new reviews (at electronicmusicreviews.com)

[r stanton <industrialrobot@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

here's one of the 5 new weekly reviews of albums at 
www.electronicmusicreviews.com.  this week's other reviews feature 
sandspider, stars as eyes, venetian snares, and v/a mutek2001.

Various Artists
Integral Components
(Component)
    Component Records? promotional material promises the best of today?s 
experimental dance music/ moody idm. The genrefication is broad; as a result 
the compilation showcases both industrial dance tracks and abstract ambient 
excursions. The disc features bands from the label?s catalog (Xyn, 
Neutronic, Somatic Responses and Codec) as well as a few names familiar to 
underground experimental electronic music (L?Usine ICL, Proem, and Neutral). 
Though I had heard Neutral?s Font Translation Errors, I was largely 
unfamiliar with the rest of the musicians in the compilation.
    Like most compilations a few tracks were truly captivating while the 
others failed to capture the listener?s interest. It seemed as if the tracks 
on Integral Components fell into two camps, either more sophisticated 
experimentation or simple beat-driven dance music. While the simpler, 
dancier songs weren?t awful, there were a great deal of them. The more 
mediocre ones erred by relying the same tired structures popularized 6-7 
years ago. Despite new synths and programs, little variation is added to the 
old formulas. Rather than tear apart those songs, I?ll point out the comp?s 
highlights.
    Syndrone?s ?Airport 2?, track five, is remarkable. Little hiccups of 
noise introduce the song. A lilting and smooth piano line is laid ontop of 
that, then distorted percussion rhythmically accentuates the song. There is 
a beat change in the middle of the song: the song halts and then begins 
again. This would be more structurally confounding if this song wasn?t so 
incredible. I think it?s a shame that I hadn?t heard of Syndrone earlier, 
because if his body of work is reflected in this track he deserves greater 
recognition.
    Proem?s ?Blue Northern,? the second track on the compilation starts 
quietly and builds into powerful ambience with a striking but slow beat. 
Layers of shimmering My Bloody Valentine sounding guitar and digital beat 
manipulation ornament the song.
    Neutronic?s ?Metasocial? was a pleasant surprise. The song itself is 
built of incredibly simple components, drums and synthwork. The synth line 
is fabulously delightful. This song manages to effect evoke sensations of 
playfulness, anticipation and mania in its rhythm and cadences. I am amazed 
by both the instrumental simplicity and charm of this track.
    And finally on my list of outstanding songs L?usine icl?s ?Spacecake.? 
This song made me terribly happy after the comparably just-ok section of the 
album it followed. ?Spacecake? is funky and jazzy in parts, meditative and 
ambient in others. I suppose it has a vaguely of Squarepusher sensibility, 
but only because of the jazzy bits. It?s upbeat, not afraid to be both dark 
and light, the perfect song for dancing around in your bedroom in pajamas.
    While Dryft?s ?Caloc pt. 1?, ML?s ?Tiny Ninjas?, Neutral?s ?Line?, and 
Pandorabox?s ?Mother Said? were alright and did have some genuinely 
enjoyable bits, as complete songs they weren?t terribly interesting. The 
greatest criticism I have for some of the other songs on the comp is the 
lack of development, general repetitiveness, predictability, and the length 
of the songs considering their content. As whole, Integral Components 
provided a very nice introduction to some lesser-known artists, and 
showcased some very inventive new music. The great fault of the compilation 
seems to be the disparate levels of artistry between the featured musicians. 
However I do think, considering the specificity of the label, those fond of 
the bands on Ad Noiseum, Frozen Empire Media and new industrial hybrids 
would appreciate a great deal of what this compilation has to offer.

Angela Roberts

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