Dug up some mid-nineties compilations on vinyl from the vaults. I always thought that compilations were better suited to CD format. Still, brought up some surprising gems that I’d long since forgotten about. Expect this to be an ongoing series that will absolutely go nowhere.

Dave Clarke Presents: X-Mix Electric Boogie (Studio!K7). Dave Clarke’s stunning contribution to the X-Mix series from Studio!K7 shows off his electro credentials. From I-F’s hysterically deranged ‘I Do Because I Couldn’t Care Less’ (seriously, how good does this still sound) to the sawtooth bleep pop of LFO’s ‘We are back’. Mention must go to Dopplereffekt’s masterpiece ‘Voice Activated’. But it was the lesser known tracks (to me at least) that pricked up my ears this time. Sem’s perfunctory ‘Phox’ is pure drum-machine sex and Lockstep’s ‘I Am’ is harsh, rough and dangerous.

The Theory of Evolution (Warp / Evolution). Whilst Mark Pritchard is enjoying success under his Harmonic 313 / Africa Hi-tech aliases and Tom Middleton is doing, um, whatever he’s doing. Back in the early 90’s they formed Evolution Records and recorded together under a plethora of names - Global Communications, Reload, Jedi Knights to name three. This compilation, released in early ’95, was a joint release with Warp Records and cherry picked the best bits from their back catalogue. Which was extortionate to pick up then and is near impossible now due to its limited numbers.

But the thing that impressed me is that it still sounds utterly fantastic: emotive, well-crafted electronic music that flits between styles like it did in those days. From the gorgeous ambient drift of ‘The Biosphere’, the 303 / 808 techno wig out of ‘Nemm’ to the oft-imitated jungle epic ‘Amazon Amenity’. If you haven’t come across any of their work before, I cannot stress enough how important and influential they were. So I don’t care how or when, just backtrack through the releases and catch up. Otherwise, we’re not on speaking terms.

Always reticent to talk about work stuff on this blog, but two of our friends (hate to think of them as clients) both have new releases out on the same day. Jo Thomas (whose excellent 'Alpha' album is available on vinyl from Entra'cte) has released a freely downloadable EP from her website (which we designed). Entitled 'Ultra Tonal' it's three short works of modern synthetic music. Available in both MP3 and uncompressed AIFF format. You can download it immediately from her website.

Max Richter also has an eagerly awaited new album out on Fat Cat. 'Infra' was originally conceived as a Royal Ballet-commissioned collaboration between composer Max Richter, choreographer Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie. Available on vinyl, CD and download. You can listen to samples and find out more from the release page and you can purchase the record direct from the Fat Cat Store.

Reviews of both of these records up soon (I reckon within a week)

Barbara Morgernstern: Himmel Mixe (Monika Enterprise) - 12” originally released February 2003

Superlative creative remixes. Ellen Allien does her usual emotive techno routine seemingly effortlessly, her stuff was always too sterile for my liking. Lawrence fares better with his usual trademark foppish subtlety. Whilst Tarwater get intricate and complex which posssess a wonderful Black Dog-esque vibe about it, but its the surprising epic turn from Dntel that carries this 12”.

Alva Noto: Transform (Mille Plateaux) - CD originally released June 2004

Like most of Alva Noto’s work, its impressive whilst its on, gets a bit annoying after thirty minutes and you hardly rush back to play it all over again when its over. This release from 2004 is just as cold and austere as anything recent. His collaborative work fares better and the welcome move into more ambient territory (with the Aleph series) is much more interesting. But this still has occasional bursts of academic funk, notably the opening track.

Various Artists: Warp20 (Unheard) (Warp) - 3 x 10” originally released October 2009

Was severely underwhelmed by this when it first came out, I think it was just me being overwhelmed by the amount of tracks on offer, grappling with the myriad of formats and the packaging and the book and and and....

The Unheard series came spread over three wonderfully packaged 10” records as well as on CD and despite my initially sarky comment of “there’s a reason why these were unheard”. I’ve since revisited these with a better appreciation.

That’s not to say everything is decent.

