Ricardo Villalobos - Thé Au Harem D'Archimède

I was somewhat surprised upon recieving my LP that the version of "Hireklon" is very different from the CD edition of this album. The style is more abstract and meandering, and alas does not include the textured, reverberated handclaps of the CD version. Frankly I'm a bit disappointed with this remixed "Hireklon" and would much rather play the CD version at a party.

Brilliant. The use of different instruments in this is somewhat unusual, ecletic if you will. However, it's the sound of the harp in Hireklon that is the most amazing. The layers of sounds, the reverbed hand claps that sound like real hand claps, not from an 808.

This is minimalism for years to come.

I think that Ricardo Villalobos has made one of the best albums so far this year, I'm referring to "The Au Harem..." This is a new reading of funk. Sure, I know that some won't dig Ricardo's latter complex beat programming and texture layering, but I think this is seriously great stuff, intended both for mind and feet, succeeding at reachin' your soul, and with a very own sound, which of course is highly remarkable these days. I love the aquatic texture of the latin percussion and appreciate he's so far from the boring "tribal" house scene by adding extra hot sauce to his glitchy afro-caribbean techno. A true musician. And yes, IT makes you move.