Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Industrial, Electronica
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Techno, Trance, Jungle, Trip-Hop, Industrial, Electronica, IDM, House, Drum&Bass
DJ Spooky — Creation Rebel: Trojan Records Remixed Buy it at Amazon
Nipping at the heels of DJ Spooky’s other Trojan Records masterpiece comes “Creation Rebel”, a fantastic bit of turntablism to help celebrate 40 years at one of reggae’s finest labels, Trojan Records. Here DJ Spooky dusts off their deep catalog, remixing and indeed reinventing several Trojan classics such as Bob Marley’s “Mr. Brown”. “Dis Poem Burns Babylon” is something I first heard off of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and there’s a couple different takes re-rubbing samples with breaks and dub blasts. Heavy bass with samples of classic roots reggae blended effortlessly with techno rhythms, synth stabs, and atmospheric ambience. The title track kicks things off and uses a funky classic ‘70’s synth (most recently heard on Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” series) scratched with phat vinyl efficiency. This is a stellar dub remix album that only DJ Spooky could properly pull off.
- J-Sin
DJ? Acucrack — Humanoids From the Deep Buy it at Amazon
Stuffing horror samples into sick breaks and eerie industrial sludge, DJ? Acucrack finishes off the listener practically within the first couple of songs. Devastating crunchy synths that percolate with acid lines and souped-up subwoofer blasts. Based out of Chicago, this electronic duo toss in jungle, breakbeat, ambient, IDM, and hard industrial throughout “Humanoids From the Deep” deftly crafting one helluva electronic ride. Forming way back in ’97, DJ? Acucrack is no stranger to the scene and has already cranked out several critically acclaimed singles and albums. If you’ve ever wondered why they have a question mark following the DJ part of their name, it’s to signify that they play their own music rather than spinning others. Always a dark force of simultaneously haunting and speedy music, DJ? Acucrack turn in one of their career’s best in “Humanoids From the Deep”.
- J-Sin
Acumen Nation — Psycho the Rapist Buy it at Amazon
Chicago’s Acumen Nation once again fuses industrial, metal, and breakbeats into a miasmic smattering of electronic fuzz that is hoarse with intensity and bravado. “Psycho the Rapist” (ahem, “psycho therapist” much?) is balls-out thundering with rage-swelling rhythms and finds the group experimenting with more of an industrial sound, something that they somewhat abandoned for their past couple of albums. Lyrically it’s as devastatingly evil as ever, with less than subtle swipes at the world. The group’s past let them out of a lawsuit and into adding “Nation” to the end of their moniker as well as out from under the coldwave frontier that they helped pave in the mid ‘90s. Now with their own label, Crack Nation, Acumen Nation is proving that they’re still a force to be reckoned with. I’m impressed with their aggressive sound on “Psycho the Rapist”, which I think will definitely appeal to some of the new kids in the scene who may have their way via unconventional groups like Mindless Self Indulgence.
- J-Sin
Soulsavers — It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land Buy it at Amazon
Blues, country, and gospel samples mixed with downtempo electronica? Yessir. But I wouldn’t have thought that it would come also packaged with the likes of Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, Isobel Campbell) on vocals. Lanegan’s deep patented voice thunders across like a new twist on Johnny Cash (see “Kingdom of Rain”). While their debut was a bit more like DJ Shadow, this one does a Texas two-step away from it, though when they do glimpse back towards that sound it’s more menacing, darker, and heavier such as on the track “Paper Money” and the gorgeous instrumental “Ask the Dusk”. You won’t find many like-minded albums this year, and I dare say you won’t find many better either.
- J-Sin
Starkillers — Dirty Sound Vol. 1 (The Injection) Buy it at Amazon
West Coast area DJ, remixer, and producer Nick Terranova gets his groove on under the moniker of Starkillers. Electro house grooves and hard club trance synths vein their way through the icky textured dancefloor bounces and rhythmic dance music. “Discoteka” is perhaps where most people would turn if they hear the name Starkillers. But he also made his mark with Jimmy James smash hit “Fashionista” and his remix of iio’s “Is It Love”. Dance floor fillers and four-to-the-floor mashups run amok on this electric remix album that features many of the club smashes that put Starkillers on the map including the “Dirty Girl” remix of iio’s huge “Rapture”, DJ Dan’s “Rok the Rhythm”, the Austin Leeds and Terranova mix of Dario Nunez & David Bio’s “My World”. Grab this one immediately.
- J-Sin
Dagger Brothers — Peach Denim Buy it at Amazon
Weird British electro pop that boasts retro synths and not-very-good vocals. It’s quirky and that makes it worth listening and given that it’s twelve minutes long with ten tracks, it’s not going to take that much time out of your day.
- J-Sin
Ashtech — Walkin' Target Buy it at Amazon
The debut album of producer and bassist Ashtech, “Walkin’ Target” is exactly the right way to explain what great dub is. Ashtech joins up with Cheshire Cat of Leftfield fame on four tracks, which are beyond essential. Smashing bass lines combine with crunchy percussion and nice techno rhythms all swirled into a massive dub expansion. While perhaps not exactly for roots reggae fans, there is definitely a couple of tracks that the old schools will love as well as all the dancehall fanatics. Toss in a track with vocoders and you’ve got yourself a deal!
- J-Sin
M83 — Digital Shades Vol. 1 Buy it at Amazon
The brainchild of Anthony Gonzalez, M83 tosses fun ambient techno in the vein of Brian Eno. Recorded with friend Antoine Gaillet in his hometown of Antibes, France at his home studio, “Digital Shades” is a peaceful and vibrant album filled to the brim with warm melodies and relaxing processed techno. This was the intention as well so that Gonzalez could record and write at his leisure, pacing himself. This is most definitely intended as part one of a long series of ambient pieces to be put out over time. Fun!
- J-Sin
Ministry — The Last Sucker Buy it at Amazon
Al Jourgensen once again launches an all-out assault against the Bush administration on the final part of his trilogy of disgust with Bush and the Republican party. “The Dick Song” says it all, lampooning Cheney with fierce guitar slashes, and samples of Cheney ranging from his shotgun hunting accident to him claiming that the insurgency was in its last throes. Blistering guitars and vocals hazy with effects and reverb shine once again throughout the signature Ministry sound. But sadly this is also the end of the journey with the legendary industrial giant Ministry, as Al is hanging up his spurs to concentrate on side projects and his record label/studio ventures. Perhaps most intriguing is the cover of The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues”, though each song on “The Last Sucker” really shines on its own and makes one weep for the end of the studio albums from Ministry.
- J-Sin
Plant43 — Grey Sky Cracks Buy it at Amazon
Plant43 is chill out techno from the U.K. inspired in part by Kraftwerk and Chaka Khan. Sleek electronica overlays a brilliant production of deep bass, synth stabs, and bleep-y techno rhythms. Ambient textures round it all out into a mind bending and pristine electronica offering. This is music to come down to, relax to, and damn well enjoy.
- J-Sin
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