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. :) ************************ 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.