From Lance C McGannon Sent Wed, Aug 5th 1998, 22:22
From Lance C McGannon Sent Wed, Aug 5th 1998, 22:22
More reviews... . Ekswyzia: Logans ep limited cdr (Phthalo) The first in the PHTHALO label limited cdr release series is by the mysterious Ekswyzia. This five track ep features the same type of experimental electronic audio chaos as heard on the previous PHTHALO label release by Phthalocyanine. All five of these tracks, which range from two to seven minutes in length, are composed of seemingly disjointed rhythms, melodies, atmospheres, bleeps, buzzes, and sound effects. But as you listen to each track of this audio chaos, your ears begin make sense of the chaos and see the beautiful structures within the chaos. This ep is definitely not easy listening but then again, none of the PHTHALO releases are supposed to be. I believe this ep has already been sold out but the next release in the PHTHALO label limited cdr release should be out soon. You can e-mail PHTHALO at xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx to get in on this excellent series. 8/10 . Titonton: Endorphin 12" (Metamorphic) After releasing records on a handful of other labels, Titonton returns with a new ep on the label where he released his first 12" three years ago. This four tracker again shows Titonton's talent for mincing different styles within the same track. The a1 mixes polyrhythmic percussion with smooth melodic chords and an acid- sounding baseline giving the track a weird tech-house sound. The a2 starts with a lot of looped spacey sound effects, then a mutated 4x4 percussion starts in along with smooth synth backdrops. Midway through the track a squelchy baseline is added as well. The b1 starts with smooth synths then builds with light 4x4 percussion, high-hats and a squelchy baseline. Midway through the track it goes into a smooth jazzy interlude then goes back to the original track. The ep finishes with a d&b remix of the b1 by Dego from 4Hero. This remix starts with some d&b percussion with some spacey sound effects in the background. Slowly other percussive elements are added in including some breaks. About a third of the way through the track some big base is added as well as some dark haunting synths. Fans of Titonton's previous releases know what to expect and won't be disappointed. 4Hero fans will really like this remix. Overall another good ep for Titonton and a solid addition to the Metamorphic catalog. 7/10 . Process: Untitled 12" (Fatcat) An excellent 5-track ep of very german-sound techno & ambience from newcomer (?) Steve Barnes on the eclectic Fat Cat label. The ep starts with a short beatless ambient track. The a2 is a very gritty filtered oscillating deep techno track sounding something like substance meets various artists or pole. The a3 is another beatless track that starts with haunting synth washes over various clicks, pops & noises. Then comes an intermittent deep rumbling baseline as well as several more synth melodies & sound effects all slowly washing in and out of the mix. The b1 is yet another beatless track which features deep filtered bc-styled ambience over various clicks, pops & noises with sparse melodies and spacey sound effects that slowly wash in and out of the mix. The ep finishes with even more bc-styled filtered ambience that slow builds into a dark dubby bc/m/cr-styled track with deep muted percussion, haunting melodies and the occasional distorted vocal sample. This is a great ep for those who like the ambient basic channel, profan, various artists, or pole stuff. Has Steve Barnes done anything else because i definitely want to check it out. 9/10 . Andrea Parker: Ballbreaker/Some Other Level 10" (MoWax) After her somewhat disappointing Rocking Chair eps on Mo Wax i was somewhat reluctant to get this without hearing but after hearing it i realized that my reluctance was unfounded. On this limited 10", Andrea delivers two tracks of superb electro-tinged IDM not unlike that of Funkstroung, Autechre or even Jega. The a-side starts with spacey/electroish little sound effects then some deep pounding midtempo base is thrown it giving the track a shortlived downtempo electrofunk sound. Shortlived because soon after some excellent Funkstroungish breakbeats join the mix for the rest of the track while the baseline stops & starts. The b-side starts with intertwined light percussion & synth melodies, very middle-eastern sounding strings, spacey sound effects, and a deep squelchy baseline. Halfway through the track the breakbeat percussion kicks in and continues until the last third of the track. On the last third of the track all percussion drops out leaving only the spacey sound effects and baseline. This is an excellent ep by Andrea Parker that fans of Jega, Funkstroung and even old Aphex Twin would really enjoy. 8/10 . Bannlust: Digital Tensions 12" (Craft/Sabotage) This 6-track lp is by Marco Fischer who also records as Krok on the German Science City label. Bannlust had an excellent cd release on Craft/Sabotage a few months ago now this is his second album and it includes a remix by I-f, Dj Overdose and Helga Lablaque who go under the guise Los Muchachos Gruesos. The a1 starts with a downtempo squelchy electro track with dark haunting chords. The a2 has a much faster almost breakbeat pace with light melodic synths, disjointed vocal samples and more of your favorite electro noises. The a3 is a very dark ominous synthy track with equally dark breakbeat percussion. The b1 is a dark synthy gurgling track that slowly builds into a squelchy distorted electro groover. The b2 is a fast breakbeat track over smooth melodies. The ep finished with the Los Muchachos Gruesos remix. This mix is a downtempo number with asian-sounding melodies over distorted female vocals and groovy hip-hop percussion. Another winner for Bannlust that fans of quality electro-tinged idm will really enjoy. Jega, Marco Passarani, old Aphex Twin or Mu-Ziq will want to check this one. 8/10 . Tortoise vs Derrick Carter: Winter 12" (Thrill Jockey/City Slang) Avande-indie rockers Tortoise continue to have the talents of the electronic music world remix their tracks and this is no exception. On this remix ep, Chicago house producer Derrick Carter retools Tortoise's Winter track into two deep house gems. The a-side starts with a deep baseline and 4x4 percussion. Then remnants of Tortoise's original track are sparingly dropped in over the top. The only recognizable Tortoise elements are a few intermittent guitar, synth and piano lines, the rest is all deep 4x4 house. The b-side remix is quite similar to the a-side mix but the remnants of the original track are a little more prevalent in this mix. Overall this is an excellent deep house record that will probably introduce a lot of tortoise fans to quality house music. 7/10 BTW: Don't forget our Inaudible netcast every Wednesday from 9-11 pm Eastern Standard Time. Hear John C (Bent Crayon) and I spin two hours of the music we speak so highly of... The show will be accessible by visiting http://www.wcsb.org every Wednesday from 9-11 pm EST. The show will be broad- cast in the AudioActive format (which is actually much better than RealAudio). You can download the Audio Active plugin for free at http://www.audioactive.com/player/ During the Inaudible show we will be giving away promo 12"s and cds so yet another reason to tune in. -->-Lance--- p.o. box 450715 westlake, ohio 44145 united states