Robot & all,
I have to agree with practically everything said.
As far as I'm concerned Clear have been the strongest UK label since mid
90ies and up until now. Ever since the start in 95 they've always had a
consistent quality in all releases. The first thing I heard from and about
Clear was on a swedish radioshow where Hal and Clair were interviewed, they
also played cuts from their backcatalogue - what caught my attention was GO
SUMO off the Gescom EP. I keep thanking myself for not going to the movies
like I thought to stay home listening to the radio instead. Then came "It's
All Becoming... Clear" and a record had never had a more fitting title.
This was spring 1996, ever since I have bought every release they've put
out and I've yet to become disappointed. Clearly leading from the front.
A clearlist 5 if I had to do it today: (in no specific order)
: DANIEL IBBOTSON : Souped Up (1996)
Dr Rockit, Kraftwerk and Major Force in one.
Somewhat triphop, somewhat electro and somewhat
house. And incredibly clever arrangements.
: PLAID : The Plaid EP (1995)
When Plaid still was doing something completely
and uttely special instead of just making very
good music. Plaid take on D&B is amazing. 2 of
the 4 tracks are off the MBUKI MVUKI album (1991).
: DR. ROCKIT : The Music of Sound (1996)
Matthew Herbert is a sampleguru of sorts and The
Music of Sound is a long pleasant journey through
Herberts recordcollection and beaches.
REALLY innovative.
: GFQ : Monkey Boots (1996)
What Greq Watts and Mark Fleckner can do with
general midi saxophones and a couple of classic
jazzscales is really astounding.
: AS ONE : In With Their Arps and Moogs... CD-version (1997)
The (almost) complete Clearadventures of Degorgio
(and most certainly the most confusing release up to
date). Showing off As One's ability do do almost
anything. Care for some house? Some jazz? Some Triphop?
All's here, and all's brilliant.
And I want to include Gescom, Clatterbox, Metamatics, Reflection, Slaz and
all the rest as well, but this is todays list. Tomorrow it'll probably be
different.
There's one Clear record for every day of the week, Ibbotsons "New Stories"
for hungover sundays and Clatterbox 2x10" for dressing up before going out.
Or GFQ's Monkey Boots before hitting the sack.
I wish that did go for every label out there.
I'm afraid however that the palmy days are over now when Hal and Clair have
parted company; Hal is Clear and Clair is Reel Discs. I'll keep my fingers
crossed, but they were obviously a dreamteam and I think it'll be hard to
continue as stong as they used to.
In about a week there'll be an interview/article published on Surveillance
that I did with Hal in december last year. It was originally ment to be
published in The Dot Herald, but since the magazine has been delayed
without any date set I thought I'd publish it on SURVEILLANCE instead
<
http://gargamel.com/surveillance>. Although it isn't very up to date (Reel
Discs had just started when I did the interview) it might be an interesting
read. About 4 pages worth.
Keep Clear.
Franz.
----------- "To do is to be" / Descartes
---------- "To be is to do" / JP Sartre
--------- "Do be do be do" / Frank Sinatra .