IDM Mailing Archive

IDM TIMES no, i kid you not... it's another IDM Times. kind of sparse cos i don't have the time to invest it these anymore and also i haven't been buying a lot of music since my car was vandalized, setting me back several hundred $... but here's a few i just had to share with y'all... Loop Guru - Duniya (The Intrinsic Passion Of Mysterious Joy) Nation Records NATCD 31 4:05 Hymn 5:15 Sussan 11 5:04 Jungle A 5:56 Through Cinemas 4:06 Bangdad 4:19 The Fine Line Between Passion And Fear 4:40 Senseless 4:33 Freedom From The Known 4:58 Aphrodite?s Shoe 5:33 Under Influence 6:22 Tchengo 21:49 The Third Chamber (part 4) Wow, talk about misleading first impressions. I made a tape of this album and listened to it in my car on the way to work. My car system basically massacred the album, making me think it was harsh, dull and repetitious. So I got to work, eager to give it another shot (please god don?t let me have pissed away $20), and boy, what a difference a sound system makes! Heavy dub basslines, warm rich textures, all that was lost in the car. But it?s on the disc, so the blame lies squarely on my shoulders. Anyway, pumping out of a system with a decent bass response, ?Duniya? reveals itself to be a funky, chunky, exciting, mysterious, textural record. Most of the tracks have phat midtempo breakbeats with major low frequency rumble and an exotic eastern sheen - definitely my cup o? tea. Elsewhere there?s raga, reggae and always tons of atmosphere. The final track is a slow, beautiful trip through the universal oneness. Wonderful liner notes, nice art, all in all a very solid package. Jon Say Go Forth And Purchase. Voices Of Kwahn - Rebirth MaxBilt 01005-84002-2 3:52 Rebirth [part 1] 7:23 Third Whale Trip 9:47 Re-evolution 8:39 The Enlightenment 13:04 Return Journey 21:41 The Transformation 6:55 Ya Yae Ya Yo Yo Yo (mix 1) 6:20 Ya Yae Ya Yo Yo Yo (mix 2) 7:05 Return Journey 6:55 Rebirth [part 2] Just who is Mark Davies anyway? The name seems awfully familiar. Anyway, Mr Davies is Voices Of Kwahn, although he occasionally has help from Nigel Butler whose name I recognize from Little Fluffy Clouds (he played bass), and Andy Falconer?s solo album. And the Orb connection is very strong on this album. The liner notes are in the same font used on Ultraworld, and even more importantly, Alex & Thrash co-produced ?Third Whale Trip?. A great track, full of a fat electro bass and some floaty textures. Speaking of which, floaty textures are definitely the order of the day here. Sometimes with beats, sometimes without but always pillowy and inviting. (Definitely one of the warmest albums I?ve heard lately.) Basically, if you like classic ambient house like Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld (and who didn?t) and Falconer, this will float (pun intended) your boat. QUICK TAKES: Robert Rich?s newest ?Propagation? (Hearts Of Space) continues in the electronic world beat vein. Lots of real instruments, lots of expensive synths, lots of very tasty production. Drexciya 4: ?The Unknown Aquazone? (double 12? on Underground Resistance) is some crazy insane techno. Check out the phat electro sound on some of the tracks... Mad!!

