[Smallfish-releases-text] Smallfish Mailout 18/07/05
justusfish
justusfish@smallfish.co.uk
Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:23:10 +0100
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Smallfish Mailout 18/07/05
Hi there.
There are a few nice bits to mention this week as well as the usual =
selection of goods. There seems to be quite a lot of Techno and Electro =
bits this week so those looking to pick up some dancefloor burners =
should find some great bits in amongst it.
New 12k Releases
First is the brand new 12k CD from Frank Bretschneider + Steinbruchel, =
'Status' [12k1033]. As is becoming a trend with 12k, this collaborative =
work is made up of pieces of music which were initially composed =
seperately by each artist then sent to the other and reworked. Beginning =
back in 2003, this has been 2 years in the making... and it shows. The =
second release is 'Live in Japan 2004' [12k2001] by label owner Taylor =
Deupree + Christopher Willitts. Released in extremely limited quantites =
and mainly only available on their recent tour of Japan, we've only got =
10 copies of this so if you want one you'd best snap it up as quickly as =
possible! Both CDs are prime examples, once again, of why we love =
minimal electronica so much here at Smallfish.
Autechre / Hafler Trio CD
This will be back in mid-week and as it's proving to be something of a =
stormer I'd suggest that when you see it back on the website you grab it =
as quickly as possible!
Lost - August Bank Holiday Sunday - 28th August
Tickets for Lost will be in sometime later this week and, as ever, it =
promises to be a good one. Details:
LOST
BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY 28TH AUGUST
@ THE BRIDGE, WESTON ST SE1
featuring
red.
JEFF MILLS EXCLUSIVE UK DATE
STEVE BICKNELLL
MORE T.B.C.
purple.
RHYTHM & SOUND
+ AXIS ART PROJECT
Following on from the dvd installation featured in May LOST presents =20
the second in a collaborative series of events in association with
JEFF MILLS/AXIS RECORDS.
Sounds great!
That's about it for this week so I'll say goodbye on behalf of all of us =
here at Smallfish.
Have a great week.
Peace.
The Fish.
Smallfish Records | 329 Old Street | London | EC1V 9LE | +44 [0] 20 7739 =
2252 | www.smallfish.co.uk
New Releases (Vinyl): Electronica
ANDREW WEATHERALL / KEITH TENNISWOOD - HIDDEN LIBRARY 2 - HIDDEN =
LIBRARY - 7" (HL002)
The potent combination of Weatherall and Tenniswood gets together
here for a low-key electronic release. The first cut is clearly
influenced by electro and breaks but has a fresh sound and nicely
minimal chord structures. The flip has a more live-sounding feel
with a guitar bassline and a more overtly hip hop feel to the
beats. Definitely one to get a listen to.=20
JNR. POON - HIDDEN LIBRARY 3 - HIDDEN LIBRARY - 7" (HL003)
Interesting little diversion from Jnr. Poon here. Two tracks which
take in a synthy, retro pop electro sound on the main side with
a more downbeat, slightly hip hop influenced electronica cut on
the flip. Nicely put together, if not earth-shatteringly amazing,
and a good addition to your electro set.=20
SOLO-MAN SPECTRUM - POPCORN IN HEAVEN - BOTANICA DEL JIBARO - 12" =
(BDJ026)
7 tracks of electronic hip hop pleasure here from Miami's Beta
Bodega crew. Solo-man provides a record of two distinct halves.
The first side is more of a deep, funky affair with three cracking
tracks (instrumental and vocal) that should get the heads nodding!.
The flip is slightly darker and a wee bit more aggressive but
is a nice alternative to the other, lighter side. Great stuff
from this reliable imprint. =20
VARIOUS - THE DUDES EP - SHADETEK - 12" (SHT007)
Probably a stronger release than 'The Girls EP'. This has more
of an overt electronic feel as well as a Crunky feel to tsome
of the beats and some blatantly large hip hop vocal moments. =
Processed
to the max and pretty much as crunched up as you can get, I guess
a good comparison would be the more aggressive recent Spezial
Material gear. Whoop, whoop!=20
Restocks (Vinyl): Electronica
AFX - ANALORD 08 - REPHLEX - 12" (ANALORD08)
ANALORD 08 IS THE FIRST OF THE SERIES SO FAR (THERE'S A FEW MORE
TO COME) WHERE THE TRACK TITLES ARE NAMED AFTER SPYWARE SOFTWARE,
SO ANYONE RUNNING ANTI-SPYWARE SOFTWARE ON THEIR COMPUTER MIGHT
END UP WITH THESE (PERHAPS ILLICIT MP3) FILES DELETED! SMART =
THINKING,
IF A LITTLE SNIDE. ANYWAY, THE MUSIC, ALTHOUGH AGAIN INSTANTLY
IDENTIFIABLE AS AN ANALORD RELEASE, SEES ANOTHER SLIGHT TWIST.
THE OPENING TRACK IS VERY DISCO FLAVOURED, AND TRACK TWO IS ALMOST
DETROIT SOUNDING IN ITS APPROACH - IT'S ACTUALLY A BIT CLARO =
INTELECTO.
SIDE TWO CONTAINS PERHAPS THE TWO MOST WARM AND SOULFUL ANALORD
PIECES SO FAR. CERTAINLY MORE REFLECTIVE AND DOWNTEMPO THAN SIDE
ONE, I CAN EVEN SEE FANS OF MINIMAL TECHNO (EG. PLASTIKMAN, =
LAWRENCE)
GOING FOR THIS. ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET... RUNAROUND!
AFX - ANALORD 02 - REPHLEX - 12" (ANALORD02)
HERE'S THE SECOND PART OF THE NEW SERIES OF AFX RELEASES AND,
IF ANYTHING, IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN ANALORD 01! THIS ONE COMES
AT YOU IN A SIMILARLY ACIDIC STYLE, BUT WITH A DEEPER, SURPRISINGLY
HOUSE ORIENTATED STYLE AND A DEFINITE NOD TO THE ONE AND ONLY
LARRY HEARD. A REAL RETURN TO FORM FROM ONE OF THE MOST DELIBERATELY
AWKWARD ARTISTS OF ALL TIME. PROPS TO THE TWIN. OH YES, YOU'LL
NEED TO GET IN QUICK AS THESE ARE VERY LIMITED.=20
APHEX TWIN - REMIXES 1 - UNKNOWN - 2xLP (ATW01)
WELL, WELL. A SELECTION OF REMIXES BY A CERTAIN APHEX TWIN. SEEMS
A BIT LIKE THE 26 MIXES FOR CASH COMPILATION BUT, TO BE FAIR,
YOU CAN'T KNOCK A VINYL VERSION THAT INCLUDES HIS STAGGERINGLY
COOL VERSIONS OF ST ETIENNE, NAV KATZE, SEEFEEL, CURVE, BABY FORD,
MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO, THE GENTLE PEOPLE AND THE BEATNIKS. PLUS
YOU GET THE ACID EDIT OF WINDOWLICKER AS WELL. STORMING STUFF
THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FOOLISH TO MISS!
CYNE - RUNNING WATER (FOURTET REMIX) - CITY CENTRE OFFICES - 12" =
(BLOCK033)
C.C.O. DELVE FURTHER INTO CYNE'S WONDERFULLY DENSE HIP HOP SOUND.
INCREDIBLY WELL CONSTRUCTED BEATS AND DEEP, DEEP SAMPLES UNDERPIN
THE SERIOUS VOCAL WORK WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PANACHE. COUPLE THAT
WITH A FOURTET REMIX WHICH SHOWS KEIRAN'S SKILLS WITH THE BEATS
AND YOU'VE GOT A WINNING COMBINATION ALL ROUND. A STRONG RELEASE
FROM A LABLE THAT'S ON TOP FORM AT THE MOMENT. RECOMMENDED.
MARK BROOM - ANGIE REVISITED (AUTECHRE ALT MIX) - PURE PLASTIC - 12" =
(PPD1)
FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS A REMASTERED REISSUE OF A CLASSIC MARK
BROOM TRACK. QUALITY TECHNO FROM, OOH, AROUND '95 I THINK. THE
FLIP IS SOMETHING A BIT SPECIAL. AN UNRELEASED AUTECHRE MIX FROM
THE SAME PERIOD WHICH COMES AS A COMPLETE ALTERNATIVE TO THE =
RELEASED
MIX. A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE AUTECHRE'S WORK
WITH ITS LUSH CHORDS AND AMAZINGLY TIGHT PERCUSSION. HIGHLY, HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
MICHAELA MELIAN - BADEN-BADEN - MONIKA - 2xLP (MONIKA39LP)
YES, YES! WE'VE GOT A HOT ONE FOR YOU! THIS IS A SUPERB PIECE
OF WORK. MICHAELA DELIVERS SEVEN TRACKS OF DIVINELY WORKED =
ELECTRONICA
AND ORGANIC SOUNDS BUT WITH A DUBBY HOUSE INFLUENCE GOING ON.
HARD TO DO IT JUSTICE WITH WORDS, BUT IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THE BASTARD
SON OF BERLIN, COLOGNE AND THEO PARRISH MIXED WITH THE DEEPNESS
OF, SAY, KARAOKE KALK, YOU MIGHT BE GETTING CLOSE. STUPENDOUS.
JUST GET IT.
PSAPP - TIGER, MY FRIEND - ARABLE - LP (ARABLE4)
THE EAGERLY AWAITED FULL ALBUM FROM THE MIGHTY FINE PSAPP LANDS
UPON THESE SUNNY SHORES AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY. THE SHEER
PLAYFULNESS AND SENSE OF MELODY IS MAGNIFICENT AND COUPLED WITH
SOME PERKY, VERY INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMMING IT CREATES AN INTRIGUING
AND ENGAGING COLLISION OF ELECTRONICA AND ORGANIC SOUNDS. THE
VOCALS ARE SULTRY, SWEET AND STRANGELY SEXY AND, ALL IN ALL,=20
THIS IS A SUPERB ALBUM ALL ROUND. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
New Releases (Vinyl): Techno / Electro
8-BIT ROCKERS - EXIT / ENTRANCE - STILLEBEN - 12" (STILLEBEN026)
This is a fabulous ep and quite possibly the strongest release
on Stilleben so far for me. Fresh, incredibly well produced =
electro-based
tracks which owe as much to Drexciya as they do to the usual =
retro-synthy
/ Italo sound. In fact the first track on the B-side could easily
be an aquatic missive from the late James Stinson... yes, it's
that good. A hot 12" for a hot, sticky afternoon... just what
the electro-doctor ordered!
ALEX UNDER - ROJO PAR Y PASA - CMYK - 12" (CMYK006)
Alex Under doesn't seem to be able to do a thing wrong at the
moment and this, the 6th release on CMYK, is more proof, if it
were needed, that he's on top form. Three killer techno grooves
with subtly shuffling house influences to the beats and lush,
minimal sounds. Fans of previous work are liable to smitten with
this... just like I am. Recommended.=20
ANTHONY SHAKIR - LOST & FOUND 1 - DUST SCIENCE - 12" (DUSTV005)
It's always good to get some material from Shake. His techno sound
is still pushing forward and still pretty much in a league of
its own. 3 tracks that vary in style and range from hypnotic minimal
loop tracks to a more lush and chord driven, classic Detroit sound.
A lovely piece of vinyl for fans of true techno.
ARIL BRIKHA - PREY FOR PEACE - MUSIC MAN - 12" (MM116)
Good god. It's virtually a trance record. Don't get me wrong,
I love Aril Brikha as much as the next man, but this is really
quite strange. The solid techno beats are all there, the melodic
chords are in place, but it just has this trance feel that's hard
to escape. You'll definitely need to check this yourselves and
make up your own minds. =20
CHRISTOPHER JUST - B.O.B. - POMELO - 12" (POM15)
Cripes alive! This is a banger. Putting it on, I was expecting
a disco / house / techno sort of affair and then I remembered
it's on Pomelo. What you end up with are 3 fierce electro-based
tracks with almost entirely distorted up sounds and beats that
will bang through your head and really get into your feet. An
absolutely wicked ep all round. Bravo.
D1 - BELIEVE - SOULJA - 12" (SOULJ8)
Is it grime? Dubstep? Garage/Breaks? Electronica, even? No, but
equally, yes, all of these. Confused? You won't be - this is deep,
minimal electronic grime, combining slick D&B textures, =
Bladerunner-esque
synths and fresh vocal samples. A very cool release from this
Tempa / FWD>> related offshoot.=20
DAMIAN SCHWARTZ - ARENA EN LOS ZAPATOS - APNEA - 12" (APNEA004)
Apnea is one of those really cool labels that seem to stay just
under the radar and put out fantastic minimalistic techno records.
For those in the know it won't come as a surprise to find that
this is a fantastic 4 track ep of funky, smoothly put together
tech funk with lovely sounds and rolling beats. Damian does it
again. Recommended.=20
DARK COMEDY - GOOD GOD - POUSSEZ! - 12" (P06)
Bizarre release from Kenny Larkin. Following on from the housey,
jazzy album this is a strange slice of very electronic sounding
drum & bass with a technical feel and tons of funk. Very peculiar.
The flip is a strong hybrid of histechno and house sounds melded
together with abstract chord structures and weird, off-kilter
beats. Better than the album, in my opinion and well worth checking
out.=20
DARKO ESSER - THE RAVEN EP - VETO - 12" (VT06)
Wonky techno par excellence here from Birmingham based Veto. Harsh,
almost industrial tracks that bear quite resemblance at times
to a mutant hybrid of Subhead / Landtrumm and Surgeon. Bang it
up!
DEBASSER - KLS (SI BEGG REMIX) - INPUT OUTPUT - 12" (IOI009)
Solid, synthed-up electro tracks here with a tough old flava.
The main point for most people wilol be the Two-Step version by
the one and only Si Begg who, true to form, twists up the basslines
into a pseudo-grime feel with massively impressive dancefloor
production. A winner and no mistake.
DIRTY PRINCESS - GOING GOING - MAD DILDO - 12" (MADDP002)
Here's a very expensive picture disco for you. Spanish label Mad
Dildo seem to think that if you put a kinky picture of two ladies
in fetish type gear on the record it'll entice people to buy it.
Might have done when I was 10 years old, but it takes considerably
more than that to get me excited nowadays. Musically it's not
as bad as I thought it was going to be. A mixture of electro,
both clash and straight up, with vocals and techno-ish bits. =
Probably
worth a listen if you're that way inclined I imagine.=20
DJ BONE - WHAT U BELIEVE EP - D1 - 12" (DONE032)
Detroit's DJ Bone gives a rip-roaring 4 track ep on Dublin's D1
label. Clearly on top form at the moment, he's constructed some
heavy, off-centre beats of a tribal-ish nature, but managed to
imbue the whole thing with a stringly, chordy warmth that's very
pleasing. Absolutely going to do it on the dancefloor with its
crisp percussion, but two of the tracks definitely have some legs
for listening at home as well. Great quality Detroit techno sound...
Splendid.
DJ SILVERSURFER - PARISIS EP - CROSSTOWN REBELS - 12" (CRM018)
Crosstown Rebels seem to be on a bit of a winning streak at the
moment and this 3 track ep is yet another goodie. The A-side takes
a very electro orientated approach and ramps up the dirty synth
bassline sounds to fine effect whilst the flipside is a more clicked
out, subtle techno affair with deep sounds and the kind of beats
that wouldn't be out of place on a Cadenza release.
DUB CHILD - TAKE ME / PSYCHOPATH - STORMING PRODUCTIONS - 12" =
(STORM004)
Big old Amen style dubstep from Dub Child. Ferocious beats and
excessively heavy, highly tweaked basslines. Both tracks are pretty
much rocking and will do it for Grime and beatz heads. Check.
=20
ECHO DEPTH FINDERS - THE CITY OF DOLLS - METEOSOUND - 12" (METEO016)
Meteosound deliver something a little different here with a very
atmospheric 4 track ep of downbeat, dub inflected sounds. Very
hip hop based in the beats department, this has a beautiful range
of very echoey reverbs and heavy basslines. Not the lightest and
airiest release of all time, but certainly a powerful beast all
the same. Check.
FEMALE - AVON REMIXES - SANDWELL DISTRICT - 12" (SD4)
A superb remix 12" with three reliable and consistent names on
duty. James Ruskin delivers a wonderfully deep version with layers
of chords and just the right combination of tribal beats to make
you move. 65D Mavericks opt for an off-beat tribal style that
's very much in line with the Blueprint sort of style... generally
a top track. Female gives us probably the best mix... a reduced
version of the original with a mid-paced, not-too-heavy, but =
incredibly
deep sound that could easily fit into a Kopakt / Contexterrior
set. A brilliant selection of tracks that comes recommended.
FIXMER / MCCARTHY - YOU WANT IT (DAVE CLARKE REMIX) - PLANET ROUGE - =
12" (PLR5002)
Explosive Dave Clark Five remix of the Douglas McCarthy (Nitzer
Ebb) and Terence Fixmer (Terence and Phillip) track "You Want
It", backed with a remix of "Come Inside" by Christopher Kah (The
Cars). Fast, furious and my, isn't it hot in here....=20
FREAK ELECTRIQUE - CLOUD SURFER / FRIGHT JAZZ - VIEWLEXX - 12" (V014)
Can it really be over eighteen months since Freak Electrique rocked
the shores of Smallfish HQ with their stunning prog-electro hybrid
sound? More seventies than eighties, imagine Giorgio Moroder,
Chris & Cosey and Yello all getting it on in the grooviest way
imaginable. The B-side is considerably more downtempo, veering
towards Tangerine Dream territory! Another stormer from Viewlexx.
=20
GLOBAL GOON, THE - THE BESSEMER COCKTAIL EP - WEME LE DISQUE - LP =
(WEME002)
The Global Goon (best known for gooning around on Rephlex and
Audio Dregs) does go on (hmm...) with this nifty 8-track mini-lp.
It's a curious meeting of the silly (eg. Like A Tim) and the more
serious (eg. Legowelt) sound of modern electro, which is =
paradoxically
very much rooted in the eighties. About as much Braindance as
it is Bodydance (ie, as much electronica as it is dancefloor =
orientated)
this should win many over.=20
HAC[K] THE TAB - I AM NOT MACHINE - [K]RACKTRONI[K] - 12" (KRAK007)
[K]racktroni[K] appear to be on something of a roll at the moment
and this isn't going to harm their reputation at all. Thre furiously
good electro pieces that, quite simply, rock! Mad bass sounds,
mixes from Sir Real and 8-Bit Apocalypse, heavy, club orientated
rhythms and much, much more. Highly recommended for the =
electro-heads
amongst you.
JOHN DAHLBACK & STAFFAN LINZATTI - OUTSIDE - PICKADOLL - 12" =
(PICKADOLL01)
Mr Dahlback returns for one of his more gritty numbers on this,
the first release on Pickadoll. 3 cuts that use gnarly basslines
and trademark funky beats to convey some serious dancefloor action.
Seems he can do no wrong at the moment.
JOHN SPRING - SNAPSHOT - SUB STATIC - 12" (SUS_48)
I imagine we've all been waiting for this with baited breath after
the two monster singles John Spring released last year. No surprises
then when you discover this is liable to be as big as those. Dirty
tech grooves with some monstrous basslines (of the gnarliest =
variety)
and really solid arrangements that provide just the right drops
and breaks for maximum dancefloor effect. Wicked stuff.=20
JUSSI-PEKKA - WORK IT - THE REMIXES - MORRIS AUDIO - 12" (MORRIS42)
This release sits strangely with the other Morris Audio records.
On the one hand their releases have got a little more housey =
recently,
but this sees Jori Hulkkonen and Freestyle Man delivering the
remixes and they're both very much in the electro / electronic
house vein. Wicked synth work and some cracking basslines make
up the main meat of the tracks and they're both different enough
to warrant playing out quite a bit. Strong stuff, then, but not
nearly as deep as some of the other Morris Audio gear.
LE TIGRE - THIS ISLAND REMIXES VOL. 1 - CHICKS ON SPEED - 7" (COSR23)
The first of two consecutive remix 12"s of reworked tracks from
the "This Island" LP. Dub and Vocal versions of "After Dark" from
Richard Morel, and mixes of "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo" from Craig =
Cristensen
and Arthur Baker Vs Coleman and Spencer. If anyone can tell me
who any of these people are (other than Mr Baker), i'd be =
grateful....
=20
LITERON - INTERFEAR - FORTEK - 12" (FT013)
Well, if it's on Fortek and it's not by Steve Azzara, you can
bet your rear end it's by Literon. The surprise here, however,
is just how much rear end this kicks! There's a couple of real
upfront club bangers on here, with plenty of top and bottom end
(naturally) that should grab the attention of the tougher, Novamute
/ Adam Beyer crowd, even.=20
LOUDERBACH - BLACKMIRROR - UNDERLINE - 12" (UND004)
FOUR MORE POWERFUL TRACKS OF ICE COLD TECHNO FROM THIS UP AND
COMING LABEL AND ARTIST. TOP-OF-THE-CLASS, MINIMAL DEEP TECHNO
- QUIRKY, A BIT SPOOKY, TONAL, ALMOST TEXTURAL. THINK PLASTIKMAN
/ VINTAGE NOVA MUTE / THE MORE MINIMAL END OF KOMPAKT. VERY NICE.
LOVEJUICE - ACID LOVE - MIGHTY ATOM - 12" (MA029)
Two solidly put together acid tracks here that are groovy, phat
and very dancefloor friendly. Kind of along the lines of the Essit
Musik track from Tigersushi at times with cool samples and a good
solid breakdown. One for the house fans whoc like it a bit more
technological. Check.
