An emotional m»lange of string melodies and basslines that complete the soul. Very atmospheric, like all the Lawrence stuff. The remixes by Audision and James Dina4 bring back the beat in the game-one’s straight, one has a weird, experimental hip-hop theme.
I Am X Kiss And Swallow
Kiss and Swallow, the debut solo effort from Sneaker Pimps’ Chris Corner, is excellently produced. It also wears its influences on its sleeve, coming off as both over-conceived and over-indulgent. While there are certainly some good dancefloor moments amidst this flashback to the NIN/EBM/Cabaret Voltaire days, one can’t help thinking there’s a bit more ego-stroking going on here than is absolutely necessary. We know, we know, musicians are megalomaniacs, but a little less studio sheen and a little more grit could have brought this project to its full potential.
Sieg Uber Die Sonne Love Is OK
Sieg Uber Die Sonne return with the haunting “Love Is OK,” featuring remixes by Ricardo Villalobos and Tobi Neumann. Villalobos’ hypnotizing, churning mix isn’t mindblowing, but a nice minimal groove and crackly textures keep the track moving. Neumann’s mix also accents his minimal approach with chopped up vocals underneath a striking but subtle Indian percussion motif.
Fila Brazillia The Goggle Box EP
It’s nice to know the Fila Brazillia boys haven’t lost their cheeky side. The Goggle Box EP, featuring three new tracks on limited edition pink vinyl-from Fila’s tenth album (and second of the year) Dicks-finds the duo feeling especially perky on the title track, featuring harder-edged breakbeats offset by elegiac synthesizer textures and oddball chirps. Also on 7″ vinyl, French producer Hoffmann helps showcase the deeper side of Fila’s former home, Pork Recordings, featuring the gorgeous tech house of “Smooth One” and the scruffier title track “Dimlix.”
Damiak Pesero
The debut of Mexico City native Damiak on Oakland label n5md’s 7ransparen7 series features two twitchy yet oddly emotional tracks: “Iron g” and “Enojon.” Both create a playful, uncomplicated vibe amidst a sea of clicks and clacks-echoing early works by Aphex Twin or Autechre-with soothing synthesizer textures and tough ricochet beats sometimes running amok. “Pesero” bodes well for Damiak’s full-length debut in 2005.
I-Robots Third Millennium
I-Robots’ (Italy’s Gianluca Pandullo) second volume of swirling, synthesizer-laden Italian disco is a great mixture of old and new electro, reinterpreting ’80s-era tracks such as Charlie’s 1983 gem “Spacer Woman.” The key track here is Oxtongue’s (Kompakt) remix with snappy electro beats criss-crossing turgid, shimmery synths with a pulsing bassline and treated vocals.
Ezekiel Honig Graphic/Love Session
Minimal techno/IDM producer Ezekiel Honig and Graphic share the bill here, remixing tracks by each other. Graphic’s watery, crackly drum & bass exploration of Honig’s “Love Session” (from Technology Is Lonely album) work’s surprisingly well alongside the original version, while Honig’s choppy remix of Graphic’s “1000” is a twisted head-nod, with punctuating fractals amidst shimmering textures.
Senor Coconut Beat It
Senor Coconut (Uwe Schmidt), rarely fails to disappoint with his over-the-top Latin covers of pop hits. “Beat It” features two sprightly remixes of Coconut’s cover of the Michael Jackson hit. Puerto Rico’s Ruben Rodriguez’s mix accentuates the tougher, more electro side of the track with taut beat programming and a bumping bassline, though it really doesn’t evolve into a memorable motif. On the flip, DJ Enne’s Latino Bass & Breaks Mix filters “Beat It” through a lively, beat-friendly parade with a touch of modern electro-funk. Fun but not essential.
Akufen Forcept 1 Reinterpretations
Taking elements from Richie Hawtin’s groundbreaking Concept 1 series released in 1996 (releasing one 12″ per month using a specific selection of sound sources) and reshuffling the bits and pieces, Montreal’s chop-mastering producer Akufen gives his fragmented take on the influential series-a perfect match. Meanwhile, Ricardo Villalobos’ epic 15-minute remix of DJ Minx’s “A Walk In The Park” (Minus) adds a sinewy vocal atop the driving yet sensual production.
Pacific Autofunk
Rehab Music, uncommonly based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whips up some next generation neurofunk from the prolific Vancouverite known as Pacific. “Autofunk” rolls effortlessly through moody synths, saucy licks and pulsing bass leading into an overall gritty funked out experience that will appeal to any Virus aficionado. Love it!
