I *finally* got around to doing some reviews of recent and semi-
recent records. So here's a quick table of contents before we get
into the meat of things:
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- Speedy J: The Oil Zone (Beam Me Up!: BMU 011)
- Clatterbox: Spatz (Clear: CLR421)
- Third Electric: 3rd Stone From The Sun (Electrecord: ER 300)
- V/A: Further Thoughts & Freedoms (Fifth Freedom: FIVE006)
- Wink & ESP: Stairway To Headphones
(Head In The Clouds: H 004)
- DJ Krush: Meiso [4 Hero Remix 10"] (Mo' Wax: MW042R)
- Andrea Parker: Melodious Thunk (Mo' Wax: MW040)
- Spook In The House: Beginning To End/Conspiracy
(Pentagon: PENTA001)
- Velocette: Clockworks (Reflective: REF 012)
- Kinesthesia: Empathy Box Remixes (Rephlex: CAT 022 EP)
- Eco Tourist: Wild Lettuce/Downtown Chic (Rewired: RW 001)
- Nu Era: Stars (SSR: SSR 156)
- IVM2: Planetarium (Tenth Planet: TPR 004)
- Wishmountain: Radio (Universal Language: EV0031)
- DJ Teep: PocketBASS [Mixtape]
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Speedy J: The Oil Zone (Beam Me Up!: BMU 011)
- Three remixes of a track off Jochem Paap's _G-Spot_ LP. The
first two - one by Paap himself and one by Gijs Vroom - are
incredibly cheesy exercises in obnoxious trancy breaks. Skip
them. The last mix, however, sees 100% Pure's Dylan Hermelijn
schooling his compatriots under his Edge Of Motion moniker.
Hermelijn places stunning deep-space synth textures over
metallic, funk-fuelled rhythmic syncopation, with poignant breaks
in all the right places. Proper space-funk.
Clatterbox: Spatz (Clear: CLR421)
- David J. Kempston (is it Jak or Stepper?) in the mix on the
latest Clear 12". After not being impressed with much of this
label's output for the last couple of releases, it's nice to see them
on their feet again with, IMHO, their best release since the Plaid
EP. "Spatz" is wonderfully bright, jazzy electronic funk
reminiscent of some of David Moufang's finer moments as Move
D. It's followed by "Easy Does It, Sleazy Does It," which is
remixed by Repeat and is, to my ears, *the* standout track of
this 12". Rolling, punchy beats bounce around a trademark
Repeat-stylee bassline before a dash of atmospheric melancholia
takes the jam to new heights. The jazz-flavored "Drop It" on the
flip is pleasantly unobtrusive, and it's followed by Paul W.
Teebrooke's brilliant, mysterious, tempo-changing "Spatz" remix
- a primer in cutting-edge electronica.
Third Electric: 3rd Stone From The Sun (Electrecord: ER 300)
- This third installment in the Electrecord series is arguably the
strongest new-school take on electro-techno to hit the record
bins in a long time. All three cuts slam, with impeccably clean,
treated highs and bass so deep my stylus shivers. Think of a
more restrained, less grating Electronome with even more funk,
and you're on the right track. Just who is the mystery producer
behind these records? And it can't *possibly* be Maurizio, so
don't even go there.... ;)
V/A: Further Thoughts & Freedoms (Fifth Freedom: FIVE006)
- Soma sub-label Fifth Freedom continues to shine, this time with
a diverse cast of remixers who keep things on a mostly
downtempo nu-jazz tip. The dancefloor cut is Scott Edwards'
"Strange Moon," remixed by Sterac. Stevie Rachmad concocts a
pumping techno cut anchored by an infectious bassline before
that dreamy, enveloping, old-school Detroit synth patch comes in
to warm things up. Stellar. Kushti's remix of Paul Hunter's "Drop
Tha' Joint" is nowhere near as good as "Realidad," Kushti's
previous foray into hip-hop. Here they come off sounding too
spartan, neglecting the aching soulfulness that made "Realidad"
such a treat. Russ Gabriel's remix of Vango Noir's "Red Tunnel"
is very similar to his "Cube Of The Blues" track off the _Fusion_
EP on Ferox. Slow-and-low electro stylings meet a housey
electric-piano riff before Russ goes improv-crazy. Beautiful.
Finally, Jorg Burger sweetens Move D's "Soap Bubbles" with his
own low-speed breakbeat excursion into soaring, optimistic
melodicism. A superb record.
Wink & ESP: Stairway To Headphones
(Head In The Clouds: H 004)
- Josh Wink and Woody McBride on IDM? Oh yes...just skip the
cheesy acid-house on the flip-side and go straight for the feature
cut. Rugged technotic bass with crazy-ass snare/hi-hat/cowbell
action, bubbly acidic pulsations, sections of heady four-to-the-
floor stompage, and the sweetest little synth riff all combine to
make this an incredibly adventurous release for the boys. Hey,
I'm just as surprised as you, okay? :)
DJ Krush: Meiso [4 Hero Remix 10"] (Mo' Wax: MW042R)
- Two identical mixes save for the presence of vocals on one and
their absence on the other. No matter though, as Dego and Mark
Mac's treatment is a rich, musical melange of warm organs,
vibes and strings - all coating a ripping drum escapade. My
favorite drum'n'bass record of recent months, this baby has the
added bonus of some serious lyrical science dropped by Philly
rappers The Ginseng Roots. And if you can't find the 10", I
believe both these mixes are available on the CD, while the
"Vocal Mix" makes an appearance on one of the remix 12"s
(alongside mixes from DJ Crystl).
