A Jazzanova single can really only be improved by one thing, the addition of an Atjazz remix; here, their “Dance The Dance” version sounds like Charles Stephney’s jazz symphonies gone house. On the flip, Ame polishes “Glow And Glare” with Detroit-made house wax. The original “Let Your Heart Be Free” was recorded by ’80s soul sensation Patrice Rushen, and Nicole Krammer sings it confidently here. (Man, she can hit the high notes!) Uplifting and club friendly-Jazzanova always nails it.
Shur-I-Kan Generations
Tom “Shur-I-Kan” Szirtes arranges such richly colorful melodies and Ginsu-chopped drum arrangements that his singles rarely warrant remixes. Such is the case on “Generations,” which bursts with jazzy live flute soloing over a rainbow spectrum of bass, keys and sparkling sounds. The Jimpster and Unabomber mixes seem average by comparison.
Various Artists Corymb
Cincinnati hip-hop producer Boom Bip makes music for the corner of the eye. Unlike the bedrock-solid breaks, concrete girder rhymes and gleaming glass-and-steel hooks of “traditional” hip-hop, Boom Bip’s willowy loops leave a lot to the imagination. Now Boom Bip has been interpreted by several imagineer peers on a compendium of remixes that combine his Peel sessions with four new tracks. Respectfully reflective, Boards of Canada goes for a wispy, soft filter and a glistening sun-dappled feel. Considering Canadian producer Aaron “Venetian Snares” Funk’s history of making music from the sounds of sexual intercourse, the robofunk fucking applied to “The Unthinkable” is surprisingly subdued. “Closed Shoulders (cLOUDDEAD remix)” is an eerie plod, a blunted haze, and Four Tet sets off a squadron of wind-up toys that gently rustle. As for the original tracks, refracted hints of Future Sound of London and Kid Loco’s submerged shuffle adorn solid contributions to an atrium of melodious drifts.
Claro Intelecto Neurofibro
Get wise to Claro Intelecto, the new hero of Detroit-referencing, bass-buttressing, crystalline electro-techno. Intelecto’s Neurofibro combines highlights from his internationally praised 12″‘s with striking new material, encompassing electronic music’s past and commandeering it into the future. Undoubtedly one of the best debuts of the year, the pulsating humanity of “Peace of Mind” and the flesh and bone tones of “Mono” provide unsurprising new evidence to the emotive possibilities of electronic music. Classic.
o9 Church Of The Ghetto PC
The ladies thank you, Schematic Records. For dear Jesse Legg and his unique take on the tried and true IDM sound have made the genre suddenly seem very, very sexy. With a silken digitized bounce and calculator funk, Legg forges a rousing testament to the power of the PC with splintered processed fragments of sound sauntering over brilliantly sublimated 4/4 Kompakt-isms. Complex, chest-rattling rhythms and Rubik’s Cube references to the shiny silver sleeves of Schematic’s formative years round out the show. Get thee to the church.
Spektrum Enter The Spektrum
Inimitable micro-funksters Playhouse make like the DFA, Output, Optimo, Tigersushi, etcetera, and try to birth a new no wave phenom into the world. Except it’s not quite that easy-the nasally female vocal whine and disco-punked bass of this UK crew will sound painfully familiar to anyone who has found themselves dancing debaucherously of late. After a recent string of 12″s boldly reconfiguring their electro-techno-pop-punk via mixes from Richie Hawtin, Tiefschwartz, Villalobos, Alter Ego and Losoul, entering the Spektrum doesn’t seem like such a wise choice.
Xplorer & D’Pulse Sahara
Two of Germany’s finest producers step up for their debut release on Black Sun Empire. Clever layered percussion filters out and builds in the intro with a nice oscillating synth, followed by catchy minimal vocal stabs. Once the bassline hits it’s all over-pure future funk.
Calyx & Ob-1 Headhunter
A fantastic piece of steppy drum & bass with female vocals that lead to a simple intro and swirling pads. Putting the brakes on for the buildup, the whole tune stacks up, ready to be unleashed. “Headhunter” is full of off-step grooves reminiscent of techstep, but with a heavy dose of groove.
Sub Focus Acid Test
Sub Focus is a new producer who really caught our attention with this one. Clever futuristic synths and super high energy drum programming make this a real standout in our recent sets. A long eerie intro makes way for a sudden drop with a vocal saying ‘Yo!’ which completely catches you unaware and does serious damage.
Asobi Seksu Asobi Seksu
First Dykehouse, now Asobi Seksu-is shoegazer back? God, we hope so. Asobi Seksu, a New York trio headed by misty damsel Yuki, gets the guitars growling like Slowdive on a good day and Sonic Youth on a better day on this self-titled album. Moods vary between disposable plastic pop (“I’m Happy But You Don’t Like Me”), noise bantering with sunny vocal treatments (“Sooner”) and dour introspective indie rock (“It’s Too Late”). Yet this album, originally released in limited numbers two years ago, feels more like a whole than anything My Bloody Valentine or Lush ever released. Moptops will relish its “complexity.”
