A reasonable foray into robot rock starts this four-tracker from the young Mr. Miner. Today’s standard processed voice describes things that then happen to the music itself, making it strangely satisfying to listen and dance to. The subsequent tracks are each slightly less charming than the one before.
Various Artists Him Remix Series #1: Japan
The triumphant journey through Nobukazu Takemura’s mind is the bounty of the booty. It’s a story in three chapters, the third of which could simmer along nicely in the background of my life forever. Make a cup of tea during the plain old housey track two, and sit back and drink it while enjoying the edgy jazz glory of Ultra Living’s contribution.
Various Artists Future Grooves
In a time where we’re harking back to musical trends that envisaged the future of music, it’s reassuring that people are still looking forward without having to first look back. With that said, there’s nothing revolutionary about this Future Groove compilation; there are no new sounds, no new styles or even any real debuting starlets. Instead, Future Groove is pretty simply a compilation that provides pure and steady blast from the trancier edges of modern-day techno. Feeding off dubbier delights from the likes of Circulation and Lottie, it’s a solid affair that keeps its eyes and ears firmly fixed to the dancefloor. It might be pretty faceless, but isn’t that what we always expected from the music of the future?
Various Artists Africanism Project
France’s Africanism label has become a firm focus for anyone with an ear for truly great house music, and now all those who devote themselves to playing catch-up rather than discovery can find out why. Spread across two CDs elegantly mixed by DJ Gregory and Bob Sinclair, this collection impresses from the very first beat to the very last snare. From the tribal holler of Gregory’s own “Tropical Soundclash” to the more laid-back vibes of John Ciafone’s Spanish guitar-tinged “Majito,” there’s not a track on here that’s not a born and bred winner. Tracks so universally appealing are rare commodities, and Gregory and Sinclair deserve full credit for maintaining that appeal without lowering standards or cheapening the product. This is house music at its finest.
Hagedom Homegrown
Germany’s Wolfgang Hagedron embellishes his debut album of subtle microhouse with his own unique nuances, which give Homegrown an interior life similar to the galactic funkiness conjured by artists like Detroit’s Jeff Mills and Model 500. Homegrown lays analog tones over house beats on tracks like “Pause,” where the minimal groove is underpinned by sleazy reverbed keyboards. “Oblidow” bookmarks this warm tech-soul affair with crunchy, pulsing house rhythms so dense they form elastic supports for a funky alert network that sends its warnings by synthesizer.
Pulse Programming Tulsa for One Second
Experimental acts are sneaking out of the bedroom and into clubs. Groups like The Postal Service (Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel’s side-project on Seattle’s Sub Pop imprint) are rockin’ the world of formerly electronic-shy indie-pop fans. Chicago’s Pulse Programming continues in this vein, and their gorgeous “Blooms Eventually” is like a love song for electronica sweethearts. Unlike Dntel’s computer-processed shoegazer-emo, Tulsa conveys a vibe suitable for seduction-smooth like a nattily tuxedoed soul singer, as opposed to Peaches’s overt “come on, fuck me” attitude. Pulse Programming uses vocoders and microtonal shuffles romatically, like a seductress’s hand slowly lifting hair from her face. Slip Tulsa into the evening when your Prince tape finally dies.
The Bug Pressure
Antonio Gramsci said, “We are forced into an interregnum in which the old is dying and the new cannot yet be born.” He might as well have been talking about contemporary electronic music. But Kevin “Techno Animal” Martin, hardly a newcomer to harsh, rhythmic music, gives birth to the new on this mandatory record, which rounds up the best ragga vocalists in the UK and Germany to voice heavy, swollen, lease-breaking rhythm tracks. Don’t worry, Tikiman is in full effect, alongside Daddy Freddy and Roger Robinson. Martin can turn basslines on a dime, and his pneumatic-drill percussion turns every track into a melee. And this record also grooves. The raucous “Politicians and Paedophiles” and the bass pulsing sonar sweep of “Living Dub” are but two of the gems here. Ignore Martin’s output at your peril-he’s an important ally in a fallen world.
Dylan Chicago
This one from badman Dylan opens up with filtered housey sounds and a “take a walk on the house side” vocal before breaking down and letting the vocals rip. The drop comes after one of the freshest turnarounds I’ve heard in a while, comprising sexy Chicago string stabs. Boh selectah! Fire fire fire!
Friction Lightspeed
Scene leader DJ Friction brings a tune that wastes no time in getting down to business with a huge, chest-thumping b-line after an intro of rugged drums and spooky atmospherics. Also look for releases on Friction and Skinny’s new Transparent label.
Chris Kaos, Karl K and Jason Kennedy Soul on Fire
This Philly trio should be one of the big new names for 2003. “Soul on Fire” is a sultry vocal workout that switches to filtered tech, while the other side’s “Dat Phunk” tells you “you got to work it, kid,” and you really don’t have much choice in the matter.
