From Zenon M. Feszczak Sent Thu, Apr 2nd 1998, 17:32
From Zenon M. Feszczak Sent Thu, Apr 2nd 1998, 17:32
SUB REVIEW: Arto Lindsay / Mundo Civilizado, Hyper Civilizado Wherein Mr. Lindsay shows those of us who still harbored doubts that samba is proto-ambient jungle. Beats and innuendo included free of charge and inhibition. The intimate link between breakbeat and Latin riddims should now be as retrospectively obvious as that between hip hop / trip hop / ambient dub and reggae. Samba/bossanova may well be the music of the future. Arto has been doing his noise guitar thing for some time (notably on some experimental mayhem with Sakamoto-san), but here he rediscovers the Brazillian subtext in full force (a stylistic component always present in his music to some extent). Mundo Civilizado gives us relatively straight (emphasis on "relatively") recontextualizations of samba-pop, which still include enough of Lindsay's esoteric oddness and obliquely sensual lyrics to confuse the casual listener. Lush production, sequencing and live musicians, loops and atmospheric samples, samba-drone. Can't much get into Lindsay's vox, but I suppose that's an acquired taste. Rather listen to Gal Costa or Caetono Veloso for that essence The instrumental arrangements are sparkling, intriguing, and smart. A dub of this record would be the ideal mixture for burning one's mindROM on some scorched beach, or dancing with one's significant other while under the influence of some aphrodisiac elixir. What we've been offered is something better: Hyper Civilizado is a record of brilliant remixes of Mundo, done in lazy ethno tripascious ambreakdub style. Fine work here by DJ Spooky, SPIT, Sub Dub, We, DJ Soul Slinger, DJ Mutamassik, Elated System, et al. Nearly no vox to be found. Grooves and moves, inexplicably odd squishy samples and fruity loops over trad instruments, and the concoction gels into something unique and delectable. As one who appreciates the aesthetics of music in all ways, a special compliment to the artists responsible for the unique and distinctive packaging: Kazu Makino, and step Graphics, HYC, Carlos "Soul" Slinger/Liquid Sky Music. I'll even forgive the gratuitous stubble close-up. This is not the Miami Device. That joke was so inside that even I don't get it. Enjoy! Zenon M. Feszczak Groovologist