Recent Activity
posted a comment on Likemind. about 8 hours ago
Yes, it is available for pre-order from Bleep, for those who don't mind their original pressings plummeting in value. And this one will be worth every dollar lost : )
posted a comment on Pentatonik - Credo / Zeitgeist. 6 months ago
I remember buying this out of the New Orleans Tower Records bin way back in '94/95. I bought it simply off the fact it was on Deviant Records ... yet it has become one of my all-time favorite 12" records ever. "Credo" has such delightful melody and... See full review
posted a review of Richard Thomas - Soggy Martyrs. over 2 years ago
For all those music lovers who dream of perfect pop songs defiled by strange rhythms, distracting noises, and the delights of general musical mayhem? This album is divine. Acid-Free Atlantis, with wonky sounds needling its groove out of the spare... See full review
posted a comment on Gorodisch - Thurn & Taxis. over 3 years ago
Almost 7 years later (~17 years since release!)and I am still listening to and loving this mini-album. PACKED with ideas that are as well balanced as they are well executed; nearly perfect. A desert island disc, for me.
posted a review of Lewis Overton - Something Like Close To This. over 4 years ago
16 years on and this is (still) a quite overlooked treasure: melodic techno with unique-sounding rhythms done exquisitely well. If this was on a major label I think it might have been remembered as a classic, but unfortunately it probably never had... See full review
posted a review of Vijay Raghav Rao / Alla Rakha - Flute & Sitar Music Of India (Meditational Ragas). over 9 years ago
While I am no ethnomusicologist, able to determine what is and what isn't "authentic" music, this cd is enjoyable and diverse music from start to finish. The ragas are compelling, but the real highlight is the Suite for Two Sitars and Indian Folk... See full review
posted a comment on Nuron / Fugue - Likemind 02. over 9 years ago
Yes, but the tracks seem to be in different "veins". Still treasured, nevertheless.
posted a review of Various - Avantgardism (Drum 'N' Bass). over 9 years ago
A much better compilation than it seems to be thought of; although some tracks appear elsewhere ("Dark Fader" seemed to be licensed to all sorts of compilations! "Snapping Fuss" re-appears as a Wagon Christ release) the ones that are unique to it are... See full review
posted a review of Gorodisch - Thurn & Taxis. over 9 years ago
A strange little album, full of possibly-sampled possibly-live music. Discerning ears will hear samples of noted jazz standards - loops of rhythm and noise - spun into tight tracks; definitely not experimental music but not lounge or pop either,... See full review
posted a review of Various - Breakbeat Science. over 9 years ago
Whole lotta rare (and good) exclusive ones on here: "Blue Notes", "Burnin' Headz", "Dark Matter" just to start. This compilation did an excellent job of displaying the exploding drum n bass scene at the time as it mutated into far more than mere... See full review
posted a review of Moby - Hymn.Alt.Quiet.Version. over 9 years ago
Not at all like later commercial-ized Moby releases, Alt.Quiet.Version is an unsettling listen. It isn't particularly ambient (as in background music, or as some pastoral techno term) but rather isolationist. Bits of melody appear in snatches, but... See full review
posted a review of Boards Of Canada - In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country. over 9 years ago
10 years has put some distance between original impressions and current opinion; and all I can really say is: listening to it at 33rpm is little different than 45 rpm. I guess that isn't saying much, but it also damns this record with faint praise,... See full review
posted a review of Nurmad Jusat. over 10 years ago
12 tracks. That was the entirety of Nurmad Jusat's output: 8 tracks as Nuron, 2 as Fugue, 1 Nuron remix, and 1 Nuron/Stasis collaboration. Some artists put out that many tracks on 1 ep, but if ever the moralism that "quality not quantity" rang more... See full review
posted a review of Roupe. over 10 years ago
A mere two albums was Roupe's output, combined with 2 eps, a precious few compilation appearances, and only one remix. I'd gather, that for the fickle tastes of the public, these handful of tracks don't merit much attention, much less appreciation. ... See full review
posted a review of Yokota* - Cat, Mouse And Me. over 10 years ago
Susumu Yokota has always created readily accessible work; chipper melodies and predictable rhthyms weave their way along to natural conclusions with little unexpected happening inbetween: perfect techno pop music. On Cat, Mouse And Me he does this... See full review
posted a review of Gold Water - Dustbowl. over 10 years ago
This sounds very much like Witchman (naturally enough, considering John Roome is both Gold Water and Witchman) with the rhythms removed or at least slowed down. That's not a bad thing, as he is very accomplished at constructing involved soundscapes... See full review
posted a comment on Gescom - This. over 10 years ago
The stickers on my copy are placed on the wrong sides; the a-side sticker is on the b-side and vice versa. Of course with Skam, this could have been done on purpose!