RE>IDM TIMES Loop Guru: I have to say that I have not listened to the tape Jon made on his boombox (the place he found all those warm textures and phatt bass lines (-'), but in his car the whole cd sounded like one long (too long) parody of itself. Ordinary and derivative.. It certainly doesn't strike me as something ground breaking or new, but it is good. Just not *great*. I'd give it a 3 on a 5pt scale. JT -------------------------------------- Date: 5/27/94 12:47 PM To: Jeff Taylor From: Jon Drukman IDM TIMES no, i kid you not... it's another IDM Times. kind of sparse cos i don't have the time to invest it these anymore and also i haven't been buying a lot of music since my car was vandalized, setting me back several hundred $... but here's a few i just had to share with y'all... Loop Guru - Duniya (The Intrinsic Passion Of Mysterious Joy) Nation Records NATCD 31 4:05 Hymn 5:15 Sussan 11 5:04 Jungle A 5:56 Through Cinemas 4:06 Bangdad 4:19 The Fine Line Between Passion And Fear 4:40 Senseless 4:33 Freedom From The Known 4:58 AphroditeUs Shoe 5:33 Under Influence 6:22 Tchengo 21:49 The Third Chamber (part 4) Wow, talk about misleading first impressions. I made a tape of this album and listened to it in my car on the way to work. My car system basically massacred the album, making me think it was harsh, dull and repetitious. So I got to work, eager to give it another shot (please god donUt let me have pissed away $20), and boy, what a difference a sound system makes! Heavy dub basslines, warm rich textures, all that was lost in the car. But itUs on the disc, so the blame lies squarely on my shoulders. Anyway, pumping out of a system with a decent bass response, RDuniyaS reveals itself to be a funky, chunky, exciting, mysterious, textural record. Most of the tracks have phat midtempo breakbeats with major low frequency rumble and an exotic eastern sheen - definitely my cup oU tea. Elsewhere thereUs raga, reggae and always tons of atmosphere. The final track is a slow, beautiful trip through the universal oneness. Wonderful liner notes, nice art, all in all a very solid package. Jon Say Go Forth And Purchase. Voices Of Kwahn - Rebirth MaxBilt 01005-84002-2 3:52 Rebirth [part 1] 7:23 Third Whale Trip 9:47 Re-evolution 8:39 The Enlightenment 13:04 Return Journey 21:41 The Transformation 6:55 Ya Yae Ya Yo Yo Yo (mix 1) 6:20 Ya Yae Ya Yo Yo Yo (mix 2) 7:05 Return Journey 6:55 Rebirth [part 2] Just who is Mark Davies anyway? The name seems awfully familiar. Anyway, Mr Davies is Voices Of Kwahn, although he occasionally has help from Nigel Butler whose name I recognize from Little Fluffy Clouds (he played bass), and Andy FalconerUs solo album. And the Orb connection is very strong on this album. The liner notes are in the same font used on Ultraworld, and even more importantly, Alex & Thrash co-produced RThird Whale TripS. A great track, full of a fat electro bass and some floaty textures. Speaking of which, floaty textures are definitely the order of the day here. Sometimes with beats, sometimes without but always pillowy and inviting. (Definitely one of the warmest albums IUve heard lately.) Basically, if you like classic ambient house like Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld (and who didnUt) and Falconer, this will float (pun intended) your boat. QUICK TAKES: Robert RichUs newest RPropagationS (Hearts Of Space) continues in the electronic world beat vein. Lots of real instruments, lots of expensive synths, lots of very tasty production. Drexciya 4: RThe Unknown AquazoneS (double 12S on Underground Resistance) is some crazy insane techno. Check out the phat electro sound on some of the tracks... Mad!! ------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------

