Various Artists - Crossed Wires: Abstract Perspectives
From Atlanta's Underground (Clock Wise)
This is a compilation from one of our own list
member's labels, Carter Tracy. Much respect for him being
so involved and also for being a semi-regular poster. :)
This is the fourth release on the Atlanta label, Clock Wise,
but it's not a compilation of the other 3 releases, rather, it's
full of completely new tracks from a wide spectrum of Atlantan
talent. It was pressed on CD and 2xLP, with both tracklistings
exactly the same. I assumed Carter would get to it, but if he
didn't, this is the album that someone at a radio station
was asking to identify, as he got sent a promo without info,
or something.
Anyhow, the album blows through sixteen tracks, spanning
hip-hop, IDM, and a little bit of jungle. I didn't want to review
*every* track on it, so let me go through a couple of the
highlights, but keep in mind, the success rate on this comp is
very high.
It starts off with The Elementals' Theme by, you guessed
it, The Elementals. The track feels like it would fit in place
being played at a late night club, full of smoke, that is owned
by a blues legend with an appreciation of hip-hop. Instrumental.
AS Octopussy (????) drops science with their track
Monkey vs. Fish, which is both cleanly produced, and lyrically
sharp as hell. They're "burning down the house, like Dave Koresh. . "
My favorite on this comp is the last track, Deprivation,
by J. Square featuring Divine. I don't think everyone will be down
with this one, but, it's my opinion. It's got a short intro about
dreams, before the drums break into a really stepping d&b pattern.
It has a tech type of feel to it, minus the hoover basses. Still,
it's not jazzy-lite jungle. I'm not big into vocal jungle, but
Divine has an amazing voice and doesn't just ooh and ahh. She
sings about lost love, and for me, it's a very personal track,
and very, very moving. Hopefully, not everyone can relate, but
if you can, I think this track will strike a chord.
I don't remember Carter's email off-hand, but I hope he'll
step up and let everyone know how to get ahold of this, and the
other Clock Wise releases.
.jeff / chris.
.do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own.
\-. you may both be wrong .-/