From rbc3 Sent Sun, May 17th 1998, 03:08
From rbc3 Sent Sun, May 17th 1998, 03:08
I was going through my Clear collection to pull out the more electro oriented tracks for my electro crate. After listening to all of them, I just had to post. These records are nothing short of fantastic! The Clear releases have far surpassed the Rephlex material IMO. Clear has never pigeonholed themselves into a specific style, releasing records from old-school style funk of Jedi Knights to the intricate electronic house workings of Dr. Rockit and Morgan Geist to the experimentation of Reflection and Clatterbox. It all fits well together in a label which can be summed up in one word: quality. I think I'll write a bit on each artist just to give anyone missing some of it an idea of what to expect... Jedi Knights: This is the well known electro workings of the Global Communication guys. To me, this release is one of those timeless dance floor tracks that fits well within any good set be it house, techno, or electro. As usual Mark and Tom have done an excellent job at balancing sounds to form a record which tickles the mind while pumping the speakers. Tusken Raiders/Jake Slazenger: These Mike Paradinas aka. u-ziq releases provide a wide range of experimentation from lounge to hard beats all within Mike's quirky style. If you like u-ziq I can't see how these tracks wouldn't charm you. Gescom: What needs to be said? Autechre doing electro with help from friends? Who would expect anything less than amazing! Plaid: At first listen I remember finding it difficult to understand this record. This might be said about any Black Dog or Plaid release. Let them get under your skin and you'll soon realize that genius is deep within the mix here. You'll find a couple of tracks from the rare Mbuki Mvuki on here along with a fantastic jungle track. The rhythms will dazzle you! Dr. Rockit: Herbert at his finest IMO. I am however a complete electronic nut and these releases tend to be more electronic than his other stuff. Dr. Rockit is sometimes a little housey, but usually pulls together a minimal electronic hip-hop feel with slow beats and carefully placed blips and beeps. Clatterbox: Some of the most experimental music I've ever heard while remaining digestible. Hitchcock once said that it is okay to start with a cliché as long as you don't stay there. Well, Clatterbox pulls off clichéd beats and then twists them into songs which feel twisted and warped, but jazzy and soulful as well. You'll find them touching everything from electro to hip-hop to jazzy beats. As One: Kirk DeTroitio here spreading his talents into music beyond the Detroit style tracks he's released on other labels including his own ART. Jazz is his biggest influence and it shows here with harmonies and melodies which will wind through your thoughts for days after each listen. GFQ: Jazz and soul all the way. This is the most loungey of all the Clear releases. Definitely not dance floor material, but it will play nicely for when you have some guests over and they're not exactly techno freaks. Metamatics: The Metamatics are hard to describe. I think I'd like to stick with playful and fun. Some of the more straight forward releases but extremely thought out and talented stuff. It's quite danceable and I expect the Metamatics tracks to get more floor play than most of the other Clear stuff. Morgan Geist: Absolutely stunning! I think Morgan is actually releasing some of the most original house music I've heard. Don't get me wrong here when I call it house. It's not anything like the Chicago or any other house you've heard. His influence is surely Detroit, but instead of going the tech angle he plays in a syncopated dream land. Reflection: This heavy experimentation from Japan brings a new feel to the Clear catalog. With many releases remixed from the other Clear artists, their original material is, well, out there. Beats and noises trickle in from all angles and realms to fall into a pattern both comfortable and curious, but never obtrusive. Clear has emerged as one of the most reliable UK labels with every release a stunning example of the finest techno. Every record in there is timeless and I expect to hear people talking about Clear for many years to come. Well, sorry for missing Daniel Ibbotson and Lithium Project, but I never found the first Ibbotson and I haven't picked up any of the new Reel releases. Trust me though they WILL be in an order and soon... I'd like to find out which releases came in clear vinyl. Here's a list of the ones on other discography's which have come in clear vinyl. Please reply to me if you know of any more. And if anyone wants to sell or trade any clear vinyl copies, I'd love to work something out. =) CLRX406 Jedi Knights - May the Funk Be With You (clear vinyl) CLRX407 Tusken Raiders - Bantha Trax (clear vinyl) CLRX408 Gescom - The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used (clear vinyl) CLRX409 Plaid - Android EP (clear vinyl) CLRX415 Spacepimp (clear vinyl) -rbc3