MARKUS LANGE - JAMES BONDAGE EP - POCKETGAME - LP (LEVEL007)
6 track picture disc from those Euro-centric bods at Pocketgame.
Silly, clubby, retro synthy sounds with a pounding selection of
beats and a couple of darker, more minimalistic moments to please
the Kompakt loving crew. One to check if you're a fan of the label.
=20
MELNYK - STRUT (PUTSCH '79 REMIX) - GAYMONKEY RECORDS - 12" (GAY10)
We probably wouldn't have got this in except for two facts. 1)
The people at Gaymonkey Records seemed rather nice and 2) It's
got a mix by Putsch '79 on it. The original mix is very much a
Shoreditch / Hoxton style slab of vocal electroclash and the remix
is kind of more of the same. Flip to the Putsch '79 version though
and you'll be in for an Italo / electro feast of fun. Well worth
checking out I reckon.=20
MFA, THE - ZONE DAY - B PITCH CONTROL - 12" (BPC109)
I had no idea what to expect from this at all so I was quite =
surprised
to find a very strong rave influence throughout. That's not to
say it's bad because, amazingly, I really liked the A-side track.
It builds and builds and has a great chord progression that's
epic, groovy and very hands-in-the-air. The flip has a more retro
electro sort of track and then a much more overt hardcore-style
cut. Have a listen and see if it does it for you.
NEIL LANDSTRUMM & S.E.S. - FIGHTING SPIRIT EP - IRON OXIDE - 12" =
(FE03)
Dark and twisted tech sounds from the powerful pairing of Landstrumm
and Sugar Experiment Station. First stuff I've heard from them
for a while so it's good to see (and hear) that they've still
got an edge to them. Mutated beats and rough as hell basslines
that'll scrape you ears into careless abandon. Wicked gear!
NEON BLONDE - HEADLINES EP - DIM MAK - 12" (DM084)
What a bizarre record this is... it's almost like glam electro
pop, akin to a cross between Scissor Sisters and T-Rex. Having
said that, it's certainly not Shoreditch Tw*t music, owing more
to classic pop than anything currently in fashion around these
parts. Comes with a remix by Jay Clark and two equally =
uncategorisable
numbers on side two.=20
OLIVER KOLETZKI - DER MUCKENSCHWARM (DOMINIK EULBERG REMIX) - COCOON - =
12" (COR12014)
The A-side on this is average techno / house / vocal sort of =
stuff...
not bad, but certainly not amazing. The flip has a grand remix
by Dominik Eulberg, however, which extends both the length and
the minimalism to a deeply hypnotic amount. Funky, yet stripped
and very, very playable.
PASTOR FITZNER - MY PHILOSOPHY - ESEL - LP (ESEL26)
Esel once again provide a lovely mini album that's full of low-key
tracks that are definitely set to please in a large way. Taking
a very nice dub approach to the sounds and using that nice guitary
stab flava it's got a shuffly, groovy feel through the 9 tracks.
Kind of like the James Din A4 material at times (in fact, my guess
is it's probably him in disguise) this is a really cool little
record that should definitely be checked out by all and sundry.
=20
PETER GRUMMICH - SWITCH OFF THE SOAP OPERA - SHITKATAPULT - 2xLP =
(STRIKE61)
With this album, Peter Grummich has exceeded my expectations by
a long way. After his recent beast of a single on Kompakt 'Frozen
World', this could easily have been a banging set of tracks for
a label that clearly likes it rough and tough most of the time.
It is, however, a much more varied set of tracks than that and
features some wonderfully reduced and surprisingly melodic minimal
tracks that should be great for an early evening session. Couple
that with some bass heavy, crunchy techno sounds that are guaranteed
to get people going and you've a well rounded set of techno tracks.
Quality stuff all round.
PUTSCH '79 - ARPEGGIO LIFE - CLONE - 12" (C#38)
Was very tempted to put this in the house section for this is
pure disco, with barely a trace of electro to be heard. For all
those of you out there rabidly collecting disco re-edits like
there's no tomorrow, look no further (Pav and Rupi!). Very =
authentic,
very smooth, very strong (hang on, this is turning into a toilet
paper commercial)....=20
RADIQ - QUADRILLE - LOGISTICS - 12" (LOG48)
This is a superb follow up to the wonderful album earlier on in
the year. Taking some of the motifs from the album (i.e. the depth,
the beauty, the clickiness and the slight tinge of jazziness)
and layering them over slightly more 4/4 based beats works a treat
and you end up with a set of 4 tracks that are, at times, reminscent
of Jan Jelink's work under his own name and as Farben. There's
even a cut with some tremendous Rhodes piano chords going on.
Deep, lush, wonderfully shuffly and groovy... absolutely spot
on. Recommended.=20
RICARDO VILLALOBOS - FADUTRON / CHROMOSUL - PERLON - 12" (PERL48)
Ricardo delivers yet another minimal masterpiece on the =
ever-consistent
Perlon imprint. 2 deep, wonderfully spacious grooves which use
his trademark stripped-down sounds and crisply compressed beats
to give you a hypnotic journey through techno. If, like me, you're
a fan of most of his other material, you'll find this absolutely
irresistable. Top quality and highly recommended.=20
RUTHERFORD - CESSNA - KONDI - 12" (KONDI009)
Rutherford does it stripped-down electro style here over 6 tracks.
Very much in lone with his work on Stilleben but, if anything,
there's less disco influence and more of a purist, Drexciyan-styke
sound to the melodic moments and synthy sound. Fans of Bunker
etc. are pretty much guaranteed to enjoy this one.=20
SONS OF SLOUGH - REAL PEOPLE REMIXES - ELECTRIX - 12" (ETRX022.5)
2 mixes here from Phil Keiran and Electrolux's Sniper Mode. The
Phil Keiran mix is a techno / electro slammer with the dancefloor
firmly in mind. All synthed out sounds and phat beats that will
certainly move a crowd. The Sniper Mode remix is a cracking slab
of Mikrolux style elctro with all the hallmarks you'd expect from
such a quality artist... heavy bass, solid beats and lots of good
analgues. Worth checking, I'd say.
TERRAE - KINGS OF IDIOTS AND HOLY OILS - DEFRAG SOUND PROCESSING - 12" =
(DFRG_10)
Defrag's a funny old label... in a good way, though. I like the
fact they're not afraid to use an upbeat, clubby, techy, trancey
sound as well as going for ultra-reduced minimal techno as well.
This has three solid tracks that'll, by turns, get them nodding
their heads and then jigging about when the more technical moments
start to kick in. A well produced, well constructed set of tracks,
then, for fans of the label and more.=20
TOMAS NORDSTROM - DANCE YOUR SELF STUPID - TONEWRECKER - 12" (TW009)
Techno lunacy from Tonewrecker. Easily the hardest release in
their catalogue with a vast array of industrial sound and clanging
beats. Each one guaranteed to severely hurt your ears in the right
environment, but just as likely to make you dance around like
a looney. Good stuff that's worth a check.
VARIOUS - 2RABIMMEL 2RABAMMEL 2RABUM 2BUM BUM - AREAL - 2xLP (AREAL31)
Areal present the '2Rabimmel' album for your listening pleasure.
Featuring the more wayward, off-kilter side of their sound (as
if they weren't oddball enough already!) it's got cuts from the
usual suspects including Basteroid, Metope, Ada, Konfekt, Remute,
Roan and Imogen and is a very convincing selection of tunes to
make you rock on the dancefloor. Tough, dirty, really nicely =
produced
sounds as you'd expect from such a quality label. Recommended.
=20
VEX'D - DEGENERATE - PLANET MU - 2xLP (ZIQ115LP)
This strikes me as a potential landmark release. This storming
album from Vex'd is a seriously potent and full-on cocktail of
grime, dubstep, bleep techno, twisted D&B, old skool jungle and
electronica that old Aphex fans will be able to relate to as much
as the grimeheads and dubstep kids. Surely the most important
grime release to date, seeing as it moves the whole genre on several
stages. Check this out immediately.=20
VIDEO CLUB - TEENAGE DISCO - U-FREQS - 12" (UF016)
Another UK label decides to get into some electro / house style
sounds and, to be fair, it's actually quite convincing. 3 mixes
that are distinctly different and will no doubt appeal to fans
of Crosstown Rebels and other such labels. Check.
VINCE WATSON / PAUL MAC - INFLUENCED - INFLUENCED - 10" =
(INFLUENCED002)
Vince and Paul get down with array of vintage gear and provide
two acid heavy techno tracks that manage to create a subtly melodic,
almost U.R. (circa Journey of the Dragon / Hi-Tech Jazz) kind
of sound with it's jazzy chord progressions. Very much a 303 =
showcase
though and, even though it has a slightly old-school sound, it
shows that there's still life in the old dog yet! Excellent.=20
WILL SAUL - TIC TOC (SWAYZAK REMIX) - SIMPLE - 12" (SIMPLE0514)
Will Saul with Ursula Rucker on vocals provide a summery, dub-ish
track that's quite pleasant. Following that there's a weird little
electro version that sits strangely with the original. The flip
has the excellent Swayzak remix which takes a deep and clicky
approach making it pretty much instrumental and adding layers
of texture and sound as well as off-kilter 4/4 beats. A really
interesting remix.
Restocks (Vinyl): Techno / Electro
2 DOLLAR EGG - GELB - NUMMER SCHALLPLATTEN - 12" (NUMMER11)
2 DOLLAR EGG FOLLOW UP 'NAXOS' WITH ANOTHER STORMING SLICE OF
EXTREMELY TECHNICAL SOUNDING MINIMAL TECH. PHAT BEATS AND INTENSE
ATTENTION TO DETAIL ENSURE A GROOVY SELECTION THAT'LL GET MOST
FLOORS MOVING. BRILLIANT STUFF.
ACID KID - SLAMMM - REVERSE YOUR FUTURE - ACID KID - 12" (ACIDKID003)
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MY FAVOURITE ACID TRACK IN AGES AND AGES. =
STRAIGHT-UP,
NON-NONSENSE, OLD SCHOOL VIBES THAT CAN'T FAIL TO GET YOUR HEAD
NODDING IN TIME. KILLER 303 LINE THAT HAS SO MUCH SQUELCH GOING
ON THAT IT'S ALMOST NOT FAIR. BRILLIANT STUFF. GET IT QUICK THOUGH!
ALTER EGO - TRANSPHORMER - KLANG - 3xLP (KLANG85)
HERE IT IS THEN. THE HOTLY TOUTED ALTER EGO ALBUM IS A PURE =
DANCEFLOOR
FRENZY OF BLISTERING TECHNO GROOVES THE LIKE OF WHICH I'VE NOT
HEARD FOR SOME TIME. NO CONCESSIONS TO ANYTHING BUT MAKING YOU
MOVE WITH A SELECTION OF MONSTROUS CLUB TRACKS THAT SHOULD BE
SMASHING IT ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. QUITE
SIMPLY A MASSIVE ALBUM. RECOMMENDED.
AM/PM / LUMP - SPLIT - SUD - 12" (SUD006)
STAGGERINGLY GOOD RELEASE FROM THE PORTABLE RELATED SUD IMPRINT.
THIS FOUR TRACKER IS PROBABLY THEIR STRONGEST RELEASE TO DATE
AND FEATURES TWO ARTISTS WHO ARE ON TOP FORM AT THE MOMENT. ANYONE
FAMILIAR WITH AM/PM'S WONDERFUL ALBUM ON DRECK WILL KNOW WHAT
TO EXPECT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. DEEP, 4/4 ELECTRONICA WITH A =
BEAUTIFUL
USE OF FOUND SAMPLES THAT CREATE A DENSE, LUSH, YET STRANGELY
SPARSE GROOVE. IT'S TECHNO, YES, BUT SO MUCH MORE. THE TRACKS
JUST LITERALLY DRIP WITH ATMOSPHERE AND GORGEOUS SOUND DESIGN,
SUCH THAT YOU CAN'T HELP BEING DRAWN INTO THEM. SIMPLY SUPERB.
THE LUMP TRACKS ARE MORE GROOVING, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, BUT
IN A NICELY OFF-BALANCE, GLITCHY SORT OF WAY. VERY MUCH A =
CONTIUATION
OF THE SOUND ON KARLOFF BUT WITH, IF ANYTHING, AN EXTRA LAYER
OF DEPTH. A WICKED EP THAT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
BASTEROID - DAWAJ DAWAJ - SENDER - 12" (SEND048)
VERY MUCH TAILORED TO THE SENDER SOUND, AREAL'S BASTEROID DELIVERS
TWO ROUGH AND READY TECHNO CUTS THAT HAVE AN ABSTRACT, ODDBALL
SOUND (UNSURPRISINGLY) WITH AMAZING NOISES AND KILLER 4/4 BEATS.
IF YOU'RE INTO SENDER OR AREAL, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR YOU.
DEXTER - INTRUDER - KLAKSON - 12" (KLAKSON02)
FOUR SOLID TRACKS OF PURE ELECTRO FUN FROM THIS CLONE OFFSHOOT.
PROPER AGGRESSSIVE BASS LINES AND STORMING BEATS. THE VOCODERED
REFRAIN OF THE TITLE TRACK IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE.=20
DEXTER - RAW - KLAKSON - 12" (KLAKSON9)
FOUR RAW (HENCE THE TITLE) ELECTRO TRACKS FROM ROCK SOLID ARTISTS
DEXTER. THERE'S A TOUCH OF DOPPLEREFFEKT AND JAPANESE TELECOM
TO THE QUIRKY, MELODIC SOUNDS BUT A UNIQUE PHATNESS TO THE BEATS.
I PARTICULARLY LIKE THE TRACK 'I AM NOT ALDEN TYRELL' WHICH REALLY
MADE ME CHUCKLE. ESSENTIAL STUFF AS ALWAYS.
HEATH BRUNNER - MOVIE - FRANTIC FLOWERS - 12" (FF-004)
AAH, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. VMAX HEAD HONCHO, HEATH BRUNNER DELIVERS
A WONDERFULLY PURE AND AUTHENTIC FOUR TRACK EP OF BRILLIANT DETROIT
TECHNO SOUNDS. LUSH PADS AND CHORDS WITH CLATTERING PERCUSSION
AND SOME PACEY BEATS COMBINE TO TO MAKE AN EP THAT'LL GET FANS
OF THE MOTOR CITY SOUND INTO A RIGHT OLD LATHER. PURE QUALITY
ON GORGEOUS CLEAR VINYL. RECOMMENDED.
HUTTON DRIVE - 324 / MOODIN - FRANTIC FLOWERS - 12" (FF-003)
SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THIS FOR WEEKS AND FINALLY
IT DROPS. PRISTINE CLEAR VINYL AND A SUPERB TWO TRACKER OF PURIST
DETROIT FLAVA TECHNO. DRIVING GROOVES AND AND DEEP, DEEP PADS
LOCK HORNS TO CREATE A FLOWING, FUNKY SOUND THAT HAS 'MOTOR CITY'
STAMPED ALL OVER IT. FRESH STUFF AND DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED.
JACEN SOLO - VIRGO - A.I. - 2xLP (AI011LP)
THIS IS BEING LISTED ON THE WEBSITE FOR A SECOND WEEK, SIMPLY
BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME AND WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO MISS OUT. IT'S
MY FAVOURITE RELEASE ON AI SINCE THE CLARO ALBUM, WHICH KINDA
FOLLOWS AS THIS IS DEEP, EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-PRODUCED DETROIT-STYLE
ELECTRO THAT'S MUSICAL, FULL OF WARMTH AND LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF
MOST OF THE COMPETITION. WITH NODS TO MID '90'S ARTIFICIAL =
INTELLIGENCE
(CURIOUSLY!) STYLE ELECTRONICS,THE DEEPEST DETROIT TECHNO AND
EVEN THE CHORD-Y, SOULFUL STYLE OF PEOPLE LIKE MIKE GRANT AND
RICK WADE, THIS HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH A STRONG EAR FOR MELODY
AND GROOVE. ELECTRO-ESQUE RHYTHMS RIDE UNDER THE TRACKS AND =
GENERALLY
THIS IS QUITE UNMISSABLE IF YOU ASK ME. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
LUCIANO - BOMBERO'S / OCTOGONAL - CADENZA - 12" (CADENZA06)
CADENZA'S SIXTH RELEASE COMES ONCE AGAIN FROM THE TALENTED MR.
LUCIANO. THIS ONE IS POSSIBLY DEEPER AND MORE HYPNOTIC THAN THE
OTHER RELEASES (IF THAT'S POSSIBLE) AND IT HAS A REAL HEADS DOWN
GROOVE THAT'LL IMMEDIATELY LOCK PEOPLE IN AND REFUSE TO LET THEM
GO. A SUPERB SLICE OF TECHNO THAT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
MATHEW JONSON - BEHIND THE MIRROR - SUB STATIC - 12" (SUS_41)
OOH, ITS A BIGGIE. MOODY 4/4 ELECTRIC BOOGIE FO YOO ASS. DARK
AND DELICIOUS, A WONDERFUL FOLLOW UP TO THE SOUGHT AFTER 12" ON
IT IS WHAT IT IS FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR. HIS BEST YET EVEN. CAN
I SAY MORE? PROBABLY BUT I SHAN'T, JUST BUY IT.
NATHAN FAKE - DINAMO - TRAUM - 12" (TRAUMV56)
TRAUM'S FIRST REALLY BIG RELEASE OF 2005 COMES FROM NATHAN FAKE...
AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE KILLER. THREE TRACKS, EACH COMPLETELY =
INDIVIDUAL
THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO BE MASSIVE. THE MAIN TRACK IS AN EPIC PIECE
OF WORK THAT STARTS OFF WITH SND STYLE CLICKY SOUNDS AND RHYTHMS
BUT SOON BURSTS INTO A FRESH, MELODIC 4/4 TECHNO TRACK WITH =
BEAUTIFUL
PRODUCTION, LOVELY ARPEGGIOS AND A WICKEDLY HYPNOTIC KICK DRUM.
IT PROGRESSES FURTHER INTO A SQUELCHED OUT ACID LINE BUT KEEPS
IT ROLLING AND MUSICAL THROUGHOUT. STUNNING. THE FLIP HAS A PURE,
OLD SCHOOL ACID TRACK WHICH, FRANKLY, ROCKS, FOLLOWED BY A LUSH,
POPPY, TYPICALLY MELODIC TRAUM SHUFFLER. A BRILLIANT EP THAT COMES
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
QUENUM / LEE VAN DOWSKI / ANDRES GARCIA - INVISIBLE EP - NUM - 12" =
(NUM01)
NEW LABEL FROM THE HOUSE OF QUENUM THAT KICKS OFF WITH AN EXCELLENT
TWO TRACK EP FEATURING GUESTS LEE VAN DOWSKI AND ANDRES GARCIA.
STRIPPED, FUNKY, MINIMAL TECHNO THAT BUILDS NICELY TO A MORE MELODIC
FINISH ON BOTH SIDES. CRISP DRUMS AND HIGH PRODUCTION VALUES ENSURE
THAT FANS OF CADEMZA WILL BE ON PRETTY SAFE GROUND HERE! CHECK.
REX THE DOG - FREQUENCY - KOMPAKT - 12" (KOM102)
THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THE FIRST REX THE DOG SINGLE WAS A MASSIVE
ANTHEM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS AND, GUESS WHAT? THIS ONE IS LIABLE
TO BE JUST AS BIG. EURO SOUNDING, HUGELY CLUB FRIENDLY SOUNDS
WITH LOADS OF PERSONALITY AND A STRONG FUN FACTOR. BIG DROPS,
A TREMENDOUS BREAKDOWN... JUST A SOLID AND VERY LIKEABLE PIECE
OF WORK. RECOMMENDED.
STEVE POINDEXTER - WORK THAT MUTHA F**KER THE REMIXES - DJAX-UP-BEATS =
- 12" (DJAX-UP-154)
THE LEGENDARY CHICAGO CLASSIC GOT THE REMIX TREATMENT FROM THE
DUTCH CREW. EDGE OF MOTION, LIKE A TIM AND MAD MAXX ALL TURNED
IN BANGING CHICAGO TECHNO STYLE VERSIONS PLUS YOU GOT THE BONUS
TRACK 'BORN TO FREAK' WHICH HAS A PROPERLY TWEAKING ACID LINE
BY MIKE DUNN. CLASS.
TRENTEMOLLER - KINK - 3RD FLOOR - 12" (3RD003)
This man is unstoppable at the moment and it's not hard to see
why. His original track has all the hallmarks of a quality piece
of techno with deep rhythms that roll beautifully, technical sounds
and phat basslines plus a completely non-commercial electro feel
which really does it. The flip sees Morris Audio's Reynold getting
his teeth into a top little remix which is, if anything, more
stripped down. Funky, club sounding techno with a whole lot of
integrity. Class.
Restocks (Vinyl): US Techno / Electro
GREEN VELVET - WALK IN LOVE - RELIEF - 2xLP (RR2025-1)
MR VELVET STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO ABSOLUTELY ROCK IT IN A CHICAGO
TECHNO STYLE. THIS HAS TEN TRACKS OF SYNTH HEAVY, BRUTAL SOUNDING
MATERIAL IN HIS OWN UNIQUE STYLE. LOOPED UP BEATS, HYPNOTIC VOCALS
AND DEVASTATING SOUNDS ENSURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PLAYING THIS
WHOLE DOUBLE PACK FOR SOME TIME TO COME. PROPS.
