Meat Beat Manifesto :: Storm the Studio R.M.X.S. (TinoCorp, CD)

San Francisco’s dubby-breaks-infested TinoCorp label (initiated in ’98 by Jack Dangers (a.k.a. MBM) and Ben Stokes (a.k.a. DHS)), are releasing Storm The Studio R.M.X.S. on September 23, 2003. Highlighting Meat Beat Manifesto’s classic ’89 release of Storm The Studio, the folks at TinoCorp have collected 13 distinctive remixes by a highly respectable batch of producers from around the globe.

Staying true to the form, function and fury of STS, STS R.M.X.S isn’t your typical remix venture. Instead, you have a high caliber mixture of tracks that range from dark and gritty to upbeat and energetic. The originators of the TinoCorp label also had a go at “I Got The Fear” with Jack Dangers and Ben Stokes opening on the dub-propelled vocodered hip-hop manipulations of “Cease to Exist.”

Mixing broken beats with equal parts dub, drum’n bass, hip-hop and propulsive electrical mashings, the scope of this release underscores the relationship that each remixer has with their own particular machines. Take Eight Frozen Modules’ mix, for example: “God O.D” is molded into a digital cut-up manifesto of ricocheting beats and distorted vocal clips resting ever so faintly above an atmospheric layer of dust. Key instigator of the French underground scene for 15 years, Norsq’s “God O.D. – Part 1” falls into a wonderland of psychologically disturbed ambiences laced with subtle beats overtaking it midway through. “Storm the Dub” by Twilight Circus Dub Sound System changes the pace by introducing a laid-back funky dub rhythm next to reggae moments that seamlessly flows from start to end (a definite highlight). The Opus’ rendition of “I Got the Fear” is by far the darkest moment on this disc: Muddy hip-hop grooves swell up to the fierce vocals of Jack Dangers’ original lyrics, while an expansive wall of tweaks hovers in the foreground. Very intense to say the least.

Storm The Studio R.M.X.S. not only represents TinoCorp’s cross-pollination of musical genres (including dub, breaks, electro, hip-hop, noise and electronics), but it also compliments the very root of STS‘s magnetic fury and long lasting appeal. From this beat of a circular cosmic spot comes the groove of all grooves, a sound re-animated by machines but inspired by the minds of several unique individuals. This remix disc pummels through thick clouds and emerges on the other side as a genre-bending package of unique sound-escapes.

Remixers involved: Antipop Consortium’s High Priest, DJ Spooky, Merzbow, Scanner, Twilight Circus Dub Sound System, Komet, The Opus, Jonah Sharp, DJ Swamp, Eight Frozen Modules, Norscq, The Mellowtrons and M.B.M vs. D.H.S..

Side-Note: Armed Audio Warfare and Storm The Studio were also re-released on :/Run Recordings July 22, 2003 (Re-Mastered by Jack Dangers w/ redesigned artwork by Rich Borge).