Andrea Parker: Melodious Thunk (Mo' Wax: MW040)
- Parker's solo debut finally arrives, and in very distinguished
fashion. Those familiar with her work with David Morley on their
_Angular Art_ release on Infonet will know what to expect - a
complex, unorthodox approach to rhythm mixed with an eerie
sense of macabre darkness. This is music best listened to at
night rather than during brighter hours. Of the four accomplished
cuts it's the title track that stands out, with its deep bassline,
disjointed hook, and cavernous percussion.
Spook In The House: Beginning To End/Conspiracy
(Pentagon: PENTA001)
- Two tracks on gimmicky pentagon-shaped vinyl. "Beginning To
End" is pleasant enough techno-by-numbers, but sorely lacks in
the ideas department. "Conspiracy" is the gem here, with it's rat-
a-tat funk, sci-fi chord progression, and purring melody - one to
drop during Martian sunsets.
Velocette: Clockworks (Reflective: REF 012)
- Saw very little mention of this 12", which is a shame as it's my
fave Reflective release...just behind _South Of Market_, of
course. :) Velocette come off sounding like a more laid-back
Vulva, but that doesn't mean they can't still rock it beat-wise. The
four tracks are all intricately constructed and have that Vulvic feel
of a trip through outer space, with lots of chilled percussion,
reverbed tinkling noises and delicate synth sounds. Top-notch
stuff.
Kinesthesia: Empathy Box remixes (Rephlex: CAT 022 EP)
- Four IDM heavies clash on this one EP, and the result is
nothing short of spectacular. Cylob's remix of "Flicklife" is hardly
different from the album version, but what a sublime track it is.
Opening with an extended beatless section in which Chris Jeffs
shows off his baroque sense of melodicism, the track kicks into
futuristic electro-funk territory, complete with old-school bassline
and ripping snares. And all the while that beautiful melody plays
on. My track of the year so far. Mu-Ziq also remixes "Flicklife,"
and it's a welcome return to the _Tango..._ days, as Mike
Paradinas goes downtempo with some epic string-led climaxes.
Autechre tackle "Sanq," and come up with an industrial-tinged
stormer that would mix nicely with Andrea Parkers _Melodius
Thunk_ - the same foreboding sense of darkness. Finally,
Aphex's mix of "Triachus" is equally fear-inducing, and while it
might be the least interesting track here, it's still very solid...and
thankfully doesn't reek of piss-taking. ;)
Eco Tourist: Wild Lettuce/Downtown Chic (Rewired: RW 001)
- Another one from the UXB stables. Don't know if Broom is
involved or not, but whatever the case these are two refreshing,
unconventional takes on techno music. "Wild Lettuce" is the
flowing, bass-heavy one and "Downtown Chic" is the techno-
housey one. And both work on an emotional level as well as a
physical one, which is key for me. For those who snagged that
great Eco Tourist record on Ifach a while back...this one is even
better.
Nu Era: Stars (SSR: SSR 156)
- The 4 Hero boys pop up again, this time on the experimental
techno tip. Heavily Detroit-influenced, but with wierder beats,
"Libra" and "Pisces" are laced with the kind of urban coolness,
subtle jazziness, and gentle swing that Dego and Mark are so
good at creating. "Capricorn Sun" is busier and less
breathtaking, but don't let that stop you from partaking in the
sheer horoscopic bliss of this phenomenal record.
IVM2: Planetarium (Tenth Planet: TPR 004)
- In Sync and Mysteron get together for yet another outing on
the consistently excellent Tenth Planet imprint. The mellow
electro-techno of "Planetarium" leads things off, with its crisp
highs and crystalline synth washes, while "White Plains" has got
to be the most heart-rending, emotional, Detroit-inspired techno
cut I've heard all year. After the brilliant _Wookey_ 12" and now
this, can Tenth Planet do no wrong?
Wishmountain: Radio (Universal Language: EV0031)
- Matt Herbert's first proper release for Pritchard & Middleton's
label is much more techno-oriented than his deep-house Herbert
guise or his quirk-funk Dr. Rockit incarnation. Of the three main
tracks, "Radio" is the standout, storming along on a massive
kick-drum while eerie heavy-machinery noises add rhythmic
complexity. "Salad Tosser" is a choppy, syncopated piece in
much the same vein, while the long, untitled track on the B-side
is more ambient in nature - reminiscent of his remix of Link's
"Antacid." As always, the majority of Wishmountain's sounds are
sampled, everyday objects, and this gives his work a most
definitely distinctive sound.
DJ Teep: pocketBASS [Mixtape]
- On this, the follow-up to his rugged _Sewer Sound 60_ tape,
IDM's own DJ Teep has seemingly decided to explore the myriad
incarnations of techno-induced funk, and in the process proves
himself to be a master freestylist. The choicest new-school cuts
all make an appearance on the Treehouse 1210's - from
Ectomorph to Beverly Hills 808303 to Mad Mike to Bochum Welt
- and Teep works his mixes with quicksilver deftness. Simply put,
*this* is how it should be done.
- Matthew
"I grew up thinking that techno music is actually something that you
can't imagine. That is techno at its best. If you hear something that
you'd never expect to hear - that's techno. If you hear something that
kind of sounds like you've heard it before, then it's not techno."
- Jeff Mills