From Aaron S. Gregory Sent Wed, Nov 5th 1997, 21:48
From Aaron S. Gregory Sent Wed, Nov 5th 1997, 21:48
check it.
LONG post...but it's about music...
GOOD MUSIC. [hope that's ok?] read on...
asg
* * *
your index for the day:
01 Daniel Ibbotson - New Stories EP - Reel/Clear 12"
02 Sexyrubbersole - BreakFluid EP - Snake Eyes/Worm Interface 12"
03 Freeform - Palavalamp EP - Worm Interface 12"
04 Microstudio/Unagi Patrol EP - Carpet Bomb 12"
05 David Morley - Tilt EP - R&S 12"
* * *
Daniel Ibbotson - New Stories EP - Reel/Clear 12"
Kicking off Clear's new sublabel, Reel Discs, Daniel Ibbotson brings
forth a slightly varied slab whose tracks range from funky, snazzy, 4-4
styled house to smooth, atmospheric downtempo breaks. The latter of
which the fans of Clear, known for their jazzy electro sound, are more
accustomed to hearing from this fairly underrated artist. The title cut
establishes some fine funk early on with it's jazzy house aura, complete
with some guitar riffs that feel right at home. Far Places brings us
back to Ibbotson's pure knack for the slow, bassy groove reminicient of
his EP for Clear, with even a little clarinet licks for added measure.
Very nice and atmospheric. The flip side brings us back to the 4-4
sound with Super High Resolution which sounds like it could have come
about from Friend & Doktor Kosmos (of the Swedish Dot label), depsite
possessing some of those snazzy guitar riffs heard on New Stories. On
the Water Planet closes out this smooth slab with some upright-sounding
bass and some atmospheric jazz elements similar to Innerzone Orchestra's
Bug in the Bassbin single which was rereleased on Mo' Wax in 1996.
Overall, a smooth and juicy affair.
* * *
Sexyrubbersole - BreakFluid EP - Snake Eyes/Worm Interface 12"
Yet another spin-off label, this time from the folks at Worm Interface,
famous for their outstanding efforts by the likes of Tom Jenkinson
(Squarepusher), Freeform (Simon Pyke) and Dunderhead. At first glance,
you're not really sure what to expect. Could this be abstract
jazz/downtempo (like Dunderhead) or light-speed drum and bass (Tom J) or
something new? With a name like Sexyrubbersole, who knows? The image
of a cell phone with bat wings, which appears on the Snake Eyes label
does have me thinking that this could be quite a humourous affair!
Regardless of the apparent hype that this release may have caused, it is
something fairly bizarre. The title cut trickles in to the picture with
a tribal, pattering beat track that gets pushed out by a thorough
hip-hop track. The pace is fairly laid-back, but the standout sounds
seem to be the knarly 303-esque swirls, an almost-Eastern sounding
harpsicord pattern (what's this?!) a sample of some R&B vocalists (more
than one!) going oooh ooooooh. Oh baby. Not since the Push Button
Objects EP (for the US Schematic label), has a tune caught me off-guard,
so to speek. The flip side, Soul Soup, seems much more accessible with
its pulsating, echoing beats and a groovy synth line that's 100%, pure
jive. Some funky keys polish this aptly-titled tune off nicely. Solid,
funky effort.
* * *
Freeform - Palavalamp EP - Worm Interface 12"
Simon Pyke continues to stretch the barries of the modern lo-fi sound
with yet another unique creation, this time for Worm Interface, the
label that launched both his full length efforts to date: Elastic
Speakers (1995) and Heterarchy (1996). Palavalamp is eight minutes of
wacky drum programming and wild clanking strewn about, something not
that unfamiliar to the trained Freeform listener. It reminds me most of
Dice, the track he contributed to the first Worm Interface compilation
CD, Alt.Frequencies. Fast paced with a slight sense of humour about it.