IDM TIMES bit of a different format this time, mainly because i can't be bothered to work out BPMs/times for all these things. time is of the essence, y'know. BABBLE: The Stone Reprise 45387-2 OK, I gotta send the big dis out and start a grand IDM flamewar over this one. I know some of you like it, but I can't possibly imagine why. Comparisons to Strange Cargo III are very valid - it's a cheap, crappy, pop, soulless, watered down SC3. SC3 wasn't exactly smashing barriers of innovation either, but it was good solid headtrippy fun with memorable melodies and fantastic production. This sounds like a lame Thompson Twins album run through the William Orbitfication box. Anybody want to buy my copy for $10? WEIRD BLINKING LIGHTS: Traditional Synthetic Cuisine Voltage Control 001 This is the product of a net.guy named Steve Lerner. The title derives from the method of production: no samplers, no MIDI, just pure synth satisfaction. The first cut is a *slowly* evolving bunch of synth textures (even Pete Namlook might find his patience tried), definitely background music. If you work the chill rooms, this would be excellent for mixing in with other stuff. For ordering info, write to resonate@netcom.com. UZECT PLAUSH: More Beautiful Human Life! Apollo AMB 4932 CD Uzect Plaush is an anagram for Paul Schutze, the guy who made this record and also one of my all time favorite "dark ambience" records, "New Maps Of Hell" (released under his own name on Extreme). This new one continues on in a lighter vein, as evidenced on his post-Maps stuff. Anyway, nice hypnotic rhythms, strange organic/synthetic tones, and lovely atmospheric production. A bit more synthy than his previous outings, maybe done to fit in with Apollo's worldview? Who knows. Anyway, check it out. Mr Schutze (or Mr Plaush if you prefer) is a very talented individual who deserves wider recognition. DOG STAR: Illuminati Fabricati Lalaland lala003cd This is a weird one. I don't know what to make of it, really. Sort of a cross between The Orb, Enigma, Moodswings, Bjork (they sample "Violently Happy" at one point) and god knows what else. Lots of mellow film-soundtracky bits with deep basso russian choirs and babies crying. Breakbeats and Cosmic Baby-esque piano melodies. Noises. Rhythms. Melodies. Sounds. It's neat alright, but it's gonna take a little getting used to. My only complaint is that there's this melodic motif repeated in various configurations throughout the piece which is a little weak, but it's not used enough to become really annoying. One final note: the CD is one big track with all the songs run together. Don't you hate it when they do that? RENEGADE SOUNDWAVE: Howyoudoin? Mute CDSTUMM 100 I'm fine, how are you? Well, you appear to be a rather lifeless, melodically bankrupt, rhythmically unadventurous RSW album. Where's the crazed percussion and deep deep dub bass? Well, there's a bit of it on "Funky Dropout" but overall the chunky percussive clatter has been replaced by, variously, well-worn drum loops or bad programming. I just can't figure out what they're trying to achieve here. The melodies (what few there are) are terrible, and the singing was never the main attraction for anybody I know... I guess all the talent left with Paul Kendall. Anybody out there want to take this off my hands for $15? And the winner is... FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON: Lifeforms Astralwerks ASW 6113-2 Holy Jesus Christ with beans on toast. This is The Real Thing. Never mind your warps, your airfix twins, your detroit nonsense. Better than you can possibly imagine, FSOL are so far out there that it's frightening. There is so much detail and innovation packed into every second of this record, I don't even know where to begin. They even managed to improve on "Cascade" which started off a little weakly on the single version. FSOL are touting themselves as beyond ambient, beyond techno, and they are absolutely correct. A word has yet to be invented to describe this stuff. To put it as simply as possible, this *is* the future sound of music. Every second a winner, a double CD for the price of one, 92 minutes of joy, wonderful trippy sleeve art, what more could you ask for?

