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(in this issue)
Various : Extreme Possibilities Vol 1 (Lo Recordings)
Plug Research (Plug Research)
Wagon Christ : Redone US (Rising High US)
Plug : Plug 3 - Versatile Crib Funk (Blue Angel)
::: Various : Extreme Possibilities Vol 1 (Lo Recordings LLP01)
The first LP from Lo Recordings and quite a stunner. The title Extreme
Possibilities may lead you to think this would be a jungle compilation as
it did me, but it infact brings a number of tracks ranging from ambient,
dub, and jungle to Vibert's electronic hip hop. Throughout the LP
there are a number of shorter ambient tracks 'bytes' style, by
artists such as Bedouin Ascent, Omni Trio, Starfungus, and Daniel
Pemberton. Other tracks of note: Scanner's Brittle, a dark dub excursion
that has a very 'live' feel to it. Wagon Christ pulls Flip Flop out of
the Throbbing Pouch, a track with plenty of Vibert flavour, a vocoded
"flip flop" sample, and a very subtle clicking noise which I finally
think its safe to say is part of the recording. He then returns with
partner Jeremy Simmonds for the excellent Knaim N' No, a smooth dub hip
hop track. The second 12" brings whats listed as X=X and credited to
Psyche VS Boymerang but is infact almost exactly the same as the
Psyche VS Boymerang mix of the track by 2Player titled, funnily enough,
Extreme Possibilities. Whatever it is, its a beautiful ambient jungle
track that I just can't get enough of. Voafose, better known perhaps as
Jeremy Simmonds, produces a disturbing ambient track that definately
sounds like some kind of creature (squirrel?) being throttled. Finally
young mister Pemberton plays us out with some majestic strings in his
Sunset. An excellent compilation and a great start for Lo Recordings.
::: Plug Research (Plug Research PRMC1?)
This numbered limited edition EP from Plug Research features four tracks by
four different artists: r.e.a.l.m., Jaime Hodge, Rook Valard, and Kid
Spatula (credited as "Spatchula Freak"). It's pressed on white vinyl and
has a 12" and a 10" side (two inches are uncut) and labels that aren't too
clear besides giving the tracklist, credits, and a note that says "c'mon
MMMorris, play the damn thing!" The 10" side starts off with r.e.a.l.m.'s
RAF, a long beat driven ambient track, and is followed up Jaime Hodge
with a nice bubbly rhythmic track titled Mai Fun. The 12" side picks up
the pace with Rook Valard's Crease, a haunting melodic track comprised of
abrasive percussive elements and a fair amount of distortion and filtering.
Finally, closing things up is Mike Paradinas in his Kid Spatula costume,
banging out Metal Thing #1 from the Spatula Freak LP on Reflective. Good
music for a good price and some food for the trainspotters.
::: Wagon Christ : Redone US (Rising High US)
Wagon Christ goes domestic with a limited edition of 500 white labels of
the Redone EP. It contains the same three mixes as the import version
including the excellent Hangable Auto Bulb style Aphex Twin mix, but also
throws in an exclusive fourth track to bait the line. The addition is a
Freaks Mix of All My Fingers, the last track on the Throbbing Pouch, and
as you might imagine differs greatly from the original. It starts out with
a few kicks and then before you know it, you're flying along on the back
of speeding breakbeats that seem to trip over each other, Vibert style.
::: Plug : Plug 3 - Versatile Crib Funk (Blue Angel)
IDM workhorse of the year, Luke Vibert, returns with his third in the
excellent Plug series. Plug3 continues the junglesque excursions,
starting off with Brave Lick (Let's Get Down), a smooth melodic funk
track with rapid tin-can percussion and a "Let's Get Down" vocal sample.
Also, love that short telephone break towards the end. Track two,
Versatile, is a constantly evolving piece that goes through a number of
changes over its duration, always working into something different
whether it be jungle madness or just a sleazy funk track. The flip side
opens with Tuff Rinse, another darkish jungle track, and then onto Crib
Funk which opens with some bad surf music and transforms into a majestic
ambient jungle track. More Plug please.
:: Alan M. Parry
:: fluid@hyperreal.com
:: <finger me for PGP key>
::
http://hyperreal.com/~fluid