| #678 |
|
2003 |
Perilous 678 All the independent record labels are flooding the market with their pre-Xmas releases at the moment so there’s a lot of good music around or soon to drop. Basically if its not out soon then it won’t be on shelves until February. On Ninja Tune is an excellent picture disc EP from Def Jux producer and Aesop Rock beat maker, Blockhead. Titled Insomniac Olympics it is a prelude to a full length album of instrumental beats. Featuring suitably dusty beats and full of yesteryear samples – 40s and 50s jazz, 60s soundtracks – each track covers similar territory to that already traversed by label mate RJD2, but there feels like there is more depth in Blockhead’s instrumentals where RJD2’s sometimes are like beats in search of an MC, and with live guitar, there is new life brought into these sample collages. A New Day on the b-side is the standout track, a loping groove built around a familiar vocal sample and mouthorgan blues; whilst the a-side tracks contrast horn and piano loops. From Luke Vibert comes his debut album for Warp – long awaited after many releases for Rising High, MoWax, Rephlex and Ninja Tune. Vibert must be in a retro phase – first the Amen Andrews EPs (all old skool hardcore jungle rave), and now this, a tribute to the 303. YosepH, a collection of tracks spanning seven years selected by Warp, is a pleasant surprise. The lead single, I Love Acid sets the tone with a cheery gurgling ode to acid carried by a typically slappy Vibert rhythm – ever notice how each breakbeat he has made carries a certain slap/swing in the tail? The same sharpness is brought to work on Acidisco which is everything DJ Icey should have been (but never was). Referencing Chicago house, British acid, and the California mid 90s acid breakbeat revival sound, the album moves playfully through a series of warm and inviting set of slightly twisted analogue burbles never reaching high tempos or relentless shrill squealing acid heights. And locally there has been a glut of releases too. I was disappointed by the new Deep Child album, What’s Going Wrong – its too slick and at times syrupy. I understand the desire to move towards more organic and human sounds but the vocals and production lack a necessary grit to be filed alongside the urban soul that has influenced this record. More engaging is Frost’s ambient processed guitar drones for Brisbane’s Room 40 label. A beautifully packaged album, Frost’s Steel Wound was recorded out in the middle of nowhere and the desolation and isolation is well captured on record. That said, it is not a cold record – far from it, played loud it can be a warm cocoon to shelter in. But like the Deep Child record the weakest track on Steel Wound is the vocal one – somewhat unnecessary. Anyway, look out for our new Sunday event . . . . Pivot and The Herd launch it on November 2 then it splits into four separate monthly nights with different organising crews and names. November 9 sees a dual album launch for Couchblip with new albums from Robokoneko and Disjunction Reunion. Its not Frigid and as yet each night is unnamed. But its at the Hopetoun Hotel 6pm to 10pm. Yellow Peril (www.snarl.org)  Goto
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