IDM TIMES [looks like this one didn't make it through last time... sorry if anyone sees this twice.] bit of a different format this time, mainly because i can't be bothered to work out BPMs/times for all these things. time is of the essence, y'know. BABBLE: The Stone Reprise 45387-2 OK, I gotta send the big dis out and start a grand IDM flamewar over this one. I know some of you like it, but I can't possibly imagine why. Comparisons to Strange Cargo III are very valid - it's a cheap, crappy, pop, soulless, watered down SC3. SC3 wasn't exactly smashing barriers of innovation either, but it was good solid headtrippy fun with memorable melodies and fantastic production. This sounds like a lame Thompson Twins album run through the William Orbitfication box. Anybody want to buy my copy for $10? WEIRD BLINKING LIGHTS: Traditional Synthetic Cuisine Voltage Control 001 This is the product of a net.guy named Steve Lerner. The title derives from the method of production: no samplers, no MIDI, just pure synth satisfaction. The first cut is a *slowly* evolving bunch of synth textures (even Pete Namlook might find his patience tried), definitely background music. If you work the chill rooms, this would be excellent for mixing in with other stuff. For ordering info, write to resonate@netcom.com. UZECT PLAUSH: More Beautiful Human Life! Apollo AMB 4932 CD Uzect Plaush is an anagram for Paul Schutze, the guy who made this record and one of my all time favorite "dark ambience" records, "New Maps Of Hell" (released under his own name on Extreme). This new one continues on in a lighter vein, as evidenced on the followup to "Maps", "Rapture Of Metals" (released in some cases as "New Maps Of Hell Part 2"). Anyway, nice hypnotic rhythms, strange organic/synthetic tones, and lovely atmospheric production. A bit more synthy than his previous outings, maybe done to fit in with Apollo's worldview? Who knows. Anyway, check it out. Mr Schutze (or Mr Plaush) is a very talented individual who deserves wider recognition. DOG STAR: Illuminati Fabricati Lalaland lala003cd This is a weird one. I don't know what to make of it, really. Sort of a cross between The Orb, Enigma, Moodswings, Bjork (they sample "Violently Happy" at one point) and god knows what else. Lots of mellow film-soundtracky bits with deep basso russian choirs and babies crying. Breakbeats and Cosmic Baby-esque piano melodies. Noises. Rhythms. Melodies. Sounds. It's neat alright, but it's gonna take a little getting used to. My only complaint is that there's this melodic motif repeated in various configurations throughout the piece which is a little weak, but it's not used enough to become really annoying. RENEGADE SOUNDWAVE: Howyoudoin? Mute CDSTUMM 100 I'm fine, how are you? Well, you appear to be a rather lifeless, melodically bankrupt, rhythmically unadventurous RSW album. Where's the crazed percussion and deep deep dub bass? Well, there's a bit of it on "Funky Dropout" but overall it's either well-worn drum loops or bad programming. I just can't figure out what they're trying to achieve here. The melodies (what little there is) are terrible, the singing was never the attraction... I guess all the talent left with Paul Kendall. Anybody out there want to take this off my hands for $15? And the winner is... FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON: Lifeforms Astralwerks ASW 6113-2 Holy Jesus Christ with beans on toast. This is The Real Thing. Never mind your warps, your airfix twins, your detroit nonsense. Better than you can possibly imagine, FSOL are so far out there that it's frightening. There is so much detail and innovation packed into every second of this record, I don't even know where to begin. They even managed to improve on "Cascade" which started off a little weakly on the single version. FSOL are touting themselves as beyond ambient, beyond techno, and they are absolutely correct. A word has yet to be invented to describe this stuff. To put it as simply as possible, this *is* the future sound of music. Every second a winner, a double CD for the price of one, 92 minutes of joy, wonderful trippy sleeve art, what more could you ask for?