SILICON SCALLY - DARK MATTERS - SATAMILE - 2xLP (SAT025)
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT ALBUM. SOME PEOPLE WILL NO DOUBT COMPLAIN
THAT IT'S NOT AS BANGING AS THE OTHER SATAMKILE RELEASES, BUT
THAT'S TO COMPLETELY MISS THE POINT. YOU GET EIGHT TRACKS OF =
WONDERFULLY
CRISP ELECTRO THAT IS VARIED, STRONG, VERY, VERY ATMOSPHERIC AND
GENERALLY JUST BRILLIANT. GIVE IT A LISTEN AND I'M SURE YOU'LL
BE IMPRESSED WITH IT. RECOMMENDED.
VARIOUS - SPECTRAL SOUND VOL. 1 - SPECTRAL - 2xLP (SPC-25)
EXCELLENT DOUBLE PACK COMPILATION FROM THIS MOST CONSISTENT OF
LABELS. FUNKY, STRIPPED DOWN TECHNO TRACKS IN PURE SPECTRAL STYLE
FROM JAMES COTTON, MATTHEW DEAR, JEFF SAMUEL (WHICH GETS BEST
TRACK OF THE COMPILATION AWARD FOR ME: A SUPER BIT OF MINIMALISM
WITH ACRES OF FUNK), PETER GRUMMICH, AUDION AND HIEROGLYPHIC BEING.
SPLENDID STUFF.
VARIOUS - MINIMIZE TO MAXIMIZE - MINUS - 3xLP (MINUS25LP)
NO NEED TO SAY MUCH ABOUT THIS COMP FROM MINUS. THE LABEL HAS
BEEN RELEASING SOME SUPERB RECORDS RECENTLY, AND THIS IS NO =
EXCEPTION.
TRACKS FROM ALL THE LIKELY LADS AND SOME OF THE LESS LIKELY (OR
KNOWN): MATHEW JONSON, MARC HOULE, RUN STOP RESTORE, PLASTIKMAN,
DINKY DOG, MAGDA, PHEEK, SLACKNOISE, NIEDERFLUR AND HEARTTHROW.
HIGH QUALITY DEEP TECHNO. RECOMMENDED.=20
New Releases (Vinyl): House
BIRDLAND - SLOWER EP - NEURHYTHMICS - 12" (NR009)
The mysterious Birdland unleashes his powers on this, the ninth
installment of the Neurhythmics story. 3 tracks that are set to
engage, fulfil and move the floor in equal measures. It's all
about the groove on 'Morning Life' with it's steady beat, gorgeous
Rhodes piano lick and vocal snippets... fresh as an autumn morning.
The flipside delves a little deeper into the funk with two tracks
that use old-school piano licks, wonderfully freeform sax samples
and, once again, deeply funked up beats. An all round winner that
works on so many different levels... simply put, this is magnificent
and pure house music. Props!
Restocks (Vinyl): House
BOBBY KONDERS - THE LOST NU GROOVE TRACK - NU GROOVE - 12" (NG013)
CLASSIC, CLASSIC BOBBY KONDERS SOUNDS THAT STILL HAVE A DEPTH
AND WARMTH THAT MOIST HOUSE MUSIC COMPLETELY MISSES. FILE NEXT
TO LARRY HEARD AND MR. FINGERS AND YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. SUBLIME.
New Releases (Vinyl): Hip Hop
9TH WONDER + BUCKSHOT - CHEMISTRY - DUCK DOWN - 2xLP (DDM-LP-2012)
Funky selection of tracks from 9th Wonder and Buckshot. Deep and
jazzy for the most part with a few moments of grittier East Coast
sounding beats. Vocals are strong and the guest list is very good:
Big Pooh, Sean Price, Starang Wondah, Joe Scudda and L.E.G.A.C.Y.
Top stuff.=20
D-STYLES / MR. HENSHAW - SCRATCHERS DELIGHT / VOL. 1 - FUNK SH*T UP - =
LP (FSU-001)
Wicked selection of beats, breaks and sounds on the first volume
of this new series which features authentic looking Library artwork.
Anything to do with D-Styles is going to be very playable, and
this is no exception. Quality.
EPIC - LOCAL ONLY - SUBVERSIV*REC - LP (VK|OB/025/2005)
Interesting album of very college-y souding Hip Hop featuring
Pip Skid. Fun tracks with a nicely lo-fi feel and a tongue in
cheek selection of lyrics. Check.
GROUCH, THE / DADDY KEV / D-STYLES - SOUND ADVICE - SUBVERSIV*REC - =
2xLP (VK|OB-011/2003)
A nicely Jazzy selection of Hip Hop cuts here with gruff vocals
and tight production on the beats. Comes complete with a vocal
disc and an instrumental disc. Wicked stuff.
METAL FINGERS - SPECIAL HERBS 9 + 0 - SHAMAN WORK - 2xLP (SW027)
Another massive selection of the finest hip hop blends here from
the M.F. Each track is themed after a certain herb and features
some rollickingly good beats and sounds in the dopest of =
instrumental
styles. Not a duff track on here, actually. Fresh, as ever and
an essential for fans of MF Doom and Grimm. Check.....=20
RODDYROD FEAT. KEV BROWN AND CY YOUNG - TROUBLES LURKIN LOW - UP ABOVE =
- LP (UPA3090)
Big old Hip Hop vibes here from this major league label. Each
track comes in original, clean and instrumental versions for your
listening pleasure. Check...........
VARIOUS - BAST**D LANGUAGE TOUR - EPITOME OF FRESH - LP (EOF-003)
In April 2003 D-Styles, Ricci Rucker, Mike Boo and Excess performed
a tour of the West Coast together. These are the prepared sounds,
beats and breaks that they used. Fresh, wicked battle weapon that
should see a lot of action on your decks.......
Restocks (Vinyl): Hip Hop
VARIOUS - OFFBEATS 2.1 - SUBVERSIV*REC - LP (VK|OB/O24/2005)
YES! DOPE COMPILATION FEATURING ROUGH TRACKS FROM JOSH MARTINEZ,
JD WALKER, SECOND FRONT, SODA, CAVEMAN SPEAK, AWOL ONE AND LOADS
OF OTHER TOP ARTISTS. GOOD HIP HOP VIBES ALL ROUND. RECOMMENDED.....
New Releases (Vinyl): Eclectic Beats
PEST - PAT PONG - NINJA TUNE - 12" (ZEN12168)
New 4-track EP from Pest, featuring remixes from Solid Groove
and Diesler. Mellow, jazzy, chilled breaks gear, maybe a tad =
predictable
but gets the job done. Prime bar music.=20
New Releases (Vinyl): Guitar Based
DEAD MACHINES - FUTURES - TROUBLEMAN UNLIMITED - LP (TMU151LP)
Earsplittingly good noise (on this 10" LP) from Dead Machines.
Powerful stuff with dense layers of distortion and white noise,
tempered every now and again with a slightly less abrasive touch.
For fans of Load, Wolf Eyes, Lightning Bolt etc.=20
MAXIMO PARK - GOING MISSING - WARP - 7" (7WAP190)
Highly attractive etched 7" from Maximo Park... as long as you
don't ask me about the music we'll be fine (i've said all i can
say about this band in the past, see my other descriptions).=20
Cheap though!=20
MELT BANANA - CHUNG - SOUNDS OF SUBTERRANIA - LP (SOS059)
Yes, it's incredibly expensive but it's a) highly limited, and
b) coming atcha in a frankly stunning multi-image lenticular sleeve
(y'know, those pictures you tilt and the image changes like it's
magic and actually moving and everything and man, the colours!).
Musically, well, it's Melt Banana, how else can one categorise
or describe it?! An utterly unique item.=20
METALUX - VICTIM OF SPACE - 5RC - LP (GER040LP)
Last time, i described Metalux as "the sound of Adult on Heroin",
which would appear to be the case this time around too. I also
mentioned Throbbing Gristle; again, fair enough. Experimental
avant-noise with guitars, pure Load territory, utterly =
uncompromising.
=20
PONCHO NIGHTMARE - MILK COMMERCIAL - ADDICT - 7" (ADDICT020)
Extremely silly noise-based sounds here with the occasional foray
into a more punky, guitary sort of flava. Thrash / Punk / =
Electronica,
I guess you might say, but very heavily biased towards the guitars.
Check.
SONGS FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART / BONNIE 'PRINCE' BIL - PUFF THE MAGIC =
DRAGON - LUCKY DOG - 7" (LUCKYDOG03)
Methinks there'll be much interest over this one! The A-Side =
features
none other than Mr. Will Oldham (and "Red") singing "Puff The
Magic Dragon", backed by Stuart Staples and David Boulter of The
Tindersticks (what a combination!), who are in turn responsible
for the equally charming instrumental "Theme For The Young At
Heart" on the flip. Limited to 750 copies only, these obviously
will not be around for long, so act now.=20
TEENAGE FANCLUB - MAN-MADE - PEMA - LP (PEMA002LP)
At last, the vinyl has arrived! Having been a worshipper at the
temple of Teenage Fanclub right from the start (i'm showing my
age here), it's very pleasing to report that this new album (on
their own label, and their first release in five years) is an
absolute winner. Prime TFC all the way, this is a great batch
of songs, totally in their trademark summery style (which many
lesser bands have tried, but failed to emulate of recent) with
equally fine production from John McEntire (of Tortoise). Quite
simply, it's a joy to have them back. Hugely recommended.=20
WHITE MICE, THE - ASSPHIXXXEATATESHUN - LOAD - LP (LOAD066)
I'll say this much... I wouldn't like to be in the mosh-pit at
one of The White Mice's gigs! Brutality incarnate here with some
of the heaviest, grinding-est tracks aroundl. To be honest they
make most Thrash bands sound like the Cheeki Girls with their
blend of shouting, extreme guitars, mad electronics and frenetic
drumming. An aquired taste, but seriously head destroying if you
like it this rough!
WHITE ROCK - TAR PIT - TROUBLEMAN UNLIMITED - LP (TMU147LP)
Rough sounds along the lines of Wolf Eyes or Lightning Bolt. =
Abrasive
as hell and featuring a heavy line in white noise and dense textural
layers of guitar. There is, however, one gorgeous track that eschews
the noise almost completely. Well worth a listen.=20
New Releases (Vinyl): Funk / Jazz / Soul
CONTRAST - TANTALIZE - DAS - LP (D1124)
Sadly there's no Jimmy The Hoover on here, just six rather mild
tracks of eighties soul / funk / disco recorded at Curtis Mayfield's
studios. Not my bag, really but it might be yours....=20
New Releases (CD): Electronica
AUTECHRE / THE HAFLER TRIO - AEO3 & 3HAE - DIE STADT - 2xCD (DS82CD)
This is the second collaboration between Autechre and The Hafler
Trio. The first was a 30 minute long affair that blurred the lines
of distinction between the sounds of the two artists to a point
where it was virtually impossible to distinguish which one was
which. This release takes that even further and it would be a
very brave person indeed that would make a bet on who was =
responsible
for which bit. Once again the packaging is delightful and has
the same theme as the first CD... tracing paper inserts, wonderful
typography and subtle, beautifully managed artwork. Musically
it's a development, not only the length of the work (it's twice
as long) but within the soundscapes that they've created. It's
probably more accessible to be honest and the drone based, but
starnagely melodic first CD is truly beautiful, in a low-key,
melancholic way. The second CD is a much more abstract beast and
features a noisy intro section before diving off into a reduced
minimalism that ebbs and flows throughout. Atmospheric, lush (in
every way), well thought out and, most importantly, just plain
good to listen to! A highly recommended piece of work.=20
BRETSCHNEIDER + STEINBRUCHEL - STATUS - 12K - CD (12k1033)
This, my friends, is the good stuff. Such an incredibly potent
combination of minimal, experimental electronica minds is something
to be enjoyed and savoured and, believe me, theres not a wasted
moment on this entire CD. Moving effortlessly between deep and
unbelievably intricate glitch sounds, ambient moments of pure
textural exuberance and some of the phattest, flattest micro =
rhythms,
this CD is a staggering piece of work from beginning to end. =
Bretschneider
and Steinbruchel worked on this together by sending each other
files and then manipulating them and so in sync are they with
each other that it's difficult to tell who influenced who the
most. Layers of sound, awesome production, surprisingly funky
beats... this is truly a classic album in the making. Fans of
Raster, 12k, L-ne and other labels along these lines are just
going to go wild for this. Hats off to Taylor Deupree and 12k,
and massive props to both of the artists. Essential!
GROWING / MARK EVAN BURDEN - GROWING / MARK EVAN BURDEN - XENG - CD =
(XENGCD01)
Growing (of Kranky) make(s) an appearance on this new label, which
I believe has connections with Type (I could be wrong, although
musically this makes sense). Repetitive, drone-based ambient =
textures
and soundscapes, reminiscent of Labradford, Pan American, Childs
View / Nobukazu Takemura and the more minimal / Eno-esque end
of the Kranky spectrum. Recommended.=20
KOUSHIK - BE WITH EP - STONESTHROW - CD (STH2098CD)
Best Stonesthrow I've heard yet! Great to see them going out on
a limb with something utterly unassociated with them yet seriously
top notch. Think a chilled, psychedelic blend of Clouddead, Fourtet,
DJ Shadow, Savath & Savalas and The Beta Band. Recommended indeed!
This Cd version comes with a massive 14 tracks for your listening
pleasure! A bargain.=20
MUTAMASSIK - MASRI MOKKASSAR: DEFINITIVE WORKS - SOUND INK / VERY =
FRIENDLY - CD (SIK015/VF024CD)
Mutamassik really is up there. Along with Muslimgauze and Badawi
his blend of middle eastern samples and crunchy, distorted beats
is a fabulous way to spend and hour of life. Every track is =
evocative
in some way... smoky bazaar's, hazy desert scenes... it makes
you feel quite romantic about it all! But then the beats descend
once again and you find yourself nodding your head and enjoying
some stonking rhythmic killers. A stunning collection of tracks,
to be sure.=20
TAYLOR DEUPREE + CHRISTOPHER WILLITS - LIVE IN JAPAN, 2004 - 12K - CD =
(12K2001)
A limited CD release from the 12k camp is something to be enjoyed
and when it's quite obviously as good as this is you'll be =
unsurprised
to hear how excited I am to get hold of some copies. 500 only
for the world and featuring 3 wonderful pieces recorded at the
Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media in June 2004. The first piece
is probably the key work here as it's a collaboration between
the two artists. Taking elements of Christopher Willits' manipulated
guitar sound and adding them to Taylor Deupree's minimal electronic
wizadry you get a dense 24 minute piece of work which meanders
gently to begin with but builds and progresses in an almost =
subliminal
fashion through. I wouldn't say there's a creschendo as such but
it really does get quite intense at times. Stunning. The second
track is a solo Christopher Willits piece and it takes his signature
organic sound to a new level. Processed in real time (presumably)
the guitar layers are chopped and then re-pieced together to create
a work that is immediately engaging but still has an experimental
feel throughout. Really quite beautiful. Finishing off the CD
is Taylor Deupree's solo work which is an object lesson in how
to be abstract without losing either coherency or a sense of =
musicality.
Textural sounds and a subtly shifting background noise lend it
an almost rhythmic quality and it all sounds amazingly Japanese
(appropriately). I don't want to go on about it too much so suffice
to say that fans of the artists and the label will find this an
indespensible release and will need to get it very quickly before
it disappears for good. Awesome stuff.
VARIOUS - MUTEK 05 - MUTEK - 2xCD (MTK05)
This years Mutek collection is yet another glimpse into the sterling
work that they do at the festival. Comprehensive, to say the least,
it features Monolake, Radian, Si-cut.db, Klimek, Bruno Pronsato,
Richard Chartier, Taylor Deupree, Stephen Beaupre, Apparat, =
Skoltz_kolgen
and many more. A superb selection of electronica based tracks.
Recommended.
Restocks (CD): Electronica
LUKE VIBERT - LOVER'S ACID - PLANET MU - CD (ZIQ098CD)
THIS STOPGAP NEW LUKE VIBERT ALBUM COMPILES HIS THREE PLANET MU
12"S RELEASED OVER THE YEARS - AND THEY COULDN'T SOUND ANY MORE
CURRENT (ONE OF THEM IS CURRENT, OF COURSE!). A TOTAL OF TWELVE
TRACKS, INCLUDING ONE ENTITLED "ANALORD" FROM YEARS BACK, WHICH
IS INTERESTING CONSIDERING HOW MUCH SOME OF THESE TRACKS SOUND
LIKE THE RECENT AFX 12"S, ALBEIT WITH THAT UNMISTAKABLE VIBERT
FLAVA. A WICKED CD, ESSENTIAL TO FANS WHO DIDN'T BUY THE 12"S.
OLA BERGMAN - THE SATELLITE CITY - NEWSPEAK - CD (NSPK007)
THIS IS A SPLENDID CD FROM OLA BERGMAN ON HIS OWN NEWSPEAK LABEL
THAT GATHERS UP SELECTED TRACKS FROM SOME OF THE PREVIOUS VINYL-ONLY
RELEASES AND ADDS A LIBERAL DASH OF NEW AND UNRLEASED BITS AND
BOBS. HE'S GOT A FUNKY, LIVELY AND FRIENDLY SOUND THAT SWINGS
BETWEEN A LOVELY MELODIC ELECTRONICA FEEL AND A SLIGHTLY MORE
SYNTHY, EARTHY ELECTRO STYLE. IT'S ENGAGING, FUN AND REALLY WELL
CONSTRUCTED STUFF SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I WOULD RECOMMEND IT
MOST HEARTILY.
POPULOUS - QUEUE FOR LOVE - MORR MUSIC - CD (MORR051CD)
POPULOUS'S FIRST ALBUM, 'QUIPO', WAS A SURPRISE HIT WHEN IT FIRST
CAME OUT A FEW YEARS BACK. MIXING UP THE GENTLE MORR MUSIC SOUND
WITH A BOARDS-ISH FEEL TO THE BEATS IT REALLY WAS A DELIGHTFULLY
SUMMERY ALBUM. THREE LONG YEARS ON AND HERE'S THE SECOND ALBUM.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO PRODUCE. TRULY A LABOUR
OF LOVE IT TAKES THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF QUIPO AND ADDS LAYERS OF
GUITAR, HIP HOP (INCLUDING A GUEST APPEARANCE FROM DOSE ONE),
VOCALS AND A CERTAIN JOYOUS POPPINESS THAT'S INCREDIBLY APPEALING.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS REALLY IS MY FAVOURITE RELEASE ON MORR
FOR SOME TIME AND I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU CHECK IT OUT WITHOUT
ANY FURTHER ADO. QUALITY!
ROD MODELL - VIBRASOUND (THE DEEPCHORD YEARS 1999-2004_ - SILENTES - =
CD (SILENTESCD200402)
AAH, THE DEEPCHORD RECORDS. OBSCURE, HARD TO GET HOLD OF, EXPENSIVE
AND GENERALLY THE CLOSEST WE'VE EVER HAD TO A RIVAL FOR THE BASIC
CHANNEL CREW. IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE MORITZ VON
OSWALD AND CO, BUT IF YOU DO YOU'RE SERIOUSLY MISSING THE POINT.
THE BLEND OF DUB AND TECHNO ON OFFER HERE IS SOMETHING TO SAVOUR
AT ALL TIMES AS THE DEPTH OF PRODUCTION AND THE ROLLING, MID PACED
GROOVES THAT UNDERPIN THE LAYERS OF TEXTURE ARE SUITABLY PHAT
BUT INCREDIBLY SUBTLE AT THE SAME TIME. A PARADOX? MAYBE. BUT
TO BE HONEST IT'S THE MOST BRILLIANT, WONDERFUL, UPLIFTING PARADOX.
IF YOU DON'T LOVE THIS COLLECTION OF TRACKS FROM THE ULTRA-SCARCE
BACK CATALOGUE I'D BE VERY SURPRISED. ESSENTIAL CD COMPILATION
OF THE YEAR, QUITE POSSIBLY AND ANYONE WHO LIKES ECHOCORD, RHYTHM
& SOUND OR BASIC CHANNEL MUST TREAT THIS AS AN ITEM THAT THEY
*MUST* OWN. AWESOME.
STUDIO PANKOW - LINIENBUSSE - CITY CENTRE OFFICES - CD =
(TOWERBLOCKCD025)
WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT AN ALBUM OF THIS CALIBRE THAT'LL DO IT
ANY JUSTICE? FOR MY MONEY THIS REPRISE OF THE PARING OF DAVID
MOUFANG (MOVE D / SOURCE RECORDS) AND JAMIE HODGE (BORN UNDER
\ RHYMING PLANET / AESTUARIUM) PLUS KAI KROKER IS AN ABSOLUTELY
WINNING COMBINATION. RECORDED IN THREE SESSIONS IT COMBINES =
EVERYTHING
YOU'D EXPECT FROM MR. MOUFANG AND MR. HODGE, I.E. DEPTH, BEAUTY,
AN ABSTRACT SENSE OF MELODY AND INCREDIBLE PRODUCTION. BUT, THIS
HAS THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF BEING PRETTY LARGE IN THE BEATS =
DEPARTMENT
AS WELL, SO YOU GET ELECTRO INFUENCED TRACKS AND DEEP, DUBBY 4/4
TRACKS PLUS ODDBALL DOWNBEAT ELECTRONICA AS WELL. TO SAY THAT
I'M ENAMOURED WITH THIS LP IS SOMETHING OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT AND
IF YOU TAKE MY ADVICE YOU'LL BE GIVING THIS YOUR UTMOST ATTENTION
VERY SOON. AN ESSENTIAL RELEASE.
