OK here are my reviews of :
Gescom - The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used
(Clear CLR408)
Autechre - Anvil Vapre
(Warp WAP64CD)
I'll start by helping out Ed Pond who couldn't read the sleeve of the
Gescom Single. Actually it's just a list of shout-outs (but are they
all real?); here's the transcription as I make it out. Still can't
work out the 7th one on line 1...
Local Heroes
Sane Tees Rook Blue Tempo Tempt Ser?n Chok Danseventytwo Era
Leo Tina Coma Dan Chile Nuna Ned Kelz Nazer Carthree Atwoz
Tecone Buck Cred Asune Korde Void Met Beem Jinx Tubstwo Madtwo
Dmize Form Hoe Wise Sone Corione Cure Mase Reverseven Risk
Case Lie Tabu Pbab Icie Pascal Cage Zine Skeez Grapthree Sharky
Groove Rise Jewel Sievo Gimik Acuse Herbie Copey Dudesixteen Coma
Cast Cue Amazeone Defist Komanine Cruthirtytwo Select No One Eez
No Two No Three No Four Crash Majestic Karl Kamikase Cell
Raid Hanal Shane Caro Maca Shine Mariel
The tracklist appears to be
A - Puzl
B1- Go Sumo
B2- Go Sheep
_Puzl_ runs c 125bpm and is steeped in Electro references, from its
basic rhythm pattern to elements sucha s the rising tinkling sound
which originated in some Kraftwaerk track or another, to the handclap
rhythm in the breakdown, which is lifted from "Hip Hop Be Bop don't
stop". Not the sounds, but the rhythm. Unmistakeable Autechre
breathy/metallic synth sounds and a trademark long outro. Soft Strong
and very long.
_Go Sumo_ is 140bpm-ish. Fast but not hard. Has a very funky buzzy
synth bass over the rolling rhythm. Somehow, the overall feel of the
track is more Black Dog than Autechre, oddly enough.
Finally _Go Sheep_ pulls right down to 75bpm. There is something very
familiar about this track but I can't put my finger on it. There is
an almost jazzy synth-organ sound used in this. Overall effect, very
mellow.
Another excellent EP from the Gescom crew, snap em up b4 they sell
out. This even cropped up at no.30 in the CIN dance chart for last
week.
However, in my reckoning, what follows actually blows this away.
The new Autechre EP on WARP, Anvil Vapre is goddamn amazing! I'm
going to describe each track, but I don't know whether I can do
justice to how much I like this EP.
God only knows what Autechre are trying to tell us with the title of
this EP and its tracks, but who cares? Just listen to the music.
Second Bad Vilbel
Pop it in, crank it up, press play. Jesus! A burst of distorted low
frequency noise assaults your hifi and your ears. And another. Then a
rhythm builds. A massive 150bpm techno break beat kicks into life.
Wow! Lots of dark Gescom noises, little squeaks, buzzes, scrapes.
Breaks down, leaving those noise bursts again, and introduces a
haunting synth line, a half-speed banshee wail.
At about 6 minutes it breaks down again,and then resurrects itself
with the same basic structure at 120bpm, before drawing to a close
Second Scepe
Another fierce breakbeat c144bpm, and some dismebodied vocal samples
form the initial backbone. Thena walking bass melody joins in, a
beautiful, haunting refrain. And another typical long and pretty Ae
outro.
Second Scout
A few seconds of quiet Namlookesque clonks and scrapes prelude a
thumping 130bpm break joined by electronic fingersnaps. The synth
line is slightly squelchy, vaguely Detroitish. Things are gradually
getting less frantic.
Second Peng
Moody hollow metallic synth sound and rhythmic percussion form the
intro to a heavy but mellow 75bpm bash. A minor key melody line
dawdles nonchalantly in adn out of the percussion melee as all manner
of electronic goings-on take place through its 11 minutes. Towards
the end the background noises build, the beat disappears, and finally
just as its all over, a little rhythmic shuffle takes over, just to
be extinguished almost immediately.
Roll on Tri Repetae!! I can't wait.
J
^
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-_ This has been a message from James Skilton -_
-_-_ aka Steady J -_
-_-_-_ steady-j@firefox.co.uk -_
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-_ "I don't have any idea 'bout what's going on"-_
-_-_ - Autechre -_
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