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::::: ( (_ (_) \_/ ( (_ \/\/ _) ::::V 001.9 ::::
(in this issue)
B12 : Time Tourist (Warp)
Gregory Fleckner Quintet : Monkey Boots (Clear)
Kid Spatula : Spatula Freak (Reflective)
Slack Dog EP (Lo Recordings)
Mike Dred & Peter Green : Beyond The Box (Machine Codes)
::: B12 : Time Tourist (Warp LP37)
B12 return with Time Tourist, the much anticipated followup to the
excellent Electro-Soma LP, and they don't dissapoint. Contained within
is more of the deep, melodic, slighty-blunted electronica that B12 produces
so well. The opening track, Viod Comm, is a syrupy combination of cascading
processed percussion and atmospheric strings and from there is just goes
on. The albums ten tracks were produced by either Redcell or Cmetric with
the exception of Epillion, which is credited to Musicology, and all are
previously unreleased with the exception of the excellent Scriptures
which appeared on Artificial Intelligence II. This really is IDM at its
finest and takes me back to the days of AI and Electro-Soma, days that
played a significant part in the creation of this mailing list. Definately
something to look forward to in the new year.
::: Gregory Fleckner Quintet : Monkey Boots (Clear CLR419)
After the somewhat exciting sampler EP with the two excellent remix
tracks, I decided to get Monkey Boots after all. Just what I should be
saying about it though is a little hard - there's part of me that really
likes it and another part that asks just what the hell am I listening to?
The sound is hard to explain but as the groups names suggests, it's a
sort of subtle jazzy electronic concert hall sound. The best track on the
LP is easily Juicy Jazz Gins which knocks all the other flat with its
dialogue between the muted trumpet and that beautiful quirky voiced
synth. Funnily enough, this is also the the track that Plaid did such an
outstanding job of remixing for the sampler EP, though they really bare no
resemblance to each other. If only both records could be as consistently
good as their respective versions of Juicy Jazz Gins. After having heard
the album then, I'd say the EP is definately worth looking in to because
on the whole its definately the stronger of the pair. The two non remixed
tracks on it, Oi That's My Bird and Hold Me Close, have definately grown
on me in recent days. Monkey Boots is certainly of interest and still
growing on me, and if you've got the money to spend Juicy Jazz Gins makes
it all worth while.
::: Kid Spatula : Spatula Freak (Reflective REFLP3/4?)
Finally got my hands on Kid Spatula, the new one from Mike Paradinas,
which was surprisingly hard to get a hold of. I believe the vinyl is a
limited edition of sorts, a fact that seems likely due to the artwork
which looks like its been screenprinted and leaves tiny bits of glitter
everywhere whenever I get it out. Also of note is the apparent error
in the Cat# with the cover listing it as LP4 and the record labels as LP3.
Spatula Freak brings nine new tracks, and is certainly more indicative of
the Bluff/Tango sound than his other recent releases and in that sense
is much more pleasing to my ear. This link is also made apparent in some
of the track titles - both Spatula Freak and Bluff Limbo contain differently
numbered tracks titled Dance and Metal Thing. As Kid Spatula, Mike
Paradinas certainly works a little magic producing some brilliant tracks
like Xvon, Cough, Get Up T (related to Get Up R from Makesaracket), and Not
Human. If that wasn't reason enough, it's domestic. Now all you have to
do is find it.
::: Slack Dog EP (Lo Recordings LOEP1)
The first EP on the the new label of John Tye from MLO. The Slack Dog EP
is certainly an odd two-faced beast and credited as consisting of Vibert,
Biswas, Smith, Tye, and Proper-Sheppard. The first side is a blistering
audio assault in the form of New Yawk Dog that stands in stark contrast
to the sexy funk of Luke Vibert's Ruff Dog on the flipside. Vibert
scores again with another smoothie based on a wire brush percussion
section and double bass. Its followed by Fusion Hot Dog, credited to
Kingsuk Biswas; another funk filled track with nice acrobatic snares and a
soft melodic background. Good stuff.
::: Mike Dred & Peter Green : Beyond The Box (Machines Codes CODE D)
With Code D comes a partnership and some serious audio experimentation.
The EP contains four tracks, two of which are a collaboration between the
two, and then one solo track each. The two tracks on each side are seperated
in the middle by etchings one, of which reads "don't be nosey." The first
side opens with the first of the collaborations and is followed by Mike
Dreds track, both of which are packed full of seemingly random electronic
pulses and squirts that occasionly break into rhythm. The second side
opens with "Modus Vivendi," a dark ominous orchestral track by Peter
Green and plays out with more sonic madness in the final of the two
collaborations. Altogether a nice bit of chaos.
:: Alan M. Parry
:: fluid@hyperreal.com
:: <finger me for PGP key>
::
http://hyperreal.com/~fluid