Larry Kucharz – Unit 34:Assorted Tracks (International Audiochrome Inc)
Some artists when they try to create CDs with various genres on the same CD
but this one is different because it takes a different approach. How so? Read
on to find out!
Assorted (adj) (taken from dictionary.com)
Definition - Consisting of a number of different kinds
This is the third CD from New York based artist Larry Kucharz and this CD
contains assorted tracks. This CD title goes very well with the definition; it
contains different types of tracks. Some albums that have assorted tracks, don’t
work well, some do but what does this album hold? It holds a mixed bag of
tracks, which include house, techno, hardcore, chillout, ambient and other
genres. How do they go together? how do they sound?, well read the review below.
1.U341
The first track on this album starts with some quick beats with some flashy
effects; I’m not sure what to make of them. Around a minute in, it suddenly
changes gears and goes into a laid back 1980’s feel sort of house with some funky
snares. I did not like the transition but the song has some decent effects.
It reminds me of the late 1980’s Chicago House for some reason. Around two
minutes in, it changes gears and adds a piano that sounds altered and the snares
and the hi-hats are there. He adds some effects that he used at the very
beginning now and then a minute later, it switches to the same thing it did about a
minute in. This will be confusing to some listeners but it will make the
experimental lovers, very happy. The song changes gears again after a while and you
are left wondering, why so many different changes. I don’t think it is a bad
thing but might tick off a few people or a few might just get bored with it.
It continues the same housy groove after that with some swirling effects and
the hi-hats and snares. It continues the same housy way till the very end; I
believe this is a solid introduction.
2.U342
We begin with very faint music here and it is almost dead silence at the very
beginning. You start to hear some music instruments creep in and out at times
for the first while. It is certainly a unique start and Kucharz draws the
listener in slowly. You get an almost ambient feel here for the first bit of the
song. You have some instrumentation come in and out at points, it is hard to
say what exactly has been changed about the instruments. The song could be
termed almost chillout in some areas because it makes great use of silence and
instruments coming in and out, almost teasing the listener but the only issue I
have with the song, it is far too long.
3.U343
We start here with some noises here and a quick tempo is established. A nice
riff is introduced and then Kucharz throws in the normal parts, more snares
and hi-hats. He uses some effects and instrumentation in places here that I just
cannot describe accurately. It sounds almost orchestra like in parts because
he is using one effects then building on that with another effect and quickly
bringing in another. Not quite like a symphony because more instruments are
used and it is not electronic but you do see him building on it. Some of the
effects do tend to repeat themselves at times and it does wear on you about 6
minutes in but at least he is trying to be different.
4.U344
U344 starts with a 1980’s video game feel, this reminds me of Pacman. Snares
are added in quick secession. The snares do increase in their speed and some
weird noises are added and more effects are added. It changes gears very
quickly about 1:45 into it and you wonder why the sudden takeoff. It uses snares but
throws in this noise that reminds me of Pacman. It tends to clash in parts,
with all the effects coming in and coming out. I just don’t like it.
5.U345
This starts with some usual effects, it uses snares as usual and some effects
and noises that sound like one you would hear in a space influenced video
game. The effects, you have heard before and they do start to really wear on you.
I liked them, the first time around but this seems so much like tracks from
the other CD. It sounds like something you have heard before.
6.U346
This is an incredibly calming tune, almost ambient like in parts. It starts
with some swirling noises and some filtered effects. It gives you a warm calm
feel and it is better than the previous two tracks. It does not contain the
same “effects overload” and I feel that is good. The first three tracks were
very strong but the previous two could be improved. This goes into; more drum
instruments building around a nice melody. I will say that some effects that have
been used in the previous CDs and some tracks on this CD have been used
repetitively. Some will enjoy it; I just tend to love diversity. This is a good
calming tune, nice to take down the pace of the CD.
7.U347
We start minimal techno here (Derrick May circa late 1980’s). He uses what
sounds like a filtered organ notes at points. I do like the melody because it
reminds me so much of the early Detroit techno days. It has some filtered
equipment coming in and out at points and I like this. About 2:45 into this song, it
adds these deeper keyboard keys and adds some nice instrumentation to back it
up. This is the Kucharz that I enjoy listening to because you have an
orchestra type mentality, add something and build on it then bring in another and get
it to sound good together. This does not contain too many effects and none
clash and it all works out. I would love to know what equipment; he used to make
the background noises coming in and out.
8. U348
If you had to describe this song in one word, it would “Different”. It
starts very quickly and very fast with some altered keyboard notes. Some would
label this hardcore experimentalism because it is so fast. I like hardcore but he
throws this effect in at some point that I feel does not add to the song, I
believe it takes away from the song. Some cool effects are thrown in at times
here but the effect that just does not go hurts it. You have some effects that
sound like something from the cheap key chains you buy with the sound effects,
well this one is a grenade launcher type effect. It does have some hard bass
lines in places but that noise that is just too weird.
9.Blue Through City Night Lights
This is the first title of a song that I’ve seen from Kucharz that does not
have a U then a number. This is easily the best song on the CD and it certainly
gives it the appeal. This song sounds similar to something out of the Ninja
Tunes Stable. It starts with a laidback groove with a Blue Through City Night
Lights as a vocal but the same vocal is added over top and at different times.
You get this layered effect and it immediately becomes a favorite of mine
because I am a big fan of the Ninja Tune type tunes. It continues like this to the
very end and finishes very strongly off this CD
Tracklist
1.U341
2.U342
3.U343
4.U344
5.U345
6.U346
7.U347
8.U348
9.Blue Through City Night Lights
Conclusion:
This is certainly an assorted bag of tracks from Larry Kucharz. The starting
was extremely strong with the first three tracks that made the album, so
enjoyable. The album then took a downturn with song four and song five but U346’s
ambient type calm feel helped take the enjoyment level back up. Song seven was
a great take on late 1980’s Detroit Techno, which pleased my ears. The second
last song went down a bit not because it was hardcore but because it had that
effect, that made the song sound weak. The whole CD was made worthwhile with
the last song. The final song had such great hallmarks and it sounded so much
like a Ninja Tune song. It was not completely like a Ninja Tune song but it did
remind me of that label. So the label contains some very strong songs but has
some equally weak songs. The strong songs outweigh the weak ones, so this
ends up with a six out of ten. If you like experimentalism or you like inspired
Detroit techno from the late 1980’s then give this a try. Rating: 6 User
Rating: 10
Andy P www.ivibes.nu
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available from BACKROADS MUSIC toll free (800) 767-4748
available from Amazon.com
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Armchair DJ Interview “CLASSICAL TO TECHNO TO CLASSICAL” Larry Kucharz
interviewed by Brian J. Dillard complete interview at:
http://www.armchairdj.com/handler.asp?/features/interviews/larry_kucharz.asp
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Unit 34: assorted tracks
“...techno by a composer rather than a dance producer. The distinction
is that one would move your feet and the other would move your brain. ...”
(thunderfinger) M station
http://www.mstation.org/beatz.php
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