| #558 |
|
2001 |
Perilous 558 Another fantastic release emerges from the German-based Morr Music. Responsible for a superb label compilation last year and the Lali Puna & Bomb The Bass 12” this year, Morr continues its fine tradition with a full lengthj album from Manual. Apparently the work of a reformed indie guitarist, the electronic debut, Until Tommorrow shimmers with reassuring melancholic Boards Of Canada-esque synths and slightly crunching loping beats. Slotting nicely between post-rock and mood electronics, Until Tomorrow is worth checking for the palatial wash and faster distorted electro of the middle track Inn. Also working an odd fusion is the second album from New Zealand’s SJD. Now signed to Stinky Jim’s Round Trip Mars label, SJD’s latest, Lost Soul Music, is part kooky dub, part kooky folk part twisted pop, and then some. Spread over twelve increasing strange tracks Lost Soul Music reminds me of the playfulness of The Avalanches and the not-quite-indie releases on Twisted Nerve from Andy Votel and others. Unlike other recent hybrid releases like the crazy Anubian Nights Naz Bar on Crippled Dick, SJD compliments the sampledelic backings with equally odd vocals turning tracks into songs. Another tasty NZ release – and locally released by Creative Vibes. On the remix tip is the latest Planet Mu release – the Slag Boom Van Loon remixes. Originally a collaborative project between Speedy J and Mike Paridinas (MuZiq), these remixes are nicely varied. Boards Of Canada open with their signature sound introducing slight glitch elements mid way through, but far more interesting mixes come from Fourtet, Pole, Mu-Ziq himself and Tipper. More abstract versions from Coil, Horse Opera, Matmos and Leafcutter John round out an excellent EP. Tipper also has a mid-price collection of releases on his Fuel label called Sound Off on local release. Although somewhat maligned by the nu-skool tag, Tipper has been producing some quite interesting electro tracks with dark rinsing bass drops of late and Sound Off brings together a fair selection his tracks alongside new ones from Andrea Parker and Si Begg. Tipper is also one of the heads behind the Crunch reissue of Funkstorung’s Musik Aus Strom label. On the Crunch reissue Tipper sounds far closer to Speedy J’s industrial experiments and the Djax-Up-Bitch (DUB) label than anything nu-skool. And something that seems to be grabbing everyone’s attention now is the new Missy Elliott album Miss E . . .So Addictive. With production by the ever prolific Timbaland, Miss E is one of the stronger indications of odd things occurring in the world of pop music these days. The album’s title and more than a few of the tracks explicitly address the sonic effects of the spread of Ecstasy into urban American Black club culture. In this loved up sound world, Timbaland caresses your ears with his trademarked microsounds – the harpsichord tinkle, a fragment of guitar strum – and Missy’s vocals are shorn of their rough edges. Warm, syrupy and vivid voices clash with staccato beats and Missy’s rapid fire raps. Compared to the murky paranoid bong world of RZA and others, Timbaland’s production sparkles with clarity and and a brighter than bright emphasis of the microscopic – making audible the sonic effects of Ecstasy. And if you needed proof that pop is changing rapidly look no further than the big single Get Yer Freak On. Production and sociological curios aside, Miss E is definitely worth a listen despite the schmaltz. Keep an eye on Frigid over the next fortnight. On the 24th we've got ex-Fathom member Defcon1 droppping electro and the last Sydney show for Melbourne's Little Nobody & Marcella before Andrez leaves for a year in Japan, and later the launch of Fourplay's new beautifully presented double CD of remixes on July 1. Yellow Peril  Goto
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