Fabric is the best. But I suppose you already knew that...
If you haven't caught past posts, I said that, a) I believe in Fabric as a brand and think they are a shining star of quality, b) I will post about all of their releases because of this fact. I'm not even slightly ashamed about that. There are certain labels (Astralwerks, Ghostly International, etc) that have proved themselves as being more than a label, they are a brand that equals quality.
So, that said, on with the show... (I know Ame isn't a British artist, but Fabric London is a British institution and therefore is fair game)...
The Ame disc starts out techy and deep (which would be the best way to describe his sound) and eventually moves into a more "four to the floor" almost rave type sound. This mix would work well for people who are having people over and want to catch ears initially and then let the music move into a heavier groove. The end doesn't have the warmth of the beginning but that's I suppose what makes it a journey! If you've got a long Evening ahead of you, put this on when you've got a tough crowd to impress. This album doesn't go wildly off the map but it does switch styles, and themes, effortlessly without losing the listener. The album has a mesmerizing quality, and I don't mean in terms of repetition driving you into a coma, I mean in that it draws you in and each change in sound feels like emotion waxing and waning. One sentence to describe this review would be: "It sounds like moving from you place, to the bar, to the afterhours warehouse in the duration of one CD". Upon many repeated listens I find myself getting fixed on one third of the album in a rotation, but listening to the whole thing no matter what my taste is that day. Here's a little blow by blow...
The first two ('Hear The Sun'/'Untitled B1') tracks are really ethereal, the third ('That's A Nice Way to Give Me Feedback') a little more haunting (like a house track with techno overtones). The fourth track ('ModModBlubBlub'/'Moondog Monologue') has a vocal over a stomping track that sounds like house with organic crunch with claps and hi-hats and live instrument sounds. 'Berlin Dub' is a little more of a garage house beat with blips that are reminiscent of the early 90's, but then a static-y woosh that builds into a tense rush and then pulls back into minimal blips again. 'Don't Take It' has a woman talking over a song that could have been Audion doing an acid track... it's at this point that the mix moves out of the lounge bar and into the club. 'Something Is Raw' is a rave lead type track that build and builds with a thumping thud of a beat moving into 'Raw Structure'/'An American Poem'. That slam poetry sound moved into a deep bass track 'Six Ten' that just pushes the mix in a more techy icey direction and it's more eerie. Then we reach a track between Henrick Schwarz, Dixon, and Ame, called 'D.P.O.M.B (Version 1)' that is just a bruiser... it's like all the preceding tracks are leading up to this one... starting low key and moving into a churning, energetic, spacey, club bruiser with a vocal punching in and out of the beat. 'We Said Nothing' is a more experimental tech track with minimal sounds and a vocal that reminds me of a more dance floor ready Swayzak track; it's unrelenting and the high hats just keep it pushing foward toward the end. 'The Symphony' has a beat that steps down initially in intensity from the previous track but the instrumental does everything but... it repeats "Can you feel it?" while growing more and more and amping up the drums. 'The Symphony' then goes in a direction that will remind seasoned dance fans of Underworld's glory days with Darren Emmerson. 'M.A.M.'/'Australiapella' is a very organic (as in, it sounds like you're in a jungle rave) and finally eases us into 'Loop' (an LFO vs Fuse track) that sounds like the best end of a warehouse rave ever. I think I'm going to have to go out and purchase that LFO track and the Henrik/Ame/Dixon one asap!
So if that sounds like your bag I'd go out there and get it with the quickness... no party tricks, no maximal insanity, just a well calculated smooth journey which is what a real DJ mix should be!
Also of interest... seeing as I'm still geeked from my signed Hot Chip record... Alexis Taylor lead singer of Hot Chip has got a solo album out which you can purchase here.
Also of interest... you can stream this now Bowie comp from Spinner...
David Bowie, 'iSelect: Bowie!' full album stream on Spinner
LASTLY! I want to let you know about my boy Mike and his phenomenal band Dead Kids, which you no doubt have heard about (both here and recently in the tabloids... which we'll get to later), has a gig tomorrow. I wouldn't miss this gig since their profile is rapidly rising and you'll soon be lucky to even be able to get into the show lol...
Oct 16 2008 HOXTON BAR AND KITCHEN, LONDON @ 11PM
Be there or be square... I expect I'll be posting an interview with Mike in the next few days so be on the lookout!
And that's it for today. I interviewed Darshan Jesrani from Metro Area and am writing up an article (as opposed to the typical 'interview') for their Fabric mix. I've got Stanton Warriors on the line next week, for their Stanton Sessions 3, which I'm wicked excited about! If YOU have any question suggestions let me know! Be back asap!
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