VARIOUS - POP AMBIENT 2004 - KOMPAKT - CD (KOMCD29)
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! POP AMBIENT 2004 DELIVERS, YET AGAIN,
A SUPERB SELECTION OF AMBIENT, COLOGNE INFLUENCED TRACKS FROM
A CREW OF MUSICIANS WHO REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WOLFGANG
VOIGT, KLIMEK, ANDREW THOMAS, ULF LOHMANN, MARKUS GUENTNER, DONNACHA
COSTELLO AND TRIOLA ALL SUPPLY DREAMY, MELLOW, MELANCHOLY TUNES
THAT'LL CHILL YOU OUT SO BEAUTIFULLY, SO BLISSFULLY, YOU'LL WONDER
HOW YOU'LL MANAGED WITHOUT IT. BUY WITH COMPLETE AND UTTER =
CONFIDENCE
AS IT'S BRILLIANT.
New Releases (CD): Techno / Electro
PETER GRUMMICH - SWITCH OFF THE SOAP OPERA - SHITKATAPULT - CD =
(STRIKE61CD)
With this album, Peter Grummich has exceeded my expectations by
a long way. After his recent beast of a single on Kompakt 'Frozen
World', this could easily have been a banging set of tracks for
a label that clearly likes it rough and tough most of the time.
It is, however, a much more varied set of tracks than that and
features some wonderfully reduced and surprisingly melodic minimal
tracks that should be great for an early evening session. Couple
that with some bass heavy, crunchy techno sounds that are guaranteed
to get people going and you've a well rounded set of techno tracks.
Quality stuff all round. The CD includes 4 bonus tracks that aren't
on the vinyl.
VARIOUS - 2RABIMMEL 2RABAMMEL 2RABUM 2BUM BUM - AREAL - CD (AREALCD04)
Areal present the '2Rabimmel' album for your listening pleasure.
Featuring the more wayward, off-kilter side of their sound (as
if they weren't oddball enough already!) it's got cuts from the
usual suspects including Basteroid, Metope, Ada, Konfekt, Remute,
Roan and Imogen and is a very convincing selection of tunes to
make you rock on the dancefloor. Tough, dirty, really nicely =
produced
sounds as you'd expect from such a quality label. The CD version
also includes the four tracks from the previous 12".=20
VEX'D - DEGENERATE - PLANET MU - 2xCD (ZIQ115CD)
This strikes me as a potential landmark release. This storming
album from Vex'd is a seriously potent and full-on cocktail of
grime, dubstep, bleep techno, twisted D&B, old skool jungle and
electronica that old Aphex fans will be able to relate to as much
as the grimeheads and dubstep kids. Surely the most important
grime release to date, seeing as it moves the whole genre on several
stages. Check this out immediately. This initial pressing of the
CD version comes with a special limited edition 6-track CD of
Vex'd earlier singles on Subtext, Planet Mu and Destructive, making
this even more essential.=20
Restocks (CD): Techno / Electro
ALTER EGO - TRANSPHORMER - KLANG - CD (KLANGCD11)
HERE IT IS THEN. THE HOTLY TOUTED ALTER EGO ALBUM IS A PURE =
DANCEFLOOR
FRENZY OF BLISTERING TECHNO GROOVES THE LIKE OF WHICH I'VE NOT
HEARD FOR SOME TIME. NO CONCESSIONS TO ANYTHING BUT MAKING YOU
MOVE WITH A SELECTION OF MONSTROUS CLUB TRACKS THAT SHOULD BE
SMASHING IT ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. QUITE
SIMPLY A MASSIVE ALBUM. RECOMMENDED.
FERENC - FRAXIMAL - KOMPAKT - CD (KOMCD41)
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE ALBUM FROM KOMPAKT. BETTER THAN
I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HOPED FOR, IT HAS A STRIPPED DOWN, YET EPIC
TECHNO FEEL WITH SOME CLASSIC ACID LINES, MASSIVE STRINGS, BUT
AN INCREDIBLY SUBTLE AND INFECTIOUS SET OF GROOVES. SERIOUS MUSIC,
THIS. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MISS OUT! RECOMMENDED.
JUAN ATKINS - THE BERLIN SESSIONS - TRESOR - CD (TRESOR215CD)
YES, THIS REALLY IS A NEW JUAN ATKINS LP ON TRESOR - AND I'M =
PERSONALLY
QUITE SURPRISED HOW STRONG IT IS. IT'S ALMOST A RETURN TO HIS
OLD SKOOL SOUND. SIX TRACKS OF SERIOUS DANCEFLOOR TECHNO FROM
THE OLD MASTER THAT WILL DEFINITELY GET PEOPLE MOVING AND SHAKING.
BEST TRESOR IN AGES!
LAWRENCE - THE ABSENCE OF BLIGHT - DIALREC - CD (DIALCD04)
ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE RELEASES OF THE YEAR. KILLER, =
WONDERFUL,
'SLEEPY HOUSE' GROOVES WITH INTRICATE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, YET
A RELAXED, EASY GOING ATTITUDE. FRESH SOUNDS, LAWRENCES USUAL
ROLLING BEATS AND A CREEPING LUSHNESS WHICH CATCHES YOU UNAWARES.
DEEPLY BEAUTIFUL AT TIMES AND DEEPLY FUNKY AT OTHERS. THIS IS
HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. FABULOUS.
VARIOUS - TOTAL 3 - KOMPAKT - CD (KOMCD10)
A COOL COMPILATION OF KOMPAKT RELEASES INCLUDING CLOSER MUSIK,
JURGEN PAAPE, MIKE INK, SASCHA FUNKE, DETTINGER, SUPERPITCHER,
M. MAYER AND MORE. EXCELLENT ELECTRONICS.
New Releases (CD): Hip Hop
PEANUT BUTTER WOLF - THE BEST OF - COPASETIK - CD (COPA028CD)
Wicked round-up of some of Peanut Butter Wolf's best moments.
Features appearances from Rasco, Planet Asia, Biz Markie, Lord
Finesse, Lootpack, Cut Chemist and more. Funked up, absolutely
tip-top quality hip hop throughout. Class.
PEANUT BUTTER WOLF - MY VINYL WEIGHS A TON - COPASETIK - CD =
(COPA004CD)
Long awaited CD version of Peanut's classy album. Featurestons
of guests including Planet Asia, Lootpack, DJ Babu, Charizma,
DJ Design, Zest, Rob Swift, Kid Koala and loads more. Fresh, funky
hip hop sounds par excellence.
SENSATIONAL - SPEAKS FOR ITSELF - QUATERMASS - CD (QS151)
Following up on albums for Wordsound and Ipecac, Sensational =
delivers
a 14 track bomb for quatermass. He's certainly at the leftfield
end of the hip hop spectrum and this has all the hallmarks of
his quality production and vocal skills. Aggressive at times and
strangely funky at others, it's a great blend of sounds and one
that should see this album being very popular indeed. Excellent
all round.
Restocks (CD): Hip Hop
VARIOUS - OFFBEATS 2.0 - SUBVERSIV*REC - CD (SV|OB007/2005)
YES! DOPE COMPILATION FEATURING ROUGH TRACKS FROM JOSH MARTINEZ,
JD WALKER, SECOND FRONT, SODA, CAVEMAN SPEAK, AWOL ONE AND LOADS
OF OTHER TOP ARTISTS. GOOD HIP HOP VIBES ALL ROUND. RECOMMENDED.....
New Releases (CD): Guitar Based
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE COSMIC INFERNO - JUST ANOTHER BAND FROM THE =
COSMIC INFERNO - IMPORTANT - CD (IMPREC058CD)
Kawabata Makoto decided to disband the Acid Mothers Temple And
The Melting Paraiso line-up (as they were "drained creatively
like dinosaurs on the brink of extinction") only to replace them
with something even heavier and more powerful, which includes
members of The Boredoms, Ghost, Mainliner and Zeni Geva. Extreme
deep-psych and then some....=20
BIRDS, THE - BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS IN THE WORLD - IMPORTANT - CD =
(IMPREC059CD)
The Birds (Cotton Casino from Acid Mothers Temple's new band)
are reminiscent of Norwegian bands such as Deathprod, Supersilent
and Alog although their unmistakeable and unpredictable meld of
psych-melodies, guitar-noise, Eno-esque synth dirge, Cale-like
drone, Musique Concrete and rock sets them apart.=20
BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, THE - TEPID PEPPERMINT WONDERLAND: A =
RETROSPECTIVE - TEE PEE - 2xCD (TPE059CD)
How ironic that the very film ("Dig", which you must see by the
way) documenting the decline of The Brian Jonestown Massacre (in
relation to the rise of The Dandy Warhols) should generate more
interest in them than ever before, as good as resurrecting them/him
from the dead. Never heard BJM before? Think a more lo-fi Dandys,
retro sixties psychedelia done respectfully, intelligently, =
properly.
This well-compiled double-disc set draws from their entire =
catalogue,
from albums such as "Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request",
"Thank God for Mental Illness", "Bravery, Repetition and Noise"...
pretty much every record mentioned in the film and a whole lot
more. Obviously "Not If You Were The Last Dandy On Earth" is on
here too. The perfect introduction, then, and darn essential with
it.=20
JOHN CALE - PROCESS OST - SYNTAX - CD (502454335125)
John Cale's minimal, piano-led soundtrack to this acclaimed arthouse
movie (directed by CS Leigh) should find favour with fans of Alva
Noto / Ryuichi Sakamoto, underpinned as it is with stark, =
drone-based
electronics. I can't tell you anything about the film, but this
is certainly a striking body of music from the former Velvet.
=20
METALUX - VICTIM OF SPACE - 5RC - CD (GER040CD)
Last time, i described Metalux as "the sound of Adult on Heroin",
which would appear to be the case this time around too. I also
mentioned Throbbing Gristle; again, fair enough. Experimental
avant-noise with guitars, pure Load territory, utterly =
uncompromising.
=20
VARIOUS - CHARM OST - 5RC - CD (GER014CD)
Again, i can't comment on the film (although the DVD is included,
and the synopsis certainly sounds interesting), but this is a
classy soundtrack alright. Lo-fi US indie / pop / instrumental
stuff from the likes of Aislers Set, Deerhoof, Replikants, Jealous
Monks, Thrones, Xtinct, Meditation Duo, The Lies, Black Ice, Tim
Green etc that would make a great comp under any circumstances
- check it.=20
WHITE MICE, THE - ASSPHIXXXEATATESHUN - LOAD - CD (LOAD066CD)
I'll say this much... I wouldn't like to be in the mosh-pit at
one of The White Mice's gigs! Brutality incarnate here with some
of the heaviest, grinding-est tracks aroundl. To be honest they
make most Thrash bands sound like the Cheeki Girls with their
blend of shouting, extreme guitars, mad electronics and frenetic
drumming. An aquired taste, but seriously head destroying if you
like it this rough!
WINDY & CARL - DEDICATION TO FLEA - BRAINIAK - CD (HAND001)
A rather poignant new release from Windy & Carl, in as much as
it's dedicated to their old dog Flea, who sadly died recently.
Two extended pieces, very much in the drone-based, expansive,
luscious soundscape style we know and love, with the sound of
Flea playing and barking towards the end (real lump-in-the-throat
stuff, you have been warned!). Genuinely moving, beautiful music,
and certainly up there quality-wise with their now sizeable =
back-catalogue
(on Kranky etc).=20
New Releases (CD): Funk / Jazz / Soul
LAST EXIT - KOLN (1986) - UNHEARD MUSIC SERIES - CD (ALP252CD)
Anything that involves Peter Brotzmann is going to be a) well
worth listening to and b) pretty out there. This falls into both
of those categories with its seemingly insane, freeform Jazz sounds.
Joined by Bill Laswell on bass, Sonny Sharrock on guitar and Shannon
Jackson on drums, you get a very engaging set of tracks that use
chaos to maximum effect whilst still managing to stay coherent
throughout.=20
SIRONE - LIVE (1981) - UNHEARD MUSIC SERIES - CD (ALP253CD)
Sirone's wood flute playing is the star of the show here with
the opening track being a long solo piece. Bringing to mind =
fluttering
birds and or insects his totally free use of the flute sound
is incredibly evocative. Add to that Claude Lawrence's stunning
alto sax and Dennis Charles on drums and you get an intriguing
set of tracks. Sirone does tend to take centre stage a lot with
his flute and bass, but there's a damn good reason for that!
New Releases (CD): Experimental
KK NULL - ANIMA MOTRIX - DOT DOT DOT MUSIC - CD (DOTDOTDOT006CD)
KK Null has ploughed away over the years forging his own sound
which has, under the surface, been incredibly influential. Whether
he receives enough credit for his sterling experimental work is
another question entirely. On this CD he shows a full range of
styles from ultra-reduced, tonal high frequency work to heavy,
brutal drones and virtually everything in between. At times it's
just plain atmospheric and at others it will seriously challenge
you both aurally and mentally. Pretty damn good.
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><STRONG><U>Smallfish Mailout=20
18/07/05</U></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><U><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2></FONT></U></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>Hi there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>There are a few nice bits to mention =
this week as=20
well as the usual selection of goods. There seems to be quite a lot of =
Techno=20
and Electro bits this week so those looking to pick up some dancefloor =
burners=20
should find some great bits in amongst it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><U><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2></FONT></U></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><U><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>New 12k=20
Releases</FONT></U></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>First is the brand new 12k CD from =
Frank=20
Bretschneider + Steinbruchel, 'Status' [12k1033]. As is becoming a trend =
with=20
12k, this collaborative work is made up of pieces of music which were =
initially=20
composed seperately by each artist then sent to the other and reworked.=20
Beginning back in 2003, this has been 2 years in the making... and it =
shows. The=20
second release is 'Live in Japan 2004' [12k2001] by label owner Taylor =
Deupree +=20
Christopher Willitts. Released in extremely limited quantites and mainly =
only=20
available on their recent tour of Japan, we've only got 10 =
copies of=20
this so if you want one you'd best snap it up as quickly as possible! =
Both CDs=20
are prime examples, once again, of why we love minimal electronica so =
much here=20
at Smallfish.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><STRONG><U><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>Autechre / =
Hafler Trio=20
CD</FONT></U></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><STRONG><U><FONT face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2></FONT></U></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>This will be back in =
mid-week and as=20
it's proving to be something of a stormer I'd suggest that when you see =
it back=20
on the website you grab it as quickly as possible!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><STRONG><U>Lost - =
August Bank=20
Holiday Sunday - 28th August</U></STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><STRONG><U><FONT face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2></FONT></U></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D2>Tickets for Lost =
will be in=20
sometime later this week and, as ever, it promises to be a good one.=20
Details:</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>LOST<BR>BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY 28TH =
AUGUST<BR>@ THE=20
BRIDGE, WESTON ST SE1<BR>featuring<BR>red.<BR>JEFF MILLS =
EXCLUSIVE =20
UK DATE<BR>STEVE BICKNELLL<BR>MORE T.B.C.<BR>purple.<BR>RHYTHM & =
SOUND<BR>+=20
AXIS ART PROJECT<BR>Following on from the dvd installation featured in =
May LOST=20
presents <BR>the second in a collaborative series of events in =
association=20
with<BR>JEFF MILLS/AXIS RECORDS.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>Sounds great!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>That's about it for this week so I'll =
say goodbye=20
on behalf of all of us here at Smallfish.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>Have a great week.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>Peace.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2>The Fish.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><FONT size=3D1>Smallfish Records | 329 Old =
Street | London=20
| EC1V 9LE | +44 [0] 20 7739 2252 | </FONT><A=20
href=3D"http://www.smallfish.co.uk"><FONT=20
size=3D1>www.smallfish.co.uk</FONT></A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): Electronica</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ANDREW WEATHERALL / KEITH TENNISWOOD - HIDDEN LIBRARY 2 - =
HIDDEN=20
LIBRARY - 7" (HL002)<BR> The potent combination of =
Weatherall=20
and Tenniswood gets together<BR> here for a low-key =
electronic=20
release. The first cut is clearly<BR> influenced by =
electro=20
and breaks but has a fresh sound and nicely<BR> =
minimal chord=20
structures. The flip has a more live-sounding feel<BR> =
with a=20
guitar bassline and a more overtly hip hop feel to =
the<BR> =20
beats. Definitely one to get a listen to. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JNR. POON - HIDDEN LIBRARY 3 - HIDDEN LIBRARY - 7"=20
(HL003)<BR> Interesting little diversion from Jnr. =
Poon here.=20
Two tracks which<BR> take in a synthy, retro pop =
electro sound=20
on the main side with<BR> a more downbeat, slightly =
hip hop=20
influenced electronica cut on<BR> the flip. Nicely put =
together, if not earth-shatteringly amazing,<BR> and a =
good=20
addition to your electro set. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SOLO-MAN SPECTRUM - POPCORN IN HEAVEN - BOTANICA DEL JIBARO =
- 12"=20
(BDJ026)<BR> 7 tracks of electronic hip hop pleasure =
here from=20
Miami's Beta<BR> Bodega crew. Solo-man provides a =
record of=20
two distinct halves.<BR> The first side is more of a =
deep,=20
funky affair with three cracking<BR> tracks =
(instrumental and=20
vocal) that should get the heads nodding!.<BR> The =
flip is=20
slightly darker and a wee bit more aggressive but<BR> =
is a=20
nice alternative to the other, lighter side. Great =
stuff<BR> =20
from this reliable imprint. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - THE DUDES EP - SHADETEK - 12"=20
(SHT007)<BR> Probably a stronger release than 'The =
Girls EP'.=20
This has more<BR> of an overt electronic feel as well =
as a=20
Crunky feel to tsome<BR> of the beats and some =
blatantly large=20
hip hop vocal moments. Processed<BR> to the max and =
pretty=20
much as crunched up as you can get, I guess<BR> a good =
comparison would be the more aggressive recent =
Spezial<BR> =20
Material gear. Whoop, whoop! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (Vinyl): Electronica</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> AFX - ANALORD 08 - REPHLEX - 12" =
(ANALORD08)<BR> =20
ANALORD 08 IS THE FIRST OF THE SERIES SO FAR (THERE'S A FEW=20
MORE<BR> TO COME) WHERE THE TRACK TITLES ARE NAMED =
AFTER=20
SPYWARE SOFTWARE,<BR> SO ANYONE RUNNING ANTI-SPYWARE =
SOFTWARE=20
ON THEIR COMPUTER MIGHT<BR> END UP WITH THESE (PERHAPS =
ILLICIT=20
MP3) FILES DELETED! SMART THINKING,<BR> IF A LITTLE =
SNIDE.=20
ANYWAY, THE MUSIC, ALTHOUGH AGAIN INSTANTLY<BR> =
IDENTIFIABLE=20
AS AN ANALORD RELEASE, SEES ANOTHER SLIGHT TWIST.<BR> =
THE=20
OPENING TRACK IS VERY DISCO FLAVOURED, AND TRACK TWO IS=20
ALMOST<BR> DETROIT SOUNDING IN ITS APPROACH - IT'S =
ACTUALLY A=20
BIT CLARO INTELECTO.<BR> SIDE TWO CONTAINS PERHAPS THE =
TWO=20
MOST WARM AND SOULFUL ANALORD<BR> PIECES SO FAR. =
CERTAINLY=20
MORE REFLECTIVE AND DOWNTEMPO THAN SIDE<BR> ONE, I CAN =
EVEN=20
SEE FANS OF MINIMAL TECHNO (EG. PLASTIKMAN, =
LAWRENCE)<BR> =20
GOING FOR THIS. ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET... RUNAROUND!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> AFX - ANALORD 02 - REPHLEX - 12" =
(ANALORD02)<BR> =20
HERE'S THE SECOND PART OF THE NEW SERIES OF AFX RELEASES=20
AND,<BR> IF ANYTHING, IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN =
ANALORD 01!=20
THIS ONE COMES<BR> AT YOU IN A SIMILARLY ACIDIC STYLE, =
BUT=20
