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Field, The - 30-Mar-07 01:27 PM
Probably a lot of people will shortly be checking out The Field due to the stellar review of "From Here We Go Sublime" on Pitchfork. This would include me. Although I have long been an afficionado of IDM/electronic music, frankly my interest in the genre had been on a precipitous decline since about 2004. While I cannot say I am any longer on top of basically every prominent label, having heard the Field I can safely say this is some of the best I have ever heard. Certainly it is in the Kompakt/German minimalist style but to me the obvious antecedent is Select Ambient Works 1 Aphex, plus Fennesz, plus some vocal cut ups in the Akufen or Boards of Canada. Ultimately, the influences should not imply the music is mostly derivative. I found the Field to be almost uniquely inspiring. The minimalist sensibilities are ... minimal, but the basic pulsing bass kicks are pure aural hedonism. There is quite a bit going down in a given track, but the focus is always a gorgeous melody. This music is at once perfect for a dj mix, a morning commute (especially in the washed out California sun), for intent listening, or backgrounding while surfing the web. Definitely check out his stuff.

Slag Boom Van Loon - So Soon - 06-Jan-07 02:58 AM
Poppy Seed might be my single favorite Boards of Canada track of all time. One on hand it is unmistakably Boards sound, but it sounds unlike anything else in their catalog. Probably the main point of departure is how peppy and insistent the beat is. The vocal samples are apparently taken from an interview with Amo Bishop Roden of the Branch Davidians. Mainly its just an addictive track. Just a fantastic addictive track.

Bitstream - Departure Lounge - 10-May-04 07:30 PM
This is a hell of a record. While there is nothing as instaqntly excessible as "Monolith", the two main tracks here, "Psalm Twenty Two" and "Departure Lounge" are staggering works of greatness. Psalm is a thirteen minute epic where their fascination with Ligeti and 2001 comes roaring to the surface (beautiful dissonant vocals). This is coupled with crunchy electro beats and a sample that sounds like its from RC Pro Am. The shorter shorter pieces and the beginning of "Departure Lounge" have a bit of Boards of Canada feel to them. Finally a vocal melody comes in that reminds me of Yma Sumac- its gorgeous. "Departure Lounge" is on par in terms of hair-raising beauty to "Monolith" and "Crab Nebula"

Quench (3) - Punctuated - 30-Apr-04 07:29 PM
This is an utterly classic release from the Funcken brothers. Stronger overall than the roughly contemporary "Dyn" album on U-Cover. Several of the tracks rank as IDM classics- "Scid", "Diaz", "Bud", and "Iad". The remaining tracks are simply stellar and polished assemblies of sweeping dark string melodies and intricate beats. What separates Funcken brothers from many other composers in the genre is their gift for song structure. Punctuated is a perfect example and should be more widely known.

Loess - 28-Apr-03 10:16 PM
I can best some up Loess in an analogy. What Funckarma is to Autechre, Loess will become to Boards of Canada. Basically an indy-IDM label equivalent of the more known group that goes beyond meer aping and derivation. Loess has yet to disappoint me with a release. They have some of most beautiful and memorable melodies going these days along with a great knack for butting together a hot beat (ala BoC).

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