Clear Records Buying Guide
**Jedi Knights - May the Funk Be With You
**12" January 1995 CLR 406
Description :
Although most Clear records don't sound as old
school as this, the Jedi Knights 12" was responsible
for garnering interest in the label. While the
tracklisting lists multiple tracks, the EP is really
just two long electro pieces; twisting, grooving,
and evolving in a 'The Box' type style.
Availability :
This is a record of lore. Out of print and hard to
snag. Cost me my copy of the Bola 12". But well
worth it.
**Tusken Raiders - Bantha Trax
**12" February 1995 CLR 407
Description :
Mikey P.'s first Clear excursion, and, in my opinion,
his best one. Serious electro and breakbeat edge, with
trademark mu-ziq distortion and melodies.
Availability :
Old and out of print. I have seen these in a lot of house
music dj stores for some reason. I've always [regrettably]
passed them up. Got mine for a pretty penny from Gil
Gershman. That's right; Gil Gershman. He's a Good Trader.
**Plaid - Android EP
**12" March 1995 CLR 409
Description :
Wow. What a blinder. BDP style house and an Angry Dolphin.
Two of these tracks are from one of the first BDP 12"s
circa 1991. It's amazing how they still hold up. The
Plaid take on drum'n'bass is mindblowing. Morris raved about
this one and so should you.
Availability:
You should be so lucky. Again, another early Clear release;
out of print and out of sight. If Clear starts reissuing 12"s,
this needs to be the first one. Snatched this one on an
IDM auction.
**Spacepimp - Spacepimp
**12" May 1995 CLR 415
Description :
A solid EP, considering the strange source [remember Acen?
Trip to the Moon? Just Close Your Eyes?]. Two tracks of
smooth as shit electro, one drum'n'bass track - in a Clear
stylee.
Availability :
Easier to find than you'd think. May still be orderable from
your local record store. A certain list member has a copy
for sale [care to identify yerself?] Seen it a few places
in Miami, Fort Worth, and New Orleans this year. I always
pass it up. :(
**Jake Slazenger - Makesaracket
**2x12" + CD June 1995 CLR 410
Description :
One of Mikey's consistent works, Makesaracket has never failed
me. Tons of funk, cheese, jazz, and detroit influences.
Availability :
The CD was repressed last summer, so check used and import bins.
LP is OOP, but some are still floating around. I know Bill's
has at least two copies. Found the CD at Tower when it was
reissued; got the doublepack from an IDM auction.
**Dr. Rockit - Ready to Rockit
**2X10" July 1995 CLR 411
Description :
Up until the As One album, this was the ultimate Clear recording.
Matt Herbert's production + percussion skills are fantastic.
Electro, house, light drum'n'bass, and ambient rhodes noodling.
Lots of tunes for a double 10".
Availability :
My first Clear recording. Out of print, but when I see it in
record bins, there are tons of copies. Got mine used from
a house dj store.
**Gescom - The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used
**12" August 1995 CLR 408
Description :
Used to have a dub of this. Didn't really go nuts for two of
the tracks becuase they were too dense for my sensitive ears
at the time, but Go Sheep, which was on the Clear comp,
is some jazzy, plodding, hiphop shit. A winner.
Availability :
Hard as fuck to get. Totally unorderable. The only Clear record
[apart from Megaphonk] that I've never had in my mits. Check
the bins, but don't hold yer breath. I've seen this title on
only one Internet auction.
**Jake Slazenger - Megaphonk
**12" September(?) 1995 CLR 4103
Don't even think about it.
**Gregory Fleckner Quintet - A Gentle Introduction
**To the Gregory Fleckner Quintet
**12" November 1995 CLR 418
Description :
Two tracks from the full length, two ace remixes from Dr.
Rockit and Plaid. The Plaid remix is one of the best
tracks I've ever heard. The two GFQ tracks are experiemental
techno-jazz, which have a really live, airy feel.
Availability :
More or less a commerical promotional record, so a bit hard
to find. Like Dr. Rockit, though, when it's availiable - it's
available in spades. Bill has a ton; that's where I got mine.
**Gregory Fleckner Quintet - Monkey Boots
**2x12" + CD November 1995 CLR 419
Description :
Clever techno jazz; part manic, part laid back. Strange drums
and instruments. A very solid record.
Availability:
CD repressed last summer, and can still be ordered. Rob at
Future Sounds and Dave at ear/rational have both come
across it. LP is a harder task. I got both formats from
Bill, who still has a copy of both.
**Clatterbox - Clatterbox
**2x10" December 1995 CLR 412
Description :
Clean, smooth, funky electro and old school hiphop. Some
of the best production values I've ever experienced
in techno.
Availability :
Out of print; hard to get. Unorderable, and not visible
on internet auctions. Got mine from Gil Gershman [again].
What a sweet fellow.
**Dr. Rockit - D For Doctor
**12" January 1996 CLR 416
Description :
Minimal Herbert style house with electro overtones. Pressings
for these were poor, so beware. Overall, a deep sexy ep.
Availability :
I was able to special order this last October. Check the Siren
catalog. Seen a few copies in stores and on web based record
store catalogs. Got mine from a Fort Worth DJ supply store.