WITH A DEEPER, SURPRISINGLY<BR> HOUSE ORIENTATED STYLE =
AND A=20
DEFINITE NOD TO THE ONE AND ONLY<BR> LARRY HEARD. A =
REAL=20
RETURN TO FORM FROM ONE OF THE MOST DELIBERATELY<BR> =
AWKWARD=20
ARTISTS OF ALL TIME. PROPS TO THE TWIN. OH YES, =
YOU'LL<BR> =20
NEED TO GET IN QUICK AS THESE ARE VERY LIMITED. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> APHEX TWIN - REMIXES 1 - UNKNOWN - 2xLP=20
(ATW01)<BR> WELL, WELL. A SELECTION OF REMIXES BY A =
CERTAIN=20
APHEX TWIN. SEEMS<BR> A BIT LIKE THE 26 MIXES FOR CASH =
COMPILATION BUT, TO BE FAIR,<BR> YOU CAN'T KNOCK A =
VINYL=20
VERSION THAT INCLUDES HIS STAGGERINGLY<BR> COOL =
VERSIONS OF ST=20
ETIENNE, NAV KATZE, SEEFEEL, CURVE, BABY FORD,<BR> =
MEAT BEAT=20
MANIFESTO, THE GENTLE PEOPLE AND THE BEATNIKS. =
PLUS<BR> YOU=20
GET THE ACID EDIT OF WINDOWLICKER AS WELL. STORMING =
STUFF<BR> =20
THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FOOLISH TO MISS!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> CYNE - RUNNING WATER (FOURTET REMIX) - CITY CENTRE OFFICES - =
12"=20
(BLOCK033)<BR> C.C.O. DELVE FURTHER INTO CYNE'S =
WONDERFULLY=20
DENSE HIP HOP SOUND.<BR> INCREDIBLY WELL CONSTRUCTED =
BEATS AND=20
DEEP, DEEP SAMPLES UNDERPIN<BR> THE SERIOUS VOCAL WORK =
WITH A=20
GREAT DEAL OF PANACHE. COUPLE THAT<BR> WITH A FOURTET =
REMIX=20
WHICH SHOWS KEIRAN'S SKILLS WITH THE BEATS<BR> AND =
YOU'VE GOT=20
A WINNING COMBINATION ALL ROUND. A STRONG RELEASE<BR> =
FROM A=20
LABLE THAT'S ON TOP FORM AT THE MOMENT. RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MARK BROOM - ANGIE REVISITED (AUTECHRE ALT MIX) - PURE =
PLASTIC - 12"=20
(PPD1)<BR> FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS A REMASTERED =
REISSUE OF=20
A CLASSIC MARK<BR> BROOM TRACK. QUALITY TECHNO FROM, =
OOH,=20
AROUND '95 I THINK. THE<BR> FLIP IS SOMETHING A BIT =
SPECIAL.=20
AN UNRELEASED AUTECHRE MIX FROM<BR> THE SAME PERIOD =
WHICH=20
COMES AS A COMPLETE ALTERNATIVE TO THE RELEASED<BR> =
MIX. A=20
CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE AUTECHRE'S =
WORK<BR> =20
WITH ITS LUSH CHORDS AND AMAZINGLY TIGHT PERCUSSION. HIGHLY,=20
HIGHLY<BR> RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MICHAELA MELIAN - BADEN-BADEN - MONIKA - 2xLP=20
(MONIKA39LP)<BR> YES, YES! WE'VE GOT A HOT ONE FOR =
YOU! THIS=20
IS A SUPERB PIECE<BR> OF WORK. MICHAELA DELIVERS SEVEN =
TRACKS=20
OF DIVINELY WORKED ELECTRONICA<BR> AND ORGANIC SOUNDS =
BUT WITH=20
A DUBBY HOUSE INFLUENCE GOING ON.<BR> HARD TO DO IT =
JUSTICE=20
WITH WORDS, BUT IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THE BASTARD<BR> SON =
OF=20
BERLIN, COLOGNE AND THEO PARRISH MIXED WITH THE =
DEEPNESS<BR> =20
OF, SAY, KARAOKE KALK, YOU MIGHT BE GETTING CLOSE.=20
STUPENDOUS.<BR> JUST GET IT.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PSAPP - TIGER, MY FRIEND - ARABLE - LP=20
(ARABLE4)<BR> THE EAGERLY AWAITED FULL ALBUM FROM THE =
MIGHTY=20
FINE PSAPP LANDS<BR> UPON THESE SUNNY SHORES AND IT'S =
AN=20
ABSOLUTE BEAUTY. THE SHEER<BR> PLAYFULNESS AND SENSE =
OF MELODY=20
IS MAGNIFICENT AND COUPLED WITH<BR> SOME PERKY, VERY=20
INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMMING IT CREATES AN INTRIGUING<BR> =
AND=20
ENGAGING COLLISION OF ELECTRONICA AND ORGANIC SOUNDS. =
THE<BR> =20
VOCALS ARE SULTRY, SWEET AND STRANGELY SEXY AND, ALL IN ALL,=20
<BR> THIS IS A SUPERB ALBUM ALL ROUND. HIGHLY=20
RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): Techno / Electro</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 8-BIT ROCKERS - EXIT / ENTRANCE - STILLEBEN - 12"=20
(STILLEBEN026)<BR> This is a fabulous ep and quite =
possibly=20
the strongest release<BR> on Stilleben so far for me. =
Fresh,=20
incredibly well produced electro-based<BR> tracks =
which owe as=20
much to Drexciya as they do to the usual =
retro-synthy<BR> /=20
Italo sound. In fact the first track on the B-side could=20
easily<BR> be an aquatic missive from the late James=20
Stinson... yes, it's<BR> that good. A hot 12" for a =
hot,=20
sticky afternoon... just what<BR> the electro-doctor=20
ordered!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ALEX UNDER - ROJO PAR Y PASA - CMYK - 12"=20
(CMYK006)<BR> Alex Under doesn't seem to be able to do =
a thing=20
wrong at the<BR> moment and this, the 6th release on =
CMYK, is=20
more proof, if it<BR> were needed, that he's on top =
form.=20
Three killer techno grooves<BR> with subtly shuffling =
house=20
influences to the beats and lush,<BR> minimal sounds. =
Fans of=20
previous work are liable to smitten with<BR> this... =
just like=20
I am. Recommended. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ANTHONY SHAKIR - LOST & FOUND 1 - DUST SCIENCE - 12"=20
(DUSTV005)<BR> It's always good to get some material =
from=20
Shake. His techno sound<BR> is still pushing forward =
and still=20
pretty much in a league of<BR> its own. 3 tracks that =
vary in=20
style and range from hypnotic minimal<BR> loop tracks =
to a=20
more lush and chord driven, classic Detroit sound.<BR> =
A=20
lovely piece of vinyl for fans of true techno.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ARIL BRIKHA - PREY FOR PEACE - MUSIC MAN - 12"=20
(MM116)<BR> Good god. It's virtually a trance record. =
Don't=20
get me wrong,<BR> I love Aril Brikha as much as the =
next man,=20
but this is really<BR> quite strange. The solid techno =
beats=20
are all there, the melodic<BR> chords are in place, =
but it=20
just has this trance feel that's hard<BR> to escape. =
You'll=20
definitely need to check this yourselves and<BR> make =
up your=20
own minds. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> CHRISTOPHER JUST - B.O.B. - POMELO - 12"=20
(POM15)<BR> Cripes alive! This is a banger. Putting it =
on, I=20
was expecting<BR> a disco / house / techno sort of =
affair and=20
then I remembered<BR> it's on Pomelo. What you end up =
with are=20
3 fierce electro-based<BR> tracks with almost entirely =
distorted up sounds and beats that<BR> will bang =
through your=20
head and really get into your feet. An<BR> absolutely =
wicked=20
ep all round. Bravo.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> D1 - BELIEVE - SOULJA - 12" (SOULJ8)<BR> =
Is it=20
grime? Dubstep? Garage/Breaks? Electronica, even? No, =
but<BR> =20
equally, yes, all of these. Confused? You won't be - this is=20
deep,<BR> minimal electronic grime, combining slick =
D&B=20
textures, Bladerunner-esque<BR> synths and fresh vocal =
samples. A very cool release from this<BR> Tempa / =
FWD>>=20
related offshoot. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DAMIAN SCHWARTZ - ARENA EN LOS ZAPATOS - APNEA - 12"=20
(APNEA004)<BR> Apnea is one of those really cool =
labels that=20
seem to stay just<BR> under the radar and put out =
fantastic=20
minimalistic techno records.<BR> For those in the know =
it=20
won't come as a surprise to find that<BR> this is a =
fantastic=20
4 track ep of funky, smoothly put together<BR> tech =
funk with=20
lovely sounds and rolling beats. Damian does it<BR> =
again.=20
Recommended. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DARK COMEDY - GOOD GOD - POUSSEZ! - 12" =
(P06)<BR> =20
Bizarre release from Kenny Larkin. Following on from the=20
housey,<BR> jazzy album this is a strange slice of =
very=20
electronic sounding<BR> drum & bass with a =
technical feel=20
and tons of funk. Very peculiar.<BR> The flip is a =
strong=20
hybrid of histechno and house sounds melded<BR> =
together with=20
abstract chord structures and weird, off-kilter<BR> =
beats.=20
Better than the album, in my opinion and well worth=20
checking<BR> out. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DARKO ESSER - THE RAVEN EP - VETO - 12" =
(VT06)<BR> =20
Wonky techno par excellence here from Birmingham based Veto.=20
Harsh,<BR> almost industrial tracks that bear quite=20
resemblance at times<BR> to a mutant hybrid of Subhead =
/=20
Landtrumm and Surgeon. Bang it<BR> up!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DEBASSER - KLS (SI BEGG REMIX) - INPUT OUTPUT - 12"=20
(IOI009)<BR> Solid, synthed-up electro tracks here =
with a=20
tough old flava.<BR> The main point for most people =
wilol be=20
the Two-Step version by<BR> the one and only Si Begg =
who, true=20
to form, twists up the basslines<BR> into a =
pseudo-grime feel=20
with massively impressive dancefloor<BR> production. A =
winner=20
and no mistake.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DIRTY PRINCESS - GOING GOING - MAD DILDO - 12"=20
(MADDP002)<BR> Here's a very expensive picture disco =
for you.=20
Spanish label Mad<BR> Dildo seem to think that if you =
put a=20
kinky picture of two ladies<BR> in fetish type gear on =
the=20
record it'll entice people to buy it.<BR> Might have =
done when=20
I was 10 years old, but it takes considerably<BR> more =
than=20
that to get me excited nowadays. Musically it's =
not<BR> as bad=20
as I thought it was going to be. A mixture of =
electro,<BR> =20
both clash and straight up, with vocals and techno-ish bits.=20
Probably<BR> worth a listen if you're that way =
inclined I=20
imagine. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DJ BONE - WHAT U BELIEVE EP - D1 - 12"=20
(DONE032)<BR> Detroit's DJ Bone gives a rip-roaring 4 =
track ep=20
on Dublin's D1<BR> label. Clearly on top form at the =
moment,=20
he's constructed some<BR> heavy, off-centre beats of a =
tribal-ish nature, but managed to<BR> imbue the whole =
thing=20
with a stringly, chordy warmth that's very<BR> =
pleasing.=20
Absolutely going to do it on the dancefloor with =
its<BR> crisp=20
percussion, but two of the tracks definitely have some=20
legs<BR> for listening at home as well. Great quality =
Detroit=20
techno sound...<BR> Splendid.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DJ SILVERSURFER - PARISIS EP - CROSSTOWN REBELS - 12"=20
(CRM018)<BR> Crosstown Rebels seem to be on a bit of a =
winning=20
streak at the<BR> moment and this 3 track ep is yet =
another=20
goodie. The A-side takes<BR> a very electro orientated =
approach and ramps up the dirty synth<BR> bassline =
sounds to=20
fine effect whilst the flipside is a more clicked<BR> =
out,=20
subtle techno affair with deep sounds and the kind of=20
beats<BR> that wouldn't be out of place on a Cadenza=20
release.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DUB CHILD - TAKE ME / PSYCHOPATH - STORMING PRODUCTIONS - =
12"=20
(STORM004)<BR> Big old Amen style dubstep from Dub =
Child.=20
Ferocious beats and<BR> excessively heavy, highly =
tweaked=20
basslines. Both tracks are pretty<BR> much rocking and =
will do=20
it for Grime and beatz heads. Check.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ECHO DEPTH FINDERS - THE CITY OF DOLLS - METEOSOUND - 12"=20
(METEO016)<BR> Meteosound deliver something a little =
different=20
here with a very<BR> atmospheric 4 track ep of =
downbeat, dub=20
inflected sounds. Very<BR> hip hop based in the beats=20
department, this has a beautiful range<BR> of very =
echoey=20
reverbs and heavy basslines. Not the lightest and<BR> =
airiest=20
release of all time, but certainly a powerful beast =
all<BR> =20
the same. Check.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> FEMALE - AVON REMIXES - SANDWELL DISTRICT - 12"=20
(SD4)<BR> A superb remix 12" with three reliable and=20
consistent names on<BR> duty. James Ruskin delivers a=20
wonderfully deep version with layers<BR> of chords and =
just=20
the right combination of tribal beats to make<BR> you =
move.=20
65D Mavericks opt for an off-beat tribal style =
that<BR> 's=20
very much in line with the Blueprint sort of style...=20
generally<BR> a top track. Female gives us probably =
the best=20
mix... a reduced<BR> version of the original with a =
mid-paced,=20
not-too-heavy, but incredibly<BR> deep sound that =
could easily=20
fit into a Kopakt / Contexterrior<BR> set. A brilliant =
selection of tracks that comes recommended.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> FIXMER / MCCARTHY - YOU WANT IT (DAVE CLARKE REMIX) - PLANET =
ROUGE -=20
12" (PLR5002)<BR> Explosive Dave Clark Five remix of =
the=20
Douglas McCarthy (Nitzer<BR> Ebb) and Terence Fixmer =
(Terence=20
and Phillip) track "You Want<BR> It", backed with a =
remix of=20
"Come Inside" by Christopher Kah (The<BR> Cars). Fast, =
furious=20
and my, isn't it hot in here.... </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> FREAK ELECTRIQUE - CLOUD SURFER / FRIGHT JAZZ - VIEWLEXX - =
12"=20
(V014)<BR> Can it really be over eighteen months since =
Freak=20
Electrique rocked<BR> the shores of Smallfish HQ with =
their=20
stunning prog-electro hybrid<BR> sound? More seventies =
than=20
eighties, imagine Giorgio Moroder,<BR> Chris & =
Cosey and=20
Yello all getting it on in the grooviest way<BR> =
imaginable.=20
The B-side is considerably more downtempo, veering<BR> =
towards=20
Tangerine Dream territory! Another stormer from =
Viewlexx.<BR> =20
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> GLOBAL GOON, THE - THE BESSEMER COCKTAIL EP - WEME LE DISQUE =
- LP=20
(WEME002)<BR> The Global Goon (best known for gooning =
around=20
on Rephlex and<BR> Audio Dregs) does go on (hmm...) =
with this=20
nifty 8-track mini-lp.<BR> It's a curious meeting of =
the silly=20
(eg. Like A Tim) and the more<BR> serious (eg. =
Legowelt) sound=20
of modern electro, which is paradoxically<BR> very =
much rooted=20
in the eighties. About as much Braindance as<BR> it is =
Bodydance (ie, as much electronica as it is dancefloor=20
orientated)<BR> this should win many over. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> HAC[K] THE TAB - I AM NOT MACHINE - [K]RACKTRONI[K] - 12"=20
(KRAK007)<BR> [K]racktroni[K] appear to be on =
something of a=20
roll at the moment<BR> and this isn't going to harm =
their=20
reputation at all. Thre furiously<BR> good electro =
pieces=20
that, quite simply, rock! Mad bass sounds,<BR> mixes =
from Sir=20
Real and 8-Bit Apocalypse, heavy, club orientated<BR> =
rhythms=20
and much, much more. Highly recommended for the=20
electro-heads<BR> amongst you.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JOHN DAHLBACK & STAFFAN LINZATTI - OUTSIDE - PICKADOLL - =
12"=20
(PICKADOLL01)<BR> Mr Dahlback returns for one of his =
more=20
gritty numbers on this,<BR> the first release on =
Pickadoll. 3=20
cuts that use gnarly basslines<BR> and trademark funky =
beats=20
to convey some serious dancefloor action.<BR> Seems he =
can do=20
no wrong at the moment.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JOHN SPRING - SNAPSHOT - SUB STATIC - 12"=20
(SUS_48)<BR> I imagine we've all been waiting for this =
with=20
baited breath after<BR> the two monster singles John =
Spring=20
released last year. No surprises<BR> then when you =
discover=20
this is liable to be as big as those. Dirty<BR> tech =
grooves=20
with some monstrous basslines (of the gnarliest =
variety)<BR> =20
and really solid arrangements that provide just the right=20
drops<BR> and breaks for maximum dancefloor effect. =
Wicked=20
stuff. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JUSSI-PEKKA - WORK IT - THE REMIXES - MORRIS AUDIO - 12"=20
(MORRIS42)<BR> This release sits strangely with the =
other=20
Morris Audio records.<BR> On the one hand their =
releases have=20
got a little more housey recently,<BR> but this sees =
Jori=20
Hulkkonen and Freestyle Man delivering the<BR> remixes =
and=20
they're both very much in the electro / electronic<BR> =
house=20
vein. Wicked synth work and some cracking basslines =
make<BR> =20
up the main meat of the tracks and they're both different=20
enough<BR> to warrant playing out quite a bit. Strong =
stuff,=20
then, but not<BR> nearly as deep as some of the other =
Morris=20
Audio gear.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LE TIGRE - THIS ISLAND REMIXES VOL. 1 - CHICKS ON SPEED - 7" =
(COSR23)<BR> The first of two consecutive remix 12"s =
of=20
reworked tracks from<BR> the "This Island" LP. Dub and =
Vocal=20
versions of "After Dark" from<BR> Richard Morel, and =
mixes of=20
"Nanny Nanny Boo Boo" from Craig Cristensen<BR> and =
Arthur=20
Baker Vs Coleman and Spencer. If anyone can tell =
me<BR> who=20
any of these people are (other than Mr Baker), i'd be=20
grateful....<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LITERON - INTERFEAR - FORTEK - 12" =
(FT013)<BR> =20
Well, if it's on Fortek and it's not by Steve Azzara, you=20
can<BR> bet your rear end it's by Literon. The =
surprise here,=20
however,<BR> is just how much rear end this kicks! =
There's a=20
couple of real<BR> upfront club bangers on here, with =
plenty=20
of top and bottom end<BR> (naturally) that should grab =
the=20
attention of the tougher, Novamute<BR> / Adam Beyer =
crowd,=20
even. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LOUDERBACH - BLACKMIRROR - UNDERLINE - 12"=20
(UND004)<BR> FOUR MORE POWERFUL TRACKS OF ICE COLD =
TECHNO FROM=20
THIS UP AND<BR> COMING LABEL AND ARTIST. =
TOP-OF-THE-CLASS,=20
MINIMAL DEEP TECHNO<BR> - QUIRKY, A BIT SPOOKY, TONAL, =
ALMOST=20
TEXTURAL. THINK PLASTIKMAN<BR> / VINTAGE NOVA MUTE / =
THE MORE=20
MINIMAL END OF KOMPAKT. VERY NICE.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LOVEJUICE - ACID LOVE - MIGHTY ATOM - 12"=20
(MA029)<BR> Two solidly put together acid tracks here =
that are=20
groovy, phat<BR> and very dancefloor friendly. Kind of =
along=20
the lines of the Essit<BR> Musik track from Tigersushi =
at=20
times with cool samples and a good<BR> solid =
breakdown. One=20
for the house fans whoc like it a bit more<BR> =
technological.=20
Check.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MARKUS LANGE - JAMES BONDAGE EP - POCKETGAME - LP=20
(LEVEL007)<BR> 6 track picture disc from those =
Euro-centric=20
bods at Pocketgame.<BR> Silly, clubby, retro synthy =
sounds=20
with a pounding selection of<BR> beats and a couple of =
darker,=20
more minimalistic moments to please<BR> the Kompakt =
loving=20
crew. One to check if you're a fan of the label.<BR> =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MELNYK - STRUT (PUTSCH '79 REMIX) - GAYMONKEY RECORDS - 12"=20
(GAY10)<BR> We probably wouldn't have got this in =
except for=20
two facts. 1)<BR> The people at Gaymonkey Records =
seemed=20
rather nice and 2) It's<BR> got a mix by Putsch '79 on =
it. The=20
original mix is very much a<BR> Shoreditch / Hoxton =
style slab=20
of vocal electroclash and the remix<BR> is kind of =
more of the=20
same. Flip to the Putsch '79 version though<BR> and =
you'll be=20
in for an Italo / electro feast of fun. Well worth<BR> =
checking out I reckon. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MFA, THE - ZONE DAY - B PITCH CONTROL - 12"=20
(BPC109)<BR> I had no idea what to expect from this at =
all so=20
I was quite surprised<BR> to find a very strong rave =
influence=20
throughout. That's not to<BR> say it's bad because, =
amazingly,=20
I really liked the A-side track.<BR> It builds and =
builds and=20
has a great chord progression that's<BR> epic, groovy =
and very=20
hands-in-the-air. The flip has a more retro<BR> =
electro sort=20
of track and then a much more overt hardcore-style<BR> =
cut.=20
