Brooks - Red Tape

Brooks moves to Matthew Herbert's label, Soundslike, for his second album, RED TAPE. And the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ aesthetic as applied to weirdo, cut-up house feels exactly at home. “Accidents” makes it clear that there really are none here, and the more-sense-than-meaning lyrics (both backwards and forwards) of "Restoration" adds more texture to a track that already has it in spades. Anything goes in these tracks, and for the most part, it's successful, like on the foot-tapping "Roxxy." The chopped acoustic guitars and twisty oboe that kick off "Bedbugs" don't prepare you for the Dadaist vocals that follow. The more percussive “Man-size” turns PJ Harvey’s sexually charged rock into an electro come-on, while “Burning Buxx” is more of a song for stalkers. “A Little Bit of Time” goes heavier and harsher, but the last track, “Red Tape,” goes back towards simplicity. House music for people who want something a little -- no, a lot -- different.