“Sharp, metalic and crisp electronic music that slices through percussive & melodic rhythms.” >> This is probably one of many review words describing several releases out there in the “experimental electronic” field. It is, admitidly not an easy task to describe electronic sound. In the case of Rob Galbraith who operates under the Codec alias, his sounds are borne from the inner depths of the machines he uses to create them. Whether it’s from a computer screen or a pychical instrument, Codec sounds interact so pleasantly it’s almost as if they were initially glued to one another from the start. Avoiding the current trend of simple melodic electronic music normally referred to as “IDM”, Codec delivers dark-electro experiments that are both cohesive and intelligently crafted. Tension is the latest release on the growing Connecticut, USA based Component Records. Having released artists such as Proem, Somatic Responses, Xyn, Dryft and several others, Rob Galbraith is also the founder of Component and has introduced many people to these creative electronic sculptors since 1999.
The Tension Builds ::
“While We Sleep” is a rather upbeat electro workout of video-game inspired music that veers into the dark while its quick syncopated beats tap away into the back of your brain. “Archetype” has reminiscent gritty drum’n bass qualities of Codec’s previous (and debut) album entitled Fragments. With “Archetype,” however, you get a bizarre doze of tweaked melodies flowing perfectly with a distorted bassline and Squarepusher’esque beats. “Modulation Blisters,” manifests itself as a sincerely crafted electronic composition where spatial atmospherics interact with clean and abrupt beats; If extraterrestrials listened to any form of music, they’d probably have this track on REPEAT. Within these 12 tracks of pseudo-industrial influenced electronics, Codec has improved quite a bit since Fragments, relying more on the obscure electrical bits that fall out of each layer and morphing them into sonicly enhanced tracks. “She’s Transparent” contains an analog enriched electro feel with pleasant voice textures by Kitxkat; This track would definitely fit in easily with labels like Suction & Ersatz Audio who have produced an abundance of dark & analog-driven electro. With Gridlock providing an abstract electronic landscape of thick beats and polished melodies, it goes without question that “Essence” (Remixed by Gridlock) would make the best ending to the array of pleasant machine music featured on Tension.
Some people might enjoy reading comparisons to other artists when reading a review –something I try my hardest to minimize when writing about music. So, on that note.. for those of you looking for Autechre’s more distorted electronic sound from albums like Tri Repetae and LP7 then Codec’s Tension may fit you. Richard Devine’s blanket of propulsive electro featured on Lipswitch might mix well with Tension also –but lets clear the fact that Codec has a more accessible & abstract (industrial) feel to it. Compared to the structured & chaotic beauty of Gridlock, Codec’s Tension draws a close parallel while retaining a unique purpose & design.
As a whole, Tension delivers percussive electro with mechanical melodies that are several light-years ahead of its time. Complimenting the past with its industrial leanings but looking straight into the future.
