While the dialogue samples on this album will give you an idea of the issues being touched on-magic, technology, and their intersections and oppositions-the music itself pushes the theme forward even more. Take “Destruction”: the pounding drums conjure images of machines at work, raucously efficient, while the melodic samples give the rhythm an ethereal feel. The overall effect is aggressive but spiritual. For vocals, Tajai of Souls of Mischief swings through to drop some very impressive rhymes, and Goapele lends her pipes to a chorus as well. Perhaps most importantly, SupremeEx doesn’t explore his theme at the expense of listenability.
Ugly Duckling Taste the Secret
Wow, what a fun record-perhaps the most entertaining and enjoyable release of the year so far. The overall sound and feel of Taste the Secret is straight out of the early ’90s (and that’s a good thing). Ugly Duckling don’t use the golden era as mere window dressing-they exemplify it with witty rhymes and dusty production that’s packed with breaks and fills that keep the beats from stagnating. Meanwhile, MCs Andy and Dizzy keep the fun-factor high from beginning to end, kicking skillful and hilarious rhymes. Throw in some thematic skits that would make Prince Paul proud, and you’ve got one solid hip-hop album.
Nina Nastasia Run To Ruin
Approach Run to Ruin like a bottle of whiskey on a solitary night on the porch-in slow, successive sips, letting the rich, oaken taste and luxurious loneliness of her dark-waltz country music make themselves known. Nastasia’s voice, alternately rough-hewn and sweetly high, is laced with deep languorous string strains. The ominous shimmering shiver in “I Say That I Will Go”‘s heavy waltz-step builds into a slow-churning dissonance, while her low moan in “You Her And Me” matches up with those of the cello. In “The Body,” Nastasia’s voice turns through phrases like a leaf touching down briefly on the ground before whisking up and away into an isolated, intense twister.
Various Autobot
Satamile releases its first CD compilation of vinyl tracks, a collection of mostly textbook Bladerunner-esque electro that slides along its smooth metallic finish, lightly bumpin’ and nonchalant. Silicon Scally’s “The Silent Years” bounces swiftly and sharply, with a luminescent synth-harp riff bolting through, and Decal’s “Riptide” is cool yet jittery. Each of the tracks on Autobot lock into an automaton’s groove instantaneously, for better (they’re immediately hypnotic) and worse (that’s about all they are). You rarely get the sense that within all of the smoothly mechanized parts, some sort of spontaneous vitality is arising within the structure of the rhythm; the music doesn’t often take on a life of its own. This Tin Man’s built almost perfectly-now all he needs is a heart.
Strategy Strut
You’d think that with a title like Strut, Strategy’s debut would be bursting with big swaggering sounds. Instead, Strategy’s point of pride seems to be in his wide palette of rather small though stylishly melded beats. “Fuck It, Baby” is tiny, kicky dance music-IDM for toy soldiers-and “Splash” starts out with sweet patterned beats that get rubbed away by light swipes of sandpaper. “Delicious” builds into a muted, watery reverb, an amniotic lullaby similar in tone to “The Sea Is So Cold.” From the budding Portland experimental electronic scene, Strategy shouts proud.
G Flame & Davide Squillace 5
Known for introducing hues of warm synthesized waves, Mr. Squillace appears this time with two original tracks and a remix by both G. Flame and the relentless Advent. This clean production weaves between the lines of powerhouse dancefloor and hypnotic funk, leaving an open palette for track-play or tool-usage.
DJ ESP No Future In Your Front
Woody McBride is currently one of the world’s most sought out techno agents, and this title accurately conveys his demeanor. Furthering the evolution of 303 bass, this EP carries rolling grit with the aid of hypnotically dubbed vocals and a solid yet quickly decaying kick. An ideal way to soothe your dance aneurysm.
Paul Mac Back and Forth
Following his massive album, Cards On The Table, this master of organic tribal mischief returns with another colossal floor-filler geared towards the polyrhythmic ear. Stabbing basslines and delicate keys guard the front side, while Oliver Ho lends a deeper take on the flip. Pure progress.
Literon Switch to Dis
After creating club-oriented mixes for such labels as Brave New World and EC Records, this electronic twiddler twists one up for his Rotterdam-based imprint. Starting with a predictable loopy percussion track, this LP takes a surprisingly intuitive twist with an innovative delay fill leading to succulent cymbals and brilliant waves.
Skully Champion Sounds
Skully, current DMC UK champion and DMC World runner- up, pulls through with an excellent CD featuring original raps over some new and recycled rhythms; and, of course, amazing turntable work. Okay, sometimes the words do border on the clich?, but the attitude consistently remains heavy-hitting and precise. My favorite tracks include “Components of Competition,” with Unleashed by Science on the mic as Skully superbly drops lyrical samples; Royalty with Mikey Starr up on Gang Starr’s “Check the Technique” for “Word Play;” and Joe Buhdha and Terrafirma on “B 4 U Die.” The mix CD approach works well for this project too-an entertaining, fluid flow highlighting both mic and vinyl skills.
