From Kent Williams Sent Tue, Sep 15th 1998, 16:12
From Kent Williams Sent Tue, Sep 15th 1998, 16:12
Underground Resistance "Interstellar Fugitives" UR CD-045 You know, I'm not a big fan of VA releases. They tend either to have tracks you already own, or sub-par original tracks. Witness Warp 100, or the Astralwerks "Third Wave" CD. Not a problem here. "Interstellar Fugitives" is a real classic. While it showcases choice tracks from the UR posse, what really makes it shine are the 5 tracks contributed by Andre Holland as the Infiltrator and the Chamaleon. Each of these frames the more conventional tracks in a dark Sci-Fi sound track that really gets under your skin. And that's what makes IF work as a whole -- it has a conceptual framework that bridges the gap between long form listening music and the dance floor. The dance tracks are straight up and undiluted, but within the framing of Holland's more atmospheric soundtrack pieces, they invite closer listening in the living room context. This reminds me of Black Dog's "Spanners" in that there are full length tracks bracketed by 'bolts.' But "Interstellar Fugitives" is if anything more successful because the connecting material is more evocative and less jokey. Anyway, track by track: "Zero is my Country" -- Chamaleon starts things off with a portentous drone -- the vibration of a rocket engine? The humming of a turbine through the walls of a power plant? Add to that some filtered drums and cymbals and you're put into the mood. "Maroon" by the Suburban Knight hits hard with a frankly industrial beat that gets decorated by as succession of phat loops and sinister vocoded vocals. "Nannytown" cranks up Electro to 160bpm, and delivers the funk at Warp 9 speed. The repeated sample "I'm a native to the promised land" plays off the politics of the liner notes. Is it ironic, or tortured, or what? Whatever it is, the track is irresistable, and compelled me to go buy the vinyl after hearing the CD. "Mi Raza" -- DJ Rolando is UR's up and comer no doubt. Another take on electro that avoids the cliches and maintains a real stomping energy. "Something happened on Dollis Hill" is a short bit of portentious atmospherics, that incorporates heavily processed breaks. "Mirage" -- The name Chuck Gibson doesn't ring any bells with me, but this track has it going on, from the heavily filtered opening, to the "It might be a Mirage" chant, to the dark juno pads. "Afrogermanic" -- Chaos AKA Marc Floyd -- bring the bass! The sound of jets taking off starts you on a journey along the Detroit/Berlin axis. The synthesized german vocals are like a giant billboard shouting "Kraftwerk." Play it alongside "Numbers" or "Tour De France" and you'll see. "Interstellar Crime Report" and "Aquacitizem" start with some of Drexciya's trademark sci-fi weirdness before kicking into some deep electro-flavored sound graffiti. Of all the Detroit crew, Drexciya set the standard for adventerous sound design -- a standard you can hear being upheld on the other tracks here. Aquacitizem ends up being funky, scary, and humorous all at the same time. "Thought 1" -- Andre Holland bring a hype beat and blanketing bass together with what might be barely heard church bells ringing in the distance. An absolutely perfect piece of atmospherics. "Moor Horseman on Bolarus 5" -- Mad Mike brings together weird middle-easter flutes with kicking beats and one of his trademark percolating b-lines. Various buzzing and sawing noises weave in and out. A real treat. "Thought 2" -- Andre H in the Chamaleon guise brings together another perfect piece of atmospheric beats that echoes the middle eastern flavor of the preceding track. Too short by about a factor of 4. This one could have major play on the dance floor if a little longer. "Unabomber" -- If you listen to any earlier Aphex Twin (think of the Joyrex series) you know that Richard James owes a lot to Detroit for his sound. Andre Holland completes the circle with a deep track that reminds me very much of Aphex Twin. More like Aphex Twin with an attention span, minus the obtuse tendency to purposely annoy the listener. This one is a deep warm blanket of beats and bass. "Negative Evolution" -- A kind of housey version of electro mixed up with some really off the hook pitch shifted vocals and slap bass. "UR On Meer" Andre Holland once again dives off the deep end of sound design, evoking the trip-out sequence of the movie 2001. There are no beats, just really scary drones and scraping sounds. Actually one of the best pieces of dark ambience I've heard in ages.