FRED GIANELLI -TELEPATHIC ROMANCE (CD by SAHKO)
Sahko have always surprised the music market since their
inception a few years ago. Their artists redefined the minimal
end of techno and inspired a plethora of insipid copycats to try
and duplicate what had already been released in a definitive
form. This latest release by Fred Gianelli, onetime member of
Psychic TV, I think, is perhaps their most surprising to date. I
have heard a little by Fred, lately on the SWIM label, which I
found reasonably appalling and so this shiny disc caught me
quite by surprise. It consists of two pieces… the first titled
‘Telepathic Romance’ clocks in at 45 minutes and should have
been spread across the entire CD. It consists of a low bass
drone which rumbles out of the bass port like slowly oozing sap.
Sporadic orchestral surges color this drone, sublime, cool and
unexpected. It works in the best way. Sadly the second track
should be relegated to a tardy cassette release and left to
repose, unsold in one of those Aquarian type shops that reek of
sandalwood and corporate ideas of the cosmos sold to people who
need to pay to find out what they really think. Cruel but fair.
Get this product and repeat track 1. (MP)
COSA – THE MAP OF LOVE (CD by Incoming! )
Touted as a slither through the ambient undergrowth of jazz.
Took me by surprise. Bloody hell. The second track was included
on the ‘incoming’ shopping trolley promo end ’95ish and embodies
the mood of this CD. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but
there is something about this release that grabs me every time I
listen to it. It falls fresh and clear on me ear…perhaps
because of the inclusion of so much real (my god)
instrumentation played by people made of meat. The core of Cosa
is comprised of Trevor Reekie and Daniel Barnes, who deserve
several large lumpy accolades for their production of this
wonderful excursion into joy. Shining stars are Greg Johnson on
trumpet and Bill Lattimer on guitar. There is only one silly
track as far as I am concerned… the title eludes me for the
moment, but it has a bloke reciting the alphabet… shame about
the voice as it does the music on this one no justice. Narration
is also included on the track ‘digging malochite’ and this time
to good effect. (Will somebody please tell me who this voice
belongs to…I’ve heard it before and it is beautiful and I want
to use it too). I was considering my top ten list for 1996
purely as a mental wank and came to the conclusion that so far I
have two titles on it (Percy’s palmic punishment was brief).
This one and The Black Light District CD by Coil. Two completely
opposite sides of the coin marked comfortable. I love the rough
familiarity of The Map Of Love, right down to the (possibly)
blurred nipples on the cover. (MP)
HISS – ALIEN BASS SOUNDSCAPEs (CD by Agrocalm Recordings)
Hiss is composed by Jaz and Omen… first release on a new
label. No hiss included, but a fucking lot of rumblings at the
bass end of this CD. The warning to play this CD on a system
with good bass response is well received. However do not expect
deep bass drums, but low frequencied synth lines. This is what
some define in ambient as ‘deep’ , I’d hasten to say: utterly
deep! This album reminded me of the two Legion CD’s. Deep
flowing lines with sparse melodies on top. According to the CD
there are 5 tracks on this, but your CD indexes 23. The last 18
tracks are short, and go beyond the limit of what my humble
system can reach. Here the bass is at it’s far deep end… an
intriguing CD of hard chill music. (FdW)
Address: <jasmine@ebom,com.au>
JLIAT – THE OCEAN OF INFINITE BEING (CD by Jliat)
The third CD is as consequent as the other two. One long flow of
electronics, to be filled in your local store under ‘meditative
electronic religious music’ (MERM). About an hour long this
thing, and indeed it flows like an ocean. I am playing this CD
while I sit on the balcony, watching the evening fall. The sky
is getting darker and darker and the background is filled by
this gentle wall of electronics, in which I could discover three
instrumental voices (the holy trinity -because this one is
dealing with God again). Maybe you will get bored by the idea of
a third CD of exactly the same concept (however you never fail
to buy the latest ambient, techno, jungle etc. thing without
ever asking the question of originality) -again I was carried
away by it’s beauty. (FdW) Address: Jliat -13 Wellss Road –
Walsingham Norfolk -NR22 6DL -UK
UNIT MOEBIUS -STATUS (CD by KK Records)
Straight from the underground of the Dutch city The Hague comes
of one of the most interesting and promising bands in the field
of techno music. They have released their records on equally
underground labels such as Hot Mix and Bunker. They played raves
as well as parties in squats. Now their name is on all our lips.
The Unit Moebius sound is monotonous, melodies are virtually not
there or mixed to the background. Yet they succeed in giving
each track something of its own. The first time you hear this
the tracks have something familiar, like something you have
known for ages. If you don’t know Unit Moebius then this CD is a
good start. If you are familiar with their work, then it gets a
warm place in your heart. (FdW)
Address: <kknz@kkrecords.be>