Various Artists (3) – Decay Product

If you own this take the CD out of its metal ring because metal expands and contracts with heat it will one day crack your CD!!!

i kn ow it might sound cheesy and shit, but i cannot find words to describe how magnificent this release is. seawalls, miles long, crafted of marble by long gone civilization, finely polished by everlasting waves of a stormy sea, covered in a morning mist - thats what erode paints. and the title is so on point, its just beyond me. long live the dub techno.

I haven't come back to this album in quite a while but someone mentioned it recently and then I heard No. 3 (Debit) in the Deadbeat mix and thought I would dig this up for another spin. What a beautiful album, a lesson in the power of simplicity. I forgot how beautiful this album truly is, nothing complex, the point is to become one with a few sounds constantly in motion. The amazing achievement with this album is how he joins one or two elements and pushes their envelope to the furthest reaches, listen closely and a parallel universe is revealed.

This is probably the best minimal dub release I've heard. The chords in "Erode" are extremely powerful in their repetition, and I can't help but to hear human voices in them ("stop moving, start moving"). One of the most atmospheric and emotionally complex minimal dub tracks I've heard. Uplifting bassline beneath dark, ominous chords drifting in and out, yet with some shimmers of brightness peaking through. Not unlike some avant garde classical I've heard, but so much more texturally interesting and atmospheric for me, with no need to shout theory or formality to make its point.

Some of the other tracks are obviously more dance oriented, with the kicks and basslines higher in the mix and some handclap/hihat sounds. Then again, it was never really in the spirit of Basic Channel/Chain Reaction to draw lines between what's dance music and what's not. These are probably the less memorable tracks, but by no means weak. Powerful stuff.

The oddly named Various Artists, delivers another gem in the Chain Reaction crown. Very minimal beats and dubbed chords that grow in intensity, drive most the the tracks here. No.3 (Debit), and Erode, get me thinking about, and visualsing a thunder storm - the thunder echoing in the distance, gradually building in volume as the storm nears, then fading as it disappears over the horizon. The cd ends with the aquatic sounds of Erosion 3. Very good indeed.

The cleverly named Various Artists (and their debut <I>Decay Product</I>) stay true to the Chain Reaction spirit. Minimalism, drawn-out and reverbed tones, all thigns deep and wonderful. Their work are geared with more of a rhythmic sense than some of their compatriots who favor ambience, but this album is still full of sound and modulation. While several of the early tracks have heavier beats, by the time “No. 3 (Debit)” rolls around, the rhythm has become muted. “Erode” has some urgent synth washes that drive the track forward, and the final track, “Erosion 3,” swims in watery tones and dubbiness. Another outstanding Chain Reaction release.