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- Deceptikon :: Lost Subject (Merck, CD)
(03.06.05) I can still recall the day my Lost Subject 12″ arrived via UPS at my office. My boss signed for it when I had stepped out for a quick second and as he walked up to my cubicle, he said “your Commemorative Elvis plates have arrived” with a snickering tone like he knew what was waiting for me inside the large flat cardboard container. I got over my embarrassment quickly after discovering I had been sent one of 500 copies on gold vinyl. Elvis would be glad for me, especially now that Merck has released an expanded version of Lost Subject on CD with a welcoming blend of fresh new tracks mixed in with selections from the excellent original.Deceptikon paints his world with strokes of sound from a wide palette of found clips and snips all applied with a skewed clip-hop groove rooted in melodic jazzy downtempo. “Chords Beats Coffee” dishes out its delicacies exactly in the order the title implies with stuttering samples of strings followed by casual beats, then chunky pads form the bass line, only to be digitally scrambled midway through the second
course. “Autumnstorm” has an Asian-flavored hip-hop vibe minus the tiresome rapper with a couple of 99-cent throwaway rhymes in his notebook while “Figural Phonograph” demonstrates the possibilities of what occurs when you stumble across quality virtual turntablism.My favorites from the original 12″ are here as well; “Treeghost” starts off with eerie Yma Sumac-like vocals then subtly switches gears to old-school funky urban beats while “Way of the Samurai” twists and contorts a music box sample over more old-school beats and finally, the smoky “Bossanovastyle A” still makes me thirst for cool cocktails in a crowded lounge.
If Lost Subject doesn’t make you a believer of Deceptikon, then his brilliant live shows recently featured in the Raiders Of The Lost Crunk tour – as well as his status as Portland’s first laptop battle winner – surely will.::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
- Landau :: thepicompromise (Merck, CD)
Landau’s debut disc for Merck, thepicompromise is the first album in a long time that has kept my head un-still for its entire run of playfully complex, skittering tracks brimming with original textures and melodies that toy with the idea of overexposing too much classic IDM influence, but maintain their composure in that respect.“Six Ways To Sunday” sets the precedent with eager mid-tempo rhythms emerging from static electricity as bright melodies fade in and out expressing their sentiments with somber flute on “Brokenfader Break” and antiqued pads on “Spring Showers.” The jazzy “About Face” could be easily confused with an out-take from Double Figure-era Plaid, yet Landau manage to keep it original with an inventive use of a vocal sample that makes it another piece of the sonic puzzle rather than a separate entity on its own. If truly unique rhythm-contortion with some flair interests you, give “Fondue” a stir and listen as its creamy loops fold and collapse into each other with mind-bending effects. Landau completes their set of collected emotions with the perfectly complex “Independence,” where the best elements of their melodies and rhythms all mesh together for a fitting end to an impressive start.thepicompromise is buttery emotional electronica 6 years in the baking for those of us with a taste for deep dish that fails to disappoint. Call in your order and see for yourself.
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Both releases are out now on Merck.