**Dr. Rockit - High Speed
**7" January 1996 CLR 007
Description :
Limited edition 2 track electro 7", in the same fashion as
D for Doctor.
Availability :
Hard as shit to score, and then a house head friend of mine
broke it. Check promo bins, but don't hold your breath.
**Gregory Fleckner Quintet - Goodbye Morals, Hello Happiness
**12" February 1996 CLR 420
Description :
3 tracks of sex jazz and light cheese from GFQ; not much
progression from Monkey Boots, but not really necessary.
Availability :
Still in print. Was able to order it in December from the
Synaptic people. Makes the rounds on Internet auctions.
**Various Artists - It's All Becoming... Clear
**CD + MC March 1996 CLR 400 CD
Description :
The best from the Clear catalog, but the Jedis + Jake
Slaz are notably missing! Contains a few unreleased goods.
Availability :
CD might still be orderable, but don't hold me to that.
Got the disc from an IDM auction last summer; got the
cassette from Bill. Worth the effort if you're interested
in Clear.
**Clatterbox - Spatz
**12" March 1996 CLR 421
Description :
Smooth SMOOTH funkyness from Dave Kempston. Remixes from
Repeat and Paul W. Teebrooke. Again, excellent production.
Availability :
Still in print, still orderable, still findable. Bill has
tons. Got mine from a Fort Worth DJ store.
**Clatterbox - Easy Does It
**LP + CD + MC April 1996 CLR 422
Description :
More amazing hiphop from the 'box. Contains a remix from
partner Steve Horne.
Availability :
LP and CD formats still in print + may still be orderable.
Never seen the MC pressing. Got the CD from a record store
in Mesquite, TX.
**As One - The Message In Herbie's Shirts
**2x12" + CD May 1996 CLR 417
Description :
Shit, this is some funky stuff. My first and favorite
Kirk De-troit-io record. Lots of house, jazz, electro,
and ambient goo. Make this your first Clear record.
Availability :
LP might be out of print, but worth looking for.
7 of the 8 tracks made it to this Spring's CD pressing
of _In With Their Arps..._ Got mine from the wonderful
Synaptic people.
**Dr. Rockit - Swingtime
**12" 1996 CLR 423
Description:
More minimal housiness from Matt Herbert, including a
Herbert remix. Again, a bad pressing, but really
deep and saturated with deep house bass.
Availability:
Still in print and can be ordered; again, check the
Siren catalog. Bill has shit loads. Got mine from
a Fort Worth DJ store.
**Daniel Ibbotson - Souped Up
**12" 1996 CLR 414
Description:
My fave Clear 12". 4 tracks of smooth, clean
electro and house on the experiemental tip.
Essential for house heads.
Availability:
Still in print and still orderable. Seen them
with Synaptic and MFR [4th world]. Got mine
from the beautiful Greg Clow.
**Clatterbox - Clatterbeats Vol. 1
**12" September 1996 CLRB.ONE
**Clatterbox - Clatterbeats Vol. 2
**12" September(?) 1996 CLRB.TWO
Description:
Not just yer ordinary loops and breaks comps. These stand
alone as actual tracks. More hiphopy than previous
Clatterbox excursions. Funky, funky.
Availability:
These were limited to 1500 a piece. Prolly can't order
them anymore, but check yer record bins.
**Dr. Rockit - The Music of Sound
**2xLP + CD December 1996 CLR 424
Description:
A forgotten classic. Wicked percussion experimentation,
deep house grooves, a little jazz and some live
rhodes + piano playing. Ranks with _Adventures Beyond
the Ultraworld_ and _Throbbing Pouch_ as a completely
*listenable* album.
Availability:
A big album for Clear, so there's plenty of copies to
go around. Very orderable. Another Clear essential.
**Metamatics - Beatsamatic Vol. 1
**12" December 1996 CLRB.THREE
**Metamatics - ep01
**12" January 1997 CLR425
**Metamatics - ep02
**12" February 1997 CLR426
**As One - In With Their Arps and Moogs and
**Jazz and Things
**12" + CD April 1997 CLR430
Description:
Basically, a CD pressing of the _Herbie's Shirts_ LP
from last year, with the new tracks made available on
EP format. The new tracks are some of Kirk's most
consistent works; break-driven house and electro-jazz,
with live keys playing on arps and moogs.
This is Clear's most confusing record, so, to recap:
1996 2xLP - 8 tracks
1997 EP - 3 new tracks
1997 CD - 7 tracks from 1996 LP, and two of the new EP tracks.
Whew.
Availability:
The LP has been and still is Clear's best seller, so it's
probably still available. The CD and EP are still fresh,
so they can still be ordered. Got both from Maxalert.
**Reflection - Transparent
**12" May 1997 CLR431
Description:
Another twist for Clear; sort of a mixture of GFQ jazz
aesthetic with a hint of Rockit, but a large amount
of experimentation. 4 jazz tracks, two bordering on
drum'n'bass with Tobin-like breakdowns.
Availability:
New. Mine from Synaptic.
**Relfection - The Errornormous Void
**2x12" + CD June 1997 CLR432
Description:
Still waiting for mine :)
Availability:
New. From Modernmusic.
Clear discography:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Towers/3495/discography.html
Keep Clear.
grant.