Various Artists
Biorhythms Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
"dance music with bleeps"
"808-909-1991"
(c) 1990-1991
Tracks:
Rhythmatic-'take me back'(basshead mix)
Nexus 21-'self hypnosis'
Symbols & Instruments-'mood'
M.K.-'somebody new'
C&M Connection-'biorhythms'
Rhythim Is Rhythim-'emanon'(Unreleased)
Neal Howard-'indulge'
Critical Rhythm-'fall into a trance'
Rhythmatic-'frequency'
Fade II Black-'the calling'
Energize-'report to the dancefloor'(electro mix)
Heychild-'heychild's theme'
Model 500-'infoworld'
Nexus 21-'together'
Xon-'dissonance'
Constant Ritual-'hard way to come'
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A brief history of Biorhythms: A 2 volume LP compilation of the best in
techno/house from 1990-1991 from the early bleeps of british techno, to
soulful funky techno house of Chicago and Detroit. It was released by
Network Records after the huge success of the Techno 1/Techno 2/Retrotechno
compilations on various American and British labels. Out of print, and
not easily available, except in specialist stores, and dusty warehouses
of New York and Chicago, and possibly Detroit. Kraftwerk is mentioned
on the compilation many, many times.
The story behind the actual Biorhythm compilations will have to be told
later, email me for further info...
The reason I'm reviewing it here is because of the confusion that internet
listmembers have about "electro", and some misconceptions about early
British "new electronica", also because not too many people have BOTH
compilations...maybe you're just as I was, you have one but not the
other. Thank god for the Internet and decent mailing lists, eh? Shouts
to Yvonne Lui! Bom Shankar!
I can see where "our" IDM gods have found their inspiration as well in
these tracks, even though most of them were recording their earliest
works during this time. An example would be 'mood' by symbols &
instruments. The melody floating through this track is echoed in one of
Black Dog's tracks, can't remember the title. How about the subversive
use of the male vocal from Cybotron's 'techno city' hidden so well in
'dissonance' by Xon(Kirk/Gordon)? Powerful and heavy. I believe John
Macready mentioned the comparison of 'dissonance' to the work of Derrick
May. I don't see it. Juan Atkins, yes, Derrick May, no.
The use of 4/4 is avoided, or carefully used, giving way to smooth almost
icy cold ambience in most of the tracks, giving them a "melodic listening
music" mood. This is where I got hooked into listening to Black Dog,
B12, Kirk Degiorgio, Steffan Robbers & others. This album, and very few
others like it were a big influence on OUR artists these days, and can
you blame them? Emotionally stirring stuff. I can listen to Mark
Kinchen's 'somebody new' forever! I love it.
Electro. An abused term, but very much upfront and correct on this comp.
with 'report to the dancefloor', 'indulge', and 'frequency' making
electro just as good as techno. Without trainspotting about the gear
they use to make this stuff, just to the average listener, it sounds
retro. We all heard electro at one time or another, so we remember the
tones & frequencies of the electro sound. The bass and the empty space
in between the breaks of 'report to the dancefloor' is frightening, and
the fact that you can sit back and enjoy 'indulge' and 'frequency' makes
it all worth the trip back to the early '80's.
A note to electro revivalists..."don't try so hard." A special note to
Alan Parry(IDM list owner)..."better get those headphones on that you
mentioned on your homepage, and listen hard!" Love Ya, Alan!
Now, to those of us who like to throw on a track, and let it swim around
in our heads, we have 'dissonance'(again...), 'infoworld', and 'emanon',
harking back to the early industrial-techno days in the good ol' Motor
City.
Backwards basslines, abstract melodies, and 10th Planet "emanations", you
just can't go wrong.
We all know and love Mark Archer & Chris Peat as Altern-8, those breakbeat
techno masquer8rs who got all my attention with 'move my body',
'armageddon', and 'activ8', but do we really know their techno-house
offshoot, Nexus 21? I didn't until I bought Biorhythms. Let them work
your subconcious with 'biorhythms', and fastforward backwards in reverse
track to invade your nervous system. 'self hypnosis' is easily
recognisable to any raver, i'm sure, myself included...
"did someone say there is a going to be a new Kraftwerk record soon?"
Derek Jordan
10/10
last transmission until the first week in June...See ya'll!