The opening Boards of Canada track does sound like a sketch that seems to recall several of their motifs all at once. And trouble-free contributions from the new-school of Clark and Flying Lotus will pass without incident. I did like the bouncy electro castle of Elecktroids, the MIDI synthesis / 303 wig-out of Autechre and the sub-back-to-basics approach of ‘Biofeedback Dub’ by Nightmares on Wax. Even Plaid turn in a driving number on ‘Sam Lac Run’, which doesn’t overdo their trademark saccharine melodies and instead focuses on a decent rhythm.

Bell: RIST11A4 / Rhythm Machine (Soul Jazz) - 12” originally released 2003
Bell: Winning Signal / Mode 3 (Soul Jazz) - 12” originally released 2003

I’ll give the album (‘Seven Types Of Six’) a proper listen once I get past the dreadful artwork, but in the meantime, these 2 12”s prove to be a solid introduction to Bell (aka London duo Dan Crouch and Adrian Stephens). ‘Rhythm Machine’ is so obviously the hit: speak’n spell vocals, ass-slapping snares and rigid 808 funk that’s as good as anything Andrew Weatherall made when he last bothered dance music.

Subway: Satellites (Soul Jazz) - 12” originally released April 2005

Another electro duo (why does it take two?) who seem to have found a home on London’s premier reissue label. Absolutely nothing new here: Moroder, Moroder, Moroder. But it’s still so effective, especially the title track.

Jennifer Lara / Hortense Ellis - I Am In Love / I'm Just A Girl (Soul Jazz) - 12” originally released November 2005

Jennifer Lara (with help from the legendary Jamaican producer, Coxsone Dodd) Takes the familiar disco classic by Evelyn King and half-times it to a seductive rhythm. The emotional refrain in the first chorus is felt even greater on this version and the extended running time means the polished production can be admired even more. Taken from the excellent ‘Studio One Women’ compilation.

Tetine: A História Da Garça / Slum Dunk (Soul Jazz) - 12” originally released 2006

‘A História Da Garça’ is an utterly bizarre hybrid of acid basslines, electro eeriness and Brazilian samba. ‘Slam Dunk’ is a slow-burn trip of drum machine experimentation. If you come across I whole heartedly recommend the album they released on Soul Jazz. Part music, part art, all heart.

LadyBug: Dem A Bomb We / Miniaturu De Lulu (Soul Jazz) - 12” originally released 2006

Warrior Queen (aka Annette Henry) spits venom to the 7/7 London bombers in the only way she knows how, backed by suitably apocalyptic sound system dread from The Bug.

Various Artists: Dreader Dread / Guiding Star (Attack Gold) - 10” originally released 2003

I listen to shitloads of dub / roots / reggae / dancehall, I just have no fucking idea of how to convert it into words. It all sounds the same, it all sounds different. And therein lies its appeal (at least to me). The killer moment in this reissued 10” is the startling but brief introductory burst of acid house on Tubby’s Dub on the B-side. Just wish it went on for a bit longer.

Funckarma: Bourbon Sounds (Delikatessen) - 10” originally released October 2002

Funckarma were one of those acts that I know I should really hate on. That classic mould of electronica artist that suppresses ego by hiding behind laptops: the dreaded curse of IDM. But every time I actually heard something, I was always quietly impressed. The likes of Plaid might get the big arts commissions but the Funcken brothers have the better skillz.

Pablo Gad: Hard Times / Gun Fever (No Label) - 10” originally released 2008

Obviously a naughty naughty bootleg, but I couldnt help myself and at least the pressing is not complete shit. For those that don’t know, ‘Hard Times’ was one of those tracks that was repeatedly plundered during rave’s obsession for sampling dub. Nu-Matic’s dreadful lazy rave track of the same name and Prodigy’s excellent ‘Fire’ (both XL Recordings) are the only ones that spring to mind. But there were others.

It was after watching Nicole and Neal grapple with vinyl on their regular Soul Jazz Podcast that I decided to quickly rush one out before Summer took over all my time. It literally is a mix of tunes that I found inside a dormant folder on my laptop. Some tracks I've crowbarred in there and not even technology could save me from mixing it in the most shameful fashion. Still, it was done in one take and the intention and sentiment is there....even if the craftsmanship isn't.

You can get the tracklisting here.

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