Venetian Snares - Doll Doll Doll

When I first heard this I came extremely close to wetting myself. Like many people at the time (I think it was late 2002) I had never heard anything like it before. Although stuff on Digital Hardcore hinted that such madness is possible, this was a leap from that. The Jon Benet Ramsey information line sample is one of the most demented samples ever used in electronic music. Without a doubt this 12" occupies a very important place in breakcore history, and this will become more and more apparent as the years pass.

A quartet of tracks built around the pain inflicted on children. Venetian Snares has long been considered random or confusing by people who are too narrow minded to see both within and outside of the measure. Much attention has been paid to the time signatures that he uses, while people have often ignored the structure of his tracks, which grows seemingly more complex with each release. The jazz influence in his work really begins to show on this record, most obviously in the intro to Dollmaker. As that track progresses cellos come into play and we're suddenly inundated by midrange kickdrums and there is no mistaking whose record you're hearing. Deathcore rapping comes into play and the cut winds down with an answering machine message soliciting leads in the continuing investigation of the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey. The tone for the rest of the release remains much the same. Doll Eater rounds out the a-side and is probably my favourite track on the release, although a description pretty much evades me. The second side features Befriend A Child Killer, a creepy number with lush vocals buried in the background and ominous spoken bits about spirit killers touching the souls of children. The record finishes up with the Interstellar Narcotics which has a drum'n'bass touch to it, but it's in a sevens based time signature so you're stepping out on a limb if you try to slip it in gracefully. Overall this is a collection of worthwhile tracks and Trevor Brown's exceptionally appropriate artwork makes it a very handsome package.

This is perhaps, the most seminal breakcore record ever produced. Sheer power, and sick humor. Has several Jon Benet-Ramsey samples. So so wrong, but so so right! Snares at his finest(IMHO).