Have a listen and see if it does it for you.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> NEIL LANDSTRUMM & S.E.S. - FIGHTING SPIRIT EP - IRON =
OXIDE - 12"=20
(FE03)<BR> Dark and twisted tech sounds from the =
powerful=20
pairing of Landstrumm<BR> and Sugar Experiment =
Station. First=20
stuff I've heard from them<BR> for a while so it's =
good to see=20
(and hear) that they've still<BR> got an edge to them. =
Mutated=20
beats and rough as hell basslines<BR> that'll scrape =
you ears=20
into careless abandon. Wicked gear!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> NEON BLONDE - HEADLINES EP - DIM MAK - 12"=20
(DM084)<BR> What a bizarre record this is... it's =
almost like=20
glam electro<BR> pop, akin to a cross between Scissor =
Sisters=20
and T-Rex. Having<BR> said that, it's certainly not =
Shoreditch=20
Tw*t music, owing more<BR> to classic pop than =
anything=20
currently in fashion around these<BR> parts. Comes =
with a=20
remix by Jay Clark and two equally uncategorisable<BR> =
numbers=20
on side two. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> OLIVER KOLETZKI - DER MUCKENSCHWARM (DOMINIK EULBERG REMIX) =
- COCOON=20
- 12" (COR12014)<BR> The A-side on this is average =
techno /=20
house / vocal sort of stuff...<BR> not bad, but =
certainly not=20
amazing. The flip has a grand remix<BR> by Dominik =
Eulberg,=20
however, which extends both the length and<BR> the =
minimalism=20
to a deeply hypnotic amount. Funky, yet stripped<BR> =
and very,=20
very playable.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PASTOR FITZNER - MY PHILOSOPHY - ESEL - LP=20
(ESEL26)<BR> Esel once again provide a lovely mini =
album=20
that's full of low-key<BR> tracks that are definitely =
set to=20
please in a large way. Taking<BR> a very nice dub =
approach to=20
the sounds and using that nice guitary<BR> stab flava =
it's got=20
a shuffly, groovy feel through the 9 tracks.<BR> Kind =
of like=20
the James Din A4 material at times (in fact, my =
guess<BR> is=20
it's probably him in disguise) this is a really cool=20
little<BR> record that should definitely be checked =
out by all=20
and sundry.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PETER GRUMMICH - SWITCH OFF THE SOAP OPERA - SHITKATAPULT - =
2xLP=20
(STRIKE61)<BR> With this album, Peter Grummich has =
exceeded my=20
expectations by<BR> a long way. After his recent beast =
of a=20
single on Kompakt 'Frozen<BR> World', this could =
easily have=20
been a banging set of tracks for<BR> a label that =
clearly=20
likes it rough and tough most of the time.<BR> It is, =
however,=20
a much more varied set of tracks than that and<BR> =
features=20
some wonderfully reduced and surprisingly melodic =
minimal<BR> =20
tracks that should be great for an early evening session.=20
Couple<BR> that with some bass heavy, crunchy techno =
sounds=20
that are guaranteed<BR> to get people going and you've =
a well=20
rounded set of techno tracks.<BR> Quality stuff all=20
round.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PUTSCH '79 - ARPEGGIO LIFE - CLONE - 12"=20
(C#38)<BR> Was very tempted to put this in the house =
section=20
for this is<BR> pure disco, with barely a trace of =
electro to=20
be heard. For all<BR> those of you out there rabidly=20
collecting disco re-edits like<BR> there's no =
tomorrow, look=20
no further (Pav and Rupi!). Very authentic,<BR> very =
smooth,=20
very strong (hang on, this is turning into a =
toilet<BR> paper=20
commercial).... </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> RADIQ - QUADRILLE - LOGISTICS - 12" =
(LOG48)<BR> =20
This is a superb follow up to the wonderful album earlier on=20
in<BR> the year. Taking some of the motifs from the =
album=20
(i.e. the depth,<BR> the beauty, the clickiness and =
the slight=20
tinge of jazziness)<BR> and layering them over =
slightly more=20
4/4 based beats works a treat<BR> and you end up with =
a set of=20
4 tracks that are, at times, reminscent<BR> of Jan =
Jelink's=20
work under his own name and as Farben. There's<BR> =
even a cut=20
with some tremendous Rhodes piano chords going on.<BR> =
Deep,=20
lush, wonderfully shuffly and groovy... absolutely =
spot<BR> =20
on. Recommended. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> RICARDO VILLALOBOS - FADUTRON / CHROMOSUL - PERLON - 12"=20
(PERL48)<BR> Ricardo delivers yet another minimal =
masterpiece=20
on the ever-consistent<BR> Perlon imprint. 2 deep, =
wonderfully=20
spacious grooves which use<BR> his trademark =
stripped-down=20
sounds and crisply compressed beats<BR> to give you a =
hypnotic=20
journey through techno. If, like me, you're<BR> a fan =
of most=20
of his other material, you'll find this absolutely<BR> =
irresistable. Top quality and highly recommended. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> RUTHERFORD - CESSNA - KONDI - 12" =
(KONDI009)<BR> =20
Rutherford does it stripped-down electro style here over 6=20
tracks.<BR> Very much in lone with his work on =
Stilleben but,=20
if anything,<BR> there's less disco influence and more =
of a=20
purist, Drexciyan-styke<BR> sound to the melodic =
moments and=20
synthy sound. Fans of Bunker<BR> etc. are pretty much=20
guaranteed to enjoy this one. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SONS OF SLOUGH - REAL PEOPLE REMIXES - ELECTRIX - 12"=20
(ETRX022.5)<BR> 2 mixes here from Phil Keiran and =
Electrolux's=20
Sniper Mode. The<BR> Phil Keiran mix is a techno / =
electro=20
slammer with the dancefloor<BR> firmly in mind. All =
synthed=20
out sounds and phat beats that will<BR> certainly move =
a=20
crowd. The Sniper Mode remix is a cracking slab<BR> of =
Mikrolux style elctro with all the hallmarks you'd expect=20
from<BR> such a quality artist... heavy bass, solid =
beats and=20
lots of good<BR> analgues. Worth checking, I'd =
say.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> TERRAE - KINGS OF IDIOTS AND HOLY OILS - DEFRAG SOUND =
PROCESSING -=20
12" (DFRG_10)<BR> Defrag's a funny old label... in a =
good way,=20
though. I like the<BR> fact they're not afraid to use =
an=20
upbeat, clubby, techy, trancey<BR> sound as well as =
going for=20
ultra-reduced minimal techno as well.<BR> This has =
three solid=20
tracks that'll, by turns, get them nodding<BR> their =
heads and=20
then jigging about when the more technical moments<BR> =
start=20
to kick in. A well produced, well constructed set of=20
tracks,<BR> then, for fans of the label and more. =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> TOMAS NORDSTROM - DANCE YOUR SELF STUPID - TONEWRECKER - 12" =
(TW009)<BR> Techno lunacy from Tonewrecker. Easily the =
hardest=20
release in<BR> their catalogue with a vast array of =
industrial=20
sound and clanging<BR> beats. Each one guaranteed to =
severely=20
hurt your ears in the right<BR> environment, but just =
as=20
likely to make you dance around like<BR> a looney. =
Good stuff=20
that's worth a check.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - 2RABIMMEL 2RABAMMEL 2RABUM 2BUM BUM - AREAL - 2xLP =
(AREAL31)<BR> Areal present the '2Rabimmel' album for =
your=20
listening pleasure.<BR> Featuring the more wayward, =
off-kilter=20
side of their sound (as<BR> if they weren't oddball =
enough=20
already!) it's got cuts from the<BR> usual suspects =
including=20
Basteroid, Metope, Ada, Konfekt, Remute,<BR> Roan and =
Imogen=20
and is a very convincing selection of tunes to<BR> =
make you=20
rock on the dancefloor. Tough, dirty, really nicely=20
produced<BR> sounds as you'd expect from such a =
quality label.=20
Recommended.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VEX'D - DEGENERATE - PLANET MU - 2xLP=20
(ZIQ115LP)<BR> This strikes me as a potential landmark =
release. This storming<BR> album from Vex'd is a =
seriously=20
potent and full-on cocktail of<BR> grime, dubstep, =
bleep=20
techno, twisted D&B, old skool jungle and<BR> =
electronica=20
that old Aphex fans will be able to relate to as =
much<BR> as=20
the grimeheads and dubstep kids. Surely the most =
important<BR> =20
grime release to date, seeing as it moves the whole genre on=20
several<BR> stages. Check this out immediately. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VIDEO CLUB - TEENAGE DISCO - U-FREQS - 12"=20
(UF016)<BR> Another UK label decides to get into some =
electro=20
/ house style<BR> sounds and, to be fair, it's =
actually quite=20
convincing. 3 mixes<BR> that are distinctly different =
and will=20
no doubt appeal to fans<BR> of Crosstown Rebels and =
other such=20
labels. Check.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VINCE WATSON / PAUL MAC - INFLUENCED - INFLUENCED - 10"=20
(INFLUENCED002)<BR> Vince and Paul get down with array =
of=20
vintage gear and provide<BR> two acid heavy techno =
tracks that=20
manage to create a subtly melodic,<BR> almost U.R. =
(circa=20
Journey of the Dragon / Hi-Tech Jazz) kind<BR> of =
sound with=20
it's jazzy chord progressions. Very much a 303 =
showcase<BR> =20
though and, even though it has a slightly old-school sound,=20
it<BR> shows that there's still life in the old dog =
yet!=20
Excellent. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> WILL SAUL - TIC TOC (SWAYZAK REMIX) - SIMPLE - 12"=20
(SIMPLE0514)<BR> Will Saul with Ursula Rucker on =
vocals=20
provide a summery, dub-ish<BR> track that's quite =
pleasant.=20
Following that there's a weird little<BR> electro =
version that=20
sits strangely with the original. The flip<BR> has the =
excellent Swayzak remix which takes a deep and =
clicky<BR> =20
approach making it pretty much instrumental and adding=20
layers<BR> of texture and sound as well as off-kilter =
4/4=20
beats. A really<BR> interesting remix.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (Vinyl): Techno / Electro</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 2 DOLLAR EGG - GELB - NUMMER SCHALLPLATTEN - 12"=20
(NUMMER11)<BR> 2 DOLLAR EGG FOLLOW UP 'NAXOS' WITH =
ANOTHER=20
STORMING SLICE OF<BR> EXTREMELY TECHNICAL SOUNDING =
MINIMAL=20
TECH. PHAT BEATS AND INTENSE<BR> ATTENTION TO DETAIL =
ENSURE A=20
GROOVY SELECTION THAT'LL GET MOST<BR> FLOORS MOVING. =
BRILLIANT=20
STUFF.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ACID KID - SLAMMM - REVERSE YOUR FUTURE - ACID KID - 12"=20
(ACIDKID003)<BR> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MY FAVOURITE ACID =
TRACK IN=20
AGES AND AGES. STRAIGHT-UP,<BR> NON-NONSENSE, OLD =
SCHOOL VIBES=20
THAT CAN'T FAIL TO GET YOUR HEAD<BR> NODDING IN TIME. =
KILLER=20
303 LINE THAT HAS SO MUCH SQUELCH GOING<BR> ON THAT =
IT'S=20
ALMOST NOT FAIR. BRILLIANT STUFF. GET IT QUICK THOUGH!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ALTER EGO - TRANSPHORMER - KLANG - 3xLP=20
(KLANG85)<BR> HERE IT IS THEN. THE HOTLY TOUTED ALTER =
EGO=20
ALBUM IS A PURE DANCEFLOOR<BR> FRENZY OF BLISTERING =
TECHNO=20
GROOVES THE LIKE OF WHICH I'VE NOT<BR> HEARD FOR SOME =
TIME. NO=20
CONCESSIONS TO ANYTHING BUT MAKING YOU<BR> MOVE WITH A =
SELECTION OF MONSTROUS CLUB TRACKS THAT SHOULD BE<BR> =
SMASHING=20
IT ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. =
QUITE<BR> =20
SIMPLY A MASSIVE ALBUM. RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> AM/PM / LUMP - SPLIT - SUD - 12" =
(SUD006)<BR> =20
STAGGERINGLY GOOD RELEASE FROM THE PORTABLE RELATED SUD=20
IMPRINT.<BR> THIS FOUR TRACKER IS PROBABLY THEIR =
STRONGEST=20
RELEASE TO DATE<BR> AND FEATURES TWO ARTISTS WHO ARE =
ON TOP=20
FORM AT THE MOMENT. ANYONE<BR> FAMILIAR WITH AM/PM'S =
WONDERFUL=20
ALBUM ON DRECK WILL KNOW WHAT<BR> TO EXPECT TO A =
CERTAIN=20
EXTENT. DEEP, 4/4 ELECTRONICA WITH A BEAUTIFUL<BR> USE =
OF=20
FOUND SAMPLES THAT CREATE A DENSE, LUSH, YET =
STRANGELY<BR> =20
SPARSE GROOVE. IT'S TECHNO, YES, BUT SO MUCH MORE. THE=20
TRACKS<BR> JUST LITERALLY DRIP WITH ATMOSPHERE AND =
GORGEOUS=20
SOUND DESIGN,<BR> SUCH THAT YOU CAN'T HELP BEING DRAWN =
INTO=20
THEM. SIMPLY SUPERB.<BR> THE LUMP TRACKS ARE MORE =
GROOVING, I=20
GUESS YOU COULD SAY, BUT<BR> IN A NICELY OFF-BALANCE, =
GLITCHY=20
SORT OF WAY. VERY MUCH A CONTIUATION<BR> OF THE SOUND =
ON=20
KARLOFF BUT WITH, IF ANYTHING, AN EXTRA LAYER<BR> OF =
DEPTH. A=20
WICKED EP THAT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BASTEROID - DAWAJ DAWAJ - SENDER - 12"=20
(SEND048)<BR> VERY MUCH TAILORED TO THE SENDER SOUND, =
AREAL'S=20
BASTEROID DELIVERS<BR> TWO ROUGH AND READY TECHNO CUTS =
THAT=20
HAVE AN ABSTRACT, ODDBALL<BR> SOUND (UNSURPRISINGLY) =
WITH=20
AMAZING NOISES AND KILLER 4/4 BEATS.<BR> IF YOU'RE =
INTO SENDER=20
OR AREAL, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR YOU.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DEXTER - INTRUDER - KLAKSON - 12" =
(KLAKSON02)<BR> =20
FOUR SOLID TRACKS OF PURE ELECTRO FUN FROM THIS CLONE=20
OFFSHOOT.<BR> PROPER AGGRESSSIVE BASS LINES AND =
STORMING=20
BEATS. THE VOCODERED<BR> REFRAIN OF THE TITLE TRACK IS =
PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DEXTER - RAW - KLAKSON - 12" =
(KLAKSON9)<BR> FOUR=20
RAW (HENCE THE TITLE) ELECTRO TRACKS FROM ROCK SOLID=20
ARTISTS<BR> DEXTER. THERE'S A TOUCH OF DOPPLEREFFEKT =
AND=20
JAPANESE TELECOM<BR> TO THE QUIRKY, MELODIC =
SOUNDS BUT A=20
UNIQUE PHATNESS TO THE BEATS.<BR> I PARTICULARLY LIKE =
THE=20
TRACK 'I AM NOT ALDEN TYRELL' WHICH REALLY<BR> MADE ME =
CHUCKLE. ESSENTIAL STUFF AS ALWAYS.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> HEATH BRUNNER - MOVIE - FRANTIC FLOWERS - 12"=20
(FF-004)<BR> AAH, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. VMAX HEAD =
HONCHO,=20
HEATH BRUNNER DELIVERS<BR> A WONDERFULLY PURE AND =
AUTHENTIC=20
FOUR TRACK EP OF BRILLIANT DETROIT<BR> TECHNO SOUNDS. =
LUSH=20
PADS AND CHORDS WITH CLATTERING PERCUSSION<BR> AND =
SOME PACEY=20
BEATS COMBINE TO TO MAKE AN EP THAT'LL GET FANS<BR> OF =
THE=20
MOTOR CITY SOUND INTO A RIGHT OLD LATHER. PURE =
QUALITY<BR> ON=20
GORGEOUS CLEAR VINYL. RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> HUTTON DRIVE - 324 / MOODIN - FRANTIC FLOWERS - 12"=20
(FF-003)<BR> SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT =
THIS FOR=20
WEEKS AND FINALLY<BR> IT DROPS. PRISTINE CLEAR VINYL =
AND A=20
SUPERB TWO TRACKER OF PURIST<BR> DETROIT FLAVA TECHNO. =
DRIVING=20
GROOVES AND AND DEEP, DEEP PADS<BR> LOCK HORNS TO =
CREATE A=20
FLOWING, FUNKY SOUND THAT HAS 'MOTOR CITY'<BR> STAMPED =
ALL=20
OVER IT. FRESH STUFF AND DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JACEN SOLO - VIRGO - A.I. - 2xLP =
(AI011LP)<BR> =20
THIS IS BEING LISTED ON THE WEBSITE FOR A SECOND WEEK,=20
SIMPLY<BR> BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME AND WE DON'T WANT =
ANYONE TO=20
MISS OUT. IT'S<BR> MY FAVOURITE RELEASE ON AI SINCE =
THE CLARO=20
ALBUM, WHICH KINDA<BR> FOLLOWS AS THIS IS DEEP, =
EXCEPTIONALLY=20
WELL-PRODUCED DETROIT-STYLE<BR> ELECTRO THAT'S =
MUSICAL, FULL=20
OF WARMTH AND LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF<BR> MOST OF THE=20
COMPETITION. WITH NODS TO MID '90'S ARTIFICIAL=20
INTELLIGENCE<BR> (CURIOUSLY!) STYLE ELECTRONICS,THE =
DEEPEST=20
DETROIT TECHNO AND<BR> EVEN THE CHORD-Y, SOULFUL STYLE =
OF=20
PEOPLE LIKE MIKE GRANT AND<BR> RICK WADE, THIS HAS =
BEEN PUT=20
TOGETHER WITH A STRONG EAR FOR MELODY<BR> AND GROOVE.=20
ELECTRO-ESQUE RHYTHMS RIDE UNDER THE TRACKS AND =
GENERALLY<BR> =20
THIS IS QUITE UNMISSABLE IF YOU ASK ME. HIGHLY, HIGHLY =
RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LUCIANO - BOMBERO'S / OCTOGONAL - CADENZA - 12"=20
(CADENZA06)<BR> CADENZA'S SIXTH RELEASE COMES ONCE =
AGAIN FROM=20
THE TALENTED MR.<BR> LUCIANO. THIS ONE IS POSSIBLY =
DEEPER AND=20
MORE HYPNOTIC THAN THE<BR> OTHER RELEASES (IF THAT'S =
POSSIBLE)=20
AND IT HAS A REAL HEADS DOWN<BR> GROOVE THAT'LL =
IMMEDIATELY=20
LOCK PEOPLE IN AND REFUSE TO LET THEM<BR> GO. A SUPERB =
SLICE=20
OF TECHNO THAT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MATHEW JONSON - BEHIND THE MIRROR - SUB STATIC - 12"=20
(SUS_41)<BR> OOH, ITS A BIGGIE. MOODY 4/4 ELECTRIC =
BOOGIE FO=20
YOO ASS. DARK<BR> AND DELICIOUS, A WONDERFUL FOLLOW UP =
TO THE=20
SOUGHT AFTER 12" ON<BR> IT IS WHAT IT IS FROM EARLIER =
THIS=20
YEAR. HIS BEST YET EVEN. CAN<BR> I SAY MORE? PROBABLY =
BUT I=20
SHAN'T, JUST BUY IT.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> NATHAN FAKE - DINAMO - TRAUM - 12" =
(TRAUMV56)<BR> =20
TRAUM'S FIRST REALLY BIG RELEASE OF 2005 COMES FROM NATHAN=20
FAKE...<BR> AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE KILLER. THREE TRACKS, =
EACH=20
COMPLETELY INDIVIDUAL<BR> THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO BE =
MASSIVE.=20
THE MAIN TRACK IS AN EPIC PIECE<BR> OF WORK THAT =
STARTS OFF=20
WITH SND STYLE CLICKY SOUNDS AND RHYTHMS<BR> BUT SOON =
BURSTS=20
INTO A FRESH, MELODIC 4/4 TECHNO TRACK WITH =
BEAUTIFUL<BR> =20
PRODUCTION, LOVELY ARPEGGIOS AND A WICKEDLY HYPNOTIC KICK=20
DRUM.<BR> IT PROGRESSES FURTHER INTO A SQUELCHED OUT =
ACID LINE=20
BUT KEEPS<BR> IT ROLLING AND MUSICAL THROUGHOUT. =
STUNNING. THE=20
FLIP HAS A PURE,<BR> OLD SCHOOL ACID TRACK WHICH, =
FRANKLY,=20
ROCKS, FOLLOWED BY A LUSH,<BR> POPPY, TYPICALLY =
MELODIC TRAUM=20
SHUFFLER. A BRILLIANT EP THAT COMES<BR> HIGHLY=20
RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> QUENUM / LEE VAN DOWSKI / ANDRES GARCIA - INVISIBLE EP - NUM =
- 12"=20
(NUM01)<BR> NEW LABEL FROM THE HOUSE OF QUENUM THAT =
KICKS OFF=20
WITH AN EXCELLENT<BR> TWO TRACK EP FEATURING GUESTS =
LEE VAN=20
DOWSKI AND ANDRES GARCIA.<BR> STRIPPED, FUNKY, MINIMAL =
TECHNO=20
THAT BUILDS NICELY TO A MORE MELODIC<BR> FINISH ON =
BOTH SIDES.=20
CRISP DRUMS AND HIGH PRODUCTION VALUES ENSURE<BR> THAT =
FANS OF=20
CADEMZA WILL BE ON PRETTY SAFE GROUND HERE! CHECK.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> REX THE DOG - FREQUENCY - KOMPAKT - 12"=20
(KOM102)<BR> THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THE FIRST REX THE =
DOG=20
SINGLE WAS A MASSIVE<BR> ANTHEM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS =
AND, GUESS=20
WHAT? THIS ONE IS LIABLE<BR> TO BE JUST AS BIG. EURO =
SOUNDING,=20
HUGELY CLUB FRIENDLY SOUNDS<BR> WITH LOADS OF =
PERSONALITY AND=20
A STRONG FUN FACTOR. BIG DROPS,<BR> A TREMENDOUS =
BREAKDOWN...=20
JUST A SOLID AND VERY LIKEABLE PIECE<BR> OF WORK.=20
RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> STEVE POINDEXTER - WORK THAT MUTHA F**KER THE REMIXES -=20
DJAX-UP-BEATS - 12" (DJAX-UP-154)<BR> THE LEGENDARY =
CHICAGO=20
CLASSIC GOT THE REMIX TREATMENT FROM THE<BR> DUTCH =
CREW. EDGE=20
OF MOTION, LIKE A TIM AND MAD MAXX ALL TURNED<BR> IN =
BANGING=20
CHICAGO TECHNO STYLE VERSIONS PLUS YOU GOT THE =
BONUS<BR> TRACK=20
'BORN TO FREAK' WHICH HAS A PROPERLY TWEAKING ACID =
LINE<BR> BY=20
MIKE DUNN. CLASS.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> TRENTEMOLLER - KINK - 3RD FLOOR - 12" =
(3RD003)<BR> =20
This man is unstoppable at the moment and it's not hard to=20
see<BR> why. His original track has all the hallmarks =
of a=20
quality piece<BR> of techno with deep rhythms that =
roll=20
beautifully, technical sounds<BR> and phat basslines =
plus a=20
completely non-commercial electro feel<BR> which =
really does=20
it. The flip sees Morris Audio's Reynold getting<BR> =
his teeth=20