posted a review of Various - Hidden Rooms. over 10 years ago
Looking at the roster of acts on this comp, you'd expect it to be held in better regard (Photek and Source Direct under guise contribute 8 of the 12 tracks); this is a solid dnb compilation. Klute's entries are very good: "Workout" comes across as a... See full review
posted a review of Various - 0161. over 10 years ago
As one would expect from a compilation bearing SKAM's name (even if on a co-release with V/VM), there are many highlights: Gescom's "Two Of" stutters along a wash of percussion and gentle tones, Bola's "01706"'s dizzying rhythyms and jazz-ish melody,... See full review
posted a review of As One - In With Their Arps, And Moogs, And Jazz And Things. over 10 years ago
Kirk Degiorgio has produced lots of brilliant music, but this is undoubtedly his finest moment. Soul jazz meets electro meets techno, with many sublime pop music moments stirred in. "Epic" slowly builds on a repeating melody, and while it doesn't... See full review
posted a review of Fila Brazillia - Old Codes New Chaos. over 10 years ago
Terribly ordered - it sounds like a collection of singles, not a coherent album - but priceless nevertheless. Highlights are pretty much the entire album: Fila Funk shifting and turning in what eventually would become a Fila Brazillia trademark;... See full review
posted a review of LFO - Frequencies. over 10 years ago
One of the most tremendous electronic albums ever made! 20 years since its release, it sounds fresh, unique, and unbelievable: just hear "L.F.O." for churning speaker-erupting bass wedded to sharp beats and mind-blowing chirps. "We Are Back"... See full review
posted a review of Orbital - The Altogether. over 10 years ago
I'll actually skip much commenting on the album proper; suffice to say it is a credible, although not groundbreaking, endeavor. But the 2nd disc is the keeper, mainly for the sublime "Beelzebeat" (originally a B-side to "Funny Break (One is... See full review
posted a review of Various - Fall Trip '93 CD Sampler. over 10 years ago
A good 17 years on this album probably doesn't look too important. It is necessary to remember that this album was F-R-E-E, which at the time was critically important to this then-impoverished college student, when considering its impact. I don't... See full review
posted a review of Various - A Journey Into Ambient Groove 4. over 10 years ago
One of the bright shining examples of a domestic (US) compilation of superior work from abroad, this is actually a very, very good album. A quick glance of the roster clearly identifies this as more than just a crass attempt to exploit a marketing... See full review
posted a review of Various - B12 Records Archive Volume 5. over 10 years ago
I've held off on commenting on this album, mainly because I lose all my critical senses when listening to it. Yes, it is previously released goods; yes, it is now 17 years old; yes, I adore both sets of artists. But what great music! It is no... See full review
posted a review of Yunx - EP Number 3. over 10 years ago
An excellent early showing from Yunx, full of off-kilter melodies, chirpy percussion, and playful spirit. Certainly not for the dancefloors (there is little bass to be heard on these tracks), and perhaps too skittering and difficult for headphones... See full review
posted a review of Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II. over 10 years ago
There is little to add beyond personal reflection of this album; many (most?) listeners instantly establish an inexpressible rapport with the music, and I am no different. When I first purchased this album lo-those-16-years-ago, I hated it. Instead... See full review
posted a review of Dreamfish - Dreamfish. over 11 years ago
An impeccable release by two hit-or-miss performers, and perfectly titled to encapsulate a mood. There is little to add in the way of plaudits that previous reviewers have not touched upon. This is a wonderful soundtrack for some lucid dreaming or a... See full review
posted a review of B12. over 11 years ago
Of the many adjectives I could use to describe the sound of B12, perhaps the most personal may be "sensitive". Sensitive not in a limited way, but sensitive in all its meanings: each track released is a perfect balance of rhythm and melody, obvious... See full review
posted a review of Renegade Soundwave - In Dub. over 11 years ago
What an album! Renegade Soundwave is criminally overlooked by the public nowadays, with their predictable beats, clever samples, and single-minded focus on "urban grit" being quite out of fashion. That's too bad, as this record - a collection of... See full review
posted a comment on Various - Sound Options. over 11 years ago
A solid compilation, yet the clearcut heads-above-the-rest track is Thug's "Tsunami Brothers II": melodic, catchy, hummable and relentlessly cheerful. 10 years on I still play this track regularly. Others (Ocone, Caural, Pliant) turn in good tracks,... See full review
posted a review of Loop Guru - Amrita (...All These And The Japanese Soup Warriors). over 11 years ago
An absolute delight to listen to, whether in parts or in whole! Interesting rhythms swirl throughout the album, accompanied by samples both ethereal and grounded (hear the fantastic kettle drums, vocal stutters, and operatic cries in "Yayli" for... See full review
posted a review of Various - Three A.D. (Volume Three Ambient Dub). over 11 years ago
