quoted 3 lines This LP collects tracks From> This LP collects tracks From
>Schlammpe's 4 A-Musik LP's and tracks from the ultra-rare split LP
>from 1994 with Marcus Schmickler.
speaking of which, it looked like there was a new (is it?) Schmickler
CD on A-Music at my local record stores. anyone check it out?
i'm not really familiar with his work, though he seems to be on that
Cologne scene that i'm so susceptible to. speaking of which there's a
new Kompakt comp, "total 3", and a new Bionaut...guess i have to buy
them but i'm so broke...
hence listening to older purchases more thoroughly -- the good part
of being broke.
speaking of which: Matthew Herbert's "Bodily Functions". it came out
months ago and everyone said it was nice. ever since Squarepusher's
"Port Rhombus" i've been interested to discover artists using truly
new approaches to mingle traditional intruments with electronica
without first reducing them to pliant little samples. And here's this
record, part oddball house-electronica, part song cycle for female
voice, part lounge music with 'live' performances by piano, winds,
etc. i've really liked some of the Doctor Rockit stuff and his Tresor
mix, so i was intrigued by what 'Bodily Functions' turned out to be.
but
I'm so frustrated by the thing.
the singing isn't up to the task of being the centerpiece of the
album. for the kind of singing it's supposed to be, it just don't got
the technique or the emotions or the ability to really put the words
across. the lyrics, which breezily riff on torchy lounge songs, want
to have a great singer. you know, call up nina simone or something.
boy, then you'd have some IDM, huh?
other main gripe:
The electronic part of the show is where 100% of the playfulness is.
it's elaborate, creative, spry. It reflects what's great about
matthew herbert. The jazz stuff plays the straight man all the time,
doesn't get to do anything remarkable; it's syrup. seems too bad, to
me.
Anyway, like i say, frustrating, because the album shows again and
again what a good producer the guy is, and, on the whole, suggests
that one of these days he could do something really great with the
sort of fusion attempted here.
there i've said it.
and i'll never work in this town again.
oh, wait a minute, that's my goal.
k
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