Council Meeting Memo #032

Kuf: Kufism Part.2 (Arsenik, EP)

Starts off “Nah” but ends up “Yeah”. Busy with the direct techno intent of ‘Complex’ which engages but is unoriginal. Maintains BPM pressure and eases off the clatter on ‘You’ve Fallen Down’. ‘Basic Dub’ channels you know who. But the stand out is the parting, pulsating kiss of ‘Control’. SA

Rhyw: Slow Stings (Fever AM, 12”)

Lots of love for Rhyw’s last effort from the council and he continues to win our affections with this blistering nugget of deconstructed dancehall. An acute sense of sound design is evident but is sculpted and shaped for maximum rhythmic propulsion. SA

Eusebeia: Ryoko 04 (Ryoko, 12”)

Ambient breakbeat, anyone? Simultaneously evoking the tranquil vibes of LTJ Bukem and the breakbeat science of Source Direct. Eusebeia really runs with those lazy journalistic references and moulds it into something else. It’s the slow gradual build up to amen-freneticism on ‘View’ that wins the prize. His ‘The Sun, The Moon + The Truth’ album is also something to behold. SA

Breaka: We Move (Breaka Recordings, Album)

My previous review was of another breakbeat release, the dark and roiling ‘Borderline’ by Torn, but the aptly named Breaka’s debut is light years away from that. Here the emphasis is relatively upbeat. Vocal opener Look Inside has a feel not a million miles from classics like Goldie’s Timeless. The album as a whole has something of a ’90s feel to it without feeling too retro. Descending mixes brief vocal shouts, hoover bass and an echoing ascending / descending piano figure, while Mass Gathering is a standout mixing half speed rolling breaks with a lovely sense of coasting euphoria. The sound design is gorgeous, there’s a lot of space and the elegant production allows the listener to really appreciate the beats, the bass and the overall construction of each track. It’s perfect for the newly arrived spring sunshine and makes us hopeful for summer. CB

Plastikman & Chilly Gonzales: Consumed In Key (Turbo, Album)

SA: funny> https://boomkat.com/products/consumed-in-key

CB: Hahahahaha that is >so< terrible!!

SA: actually

it is terrible

review it please

you might like it

CB: I quite liked the original, but this is just awful. I’m not sure I want to subject myself to it for more than a few seconds. Will ponder whether I have the stamina.

SA: thats it

the review

up there

done

ta

CB: I already had that thought and was going to submit it to you later.

Great minds and all that.

I’ll write it up.