From Nuutti-Iivari Merilainen Sent Thu, Oct 14th 1999, 12:14
From Nuutti-Iivari Merilainen Sent Thu, Oct 14th 1999, 12:14
Having been an avid RePHLeX fan since the beginning of the decade, the
label has been a central part of my record collection. Though it has
been in a slump for a while (subjectively, of course) the recent couple
of releases have been very interesting (well, some not very, but anyway).
I thought I would share a few
thoughts on them.
CAT088LP::The Gentle People::Simply Faboo
The Gentle People's second full length continues in the same easy
listening vein as the first album, 'Soundtracks For Living'. Although
I have never been much of a fan of easy listening music, these two
albums have seen more of my turntables than some of those records that
could be characterised as classics in the IDM circuit. Well-produced,
melodic, smooth layers of sound and rhythm and vocals. The second album
sounds more balanced and mature than the first one (what would one
expect with what, five years between albums?), the soundscapes are more
diverse and enjoyable. An excellent record for those nights when one
has to work at home with the laptop in bed (of course the CD version is
more usable as one does not have to jump up and down to flip sides -
but what can you do when you are a vinyl fanatic?). Highly recommended.
CAT086P::DMX Krew::Good Time Girl/Denki No Merodi
DMX Krew has started to grow on me lately. When I first encountered
them on RePHLeX my first reaction was "what effin' crap is this?", but
having gone through three albums and three EPs the eighties pop/electro
sound has really started to get into me. The first really positive
experience was 'Adrenalin Flow' and after that I have started to give
the records more and more time on the turntables. This new picture disc
is not a exception from the sound of Ed DMX so there is nothing really
special about it other than the 7" picture disc format. 'Good Time Girl'
is your standard DMX track with vocals and all, but 'Denki No Merodi' is
actually rather good with the japanese lyrics. Recommended for those
that like the DMX sound (and for other RePHLeX fanatics like me :),
others may find the record a repetition of the same.
CAT084EP::Fuschimuschi::Super Sexy Lady/My Number One
There was a time when I wondered if RePHLeX had gone totally japanese
with the releases of Sam & Valley's 'My Favourite Clinic' and Kiyoshi
Izumi's 'Effect Rainbow'. The feeling passed quite soon after the
releases, but now the eastern thing seems to be rearing its head with
the Bogdan Raczyski albums, DMX Krew's 'Denki No Merodi' and
Fuschimuschi's EP. To me, Fuschimuschi as a word sounds japanese.
Someone on the list commented that it had something to do with german,
but as I have little knowledge of german, no comment. But as for the
contents of the record (and judging from the credits) - there is nothing
really japanese about it. Electro, funk, lo-fi in the Global Goon vein.
Something one would really expect from the RePHLeX camp. I have given this
just one spin yet, so I am unable to elaborate. Nevertheless, give it a
listen. Surprising.
CAT085LP::Bogdan Raczyski::Samurai Math Beats
CAT082LP::Bogdan Raczyski::Boku Mo Wakaran
What did I say about the japanese thing? Bogdan Raczyski is a
hyperactive combination of old school jungle, new breaks and a weird
twist of retuned vocals (some in japanese - hence the connection)
and melodies. I have not quite liked the drill and bass as a genre,
interesting it though be in its own technical way. But these albums
- whew. When I first put 'Boku Mo Wakaran' on the decks I had to sit
down and gawk for a while. It was like putting a group of schoolkids
through a blender with steel drums, stones and sticks. Relentless
layering of rhythm and ridiculous vocals and melodies. I gave these
two a listen and then just put them back on the shelf. After a few
weeks I took them out again. This time, I started to like them. As
with the other more weird RePHLeX excursions, my wife hates them.
She (like me) has a classical music education (we both played the
violin for a good while and learned other instruments on the side),
and all she can say when I play these records is "put that out" or
"at least use the headphones." So I have to play them when she is
out. But I am having tons of fun when I do - although there is a sort
of a nag in the back of my head going "why are you listening to this?"
Grab these while you can.
CAT083EP::The Jones Machine::You're the One/Disco Dancing
The first Jones EP was weird enough already for me to like it -
the second goes a tad better. 'You're the One' is a really good track.
With the sort-of-heavy-guitars and the absolutely killer drums the
song rocks my apartment like no other. The vocals are just the right
thing for the track. 'Disco Dancing' is equally hilarious, though a
bit more boring than 'You're the One'. The Cylob remixes give this
EP the final touch. Highly Recommended (also check out the video for
'You're the One' from http://www.rephlex.com/).
CAT080LP::808 State::Newbuild
This is really for those that missed this one the first time around.
A seminal album with nothing but good tracks from the beginning of the
electronic music decade. Having started up in electronic music with
808 State's '90', the re-release of this album on RePHLeX of all labels
was a wet dream come true. Everyone must have this album. And I mean
everyone. I am getting chills by just thinking about 'Flow Coma',
'Narcossa' and 'E Talk'.
CAT068LP::Bodenstading 2000::Maxi German Rave Blast Hits 3
Uh. I guess worse records could be released, but I have not heard many
that come even close to this. Originality is one thing, utter crap is one.
I wish people would not get those two mixed up too often. I am still
wondering if this release was tongue-in-cheek or not, but I have not
dared to put it on the turntable after the first time I listened through
to it. I have heard comments on Bodenstading 2000 appearing live with
RePHLeX somewhere and that it was hilarious and fun, but with this one,
I am just frowning. My wife left the apartment when I listened to this
one. But a collector is a collector is a collector.
CAT076EP::Cylob::Lobster Tracks
CAT074EP::Cylob::Rewind
More of this, please. Cylob is still one of my favourite artists on
the RePHLeX roster. 'Lobster Tracks' kicks the living daylights out of
most of the eighties-sounding funny-yet-enjoyable releases. Wicked
rhythm programming with analogue sounds - something I have liked since
I first got the EP. As for 'Rewind' - I have had Macs for quite a while
yet could not have thought of using the speech synthesizer as a rapper.
What an ingenious idea! I wish I had thought of it. There was a taste
of what was to come on 'Are We Not Men Who Live And Die' but I could
have never guessed what would be next. Get these as soon as possible.
I wonder what the new Cylob, 'Living In The 80's B/W' has to offer...
BFORD15::Baby Ford::Normal
Another take from the early nineties, Peter Ford is still kicking
it like no-one else. I had to dig up 'Chikki Chikki Aah Ahh' and
'Flowers' after listening to this one. The 'Helston Flora Remix' is
definitely one of the best remixes mr. James has done in a while.
This double EP (counting the remixes) should be on every shelf. There
is something that bothers me about this release, but the AFX remix
saves the day. A definite buy.
So there. Of course there are others worthy of mentioning like
D'Arcangelo's 'Shipwreck', which is one of the best albums to come out
on RePHLeX in recent years, BR Posse and The Railway Raver...
Despite some of those that I find subjectively negative, RePHLeX is
still one of my favourite labels. Anticipation is building for the
new DMX Krew album (out already but I was not able to get it yet),
Lektrogirl and Ovuca (a fellow Finn - that should be interesting).
Do check out the videos on http://www.rephlex.com/.
If someone has had the patience to read this far - if you happen to
have an extra copy of Leila's 'Feeling' 7", please contact me if you
are willing to part with your copy or know of a place to get it from.
--
diversion : nuutti-iivari meriläinen : gordon at diversion dot org
communications : http colon slash slash www dot diversion dot org slash