(313) Dissonance Reviews

From fix8
Sent Fri, Mar 19th 1999, 14:00

Dissonance will hopefully be up on the web soon but until it is here are
some of the reviews from this months issue. Once the web site is up be
sure to check out the sutekh interview. :)
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Concept 1 96:VR   1 Year: 12 Months: 24 Hours Variations by Thomas
Brinkmann 
 (M_nus Records US)
'Concept 1 96:VR' contains variations of Ritchie Hawtin's concept series
of 12" produced by Thomas Brinkmann on his custom made 2-tonearm
turntable. Using one turntable for the left channel and the other for
the right Brinkmann reworked the material 'revealing a melodic
displacement between channels'. Brinkmann's efforts produced soundscapes
of irregular percussive patterns, unobtrusive sub-bass beats, twitching
dub basslines, oscillating noise and tonal synths. The material has a
wallowing spacious feel filled with intermittent snares. Sounds emerge
and then scatter off into the distance echoing and fading away, at first
punctuating attention and then sliding into the unconscious. Brinkmann
reveals moods ranging from isolated restraint to ominous urgency.  
'Concept 1 96:VR' is an incredible composition, fit for connoisseur's of
the electronic avant garde.
Phylistine


Voiteck vs TD5 - Truck musik 10 and 11(Australia) 
Voiteck doesn't disappoint on this double 12" release, the newest on his
own label Truck Musik. The standout a1 begins with an almost house-ish
beat before being overlapped with trademark peculiar techno percussion
which contorts and contrasts. Slowly tweaked analogue loops join the
fray transforming the track. The addition of a sampler to his set up is
noticeable in the running water which backs the b2 which coupled with
beats provides a throbbing porter-ricks like background to pristine
synth notes and a twitching melodic undercurrent. Truck 11 contains
re-workings and reinterpretations of the tracks from truck 10 showcasing
the results that alternative focuses have yielded. Truck 10 and 11
heralds Voiteck's evolution as an artist though a controlled and more
experimental approach applying subtler rhythms and inflections with a
defter touch. Voiteck continues his analogue experimentation, stretching
the boundaries of the techno genre.
Joshua Taaffe

Pole -  LP1  (Kiff SM Germany)
Pole's LP1 opens with the hiss and crackle of a badly scratched record,
gradually white noise and the pops and clicks of a defective
Pole-Waldorf Filter resolve into a subtle rhythmic pattern setting the
percussive standard for this brilliant pseudo-ambient structure.
Intermittent synth squelches and looping bass lines complete a deep
counterpoint to the soft susurrus of the white noise and the high
frequency crackles. Stefan Betke previously responsible for releases on
Din and Kiff SM and mastering work for Chain Reaction delivers here
amazing post-ambient textures. Soothing, moody melodies, backed by
engaging bass lines. This comes close to being one of the most original
albums I've heard this year. It resonates with warmth and nostalgia
evoking both a sense of loss and reminiscence of the womb. A beautiful
continuation in Pole's evolution of the bc/cr sound. LP1 is a
distinctive and emotive master piece.                Joshua Taaffe
MSD - Mystery Science EP (WAVE US)
>From the previously unknown Eric Fronfrais comes an EP of supreme
quality on one of New York's finest labels Wave Records. The standout
and definitely most popular cut on this piece of wax is 'Satisfy'. A
track that uses cut up vocal samples, deep keys and an infectious
rolling beat, it is definitely one that will be remaining in crates for
a long time. However don't ignore the b-side's  'Love Line' which is a
soothing deep house trumpet jam which is just perfect to create a
chilled out atmosphere. This is a must for any lover of quality dance
music. Declan Doherty

Big Muff - Feel What You Know (Remixes)
(MAXI US)
US Maxi is one of those New York labels that appears to have been in
existence since the inception of garage and vocal house. It has brought
us timeless classics such as 'Helpless' by Urbanised, 'Fuk That' by
Sagat and gems like 'Change' and 'When You Love Someone" by Daphne. More
recently however we have seen the emergence  of Bif Muff. Last years
remake of 'My Funny Valentine' was huge, and now the remixes of 'Feel
What You Know' are gradually growing to reach similar heights. Taken
from 'Music for the Aural Exciter' LP, these mixes see housier efforts
from Keri Chandler and Bob Sinclair as well as solid Drum & Bass
reworkings from Smith & Mighty.
        The Chandler mix leaves most of the deeper qualities of the original
intact, whereas the Sinclair mix is more raw and stripped back with a
FAT bassline - definitely perfect for the mix. Also containing dubs,
this is a top-shelf  double pack.  Declan Doherty  
Cari Lekebusch - Precious Moments 
(DIUPL Sweden)
Swedish producer Cari Lekebusch is renowned for his prolific output of
hard, primarily percussive techno. While I was aware that he has
produced some house records, I hadnt been exposed to them and this 12"
came as somewhat of a shock. A very pleasant shock. While the Diupl logo
resembles very closely the logo of Lekebusch's primary imprint hybrid,
the shades of purple and the picture of a scantily clad waif suggest
important differences in style: a more delicate, slower, melodic and
vocal loop based approach.
One Moment begins at melodic techno pace with a purpose maker like
indistinguishable vocal loop. The sparse (by lekebuschian standards)
percussion and loop is slowly joined by new layers of vocals, the
occsional cow bell and muted clap. The piece really begins to groove
(yes groove!) with the addition of a short bassline and the melodic
content composed of low octave, long drawn out notes and echoing chords.
The track is remarkable for its restraint and slow build.
Snackan - contains some of the same  samples as 'One Moment' and a
similar organic melody, barely audible vocal textures, and intricate
percussion. The B side of the 12" takes things in a slightly more
abstract direction.
Wipe Your Tears - Distorted and filtered vocal samples echo amongst the
mid-tempo techno beats. A vocodered (in an extreme sense not in a quaint
cher sense) sample of some-one singing 'Wipe the tears from your eyes'
provides the main melody and  focal point of the track, backed by synths
and chords. 
Again - consists of another vocodered lyric loop, chord and synth
melodies delicate 4/4 snares and the occasional bass beat. 
Throughout the 12" Lekebusch crafts sounds, effects and textures to
create the sense of gentle sadness and a subtle funk.  This unusual
blend makes for an intriguing and moving listening experience.          Joshua
Taaffe.
Powder Productions - Pipe Dreams LP 
(GLASGOW UNDERGROUND UK)
Scotland's Glasgow Underground is a label that, despite a few hiccups
along the way, has gone from strength to strength in recent years.
Modelling itself on the deeper sounds of house and garage while
retaining a club feel 'Pipe Dreams' is an album of deep and funky cuts,
that uses live sax, vocal cuts and on certain tracks disco cut ups or
latin beats  to full effect. If 'Pipe Dreams' and the Romanthony single
are anything to go by then Glasgow Underground definitely has a bright
future.        Declan Doherty
95 North - Sun Goddess (LARGE US)On another of the US's older labels
comes the reworking of Ramsey Lewis' classic at the Loft Club 'Sun
Goddess'. This is definitely one of those long playing tracks that
contains a soulful black male vocal and funky instrumentals underpinned
by thumping beats to make it perfect for peak time playing in any half
decent club. Flip it over  to find two top quality dubs that are also
definitely worth a listen. It is great to see 95 North and Large records
back on track again.