Council Meeting Memo #033

Homva: Polosi — Horai (Homva, Cassette)

Straddling the divide between minimal techno and EBM (not EDM), the four tracks on here simply establish a groove and run it with for as long as possible. Dampened kicks and scuzzy percussion weave in and out disembodied vocals with not a hint of melody anywhere. Recommended with intrigue. SA

Lone: Natural Aerials (Greco Roman, EP)

Doesn’t really add anything to the story, certainly the album has more variety. Pleasant enough but hardly essential. If pressed I’d say that despite the dancefloor intentions of this release, it’s the beatless glimmer of ‘Echo Paths Ebb and Flow’ that yields the most rewards. SA

Biosphere: Patashnik (Biophon, Album Reissue)

Just a few quick words about the 2016 reissue. Clearly remember falling for this when it came out back in 1994 on R&S subsidiary Apollo. But now, I found it overwhelmingly underwhelming, even though it features his biggest hit (‘Novelty Waves’). Also really needed the original (brilliant) Designers Republic artwork. SA

Kerrie: Raw Regimen (Blueprint, EP)

Functional techno that’s really beyond the scope of home listening. But ‘Turning Point’ does seem to hint at something otherworldly. The ongoing narrative in dancefloor politics continues. SA

Japanese Telecom: Virtual Geisha (Clone Aqualung Series, Album Reissue)

Call myself a Drexciyan completist but seriously cannot remember ingesting this the first time around back in 2001….whatever, I’ll blame old age. So therefore this is more than a welcome reissue for the likes of me. Of course every track is brilliant but the bleak noir prowl of ‘Cigarette Lighter’ and the more optimistic title track made the most impact. Ace redesign too. SA