IDM TIMES IDM TIMES One in an occasional series of critical looks at contemporary electronic music. VANGELIS: Blade Runner Atlantic 82623-2 If you doubt the suitability of this item for discussion on the IDM list, then you haven't listened to it. From the sweeping tones of "Main Titles" through the trance electro drum programming on "Blush Response," this shows that for one brief shining instant, Vangelis really had something interesting to say. Although, also worthy of note is "Invisible Connections"... experimental and brilliant - so much so that it routinely ends up on the bottom of a typical Vangelis' fan's "favorite albums" list. Which means that it HAS to be good... Anyway, despite its unjust stay in limbo for the past 12 years, the Blade Runner soundtrack still sounds fresh and innovative. Which is either an amazing compliment, or a veiled swipe at the current crop of electronic soundsters - you make the call. My one complaint is that there's not enough stuff from the movie. (Four new tracks not from the movie were added to make this more of a Vangelis album and less of a soundtrack. Oh well.) TRANS-GLOBAL UNDERGROUND Dream Of 100 Nations (Nation NR21 CD) Earth Tribe/Slowfinger (Nation NR29 CD) Nation is fast becoming one of the top British dance labels, and Trans-Global Underground is one of its best acts. On the album "Dream of 100 Nations," hip hop loops are mixed with techno synths, sounds from around the world, house piano, the occasional rap (but this ain't no 2 Unlimited, believe you me), gorgeous ethnic vocals, funky guitar, and just about everything else under the sun. Great tunes, great grooves, an uplifiting vibe - sort of a more ethnic version of Strange Cargo III. A real worldly head trip. The "Earth Tribe/Slowfinger" single is very different however - most of the mixes are pure dancefloor stompers, with solid 909 work and what you might call Ethnotechno feel (see below). Although the liner notes claim that there are mixes by The Drum Club and Delta Lady (aka Secret Knowledge), it's hard to tell what's what. For one thing, the sleeve lists 3 tracks whereas there are 4 on the CD. Furthermore, the original album is of little help since the tracks bear almost no resemblance to their original incarnations. Fortunately, it's all good. Big BIG thumbs up for Trans-Global Underground. TRANCE EUROPE EXPRESS TOO Volume TEEX CD2 There's a lot to like about Volume's productions - mainly the huge amount of music and information you get for your money. This is the second in their dance series, "Trance Europe Express" and it's safe to say that if you liked the first one, you'll like this one. Musically, I think this one might even have the edge, but it's hard to compare since I burned out on the first one a long time ago. I like the most of Disc 1 and at least half the tracks on disc 2, which is a pretty good ratio for a compilation. Standouts: the ever-reliable Speedy J, Eat Static's heavily swung mayhem, another winner from Irresistible Force, a return to form for the Orb in their FFWD guise, and a smashing number from Hardfloor. And of course, who wouldn't like two 80 minute CDs and a full color magazine for $20? DIVINATION: Ambient Dub Volume One Subharmonic SD7001-2 I know this is really old but I wanted to mention it at least once because I think it's a mighty fine album. Booming dubby bass (big shock) and cool atmospheres and drum loops. You might even mistake it for an Orb record if you're not paying close attention. Only one track gets slightly annoying with some harsh female singing that feels like it's gonna rip your eardrums out. Overall though, mighty fine. ETHNOTECHNO (Sonic Anthropology Volume One) TVT 7211-2 WaxTrax making the big foray into the domestic comp market. This one is pretty good - a strong starter with the double wallop of an incredibly heady & psychedelic Juno Reactor opus (they just get better and better) and my favorite track from Sabres Of Paradise, "RSD." Other strong entries include Steel Porn Rhino, Moody Boyz and those wacky Exist Dance guys as High Lonesome Sound System. Overall, I have to confess that I'm actually surprised at how good this is. I didn't think there was a lot of life left in the "plundered ethnosample" genre but most of the tracks here manage to work it properly. Good stuff. SUZUKI K1: Satellite Serenade AO oracd 03 Finally. I've been looking for a copy of The Orb remixes of Keiichi Suzuki's "Satellite Serenade" for ages. I even tried to order the original album from Japan, but no luck. Well, somebody took heed and put out this lovely CD single with four mixes. Oba contribute the Saturday Mix and Sunday Mix - both sweet trance; the latter with more in the way of drums. Then it's The Orb with the Transasianexpress Mix and Dub. The former is the real gem: lovely plucked guitars and patented Orb-style ambience giving way to a solid techno spaceout. Closest I can come by way of comparison is the Voices Of Kwahn stuff. Anyway you slice it, this is a beautiful track in all its forms. EAT STATIC: Implant Planet Dog BARK CD 005 Who would've thought that some of the most amazing dance music could come out of a rock band? For those who don't know, Eat Static is the side project of Ozric Tentacles, who are a really excellent psychedelic rock/dub/synth/weirdness band. All I can say is that they make me sick, cos not only are they the best rock group ever, but they're also one of the most amazing techno groups working right now. This album has cool noises by the dozen. It's basically split 50/50 between fast dance tracks and slower, more groovy stuff, but it's all wonderful. Just get it. SPEEDY J: Beam Me Up!/Pepper/Live '94 Warp WAP 46 CD More good stuff from Jochem Paap. Beam Me Up! is remixed into a funky house groove thanks to Rene van der Weyde of Pegasus Records (PG1, Disco Anthem). Pepper is toughened up for the dancefloor by Paap himself. The real gem is "Live '94" which is a set of tracks from Ginger reworked into a lovely 15 minute opus. SEEFEEL: Starethrough Warp WAP 45 CD For a while it looked like Seefeel could do no wrong and were just getting better and better. Unfortunately, this release is a disappointment. Slow tracks with uninteresting tunes that go nowhere. No catchy dub grooves, just a lot of self-indulgence. Shame.

quoted 6 lines VANGELIS: Blade Runner

> VANGELIS: Blade Runner > Atlantic 82623-2 > > ...My one complaint is that there's not enough stuff from the movie. > (Four new tracks not from the movie were added to make this more of > a Vangelis album and less of a soundtrack. Oh well.)

Are these 4 tracks any good? Are they at least in the same vein as the BR stuff? In other words I'm not going to hear some Chariots of Fire-esque ditty come after the awesome opening sequence number am I? t -

Jon, I was surprised to see you slam Vangelis so hard in the latest "IDM TIMES"... and this from the guy that raves (so to speak) over Klaus Schulze? My two cents: Vangelis definitely runs hot and cold musically, but I don't think his music is /quite/ as rancid as you describe it. Even when his work is a bit fluffy musically, it is amazingly executed from a production standpoint. As for Klaus, he is also a very talented, and ground-breaking musician, but I really believe that at best he is Vangelis' equal. Hmm.. I'm still very surprised that you feel that way about ole Vangelis... I quite like his work. Brad.