into a top little remix which is, if anything, =
more<BR> =20
stripped down. Funky, club sounding techno with a whole lot=20
of<BR> integrity. Class.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (Vinyl): US Techno / Electro</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> GREEN VELVET - WALK IN LOVE - RELIEF - 2xLP=20
(RR2025-1)<BR> MR VELVET STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO =
ABSOLUTELY=20
ROCK IT IN A CHICAGO<BR> TECHNO STYLE. THIS HAS TEN =
TRACKS OF=20
SYNTH HEAVY, BRUTAL SOUNDING<BR> MATERIAL IN HIS OWN =
UNIQUE=20
STYLE. LOOPED UP BEATS, HYPNOTIC VOCALS<BR> AND =
DEVASTATING=20
SOUNDS ENSURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PLAYING THIS<BR> =
WHOLE=20
DOUBLE PACK FOR SOME TIME TO COME. PROPS.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SILICON SCALLY - DARK MATTERS - SATAMILE - 2xLP=20
(SAT025)<BR> THIS IS AN EXCELLENT ALBUM. SOME PEOPLE =
WILL NO=20
DOUBT COMPLAIN<BR> THAT IT'S NOT AS BANGING AS THE =
OTHER=20
SATAMKILE RELEASES, BUT<BR> THAT'S TO COMPLETELY MISS =
THE=20
POINT. YOU GET EIGHT TRACKS OF WONDERFULLY<BR> CRISP =
ELECTRO=20
THAT IS VARIED, STRONG, VERY, VERY ATMOSPHERIC AND<BR> =
GENERALLY JUST BRILLIANT. GIVE IT A LISTEN AND I'M SURE=20
YOU'LL<BR> BE IMPRESSED WITH IT. RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - SPECTRAL SOUND VOL. 1 - SPECTRAL - 2xLP=20
(SPC-25)<BR> EXCELLENT DOUBLE PACK COMPILATION FROM =
THIS MOST=20
CONSISTENT OF<BR> LABELS. FUNKY, STRIPPED DOWN TECHNO =
TRACKS=20
IN PURE SPECTRAL STYLE<BR> FROM JAMES COTTON, MATTHEW =
DEAR,=20
JEFF SAMUEL (WHICH GETS BEST<BR> TRACK OF THE =
COMPILATION=20
AWARD FOR ME: A SUPER BIT OF MINIMALISM<BR> WITH ACRES =
OF=20
FUNK), PETER GRUMMICH, AUDION AND HIEROGLYPHIC =
BEING.<BR> =20
SPLENDID STUFF.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - MINIMIZE TO MAXIMIZE - MINUS - 3xLP=20
(MINUS25LP)<BR> NO NEED TO SAY MUCH ABOUT THIS COMP =
FROM=20
MINUS. THE LABEL HAS<BR> BEEN RELEASING SOME =
SUPERB=20
RECORDS RECENTLY, AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION.<BR> =
TRACKS=20
FROM ALL THE LIKELY LADS AND SOME OF THE LESS LIKELY =
(OR<BR> =20
KNOWN): MATHEW JONSON, MARC HOULE, RUN STOP RESTORE,=20
PLASTIKMAN,<BR> DINKY DOG, MAGDA, PHEEK, SLACKNOISE,=20
NIEDERFLUR AND HEARTTHROW.<BR> HIGH QUALITY DEEP =
TECHNO. RECOMMENDED. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): House</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BIRDLAND - SLOWER EP - NEURHYTHMICS - 12"=20
(NR009)<BR> The mysterious Birdland unleashes his =
powers on=20
this, the ninth<BR> installment of the Neurhythmics =
story. 3=20
tracks that are set to<BR> engage, fulfil and move the =
floor=20
in equal measures. It's all<BR> about the groove on =
'Morning=20
Life' with it's steady beat, gorgeous<BR> Rhodes piano =
lick=20
and vocal snippets... fresh as an autumn morning.<BR> =
The=20
flipside delves a little deeper into the funk with two=20
tracks<BR> that use old-school piano licks, =
wonderfully=20
freeform sax samples<BR> and, once again, deeply =
funked up=20
beats. An all round winner that<BR> works on so many =
different=20
levels... simply put, this is magnificent<BR> and pure =
house=20
music. Props!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (Vinyl): House</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BOBBY KONDERS - THE LOST NU GROOVE TRACK - NU GROOVE - 12"=20
(NG013)<BR> CLASSIC, CLASSIC BOBBY KONDERS SOUNDS THAT =
STILL=20
HAVE A DEPTH<BR> AND WARMTH THAT MOIST HOUSE MUSIC =
COMPLETELY=20
MISSES. FILE NEXT<BR> TO LARRY HEARD AND MR. FINGERS =
AND YOU=20
CAN'T GO WRONG. SUBLIME.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): Hip Hop</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 9TH WONDER + BUCKSHOT - CHEMISTRY - DUCK DOWN - 2xLP=20
(DDM-LP-2012)<BR> Funky selection of tracks from 9th =
Wonder=20
and Buckshot. Deep and<BR> jazzy for the most part =
with a few=20
moments of grittier East Coast<BR> sounding beats. =
Vocals are=20
strong and the guest list is very good:<BR> Big Pooh, =
Sean=20
Price, Starang Wondah, Joe Scudda and L.E.G.A.C.Y.<BR> =
Top=20
stuff. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> D-STYLES / MR. HENSHAW - SCRATCHERS DELIGHT / VOL. 1 - FUNK =
SH*T UP=20
- LP (FSU-001)<BR> Wicked selection of beats, breaks =
and=20
sounds on the first volume<BR> of this new series =
which=20
features authentic looking Library artwork.<BR> =
Anything to do=20
with D-Styles is going to be very playable, and<BR> =
this is no=20
exception. Quality.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> EPIC - LOCAL ONLY - SUBVERSIV*REC - LP=20
(VK|OB/025/2005)<BR> Interesting album of very =
college-y=20
souding Hip Hop featuring<BR> Pip Skid. Fun tracks =
with a=20
nicely lo-fi feel and a tongue in<BR> cheek selection =
of=20
lyrics. Check.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> GROUCH, THE / DADDY KEV / D-STYLES - SOUND ADVICE - =
SUBVERSIV*REC -=20
2xLP (VK|OB-011/2003)<BR> A nicely Jazzy selection of =
Hip Hop=20
cuts here with gruff vocals<BR> and tight production =
on the=20
beats. Comes complete with a vocal<BR> disc and an=20
instrumental disc. Wicked stuff.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> METAL FINGERS - SPECIAL HERBS 9 + 0 - SHAMAN WORK - 2xLP=20
(SW027)<BR> Another massive selection of the finest =
hip hop=20
blends here from<BR> the M.F. Each track is themed =
after a=20
certain herb and features<BR> some rollickingly good =
beats and=20
sounds in the dopest of instrumental<BR> styles. Not a =
duff=20
track on here, actually. Fresh, as ever and<BR> an =
essential=20
for fans of MF Doom and Grimm. Check..... </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> RODDYROD FEAT. KEV BROWN AND CY YOUNG - TROUBLES LURKIN LOW =
- UP=20
ABOVE - LP (UPA3090)<BR> Big old Hip Hop vibes here =
from this=20
major league label. Each<BR> track comes in original, =
clean=20
and instrumental versions for your<BR> listening =
pleasure.=20
Check...........</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - BAST**D LANGUAGE TOUR - EPITOME OF FRESH - LP=20
(EOF-003)<BR> In April 2003 D-Styles, Ricci Rucker, =
Mike Boo=20
and Excess performed<BR> a tour of the West Coast =
together.=20
These are the prepared sounds,<BR> beats and breaks =
that they=20
used. Fresh, wicked battle weapon that<BR> should see =
a lot of=20
action on your decks.......</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (Vinyl): Hip Hop</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - OFFBEATS 2.1 - SUBVERSIV*REC - LP=20
(VK|OB/O24/2005)<BR> YES! DOPE COMPILATION FEATURING =
ROUGH=20
TRACKS FROM JOSH MARTINEZ,<BR> JD WALKER, SECOND =
FRONT, SODA,=20
CAVEMAN SPEAK, AWOL ONE AND LOADS<BR> OF OTHER TOP =
ARTISTS.=20
GOOD HIP HOP VIBES ALL ROUND. RECOMMENDED.....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): Eclectic Beats</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PEST - PAT PONG - NINJA TUNE - 12" =
(ZEN12168)<BR> =20
New 4-track EP from Pest, featuring remixes from Solid=20
Groove<BR> and Diesler. Mellow, jazzy, chilled breaks =
gear,=20
maybe a tad predictable<BR> but gets the job =
done. Prime=20
bar music. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): Guitar Based</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> DEAD MACHINES - FUTURES - TROUBLEMAN UNLIMITED - LP=20
(TMU151LP)<BR> Earsplittingly good noise (on this 10" =
LP) from=20
Dead Machines.<BR> Powerful stuff with dense layers of =
distortion and white noise,<BR> tempered every now and =
again=20
with a slightly less abrasive touch.<BR> For fans of =
Load,=20
Wolf Eyes, Lightning Bolt etc. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MAXIMO PARK - GOING MISSING - WARP - 7"=20
(7WAP190)<BR> Highly attractive etched 7" from Maximo =
Park...=20
as long as you<BR> don't ask me about the music we'll =
be fine=20
(i've said all i can<BR> say about this band in the =
past, see=20
my other descriptions). <BR> Cheap though! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MELT BANANA - CHUNG - SOUNDS OF SUBTERRANIA - LP=20
(SOS059)<BR> Yes, it's incredibly expensive but it's =
a) highly=20
limited, and<BR> b) coming atcha in a frankly stunning =
multi-image lenticular sleeve<BR> (y'know, those =
pictures you=20
tilt and the image changes like it's<BR> magic and =
actually=20
moving and everything and man, the colours!).<BR> =
Musically,=20
well, it's Melt Banana, how else can one =
categorise<BR> or=20
describe it?! An utterly unique item. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> METALUX - VICTIM OF SPACE - 5RC - LP=20
(GER040LP)<BR> Last time, i described Metalux as "the =
sound of=20
Adult on Heroin",<BR> which would appear to be the =
case this=20
time around too. I also<BR> mentioned Throbbing =
Gristle;=20
again, fair enough. Experimental<BR> avant-noise with =
guitars,=20
pure Load territory, utterly uncompromising.<BR> =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PONCHO NIGHTMARE - MILK COMMERCIAL - ADDICT - 7"=20
(ADDICT020)<BR> Extremely silly noise-based sounds =
here with=20
the occasional foray<BR> into a more punky, guitary =
sort of=20
flava. Thrash / Punk / Electronica,<BR> I guess you =
might say,=20
but very heavily biased towards the guitars.<BR> =
Check.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SONGS FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART / BONNIE 'PRINCE' BIL - PUFF =
THE MAGIC=20
DRAGON - LUCKY DOG - 7" (LUCKYDOG03)<BR> Methinks =
there'll be=20
much interest over this one! The A-Side features<BR> =
none=20
other than Mr. Will Oldham (and "Red") singing "Puff =
The<BR> =20
Magic Dragon", backed by Stuart Staples and David Boulter of=20
The<BR> Tindersticks (what a combination!), who are in =
turn=20
responsible<BR> for the equally charming =
instrumental=20
"Theme For The Young At<BR> Heart" on the flip. =
Limited to 750=20
copies only, these obviously<BR> will not be around =
for long,=20
so act now. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> TEENAGE FANCLUB - MAN-MADE - PEMA - LP=20
(PEMA002LP)<BR> At last, the vinyl has arrived! Having =
been a=20
worshipper at the<BR> temple of Teenage Fanclub right =
from the=20
start (i'm showing my<BR> age here), it's very =
pleasing to=20
report that this new album (on<BR> their own label, =
and their=20
first release in five years) is an<BR> absolute =
winner. Prime=20
TFC all the way, this is a great batch<BR> of songs, =
totally=20
in their trademark summery style (which many<BR> =
lesser bands=20
have tried, but failed to emulate of recent) with<BR> =
equally=20
fine production from John McEntire (of Tortoise). =
Quite<BR> =20
simply, it's a joy to have them back. Hugely recommended. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> WHITE MICE, THE - ASSPHIXXXEATATESHUN - LOAD - LP=20
(LOAD066)<BR> I'll say this much... I wouldn't like to =
be in=20
the mosh-pit at<BR> one of The White Mice's gigs! =
Brutality=20
incarnate here with some<BR> of the heaviest, =
grinding-est=20
tracks aroundl. To be honest they<BR> make most Thrash =
bands=20
sound like the Cheeki Girls with their<BR> blend of =
shouting,=20
extreme guitars, mad electronics and frenetic<BR> =
drumming. An=20
aquired taste, but seriously head destroying if =
you<BR> like=20
it this rough!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> WHITE ROCK - TAR PIT - TROUBLEMAN UNLIMITED - LP=20
(TMU147LP)<BR> Rough sounds along the lines of Wolf =
Eyes or=20
Lightning Bolt. Abrasive<BR> as hell and featuring a =
heavy=20
line in white noise and dense textural<BR> layers of =
guitar.=20
There is, however, one gorgeous track that eschews<BR> =
the=20
noise almost completely. Well worth a listen. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (Vinyl): Funk / Jazz / Soul</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> CONTRAST - TANTALIZE - DAS - LP =
(D1124)<BR> Sadly=20
there's no Jimmy The Hoover on here, just six rather =
mild<BR> =20
tracks of eighties soul / funk / disco recorded at Curtis=20
Mayfield's<BR> studios. Not my bag, really but it =
might be=20
yours.... </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (CD): Electronica</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> AUTECHRE / THE HAFLER TRIO - AEO3 & 3HAE - DIE STADT - =
2xCD=20
(DS82CD)<BR> This is the second collaboration between =
Autechre=20
and The Hafler<BR> Trio. The first was a 30 minute =
long affair=20
that blurred the lines<BR> of distinction between the =
sounds=20
of the two artists to a point<BR> where it was =
virtually=20
impossible to distinguish which one was<BR> which. =
This=20
release takes that even further and it would be a<BR> =
very=20
brave person indeed that would make a bet on who was=20
responsible<BR> for which bit. Once again the =
packaging is=20
delightful and has<BR> the same theme as the first =
CD...=20
tracing paper inserts, wonderful<BR> typography and =
subtle,=20
beautifully managed artwork. Musically<BR> it's a =
development,=20
not only the length of the work (it's twice<BR> as =
long) but=20
within the soundscapes that they've created. It's<BR> =
probably=20
more accessible to be honest and the drone based, =
but<BR> =20
starnagely melodic first CD is truly beautiful, in a=20
low-key,<BR> melancholic way. The second CD is a much =
more=20
abstract beast and<BR> features a noisy intro section =
before=20
diving off into a reduced<BR> minimalism that ebbs and =
flows=20
throughout. Atmospheric, lush (in<BR> every way), well =
thought=20
out and, most importantly, just plain<BR> good to =
listen to! A=20
highly recommended piece of work. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BRETSCHNEIDER + STEINBRUCHEL - STATUS - 12K - CD=20
(12k1033)<BR> This, my friends, is the good stuff. =
Such an=20
incredibly potent<BR> combination of minimal, =
experimental=20
electronica minds is something<BR> to be enjoyed and =
savoured=20
and, believe me, theres not a wasted<BR> moment on =
this entire=20
CD. Moving effortlessly between deep and<BR> =
unbelievably=20
intricate glitch sounds, ambient moments of pure<BR> =
textural=20
exuberance and some of the phattest, flattest micro=20
rhythms,<BR> this CD is a staggering piece of work =
from=20
beginning to end. Bretschneider<BR> and Steinbruchel =
worked on=20
this together by sending each other<BR> files and then =
manipulating them and so in sync are they with<BR> =
each other=20
that it's difficult to tell who influenced who the<BR> =
most.=20
Layers of sound, awesome production, surprisingly =
funky<BR> =20
beats... this is truly a classic album in the making. Fans=20
of<BR> Raster, 12k, L-ne and other labels along these =
lines=20
are just<BR> going to go wild for this. Hats off to =
Taylor=20
Deupree and 12k,<BR> and massive props to both of the =
artists.=20
Essential!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> GROWING / MARK EVAN BURDEN - GROWING / MARK EVAN BURDEN - =
XENG - CD=20
(XENGCD01)<BR> Growing (of Kranky) make(s) an =
appearance on=20
this new label, which<BR> I believe has connections =
with Type=20
(I could be wrong, although<BR> musically this makes =
sense).=20
Repetitive, drone-based ambient textures<BR> and =
soundscapes,=20
reminiscent of Labradford, Pan American, Childs<BR> =
View /=20
Nobukazu Takemura and the more minimal / Eno-esque =
end<BR> of=20
the Kranky spectrum. Recommended. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> KOUSHIK - BE WITH EP - STONESTHROW - CD=20
(STH2098CD)<BR> Best Stonesthrow I've heard yet! Great =
to see=20
them going out on<BR> a limb with something utterly=20
unassociated with them yet seriously<BR> top notch. =
Think a=20
chilled, psychedelic blend of Clouddead, Fourtet,<BR> =
DJ=20
Shadow, Savath & Savalas and The Beta Band. Recommended=20
indeed!<BR> This Cd version comes with a massive 14 =
tracks for=20
your listening<BR> pleasure! A bargain. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> MUTAMASSIK - MASRI MOKKASSAR: DEFINITIVE WORKS - SOUND INK / =
VERY=20
FRIENDLY - CD (SIK015/VF024CD)<BR> Mutamassik really =
is up=20
there. Along with Muslimgauze and Badawi<BR> his blend =
of=20
middle eastern samples and crunchy, distorted =
beats<BR> is a=20
fabulous way to spend and hour of life. Every track is=20
evocative<BR> in some way... smoky bazaar's, hazy =
desert=20
scenes... it makes<BR> you feel quite romantic about =
it all!=20
But then the beats descend<BR> once again and you find =
yourself nodding your head and enjoying<BR> some =
stonking=20
rhythmic killers. A stunning collection of tracks,<BR> =
to be=20
sure. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> TAYLOR DEUPREE + CHRISTOPHER WILLITS - LIVE IN JAPAN, 2004 - =
12K -=20
CD (12K2001)<BR> A limited CD release from the 12k =
camp is=20
something to be enjoyed<BR> and when it's quite =
obviously as=20
good as this is you'll be unsurprised<BR> to hear how =
excited=20
I am to get hold of some copies. 500 only<BR> for the =
world=20
and featuring 3 wonderful pieces recorded at the<BR> =
Yamaguchi=20
Center for Arts and Media in June 2004. The first =
piece<BR> is=20
probably the key work here as it's a collaboration =
between<BR> =20
the two artists. Taking elements of Christopher Willits'=20
manipulated<BR> guitar sound and adding them to Taylor =
Deupree's minimal electronic<BR> wizadry you get a =
dense 24=20
minute piece of work which meanders<BR> gently to =
begin with=20
but builds and progresses in an almost subliminal<BR> =
fashion=20
through. I wouldn't say there's a creschendo as such =
but<BR> =20
it really does get quite intense at times. Stunning. The=20
second<BR> track is a solo Christopher Willits piece =
and it=20
takes his signature<BR> organic sound to a new level.=20
Processed in real time (presumably)<BR> the guitar =
layers are=20
chopped and then re-pieced together to create<BR> a =
work that=20
is immediately engaging but still has an =
experimental<BR> feel=20
throughout. Really quite beautiful. Finishing off the =
CD<BR> =20
is Taylor Deupree's solo work which is an object lesson in=20
how<BR> to be abstract without losing either coherency =
or a=20
sense of musicality.<BR> Textural sounds and a subtly =
shifting=20
background noise lend it<BR> an almost rhythmic =
quality and it=20
all sounds amazingly Japanese<BR> (appropriately). I =
don't=20
want to go on about it too much so suffice<BR> to say =
that=20
fans of the artists and the label will find this =
an<BR> =20
indespensible release and will need to get it very quickly=20
before<BR> it disappears for good. Awesome =
stuff.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - MUTEK 05 - MUTEK - 2xCD =
(MTK05)<BR> This=20
years Mutek collection is yet another glimpse into the=20
sterling<BR> work that they do at the festival. =
Comprehensive,=20
to say the least,<BR> it features Monolake, Radian, =
Si-cut.db,=20
Klimek, Bruno Pronsato,<BR> Richard Chartier, Taylor =
Deupree,=20
Stephen Beaupre, Apparat, Skoltz_kolgen<BR> and many =
more. A=20
superb selection of electronica based tracks.<BR> =20
