Bumbling, yeah

Here are some records that are warming my heart and getting my toes tappinng... Redshape: ‘Unfinished Symmetry’ (Present): what's most striking about this release and Redshape's music in general is that he uses just a few core elements, but his sound is so warm and his arranging so deft that it feels far greater than the sum of its parts. ‘Unfinished Symmetry’ is no exception and the title track’s spooky synths and resonating bassline, which capture a feeling somewhere between Pscyhe-era Carl Craig and rougher Chicago house, is worth the purchase price alone. The live, shuffling drums and spiralling, squelchy acid of ‘Black Dust’ raises Redshape's bar even higher.
'Ugandan Speed Trials' is a funny name for a record - for some reason, I had visions of Idi Amin screaming at two petrified defendants as they kneeled before him, their arms and legs bound and a big bag of amphetamine next to them - and its creator wants to keep their indentity a mystery (although it's probably Regis). Maybe he/she wants the listener to focus on the music, and there's no danger of that you will zone out to these untitled tracks: for starters, they are bloody loud (wonder who did the mastering) and make the listener feel like they are surrounded by the seismic bass, whiplash percussion and clanging metallic rhythms. Both untitled tracks are pretty basic, eschewing straight kicks in favour of churning bass and heavy 808 drums and achieve a kind of DJ-friendly middle ground techno and dubstep.
Has anyone else noticed the similarities between Berlin minimal and sarf Lahndan tech-house? This link became increasingly clear to me on Gummi Hz's 'Mind Games' for Mobilee. Surely it’s no coincidence that Alexander Tsotsos aka Gummi Hz is from London and 'Desire’ sounds like a glitchy, more FX-heavy update of the typical tripped out, shuffling groove that Terry Francis and Eddie Richards make and play. It even has a deep male vocal sample so beloved of the London producers. 'Hypnotize’ is the one for me on this release, with Mr Hz holding together a building wall of droning noise with doubled up Chicago claps and a sleek rhythm track.
Speaking of copyists, there are way too many people making dubby techno at the moment, so it's refreshing to hear a release by the masters of all things layered and textured, Substance & Vainqueur. 'Libration' on Scion Version features their trademark submerged bass and cavernous delays, but the tempo and unfussy arrangement make it perfect DJ material. Despite its heavenly chords, ‘Resonance’ is clubbier still, the shaking percussion underpinning a dub bass of seismic proportions.
I'm not always his biggest fan, but Matt Edwards is in fine form at the moment and Bell Clap Dance on Rekids is my favourite Radioslave release yet. Call it whatever you want, but it is based on just a few components, yet Edwards utilises them so effectively that no further embellishment is needed. Tight percussion and clipped beats provide the entrance to a parallel universe populated by a spooky chord sequence. Sebo K's version is decent enough, but it’s not a patch on the ethereal original. It seems like Edwards is in cosmic mode at the moment, because he also takes on the, erm, spiritual 'Road of Life‘ by Francois K on Deep Space as Quiet Village. Wrapping Kervorkian’s delicate hooks around a driving, relentless techno-house rhythm, it sounds like Edwards has come under the influence of 430 West's hypnotically percussive back catalogue.
It's a pity that most people who buy a vinyl copy of 'Feuerland' by Justus Kohncke on Kompakt will give most attention to the Chic ‘Good Times’ string-sampling and funk bass of ‘Parage’. On the flip, the producer pays tribute to one of Kraftwerk's original members on the title track. Michael Rother produced 'Feuerland' in his follow-on band, Neu, and Kohncke has stayed true to the original, with waves of fuzzy, melancholic guitars unfolding over understated drums. It won’t ignite the dance floor, but it's lovely late night listening music and shows that Kohncke is more versatile than one might think.
Finally, I am I the only one to be completely underwhelmed by 'Mumblin, Yeah'? Probably. I just don't get it - it's a pleasant if uneventful off-beat dubby techno track. It's well produced, but does it deserve the mad blog love and an ultra-generous, gushing review? I think not. To paraphrase a rock cliche, there's always been a vocal element to techno, right back to Inner City, Cybotron, and if you're looking for deep, dubby techno with vocals, track down 'The Shit' by Sean Deason. More recently, a producer like Bruno Pronsato's work with vocals has been far more rewarding and inventive. Maybe it's more of a comment on the low quality of most minimal techno that a workmanlike DJ tool is elevated to the status of greatness and showered with platitudes - or is it being hyped because a certain Mr Hawtin is playing it? Mmmm.....

