_ _ _
(_ ) ) ( / _ ) ( ) (_ ( ) (
::::: ( (_ (_) \_/ ( (_ \/\/ _) ::::V 001.1 ::::
(in this issue)
Various : The Theory of Evolution (Warp)
Various : Further Self Evident Truths (Rising High)
Plaid : Plaid EP (Clear)
::: Various : The Theory of Evolution (Warp LP29)
Perhaps 'various' isn't the best way to describe this LP with features
tracks mainly by Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard aka Reload, Link, Jedi
Knights, etc. Musically this compilation is very strong, highlighting
some of the sounds that have made these boys famous with selections from
the earliest Reload records to yet unreleased ones from the Jedi Knights,
all on their own Evolution label. Despite the impressive coverart, I can't
help being a little dissapointed to see that this 2x12" features only
thirteen tracks, compared to twenty on CD format. Furthermore, three of these
thirteen tracks have a combined running time of less than one and a half
minutes, and none of the Wishmountain tracks made it to the vinyl. I'd of
thought the more logical, but of course more expensive, solution would be to
make this a triple pack but alas no. Don't let these details stop you
from picking this up however, It's all good stuff from the breathtaking
uplifting Chameleon remix to the bold earthbound sounds of the Biosphere
and Nemm. Definately one to look out for.
::: Various : Further Self Evident Truths (Rising High RSN LP31)
Latest compilation from Rising High. Quite a mixed bag of artists really,
though the majority of the tracks lean with Wagon Christ who has two of
his own and two remixes featured amongst the eleven total selections.
Air Liquide open it all up with a track that seems to heavily sample Cypress
Hill's "Insane in the Brain." Thats followed by "Phase Every Day" from
Wagon Christ's Throbbing Pouch and then the RHC track which features female
vocals and earns the prestigious award of being the one track I skip every
time. The B-Side features nice tracks from both Black Dog Productions and
Bedouin Ascent before reaching the second 12", and frighteningly enough,
a second version of the RHC track. Fortunately, the Bedouin Ascent
remix has the good sense to pull the majority of the vocals and we're
instead left with a soft, almost ambient intro with a single dreamlike
vocal sample before finally losing them all toegther and working its way
into a slow deep funk track. If the first of the two Wagon Christ remix's
didnt actually feature a sample of the title of the track, I'd have guessed
that they had accidentally been reversed, since it's it appears to me far
more jungle influenced than the "junglish" mix that follows. The "me too"
mix of Project One's "I Like To Smoke Marijuana" features fast manic
breakbeats that just fly all over the place and seem quite out of control.
After the nice IDM track by Electronic Dub, comes the second Wagon Christ
remix, the so-called junglish mix. It starts out with some hideous
electric guitar sounds in lo-fi Wagon Christ sound before adding a harmonica
and some sporadic breakbeats and a sample of some fucked up person groaning
"Don't you wanna get some marijuana? I was gonna get some marijuana." The LP
finally ends with the great "Free Bass" from Wagon Christ that was previously
only available on the limited edition At Atmos vinyl, and a similarly limited
CD pressing that came with some copies of the Pouch. Not a bad compilation,
theres just one or two tracks that stain what is otherwise a nice selection.
::: Plaid : Plaid EP (Clear CLR409)
Plaid is the third EP from Clear, and is comprised of two-thirds of the
apparently dead Black Dog Productions. The first track, Android, is
another dip into the electro bucket with some nice chord sequences
towards the end which really change the flavour of the whole track.
Anything is a jumpy upbeat electro track in typical BDP style the goes
through a series of nice transformations and brings the first side to close.
The flip side starts with Angry Dolphin, the jungle track we've been hearing
so much about. It opens with some fragmented sections and progressions
and becomes a really nice track, still full of the BDP flavour yet
reaching out to explore new spaces. The last track, Yak, ends it all with
more upbeat tweaking and smooth synth washes. Lovely, perhaps my
favourite from Clear so far.
:: Alan M. Parry
:: fluid@hyperreal.com
:: <finger me for PGP key>
::
http://hyperreal.com/~fluid