. There's
a keener sense of direction to their whimsy. There's some
pleasant surprises, like the unlikely funkiness which pops
up on the Autechre-influenced "Room 208".
This collection, while not quite the revolutionary masterpiece
some have hailed it as, is nevertheless a reasonably involving
collection of gorgeous sounds and textures.
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Artificial Intelligence II - Various Artists (Warp)
The long-awaited followup to the now legendary Artificial Intelligence
compilation is in many ways both a treat and a disappointment.
The new comp supplies over 90 minutes of material from thirteen
artists, but the majority of the artists are pretty familiar names.
_AI2_ is more consistent than it's predecessor, but this should
be taken as a dubious achievement since this consistency is acheived,
particularly on disc one, at the expense of variety.
With all the possibilities inherent in the form, it's slightly
disheartening to note that so many of the artists' contributions
rely on the same conceits: understated but complex percussive
intro, a gradually building blend of string washes and bleepy
sounds over the first half of the track, repeat theme with
variations over 6 to 9 minutes...
Enough kvetching though: there are enough tasty tracks to make
the collection worthwhile: Speedy J's riveting "Symmetry",
Richard Kirk's delightfully quirked-out "Reality Net", Seefeel's
immensely moving "Spangle" and Kenny Larkin's picture-perfect
"Maritime" are highlights. B12, Autechre, Reload (as Link) and
Black Dog (as Balil) contribute fine, if not surprising, tracks.
Richard James continues his effort to become IDM's answer to Neil
Young with the playful piss-take "My Teapot".
A final note: thanks to modern marketing, there are several
variations of this release with varying bonus tracks and
label coloration, blah blah blah. I've reviewed the
"limited edition 2-CD set" from Warp. If your copy is missing
any crucial tracks, show them exactly what wavelength you're on
by complaining to Warp Records Ltd., Studio 2 Freepost SS10361
Brown St. Sheffield S1 1AY.
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Microset Morning EP (Telepathic/Intellinet)
This release, on Fred Gianelli's Telepathic label (PSI009), is produced
and edited by Mark Gage and written by Coleman Horn & C/Sphere.
The four tracks here are gripping, swirly bleepy stuff, with
a loose, unsequenced feel.
The basic theme is introduced in "elle dort", and reappears, with
substantial variations, in "ecolo-net" and "drift com." "Spectral
Lake" is a brief ambient piece that starts side 2. Fans of
Vapourspace should feel at home with the sonic textures here.
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Domina - Maurizio (label unlisted)
Maurizio's latest single contains two strikingly different mixes of
"Domina". The original version is aggressively minimal, a deep
trancer consisting solely of a huge kick drum, snare, high-hat, and
a beautifully indescribable reverbed/flanged/throaty noise. _Very_
Basic Channel.
The Carl Craig mix (or "C. Craig's Mind Mix" as it's called)
on the flip side completely rebuilds things. Over a sample
of a woman's voice chanting "Domina" like a mantra, he weaves
a procession gorgeous string and flute washes
on top of a loose, jazzy beat. This track just screams "spin
me as the sun comes up."
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That's it. Send all hatemail/free records to:
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dave walker, detroit art services _
marmoset@msen.com freeke robot luv