It's been a while since I posted anything PWOG-related, so here's an album by Exquisite Corpse, Heynen's side-project (that soon turned out to be 'main'). This one went out just after he left PWOG, in collaboration with his future partner-in-crime Debbie Jones.
The music here is very similar to the early PWOG material, lots of tribal rhythms and ethno samples built on a minimalistic techno basis, yet without the overtly psychedelic dubby treatments we're so used to (that was Freeman's work, possibly); it still retains its meditative nature and function, anyway.
This is the Restless re-release, contains an extra remix (I've also included the original KK version covers).
Exquisite Corpse - 1993 Inner Light
Info here.
Inner Light
The K&D Sessions
The downtempo 2CD mixed compilation of Vienna's K&D productions and remixes on various well known artists, epitomizing their sound at the time and (re)defining the late '90s post-breaks chillout scene. Might be too soft for some of you. But even just for the 'Bug Powder Dust' remix... Anyway, it's one of the few 'loungey' albums I return to from time to time.
A !K7 record.
Kruder & Dorfmeister - 1998 The K&D Sessions
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
The Jerusalem EPs
I think you're going to like this one. Just found it buried in a back shelf; a crappy record shop sells out and I swept like the vulture I am to clean up the carcass. More from there to come soon.
The Zion references of the tracks' titles don't signify an extra dubby colour or something. This is the classic deep house sound, or at least its jazzy Chicago side. Considering the LP version, there are two extra tracks on the CD, versions of the originals #1 & #8 (and good ones actually). Another Peacefrog (*) record, of course.
Glenn Underground - 1997 The Jerusalem EP's
Info here.
Contemplation
Don't really know what came over me (...), but I was checking Hell's Beatport chart for Jan 2010 (link here, credits to the original uploader).
I was surprised to find in there the 'Funke mix' on Josh One's 'Contemplation' by Philly's finest King Britt; a track I first heard played in very early 2003 by another Gigolo (and an excellent DJ), the infamous Mick Wills. Happily shocked, I run to buy the 12" the very next day; and then included it in every set I played for the next four or five years. It's one of those tracks; deep, sensual and totally absorbing house. And works miracles with the ladies. Grab it where you find it, but take care: the file included in the link is heavily edited (from 10' long to less than 6'). The full length release can be heard here; and the downtempo original track here.
It felt so nice to see Hell coming back like that; since I didn't really like 'NY Muscle', his recent 2CD album was a relief and all the 12"s so far are right on the spot. Respect.
Olento
Mika Vainio as Ø, in one of his most decent experimental excursions, out in Sähkö Recordings.
It was also one of the first of its kind that I got to know - I mean this cold, post-industrial, post-ambient, post-techno electronic-something; call it what you want. I call it the sound of a neon light going nuts with a beat. Actually, my PC went mental just before and it took me some time to realize that something was wrong. No kidding. Admittedly, this one fits better into the 'Isolationism' niche, compared to the industrial-influenced noise walls of his other projects. There are also a couple of extremely minimalistic crispy techno tracks; beats are thin and right in the front, while ambient sounds barely appear, only to return where they were buried in the deep.
To make harsh and scarce noises like these sound interesting it needs a certain talent and none of us can deny his. But I don't really follow his numerous releases and collaborations; I've seen Panasonic live a couple of times and had a good time but didn't go crazy. And I watched him play reggae 7"s under the Sonar chillout tent once, one deck, no headphones; the music was great, but he wasn't. Anyway, I'd like to check them all in their earlier rave/tech phase, before they messed up with the art crowd. pHinnWeb might have something to say about that time.
Tip: even if you think you won't like the album much, check the tracks 'Stratostaatti' and 'Ilta', or simply the intro 'Oleva' (which btw seems to also be the title of his last album). But be warned. This album needs its own time; and silence. Don't try it on headphones in a bus, for example.
Ø - 1996 Olento
Info here.
Compare his techno side with the Riou album posted here. More Ø here.
Stranger Than Kindness
BCN dub
For the last four weeks or so, Pulshar's 'Brotherhood' is stuck in my mp3 player (and won't come out in the foreseeable future). I had heard a couple of their 12''s and formed a good impression, so when I found the album the other day I gave it a try. I don't think they're doing cutting edge avant-garde or something extremely new-sounding; they play BC-influenced electronic dub with smooth vocals and that's it, as far as I'm concerned. But they do it good, they're deep and smooth, know their sound and love what they do; and it takes a bit to notice the level of details and the work they've put on their tracks. The remixes included (by cv313, Sven Weissmann, etc.) are more club-oriented, not so original sounding though in my opinion. Personal favorites are 'Streets Calling Me', the Stranglers' 'Golden Brown' cover and of course the brooding 'Nospheratu'.
Digging a little on them I realized they're Pablo Bolivar aka Paper of Regular and Aphro Sainz on vocals - and also responsible for their amazing artwork (I'm guessing here, as I could find almost no info on him). PB on the other hand has many releases under different pseudonyms in many Spanish labels (Dpress/Phonobox, Galaktika, etc) and is well known for his deep minimal techno, slightly oldschoolish and less detached than the average 'minimal' release out there. In their collaboration as Pulshar they drop the beats and focus on deep bass, well-processed voices and cavernous effects, constructing songs without discarding technodub's minimalistic, repetitive nature. On top of all they've started the Avant Roots label for the more offbeat material; check their site for samples.
I recommend their work to everyone looking for something non-aggressive. Some DJ mixes can be found in their Soundcloud page, while Pablo Bolivar's homepage is a treasure island for downloaders; dozens of great sets, the Pulshar videos, lots of info. Support them, they're totally worth it.
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