Couple new tidbits worth mentioning.....
Jeswa - Krone 12" (schematic)
This miami-based label is certainly worth paying close attention to, and
this Jeswa debut is hardly an exception. Four tracks of delicate,
beautiful electronics... nods mildly to Simon Pyke, Bola, Autechre and
even Kraftwerk. A very sincere, finished recording... and god knows where
all those squishy alien synth sounds come from, but I love it!
Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy (warp)
The second album is always the toughest challenge, and I think Jenkinson
pulled it off. But don't expect another Feed Me Weird Things....
especially tracks like "Tundra." Instead, HND features densely sequenced
hardcore jazzy tunes similar to the warp EPs. "Rustic Raver" is certainly
a gem... superdense breaks and distorted fuzz crammed over wobbly bass
that's totally unbelievable! "Fat Controller" nods towards old school hip
hop - a funky breakbeat track with scratches and groovy samples... totally
unexpected, yet sits comfortably on the album. "Rat/P's and Q's" opens
with a very familiar melody, while Jenkinson fiddles with his bass
snapping jams at an unbelievable force... and to think he taught himself!
Wow...
Amon Tobin - Bricolage (Ninja Tune)
Finally, more material from Tobin, whose full-length debut on NINEBAR as
Cujo totally blew my mind.... jazzy drum'n bass - that sounds like jazz
with drum'n bass breaks, and not some Alex Reece wankery prodigal 17 year
old. And Tobin's material sits very comfortable next to Squarepusher's
feisty breaks, though Tobin is certainly a lot more laid back... "Stoney
Street" opens the disc with smooth breaks, full orchestra and a funky
slapping bass. "Chomp Sampa" is probably the closest to Jenkinson's
frantic sound, with a full-on blast of what sounds like 300 drummers in
unison pounding away while tobin tweaks his bass while adding more and
more drums.... incredible! "Defocus" is a beautiful, sobering excursion
through layers of slow breaks, trumpet, and this oddly undefinable flutey
violinesque melody that just chews along through the tune. It's
irresistably beautiful.... actually, the entire disc is... highly
reccommended along with the domestic (USA) reissue of Cujo's debut on
Shadow. Tobin's work just leaves me stunned.... more more!
Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug Versions (Nothing)
It's worth picking this up...the meat beat mix is damn cool, the plug mix
is certainly nice (though actually nothing that special), the nin mix is
pleasant (though again, nothing exceptional) the spacetime mix sounds
so pleasant on the ears, and though actual progression throughout the
track is minimal, the mix plods along nicely.... and the orb mix? Well,
it's shit.... but it's at the end so it doesn't matter. What I hadn't
expected was to hear the tracks mixed together.... actually, the disc is
almost a dj mix..... now I finally see where trent is going with his new
image! At least this disc is a sign of some sensibility. I doubt nin's new
album will be anything as numbingly cheesy as Bowie's recent attempt on
"Earthling."
Various Artists - Switch Records 1992-1997 (Switch)
No doubt on some compilation you've got a copy of Teste's excellent 1992
classic, The Wipe. This compilation gives you the opportunity to find out
just who this artist (Himadri) is, and learn about his other projects...
including Lavalamp (who appeared on Worm Interface's Alt.Frequencies comp
earlier this year). Projects like Perceptrons, Blade, Truph, Sysprite and
Silent Floor all attempt to shed some light on Himadri's rather subtle
output on the Toronto-based Switch label. Certainly worth checking out!
Various Artists - The Next Step (Instinct Electronica)
Instinct have setup their latest sublabel to promote the latest in jazzy
drum'n bass... with releases to date including Germany's Kosma and the
heavy plugged Jimpster (whose two 12"'s on Freerange are reissued for the
first time on CD)... a favorite of Mixmaster Morris. The Next Step is an
attempt to profile some of the artists Instinct are working with for new
albums, as well as some licensed tracks by Red Snapper, Endemic Void,
James Hardway and Four Ears. Easily for me, the highlight of the disc is
Chris Bang's "Future Cliche," a hardhitting drum'n bass epic that leaves
me breathless - a sorta bigband jazzy tune that goes down smoothly with
absolutely no filler. Unbelievable!
Okay, enough from me.....just a few things I thought you should know
about. See ya!
Lame Thread Prevention in Effect: Aaron Michelson
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aw-teck'r (autechre) "everything you know is wrong."
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http://www.on-it.net/~amichel/
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