Comments

[Jay]

RE: Mublin, Yeah?

I heard this at the end of last summer. I cannot remember where exactly I heard it but it was in Berlin. I did not know who it was by but the minute I heard it I thought it was on of the more exciting tunes I have heard in the minimal house/techno genre for some time. I just love those 707 toms. It jacks hard even though there isn't that much umph to it. Straight into the record bad!

[James]

I've been frowning at Mumbling Yeah for weeks now, trying to hear what everybody's banging on about. It sounds like chintzy background music (which is saying alot in the world of minimal techno). . . and I usually love most stripped-down tracks with undecipherable vocals: Dapayk's 'Hollis', Paris the Black Fu, Plasmik's 'Eight to Nine', Brinkmann . . .

[tom/pipecock]

i mean, like i commented on Ronan's blog, "mumblin" is nothing really special, but it is also not really offensive either. it's just one of those tracks that i dont understand why there is hype behind it when there are other records that do the same thing that are much better and get no love. but that seems to be the way of the world.

[Eikman]

i agree with you on this one. "mumblin yeah" is a nice track, but I wouldn't play it every night.

[Z]

Uganadan Speed Trials is supposedly by Karl Meier from Chicago. According to the one sheet anyway.

And Mumbling Yeah is cool...I play it, but it doesn't stand out in my collection. It's simply worth the $1.50 on Beatport, but it's not a summer anthem like everyone suggests.

[Ronan]

Maybe other people are hearing something you aren't. Anyway...aren't you the big Hawtin fan? I can't remember ever praising Richie Hawtin in my entire career.

[Ronan]

Also you know...some of the records in your end of year chart are ten times more workmanlike and low key than "Mumblin Yeah"

[Brophy]

Maybe other people are hearing something you aren't. - I hope so!

Anyway...aren't you the big Hawtin fan? - only until de9 closer to the edit - anything after that is pretty grim..

I can't remember ever praising Richie Hawtin in my entire career - i didn't know if you considered it a career! the hawtin thing wasn't directed at you- just a general attitude where if 'rich' plays it it automatically has to be good...

[Brophy]

Also you know...some of the records in your end of year chart are ten times more workmanlike and low key than "Mumblin Yeah" - which ones, and how do you quantify 10 times? how come it's not 9 and a half?

[Antonio]

Hi Richard,

Do you really mean 'The Shit' by Sean Deason? I can't find any vocals on that :| But I have the 2003 Remixes which supposedly feature the Original Mix as the B2 track. Maybe it's not the original mix after all.

Antonio

[Ronan]

Actually I thought about it some more and I reckon 8.57 times better.

Since it's the season of goodwill I can't be bothered arguing about this, as it's pretty pointless. You dislike it, others like it. Let's live and let live!

[Richard Carnage]

I really like Mumbling Yeah - not the best record of the year by a stretch, but it's got a bubbling understated groove that gets me going. I was incredibly underwhelmed by the samples of Feuerland (though I love Rother's original), so I might have to go back and check that out as I'm a fairly big Kohncke fan.

Re: the Ugandan Speed Trials mastering, it was done by Matt at Optimum here in Bristol.

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Matt+Colton?anv=Matt

He's also done stuff like Bell Clap Dance and This Is Sick alongside Vex'd and other Planet Mu stuff.

[Brophy]

thanks to all the commenters. seems like opinion is divided on 'mumbling...'
@ antonio: the original 'the shit' has muffled vocals - it was released on art of dance (you can find it via discogs)

@ richard carnage: yeah, i'd urge you to revisit 'feuerland' i was of the same opinion until i heard it a few times. that guy at optimum deserves a pay rise (or just a big hug). The pressing on 'ugandan' is great, and come to think of it, 'bell clap dance' has a very strong, clear sound to it... no mumbling yeah there :)