Since I recently received the latest full-length releases
from the label that put out the Serenity Dub (1.1 & 2.1)
compilations, I thought i'd review them.
Unitone HiFi "Wickedness Increased" (incoming!CD3303):
15 tracks, 74 minutes.
Of the two, this one is the most dub-oriented (and
"proper" dub too at that). The first three tracks
(Unitone intro, Unitone hifi, Unitone hifi - bonus dub),
are three variations of the same theme, the ambient intro
starts off great & main track works pretty well, but by
the third track w/ no change in the beat or melody
it begins to wear thin. Overall i like most of
the sounds on this one, though i don't think any of the tracks match
the intensity of their track on serenity dub 2.1. my main
gripe is that variation is sparse in some tracks &
i thought the songs could "move on" in places. Works better
as background music (ie. while working) than as music
to concentrate on (which is why i liked serenity dub
2.1 so much, it worked well no matter what the listening
scenario), but that's not say that i didn't like it-
rather, that it's more subtle & didn't blow me away
like 2.1 did upon first listening.
nonplace urban field "nuf said" (incoming cd3304):
11 tracks 63 minutes
Well i was eagerly awaiting this one & although
my response may seem to be lackluster, that's not
to indicate that i didn't like it. This release had
one thing against it: Last year's "NUF" (WigWam) was
truly amazing & is one of my all-time favorite
ambient/dub releases. This release has some notable
changes: more variety in beats (less ambient & dub
& more hip hop & trance/ambient house); however it still
contains familiar sounds (in fact it recycles
a few melodies & samples from the
previous album). The classic faux muted horn sound
so prevalent on the first album is present on
the first track, but then drops out until the end
of the final track. Stand out tracks
are #12 which is a 12 minute that starts
off with experimental ambient (or "ambient noise")
sounds & a dubby disco beat builds in the
background & the track that closes the album
that starts off with more experimental ambient sounds
& then moves into the faux muted horn sounds that
were so prevalent on the first album & macro dub beat.
Overall it's a very interesting release- more
for the experimentally minded, than
those looking for straight up dub or
ambient). kind of like a cross between
Macro dub infection, throne of drones, &
Mo Headz/Dub House Disco (depending on the
bpm's ). Though it didn't blow me away
as their first release did, it still some
pretty good stuff that'll probably take
more listens to get over the initial
disappointment of not getting a repeat of
their first release.
Various "Miscellaneous" (Language/Crammed):
12 tracks 72 minutes
It seems that i only get impressed these days,
when i least expect to. While i occassionally
saw this release in stores, the nondescript cover
art didn't impress me (i hate to admit it, but
i do make assumptions about the content of a disc
by its packaging). This one collects some interesting
sounds into one package. Blue Foot "under pressure"
sounds like a jazzy version of Skylab (it uses
Star trek & outer limit noises over more straight-
up acid jazz). "Unix" by Bio mouse project" opens
up like a Skylab tune & than works in some
Asian string sounds, a dubby beat & a flute melody.
Tranquil elephantizer "lowdown" is probably my favorite
track, starts off fairly standard mo' wax trip hop fare, 1/2
way through the song some fuzzy synths (ala seefeel) & some
acid noises build over the track & then some jungle rhythm
is also worked into the tune.
Overall you'll find almost everything on this disc: jungle
& bossa nova rhythms (though all of the tracks are more ambient & spacey
& never develop into full-on drum & bass tracks), trip hop, ambient
dub & experimental/noise, Detroit techno ala Mayday, Warp beats &
distorted synths. Again this release is more for the experimentally
minded, but all the tracks are good examples of the type of
experiments in sound (mixing various synths, beats, samples
while maintaining an ambient and/or dub feel)
going on right now. (other tracks include "lunar tune-remix" by
The Arc, "Subether" by Endemic Void, "Aea" by Circadian rhythms,
"moonrise" by ian Pooley, "jinn" by tao, "pentax" by launchdat,
"shapeshifter (full moon mix)" by fantomas, "living dust" by
david toop, & "suq evening lullaby" by takshaka- another of my
favorites from this release).
Chris N.
KUSP 88.9 Santa Cruz