Recommended.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (CD): Electronica</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LUKE VIBERT - LOVER'S ACID - PLANET MU - CD=20
(ZIQ098CD)<BR> THIS STOPGAP NEW LUKE VIBERT ALBUM =
COMPILES HIS=20
THREE PLANET MU<BR> 12"S RELEASED OVER THE YEARS - AND =
THEY=20
COULDN'T SOUND ANY MORE<BR> CURRENT (ONE OF THEM IS =
CURRENT,=20
OF COURSE!). A TOTAL OF TWELVE<BR> TRACKS, INCLUDING =
ONE=20
ENTITLED "ANALORD" FROM YEARS BACK, WHICH<BR> IS =
INTERESTING=20
CONSIDERING HOW MUCH SOME OF THESE TRACKS SOUND<BR> =
LIKE THE=20
RECENT AFX 12"S, ALBEIT WITH THAT UNMISTAKABLE =
VIBERT<BR> =20
FLAVA. A WICKED CD, ESSENTIAL TO FANS WHO DIDN'T BUY THE 12"S.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> OLA BERGMAN - THE SATELLITE CITY - NEWSPEAK - CD=20
(NSPK007)<BR> THIS IS A SPLENDID CD FROM OLA BERGMAN =
ON HIS=20
OWN NEWSPEAK LABEL<BR> THAT GATHERS UP SELECTED TRACKS =
FROM=20
SOME OF THE PREVIOUS VINYL-ONLY<BR> RELEASES AND ADDS =
A=20
LIBERAL DASH OF NEW AND UNRLEASED BITS AND<BR> BOBS. =
HE'S GOT=20
A FUNKY, LIVELY AND FRIENDLY SOUND THAT SWINGS<BR> =
BETWEEN A=20
LOVELY MELODIC ELECTRONICA FEEL AND A SLIGHTLY =
MORE<BR> =20
SYNTHY, EARTHY ELECTRO STYLE. IT'S ENGAGING, FUN AND REALLY=20
WELL<BR> CONSTRUCTED STUFF SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I =
WOULD=20
RECOMMEND IT<BR> MOST HEARTILY.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> POPULOUS - QUEUE FOR LOVE - MORR MUSIC - CD=20
(MORR051CD)<BR> POPULOUS'S FIRST ALBUM, 'QUIPO', WAS A =
SURPRISE HIT WHEN IT FIRST<BR> CAME OUT A FEW YEARS =
BACK.=20
MIXING UP THE GENTLE MORR MUSIC SOUND<BR> WITH A =
BOARDS-ISH=20
FEEL TO THE BEATS IT REALLY WAS A DELIGHTFULLY<BR> =
SUMMERY=20
ALBUM. THREE LONG YEARS ON AND HERE'S THE SECOND =
ALBUM.<BR> =20
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO PRODUCE. TRULY A=20
LABOUR<BR> OF LOVE IT TAKES THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF =
QUIPO AND=20
ADDS LAYERS OF<BR> GUITAR, HIP HOP (INCLUDING A GUEST=20
APPEARANCE FROM DOSE ONE),<BR> VOCALS AND A CERTAIN =
JOYOUS=20
POPPINESS THAT'S INCREDIBLY APPEALING.<BR> I WOULD =
SUGGEST=20
THAT THIS REALLY IS MY FAVOURITE RELEASE ON MORR<BR> =
FOR SOME=20
TIME AND I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU CHECK IT OUT=20
WITHOUT<BR> ANY FURTHER ADO. QUALITY!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ROD MODELL - VIBRASOUND (THE DEEPCHORD YEARS 1999-2004_ - =
SILENTES -=20
CD (SILENTESCD200402)<BR> AAH, THE DEEPCHORD RECORDS. =
OBSCURE,=20
HARD TO GET HOLD OF, EXPENSIVE<BR> AND GENERALLY THE =
CLOSEST=20
WE'VE EVER HAD TO A RIVAL FOR THE BASIC<BR> CHANNEL =
CREW. IT'S=20
EASY TO SAY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE MORITZ VON<BR> OSWALD =
AND CO,=20
BUT IF YOU DO YOU'RE SERIOUSLY MISSING THE POINT.<BR> =
THE=20
BLEND OF DUB AND TECHNO ON OFFER HERE IS SOMETHING TO=20
SAVOUR<BR> AT ALL TIMES AS THE DEPTH OF PRODUCTION AND =
THE=20
ROLLING, MID PACED<BR> GROOVES THAT UNDERPIN THE =
LAYERS OF=20
TEXTURE ARE SUITABLY PHAT<BR> BUT INCREDIBLY SUBTLE AT =
THE=20
SAME TIME. A PARADOX? MAYBE. BUT<BR> TO BE HONEST IT'S =
THE=20
MOST BRILLIANT, WONDERFUL, UPLIFTING PARADOX.<BR> IF =
YOU DON'T=20
LOVE THIS COLLECTION OF TRACKS FROM THE =
ULTRA-SCARCE<BR> BACK=20
CATALOGUE I'D BE VERY SURPRISED. ESSENTIAL CD =
COMPILATION<BR> =20
OF THE YEAR, QUITE POSSIBLY AND ANYONE WHO LIKES ECHOCORD,=20
RHYTHM<BR> & SOUND OR BASIC CHANNEL MUST TREAT =
THIS AS AN=20
ITEM THAT THEY<BR> *MUST* OWN. AWESOME.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> STUDIO PANKOW - LINIENBUSSE - CITY CENTRE OFFICES - CD=20
(TOWERBLOCKCD025)<BR> WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT AN ALBUM =
OF THIS=20
CALIBRE THAT'LL DO IT<BR> ANY JUSTICE? FOR MY MONEY =
THIS=20
REPRISE OF THE PARING OF DAVID<BR> MOUFANG (MOVE D / =
SOURCE=20
RECORDS) AND JAMIE HODGE (BORN UNDER<BR> \ RHYMING =
PLANET /=20
AESTUARIUM) PLUS KAI KROKER IS AN ABSOLUTELY<BR> =
WINNING=20
COMBINATION. RECORDED IN THREE SESSIONS IT COMBINES=20
EVERYTHING<BR> YOU'D EXPECT FROM MR. MOUFANG AND MR. =
HODGE,=20
I.E. DEPTH, BEAUTY,<BR> AN ABSTRACT SENSE OF MELODY =
AND=20
INCREDIBLE PRODUCTION. BUT, THIS<BR> HAS THE ADDED =
ADVANTAGE=20
OF BEING PRETTY LARGE IN THE BEATS DEPARTMENT<BR> AS =
WELL, SO=20
YOU GET ELECTRO INFUENCED TRACKS AND DEEP, DUBBY =
4/4<BR> =20
TRACKS PLUS ODDBALL DOWNBEAT ELECTRONICA AS WELL. TO SAY=20
THAT<BR> I'M ENAMOURED WITH THIS LP IS SOMETHING OF AN =
UNDERSTATEMENT AND<BR> IF YOU TAKE MY ADVICE YOU'LL BE =
GIVING=20
THIS YOUR UTMOST ATTENTION<BR> VERY SOON. AN ESSENTIAL =
RELEASE.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - POP AMBIENT 2004 - KOMPAKT - CD=20
(KOMCD29)<BR> IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! POP =
AMBIENT 2004=20
DELIVERS, YET AGAIN,<BR> A SUPERB SELECTION OF =
AMBIENT,=20
COLOGNE INFLUENCED TRACKS FROM<BR> A CREW OF MUSICIANS =
WHO=20
REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WOLFGANG<BR> VOIGT, =
KLIMEK,=20
ANDREW THOMAS, ULF LOHMANN, MARKUS GUENTNER, =
DONNACHA<BR> =20
COSTELLO AND TRIOLA ALL SUPPLY DREAMY, MELLOW, MELANCHOLY=20
TUNES<BR> THAT'LL CHILL YOU OUT SO BEAUTIFULLY, SO =
BLISSFULLY,=20
YOU'LL WONDER<BR> HOW YOU'LL MANAGED WITHOUT IT. BUY =
WITH=20
COMPLETE AND UTTER CONFIDENCE<BR> AS IT'S =
BRILLIANT.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (CD): Techno / Electro</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PETER GRUMMICH - SWITCH OFF THE SOAP OPERA - SHITKATAPULT - =
CD=20
(STRIKE61CD)<BR> With this album, Peter Grummich has =
exceeded=20
my expectations by<BR> a long way. After his recent =
beast of a=20
single on Kompakt 'Frozen<BR> World', this could =
easily have=20
been a banging set of tracks for<BR> a label that =
clearly=20
likes it rough and tough most of the time.<BR> It is, =
however,=20
a much more varied set of tracks than that and<BR> =
features=20
some wonderfully reduced and surprisingly melodic =
minimal<BR> =20
tracks that should be great for an early evening session.=20
Couple<BR> that with some bass heavy, crunchy techno =
sounds=20
that are guaranteed<BR> to get people going and you've =
a well=20
rounded set of techno tracks.<BR> Quality stuff all =
round. The=20
CD includes 4 bonus tracks that aren't<BR> on the =
vinyl.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - 2RABIMMEL 2RABAMMEL 2RABUM 2BUM BUM - AREAL - CD=20
(AREALCD04)<BR> Areal present the '2Rabimmel' album =
for your=20
listening pleasure.<BR> Featuring the more wayward, =
off-kilter=20
side of their sound (as<BR> if they weren't oddball =
enough=20
already!) it's got cuts from the<BR> usual suspects =
including=20
Basteroid, Metope, Ada, Konfekt, Remute,<BR> Roan and =
Imogen=20
and is a very convincing selection of tunes to<BR> =
make you=20
rock on the dancefloor. Tough, dirty, really nicely=20
produced<BR> sounds as you'd expect from such a =
quality label.=20
The CD version<BR> also includes the four tracks from =
the=20
previous 12". </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VEX'D - DEGENERATE - PLANET MU - 2xCD=20
(ZIQ115CD)<BR> This strikes me as a potential landmark =
release. This storming<BR> album from Vex'd is a =
seriously=20
potent and full-on cocktail of<BR> grime, dubstep, =
bleep=20
techno, twisted D&B, old skool jungle and<BR> =
electronica=20
that old Aphex fans will be able to relate to as =
much<BR> as=20
the grimeheads and dubstep kids. Surely the most =
important<BR> =20
grime release to date, seeing as it moves the whole genre on=20
several<BR> stages. Check this out immediately. This =
initial=20
pressing of the<BR> CD version comes with a special =
limited=20
edition 6-track CD of<BR> Vex'd earlier singles on =
Subtext,=20
Planet Mu and Destructive, making<BR> this even more=20
essential. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (CD): Techno / Electro</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ALTER EGO - TRANSPHORMER - KLANG - CD=20
(KLANGCD11)<BR> HERE IT IS THEN. THE HOTLY TOUTED =
ALTER EGO=20
ALBUM IS A PURE DANCEFLOOR<BR> FRENZY OF BLISTERING =
TECHNO=20
GROOVES THE LIKE OF WHICH I'VE NOT<BR> HEARD FOR SOME =
TIME. NO=20
CONCESSIONS TO ANYTHING BUT MAKING YOU<BR> MOVE WITH A =
SELECTION OF MONSTROUS CLUB TRACKS THAT SHOULD BE<BR> =
SMASHING=20
IT ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. =
QUITE<BR> =20
SIMPLY A MASSIVE ALBUM. RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> FERENC - FRAXIMAL - KOMPAKT - CD =
(KOMCD41)<BR> =20
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE ALBUM FROM KOMPAKT. BETTER=20
THAN<BR> I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HOPED FOR, IT HAS A =
STRIPPED=20
DOWN, YET EPIC<BR> TECHNO FEEL WITH SOME CLASSIC ACID =
LINES,=20
MASSIVE STRINGS, BUT<BR> AN INCREDIBLY SUBTLE AND =
INFECTIOUS=20
SET OF GROOVES. SERIOUS MUSIC,<BR> THIS. DO NOT UNDER =
ANY=20
CIRCUMSTANCES MISS OUT! RECOMMENDED.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JUAN ATKINS - THE BERLIN SESSIONS - TRESOR - CD=20
(TRESOR215CD)<BR> YES, THIS REALLY IS A NEW JUAN =
ATKINS LP ON=20
TRESOR - AND I'M PERSONALLY<BR> QUITE SURPRISED HOW =
STRONG IT=20
IS. IT'S ALMOST A RETURN TO HIS<BR> OLD SKOOL SOUND. =
SIX=20
TRACKS OF SERIOUS DANCEFLOOR TECHNO FROM<BR> THE OLD =
MASTER=20
THAT WILL DEFINITELY GET PEOPLE MOVING AND =
SHAKING.<BR> BEST=20
TRESOR IN AGES!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LAWRENCE - THE ABSENCE OF BLIGHT - DIALREC - CD=20
(DIALCD04)<BR> ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE RELEASES =
OF THE=20
YEAR. KILLER, WONDERFUL,<BR> 'SLEEPY HOUSE' GROOVES =
WITH=20
INTRICATE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, YET<BR> A RELAXED, EASY =
GOING=20
ATTITUDE. FRESH SOUNDS, LAWRENCES USUAL<BR> ROLLING =
BEATS AND=20
A CREEPING LUSHNESS WHICH CATCHES YOU UNAWARES.<BR> =
DEEPLY=20
BEAUTIFUL AT TIMES AND DEEPLY FUNKY AT OTHERS. THIS =
IS<BR> =20
HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. FABULOUS.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - TOTAL 3 - KOMPAKT - CD =
(KOMCD10)<BR> A=20
COOL COMPILATION OF KOMPAKT RELEASES INCLUDING CLOSER=20
MUSIK,<BR> JURGEN PAAPE, MIKE INK, SASCHA FUNKE, =
DETTINGER,=20
SUPERPITCHER,<BR> M. MAYER AND MORE. EXCELLENT=20
ELECTRONICS.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (CD): Hip Hop</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PEANUT BUTTER WOLF - THE BEST OF - COPASETIK - CD=20
(COPA028CD)<BR> Wicked round-up of some of Peanut =
Butter=20
Wolf's best moments.<BR> Features appearances from =
Rasco,=20
Planet Asia, Biz Markie, Lord<BR> Finesse, Lootpack, =
Cut=20
Chemist and more. Funked up, absolutely<BR> tip-top =
quality=20
hip hop throughout. Class.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> PEANUT BUTTER WOLF - MY VINYL WEIGHS A TON - COPASETIK - CD=20
(COPA004CD)<BR> Long awaited CD version of Peanut's =
classy=20
album. Featurestons<BR> of guests including Planet =
Asia,=20
Lootpack, DJ Babu, Charizma,<BR> DJ Design, Zest, Rob =
Swift,=20
Kid Koala and loads more. Fresh, funky<BR> hip hop =
sounds par=20
excellence.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SENSATIONAL - SPEAKS FOR ITSELF - QUATERMASS - CD=20
(QS151)<BR> Following up on albums for Wordsound and =
Ipecac,=20
Sensational delivers<BR> a 14 track bomb for =
quatermass. He's=20
certainly at the leftfield<BR> end of the hip hop =
spectrum and=20
this has all the hallmarks of<BR> his quality =
production and=20
vocal skills. Aggressive at times and<BR> strangely =
funky at=20
others, it's a great blend of sounds and one<BR> that =
should=20
see this album being very popular indeed. =
Excellent<BR> all=20
round.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Restocks (CD): Hip Hop</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - OFFBEATS 2.0 - SUBVERSIV*REC - CD=20
(SV|OB007/2005)<BR> YES! DOPE COMPILATION FEATURING =
ROUGH=20
TRACKS FROM JOSH MARTINEZ,<BR> JD WALKER, SECOND =
FRONT, SODA,=20
CAVEMAN SPEAK, AWOL ONE AND LOADS<BR> OF OTHER TOP =
ARTISTS.=20
GOOD HIP HOP VIBES ALL ROUND. RECOMMENDED.....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (CD): Guitar Based</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE COSMIC INFERNO - JUST ANOTHER =
BAND=20
FROM THE COSMIC INFERNO - IMPORTANT - CD =
(IMPREC058CD)<BR> =20
Kawabata Makoto decided to disband the Acid Mothers Temple=20
And<BR> The Melting Paraiso line-up (as they were =
"drained=20
creatively<BR> like dinosaurs on the brink of =
extinction")=20
only to replace them<BR> with something even heavier =
and more=20
powerful, which includes<BR> members of The Boredoms, =
Ghost,=20
Mainliner and Zeni Geva. Extreme<BR> deep-psych and =
then=20
some.... </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BIRDS, THE - BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS IN THE WORLD - IMPORTANT - CD =
(IMPREC059CD)<BR> The Birds (Cotton Casino from Acid =
Mothers=20
Temple's new band)<BR> are reminiscent of Norwegian =
bands such=20
as Deathprod, Supersilent<BR> and Alog although their=20
unmistakeable and unpredictable meld of<BR> =
psych-melodies,=20
guitar-noise, Eno-esque synth dirge, Cale-like<BR> =
drone,=20
Musique Concrete and rock sets them apart. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, THE - TEPID PEPPERMINT WONDERLAND: =
A=20
RETROSPECTIVE - TEE PEE - 2xCD (TPE059CD)<BR> How =
ironic that=20
the very film ("Dig", which you must see by the<BR> =
way)=20
documenting the decline of The Brian Jonestown Massacre=20
(in<BR> relation to the rise of The Dandy Warhols) =
should=20
generate more<BR> interest in them than ever before, =
as good=20
as resurrecting them/him<BR> from the dead. Never =
heard BJM=20
before? Think a more lo-fi Dandys,<BR> retro sixties=20
psychedelia done respectfully, intelligently, =
properly.<BR> =20
This well-compiled double-disc set draws from their entire=20
catalogue,<BR> from albums such as "Their Satanic =
Majesties'=20
Second Request",<BR> "Thank God for Mental Illness", =
"Bravery,=20
Repetition and Noise"...<BR> pretty much every record=20
mentioned in the film and a whole lot<BR> more. =
Obviously "Not=20
If You Were The Last Dandy On Earth" is on<BR> here =
too. The=20
perfect introduction, then, and darn essential =
with<BR> it.=20
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> JOHN CALE - PROCESS OST - SYNTAX - CD=20
(502454335125)<BR> John Cale's minimal, piano-led =
soundtrack=20
to this acclaimed arthouse<BR> movie (directed by CS =
Leigh)=20
should find favour with fans of Alva<BR> Noto / =
Ryuichi=20
Sakamoto, underpinned as it is with stark, =
drone-based<BR> =20
electronics. I can't tell you anything about the film, but=20
this<BR> is certainly a striking body of music from =
the former=20
Velvet.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> METALUX - VICTIM OF SPACE - 5RC - CD=20
(GER040CD)<BR> Last time, i described Metalux as "the =
sound of=20
Adult on Heroin",<BR> which would appear to be the =
case this=20
time around too. I also<BR> mentioned Throbbing =
Gristle;=20
again, fair enough. Experimental<BR> avant-noise with =
guitars,=20
pure Load territory, utterly uncompromising.<BR> =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> VARIOUS - CHARM OST - 5RC - CD =
(GER014CD)<BR> =20
Again, i can't comment on the film (although the DVD is=20
included,<BR> and the synopsis certainly sounds =
interesting),=20
but this is a<BR> classy soundtrack alright. Lo-fi US =
indie /=20
pop / instrumental<BR> stuff from the likes of Aislers =
Set,=20
Deerhoof, Replikants, Jealous<BR> Monks, Thrones, =
Xtinct,=20
Meditation Duo, The Lies, Black Ice, Tim<BR> Green etc =
that=20
would make a great comp under any circumstances<BR> - =
check=20
it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> WHITE MICE, THE - ASSPHIXXXEATATESHUN - LOAD - CD=20
(LOAD066CD)<BR> I'll say this much... I wouldn't like =
to be in=20
the mosh-pit at<BR> one of The White Mice's gigs! =
Brutality=20
incarnate here with some<BR> of the heaviest, =
grinding-est=20
tracks aroundl. To be honest they<BR> make most Thrash =
bands=20
sound like the Cheeki Girls with their<BR> blend of =
shouting,=20
extreme guitars, mad electronics and frenetic<BR> =
drumming. An=20
aquired taste, but seriously head destroying if =
you<BR> like=20
it this rough!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> WINDY & CARL - DEDICATION TO FLEA - BRAINIAK - CD=20
(HAND001)<BR> A rather poignant new release from Windy =
&=20
Carl, in as much as<BR> it's dedicated to their old =
dog Flea,=20
who sadly died recently.<BR> Two extended pieces, very =
much in=20
the drone-based, expansive,<BR> luscious soundscape =
style we=20
know and love, with the sound of<BR> Flea playing and =
barking=20
towards the end (real lump-in-the-throat<BR> stuff, =
you have=20
been warned!). Genuinely moving, beautiful music,<BR> =
and=20
certainly up there quality-wise with their now sizeable=20
back-catalogue<BR> (on Kranky etc). </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (CD): Funk / Jazz / Soul</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> LAST EXIT - KOLN (1986) - UNHEARD MUSIC SERIES - CD=20
(ALP252CD)<BR> Anything that involves Peter Brotzmann =
is going=20
to be a) well<BR> worth listening to and b) pretty out =
there.=20
This falls into both<BR> of those categories with its=20
seemingly insane, freeform Jazz sounds.<BR> Joined by =
Bill=20
Laswell on bass, Sonny Sharrock on guitar and =
Shannon<BR> =20
Jackson on drums, you get a very engaging set of tracks that=20
use<BR> chaos to maximum effect whilst still managing =
to stay=20
coherent<BR> throughout. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SIRONE - LIVE (1981) - UNHEARD MUSIC SERIES - CD=20
(ALP253CD)<BR> Sirone's wood flute playing is the star =
of the=20
show here with<BR> the opening track being a long solo =
piece.=20
Bringing to mind fluttering<BR> birds and or =
insects his=20
totally free use of the flute sound<BR> is incredibly=20
evocative. Add to that Claude Lawrence's stunning<BR> =
alto sax=20
and Dennis Charles on drums and you get an =
intriguing<BR> set=20
of tracks. Sirone does tend to take centre stage a lot=20
with<BR> his flute and bass, but there's a damn good =
reason=20
for that!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Releases (CD): Experimental</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> KK NULL - ANIMA MOTRIX - DOT DOT DOT MUSIC - CD=20
(DOTDOTDOT006CD)<BR> KK Null has ploughed away over =
the years=20
forging his own sound<BR> which has, under the =
surface, been=20
incredibly influential. Whether<BR> he receives enough =
credit=20
for his sterling experimental work is<BR> another =
question=20
entirely. On this CD he shows a full range of<BR> =
styles from=20
ultra-reduced, tonal high frequency work to heavy,<BR> =
brutal=20
drones and virtually everything in between. At times =
it's<BR> =20
just plain atmospheric and at others it will seriously=20
challenge<BR> you both aurally and mentally. Pretty =
damn=20
good.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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