That Simon's always been a trickster! The flip side, Wakker Sticks,
noodles away with various clicks and creative clanking (that Pyke's
infamous for) and a jazzy bassline groove that plods along like one of
Jenkinson's mellower jazz tunes. Soon, these seemingly wooden and soft
clicks and clanks get mixed into sounding more metallic, which shouldn't
surprise anyone. Simon then mixed in some old-time movie atmospherics
for good measure. By the end of this 14+ minute epoch, I'm not quite
sure if what I heard was Freeform or something from the Gregory Fleckner
Quintet (Clear label), but I can say that it was worth the listen. It's
not the finest of Pyke's efforts, but it's something slighty different
than what we're used to.
* * *
Microstudio/Unagi Patrol EP - Carpet Bomb 12"
After a summer of pomp and circumstance over who's responsible for this
NYC experimentalist camp, Carpet Bomb (the label) comes forth with some
further proof that these guys are a clan to be reconed with. This time,
Pablo and Adrien are joined by others, in various permutated
combinations of monikers (yes, it's that confusing!) to bring us a split
slab of vinyl featuring Microstudio (who initiated Carpet Bomb mania
with the Cubensis EP at the beginning of the summer of 97) and Unagi
Patrol, former residents of L.A., now united with the rest of the Carpet
crew to stage a world takeover, all from the lovely confines of
Manhattan. Lovely. Their efforts, this time, are packaged in a simple
paper sleeve, but included with this record is a computer print-out of
some hands working with yarn. Strange...symbolic? Intriguing. As is
the music...
Microstudio start things off with Rural Development Project, which
seems to be a tribally percussive ritual, complete with Black Dog
influences. Then, a real sweet melody finds itself amongst the wobbly
beats and tribal bells. By midway through this 14 minute epoch, we find
ourselved surrounded by a completely synergistic experience...as if we
are being subjected to watching nature sail its course. The sounds are
pure, wonderful and mentally stimulating. An ever-evolving track that
throws a new hook in every minute or so it seems, from low-frequency
bass licks to blunted drum and bass nuances, to light atmospheric waves
of pure bliss...this track has it all and then some! This is pure aural
brilliance, blowing away the Cubensis effort in my opinion.
Unagi Patrol do nothing to shatter the high quality of this slab by
putting forth two strong cuts, each running a tad under 4 minutes. But
ohh, what a fine 4 minutes each track is! The first track, simply
titled Unagi Patrol, is a dichotomy of sorts. It begins with some
experimental pattering and then slides into a blissful ditty from some
silent movie theme from the 1930s. Then the electronics kick in again:
fast breaks behind a wall of simple synth strokes, something that we
might have heard from (dare I say!...) Tom J. Maybe. Then the Patrol
closes the track out with that infamous movie theme. A mixture of
hysterics and introspection, very interesting. Mr. Greco (the song)
finishes off this fine slab with some punchy, pattery percussion and
some kooky synth loops. It seems that both Freeform and Tom Jenkinson
have had some infuence on these lads. Well, guess what? It seems the
students (in this case) are learning quickly! Let em bomb away!
* * *
David Morley - Tilt EP - R&S 12"
David Morley has always impressed me. Whether it be working by himself
on such ambeint masterpieces like the Evolution and Stardancer EPs (both
for Apollo), or working on his extensive, collaborative efforts with
Andrea Parker, Mr. Morley has always had a keen sense for atmospherics.
This EP does nothing to shatter that reputation, however, this is not an
ambient effort. Methinks Ms. Parker's unique, and equally impressive,
knack for intricate percussion has rubbed off a little, as this twelve
inch provides some thoroughly pounding, pulsating tracks. The speed
calls for 45 rpm for both tracks, yet title cut, Tilt, stands up rather
nicely at 33. Like Tilt, Dodecaphonic on the flip side possess some
driving beat patterns that seem to pound away at the atmospheric synth
lines. The overall feel of the record, especially Dodecaphonic,
actually reminds me a lot of Morley and Parker's Infonet EP, Angular
Art, which was produced in 1995. Dark, percussive and almost eerie.
This is a keeper.