Re: [microsound] new reviews...two cents

[Deadbeat <recursive_syntax@xxxxxxxxx>]

After reading your review of the Mutek compilation, as well as that of the
Senking disc on Raster Noton, and the component compilation, I notice that
several of your reviewers complain regularly about repetitiveness and
"cilcks and cuts".

As far as I can tell, the purpose of a music review is to provide a critical
analysis of the work that will effectively describe the contents to both
those persons well aware of a genres reoccuring themes, and also those who
have know idea what to expect . To put it bluntly, you are helping to sell
discs.

I cannot help but feel that perhaps some of your reviewers should spend a
little more time listening to the works before putting pen to paper, or
fingers to keys as the case maybe.

I quite regularly find myself frustratedly standing in the local record shop
thinking "it's all the same damn formula", but , without fail, end up
kicking myself for not picking up a disc when I hear it a few days later at
a friend's house and relize that I initially missed the point.

I don't think we're going to push the genre any further by tearing down the
latest buzz words associated with it, and waiting for the next flavour of
the month to arrive. But maybe that's just part of the cycle...

If so, bring on the the micro-tech-glitch-booty-hop-trance-core, I'm all
over it...


----- Original Message -----
From: "r stanton" <industrialrobot@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <idm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ambient@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <313@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 12:32 AM
Subject: [microsound] new reviews (at electronicmusicreviews.com)


> 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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