Skank Sinatra - Barcoded Review

“Barcoded,” the latest artist album from Skank Sinatra, bears witness to what good electronica should evoke; a wholly honest digital vibration.

Sixteen tracks grace the disc, which itself is a murky, misty and a bit eerie journey through the lower regions of electronica consciousness. The tracks, like mist, vaporize from one ambient crescendo to the next with male vocals. “Souls,” “Slick” and “Cruse” are perfect examples of the creation of this atmosphere. Other tracks, though fewer in number, carry a bit of uptempo energy such as the title track, “Barcoded.” At this pace, electronica can seem soothing, almost inspiring – like catching a memorable sunset.

In a world of raging dancefloors and body-thumping techno, Skank Sinatra prove that electronica continues to occupy its respective niche in the dance culture.

[tl]Tracklisting:
1. Souls
2. Auto
3…

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Simian Mobile Disco FabricLive 41 Review

The FabricLive catalogue encompasses a strange and unique array of artists. It is hardly surprising, then, that Simian Mobile Disco man the helm of FabricLive’s 41st volume. James Ford and Jas Shaw have never erred on the side of conventionality (evidenced by last year’s Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release), and yet FabricLive 41 retains its structure despite traversing bumpy aural terrain. SMD spend the course of 22 tracks mixing up a tantalizing variety of wild electro-house, Balearic italadisco and electronica whose sound can resemble that of an intergalactic Star Wars laser battle played over The Phantom of the Opera. Needless to say, Fabriclive 41 is not for the classicist in each of us.

For all its eclecticism, Simian Mobile Disco manages to weave an articulate tapestry out of ordinarily disorienting building blocks…

Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Steve Lawler Viva Toronto Review

Steve Lawler’s Viva: Toronto embraces a sentiment that John Digweed once expressed about minimal electronic music – That is, that good minimal techno contains as much relative importance in the audible sound as it does in the absence of sound. Despite the wise sentiment, it was hard for me to be bought immediately by Lawler’s minimal prominence. Viva: London was a decent enough disc, but hardly a frontrunner in its category. Viva: Toronto is altogether a similar concept, mastering the devilish attitude that accompanies darkened rooms, seedy nightclubs and unfamiliar faces. However similar the genre is to its predecessor, Toronto is altogether better than London (we’re talking about the discs, here!).

Disc One (“Inside”) embraces colorful, mucky and gritty minimal-tech. Like wind rushing between city buildings, the sound on this…

Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 10:48 am

Balance: Electric_03 Mixed By Ben Korbel Review

The success that Ben Korbel has enjoyed as an Australian DJ has, for one reason or another, never quite managed to bridge the gaps between Australian clubbers and the global DJ circuit. EQ/Stomp’s latest compilation may change that, however; Korbel laces eighteen tracks together with smooth precision and touches the realms of contemporary techno, minimal and sexy deep house with even-handed discretion that is bound to find firm footing amongst EDM’s elite.

Electric 03 is an entirely middle-of-the-road musical mixture. It neither plunges into hypnotic waters nor skirts waves of frenzied enthusiasm. I have found the most enjoyment from Korbel’s mix whilst driving on country roads in the evening, or working late at my desk. The modesty of the album might just be a reflection of the man behind the decks…

Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 11:08 am

Balance 013: SOS Review - It’s Awesome!

The SOS collective, the epic combination of DJs Demi, Desyn Masiello and Omid 16B, tackle the thirteenth release in the increasingly impressive Balance compilation series. Their work spans three discs, fifty-six tracks and three hours, fifty-one minutes and eighteen seconds – but two years after their smash three-hour Essential Mix for Radio 1, does SOS live up to its reputation?

The first mix’s blend of modern and vintage EDM moves easily and lingers sweetly. And judging by the ominously thunderous (literally) intro “Seagull,” it is fair to say that this mix is the ultimate ‘calm before the storm.’ SOS weave a spectacularly diverse yet calming tapestry for the ears, blending one truly sublime track after another together. From “Gliding (Hypnotherapy)” to “Slow River” and past “Starstrings (Instrumental),” the whole sequence feels…

Saturday, April 19th, 2008 at 10:10 am

John Digweed - Transitions Volume 4 Review

Speaking with John during several encounters of varying length amidst the first leg of his North American Club Tour with Sasha was like witnessing a volcano aroused from dormancy; like hot magma, the enthusiasm (coupled with genuine giddiness) never ceased to flow from his words. I had heard the album a few times by this point, and so could thus share his enthusiasm - but putting the fourth Transitions journey into words is an exercise in frustration. John spoke of the album earlier in the year, saying “Really happy with this one. I have spent lots of time on it with loads of edits and layering of tracks.” `Lots of time’ may perhaps be one of 2008’s more notable understatements, but judge for yourself!

John Digweed first displays layering techniques in…

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 9:13 am

Mark Farina - Fabric 40 Review

Mark Farina’s surprising appearance on the fortieth disc of the Fabric series is galactically vibrant (if familiar) terrain for the veteran west coast/Chicago house DJ. The last Fabric mix to be as inspired by the high heels, disco balls and bright lights of bouncy feel-good house may trace its way back to Tony Humphries’ Fabric 04. And so, much like a 40th Anniversary, the 40th Fabric release is something truly special in the context of its predecessors.

Fabric 40 is a colorful expose of Mark Farina’s classically unique trademarks: Up-bow flurries of flute, soulful jazz guitar and jubilant cowbells illustrate a small fraction of a galaxy of instrumental fusion. Layers of bold funk and crisp hi-hat serve only as foundations for lively vocal tracks by the dozen. Included are acapellas, low…

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 at 9:15 am