Infant :: 'Growing Up'
NEO 12 CD/LP
Excellent new album on Neo Ouija by Andrew Fearn. This 8 tracker may not be
the lengthiest of albums, but the good thing about this is that there's no
room for fillers here.
'Growing Up' is a collection of exquisitely produced IDM with a very
distinctive, distant quality.
'Asiate' starts the journey off mysteriously enough with rattling,
clattering and clunking percussion and an entwined melody featuring some
very nice, atmospheric pads.
B.S.H.M. features some interesting treated vocal samples which make up part
of the rhythmic structure of this distorted oddity including further muffled
vocals.
Ran is one of the real highlights of 'Growing Up'. Superbly detailed,
haunting effects that echo and crackle (without being glitchy) over a
disturbing bass synth and another nicely contructed, complex melody.
Rebel reminds me quite strongly of another excellent album release through
Neo Ouija - Geiom's 'Sellotape Flowers'. Clipped and cut-up rhythyms with
minimal, distant and otherworldly synth washes pushed far into the
background.
The album concludes wonderfully with another sublime vocal track, 'You Are A
Long Way From Home'. Yet more clipped rhythms with otherworldy effects and a
vocal which slowly emerges from the echoing depths of a cave.
Neo Ouija continues to release albums and singles with unique character and
style and 'Growing Up' is no exception. If you're looking for something
that's awash with atmosphere and which is that bit different, you can't
really go wrong with this.
Various :: Annexe : Cottage Industries 2.
NEO 13 2xCD/LP
Now here is a compilation not to be missed! A mammoth 2 hours plus featuring
artists from all corners of the globe, many of whom have and/or will soon be
releasing albums and 12"s through Neo Ouija, Merck, deFocus etc.
We have another truly serene track from Autralia's Sense, an epic track by
Funckarma from the Netherlands who will shortly be releasing their Elaztiq
e.p. through Neo Ouija.
Two new tracks (one a collaboration) from Sweden's Bauri whose album, 'The
Slacker Journal' (reviewed to follow shortly), is out on Neo Ouija in March,
another track from the eclectic Kettel (latest release being the 'Tadley
Management' e.p. on Planet Mu) who follows up his last album 'Dreim' on
Kracfive with a new album called 'Smiling Little Cow' through Neo Ouija in
April of this year (hopefully).
It also features other outstanding contributions from the likes of Ilkae,
Proem, Lackluster, EU and new Neo Ouija signings Qeshi, Xela and the
magnificent Sica (from the USA) whose ep 'You Are Not Milk Machines'
features some of the best glitchy electronic I have ever heard.
This compilation is not to be missed and features a truly international
roster of very fine talent.
For details see: www.neoouija.co.uk
Look out for the following too:
Aardvarck :: 'Find The Cow' CD/LP on Delsin (previews up at www.delsin.org)
(Review To Follow)
Lackluster :: 'Wrapping' 12" album sampler on deFocus
(www.defocusrecords.co.uk) (Review To Follow)
Esem :: 'Enveloped' CD/LP on deFocus. The album following on from the
critically acclaimed 'Ikae' 12" on deFocus, this should be one very, very
fine release.
)Jamesq.
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