A decent collection, although not all of it to my ears really fits the profile of "ambient dub". Most find a sort of low-techno chill coursing through them. Unfortunately, many of the tracks seem to suffer from a mastering issue - they are mastered... See full review
posted a review of Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda. over 11 years ago
Perhaps her finest album; Journey in Satchidananda is breathtaking and perfectly balanced jazz album. Beautiful and restrained playing from all participants, especially Alice on harp: see the title track for a wonderful example of how mystical yet... See full review
posted a review of Spring Heel Jack - The Sound Of Music EP. over 11 years ago
Such a simple yet brilliant disc. Only 4 tracks, but an ep I would easily bring to a desert island with me; experimental, dissonance, pop standards all blend into a tangibly filling delight. My Favourite Things shows SHJ moving well beyond their... See full review
posted a review of Various - Endlessnessism. over 11 years ago
In retrospect, this album was an idea whose time had come past due. So fittingly 90's, and indeed fittingly Dot, a label that strongly featured artist remixes of orginal tracks as B-sides: remixes of remixes of remixes. The a-list of remixers is... See full review
posted a review of Various - The Throne Of Drones. over 11 years ago
I wouldn't say that this is (was) fresh new ground; what it is, however, is extremely well-performed dark ambient. Ambient as in background noise, rather than mood-setting. Several of the tracks are credibly done, but leave precious little imprint:... See full review
posted a comment on Nuron / Fugue - Likemind 02. over 11 years ago
Sublime listening for all hours of the day. Anyone featured on a 12" with Nuron is liable to be overshadowed, but Fugue turns in 2 stuttering, shuffling pieces: Interlagos with a gentle repeating melody that reminds of Japanese chamber music, and... See full review
posted a review of The Future Sound Of London - Cascade. over 12 years ago
15 years on these tracks still astound. Lush yet angular, synthetic yet so organic; the very premise of FSOL seems at odds. FSOL's affinity for wavering chords, sampled voices, and sudden changes in tempo shimmers here: Part 1 slowly develops its... See full review
posted a review of Stasis - Past Movements. over 12 years ago
Many of the tracks on this release were originally released in small quantities and are very hard-to-find, so this 2cd set finds itself both a welcome primer and near-exhaustive compilation. The differences in style between the "artists" here dizzy:... See full review
posted a review of Ad Vanz Vs Gescom / Foehn - Split Series #2. over 12 years ago
10 years on, the Ad Vanz vs. Gescom track "Viral" sounds as fresh as ever. It is rather straightforward for a Gescom release: washes of melody, a driving rhythm, empty space and a steadily building crescendo; yet the insistent vocal cut-up and... See full review
posted a review of B12 - B12 Records Archive Volume 1. over 12 years ago
Music that hasn't dated at all, B12's first release from the archives is outstanding and timeless music. From "Metropolis" pulsing sweep and strings to the funk of "Telefone 529", the first B12 12" gets freshly remastered and it is LOUD but crystal... See full review
posted a review of Various - Macro Dub Infection Volume 2. over 12 years ago
Compilations are, by their nature, varied. But the breadth and depth of this release is simply stunning! As a primer into the world of dub - a term that itself can mean to copy, to add, or to furnish with new sounds - many bases are touched on. The... See full review
posted a review of Icarus (2) - I Tweet The Birdy Electric. over 13 years ago
This is a very different Icarus than most previous releases, one that is much less rhythmic and propulsive, and far more contemplative. Akin to free jazz in sound, yet obviously the fruit of minute attention to detail, I Tweet The Birdy Electric is... See full review
posted a review of Ultramarine - Companion (Every Man And Woman Is A Star Versions). over 13 years ago
As a collection this album is an excellent teaser. Obviously lacking the focus of _Every Man and Woman Is a Star_, the very diversity of sound found here astonishes. House, ambient, dub and deep groove converge in perfectly hummable melodies - the... See full review
posted a review of Ian O'Brien Productions* - Desert Scores. over 14 years ago
A diverse recording spanning Detroit techno, ambient house, and touches of fusion, rooted in a strong dance ethos. The highlight must be "Mad Mike Disease" in all its warped and twisty funk, although "Homeless", with lush strings and some fantastic... See full review
posted a review of Ultramarine - United Kingdoms. over 14 years ago
Criminally neglected - it does sound dated but there are many brilliant pop-ambient moments on this disc. "Hooter" is sublime funk. "Happy Land" is mellow, hummable, and classic pop. But the highlight simply must be "English Heritage" for the last... See full review
posted a review of Future Loop Foundation - Time And Bass. over 14 years ago
Tis a pity this record is so underappreciated - it is one of the best chill-out jungle albums. The feeling of space and emotion FLF creates is stunning, and doubly so that such a level of excellence is maintained over the whole album.