From Jon Logan Sent Tue, Apr 14th 1998, 20:05
From Jon Logan Sent Tue, Apr 14th 1998, 20:05
Just picked up the Dot compilation Endlessnessism -- the long
awaited 'endless remix' project. A slew of artists remix a track that was
remixed by a previous artist, etc. ad nauseum.
It has a heavy electro feel, with plenty of that plucky, twangy Dot
sound. Every Dot artist provides a remix, as well as a bunch of guests.
It's important to note that each track is so heavily remixed that at first,
it sounds nothing like its predecessor. If you listen carefully you begin
to hear the similarities. (and that's half the fun!)
There are 16 tracks total, in the following order:
disc 1:
sarilou - compactism
quant - quantasm
bedouin ascent - spasm
the bowling green - deja vuism
ian o'brien - ianism
endemic void - coffeysim
roupe - somnambulism
nonplace urban field - fryedism
disc 2:
spacer - endlessspaceism
as one - as oneism
funki porcini - crashism
bullitnuts - schism
argonort - onanism
jimpster - antidisestablishmentarianism
hab - realism
friend - mannerism
To launch such an ambitious project successfully, the first track
would have to be complex, inspiring, and eclectic. I was very happy to
discover that Sarilou's piece was just that. Dark, schizophrenic, tweaky,
and strangely airy, 'Compactism' starts off the album brilliantly.
From that point on, the album takes a number of surprising turns,
not all of them for the better-- but most of them. Quant transforms
Sarilou's clattery rhythms into spooky funk, retaining some of the
darkness, but adding a distinct sense of humor.
Bedouin Ascent adds a lush layer of synth and puts back much of the
skitterish percussion that Quant dispensed with, but retains the funky feel.
Bowling Green takes the track and adds some fat, chunky breakbeats.
The addition of a funky guitar sample and a few choice melodies lends a
vague cheesy film soundtrack feel.
Ian O' Brien concocts a smooth melody, and mellows out the track.
However, it builds in intensity and eventually becomes pretty busy and beat
heavy.
More funk and the addition of a jungle beat by Endemic Void. Some
minute vocal samples and an almost-real sounding upright bass riff round
out the track.
The roupe mix is a mellow down tempo journey, one of the least-busy
tracks.
Nonplace urban field gives us a meandering loungy track, with some
strange vocal samples and a whiny melody.
Overall, the first disc of Endlessnessism is dominated by a dense
idm-like percussion, elements of funk and electro, and a generally dark
mood. The tracks are very good, although the first 4 are better.
Disc two is jazzier, mellower, and a little brighter than One.
It begins with a spacer track that noodles around with various
mellow jazzy drum samples.
As One takes over with another mild track dominated by a repetitive
electro bass riff.
Disc two doesn't really start to get good until track 3, the funki
porcini remix. It begins with the sound of an Apple Macintosh computer
booting up, followed by a gentle bass line and some wispy melodies.
Halfway through the track, an uptempo breakbeat drops in and the apple boot
sample melds into the melody.
The bullitnuts track surprised me in a good way. A fuzzy, lo-fi
bass line and a complex breakbeat complement the twinkly, light melody.
The argornort track is slightly discordant and vacillates between
mellow breakdowns and downtempo beats with whiny melodies.
Jimpster gives us a disco track. 'The new psycho dynamic sound'
sample pervades the song, along with a very 70's sounding bass line. A fun
track.
Hab's contribution is full of beats and breaks, with some nice,
although short, melodies interwoven. This piece is busier than the work on
maPOD, and perhaps not as strong. Nonetheless, it is a great listen.
Finally, Friend ends the journey by removing some of Hab's
percussion and beefing up the low end.
Overall, Endlessnessism is a great compilation. Not brilliant, as
I had hoped, but definitely worth getting. This is one funky chunk of idm.
regards,
jon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Logan Work: 415 543-2800
UI Droog Home: 415 487-0424
CriticalPath, Inc. Mobile: 415 902-8079
------------------------------------------------------------------------