From mltsnt Sent Sat, Feb 27th 1999, 03:50
i haven't written a review in such a long time, expect some more this weekend. V/A: I'm So Bored With the USA LP (Diskono) For those who remember last years 'Pyschogeographic' Double 7", the infamous Diskono offered up a trademark style of DIY Cut-Up/Noise/Experimental, with a bit of IDM/electro thrown in for good measure. This red vinyl follow up continues in the vein. The concept for this is based around the clash's "I'm so bored with the USA", but aside from a few trakcs, the only noticible ties are the fact that they have the identical lentgh as the original. Lesser's "Anarchy" is Clash meets Drill N' Bass (excuse the pigeon hole). Chicago's Aerospace Soundwise (aka Todd Carter) manages to squeeze every aspect of (avant?-)pop culture into 2m23sec of chaos on "The Piligrims Introduce the Sticker Club To America". Another Chicago appearance is the duo Epicter, with an edited version of 'Find Your Own Truth', from their self released 'Surface Breaks' album, pretty nice, but this track of studio doodlings and such is hardly representative of thier sound, check out the afformentioned CD to hear their darker electro works. Wobbly/Wet Gate's "Lunchtime USA" is a vocal sample of the title over layers of twangy things, strange. Marco Passarani does his usual thing on "Pt.1", by usual I mean 'borrowing' the sound of a certain Mancunian fellow by the name of dylan, but it's nice none the less. Suetsu & Underwood's (Lucky Kitchen) "July 4th, 1998" is more of their field recording experimentalism (see: 'find the hits... and use them'). And Noise pop superstar Felix Kubin (also of Klangkrieg) offers up "Opening Rudi's Head", think early Rephlex meets A-Musik and you'd be halfway there. America's own new IDM poster boy Jake Mandell's (you'd check his new album 'parallel processes' on Worm Interface, if you know what's good for you) creatively titled "untitled 43" is an upbeat funky number, while (no pun intended), America's next poster boy, While (forthcoming releases on Musik Aus Strom, Chocolate Industries, and Skam) does a piece that's obviously influenced by the likes of Ae/Skamsters/Warp, but unlike so many imitations, While manages to expand on the ideas of said artists, rather than just do the straight knock off route. And that's just half the record, you also get (count 'em) THREE offerings from Diskono offical Vengloss Advocaat, Office Products (Seeland, aka Solenoid), Pomassl (Laton/Mego), Cartesian Faith, Max Kleydersturm, People Like Us, and the special mp3 contribution from V/Vm. All in all, another one to piss off the IDM purists, but will keep a smile on the faces of so called 'fringe' electronic fans (V/Vm, Lucky Kitchen, Mego, etc). Wang Inc. 12" (Sonig) Debut 12" from the first non- Mouse On Mars related artist on their label. Bart Sailer adapts the sounds of everyday objects into rhythmical electronic productions. Sound familiar, Matmos fans? Well, despiste the aesthetic similarites to said SF duo, Wang's work is more musically aligned with Cologne scene, than the Autecherian & Coil influences of Matmos. For example, 'Soft Drink' is based around the many sounds related to, well, soft drinks (from the offering, to the twist of the cap, to the pouring of the soft drink). Two lock grooves are also included, for DJs and people who like listening to loops for hours on end. There's really no other way to describe this record than 'cologne'-y. The distinct, indescribable sound of A-Musik (particularly FXRandomiz), Mouse On Mars, and their ilk, if you've heard it you know what I mean, if not, go out and let this 12" be your introduction to a world of music you've held out on for too long. C(HART____ The Roots: Things Fall Apart (MCA) I'm So Bored With The USA (DISKONO) Nas/[DJ Premier]: Nas Is Like (Columbia) untitled CDr (Reckanklang...) Stock, Hausen & Walkman: Organ Donor Vol. 1 (Hot Air) Speedranch & Jansky Noise: Welcome To Exercate TOOL 12" (Leaf) Blackstar f/ Black Thought: Respiration [Pete Rock Remix] (Rawkus) Low Res: Approximate Love Boat (Plug Research) icFET: gate;;reflect (glare/stm) Wang Inc. 12" (Sonig) Prince Paul: A Prince Among Theives (Tommy Boy) V:/nales/ http://members.xoom.com/multsanta/stm/