(04.30.06) Depth Affect’s first album is almost dangerously “now”: a mix of hip-hop instrumentals with a whole lot of mad synths; some acoustic guitar, chimes and melodica; stuttering and sliced vocal samples; and a raft of berserk electronic effects. If you’ve heard artists like Prefuse 73, Daedalus or Four Tet then you’ve instantly got a picture of the ballpark this French four-piece is operating in. If you haven’t reached your saturation point with this kind of sound then there is probably a lot to interest you on this CD.
In fact, there is a lot on this CD however you look at it. Depth Affect’s music is steadfastly maximalist. If a track doesn’t change every minute, it’s dispatched with swiftly so that the group can get stuck into something new. The flood of ideas is only held in check on the two vocal tracks, where room is left for raps from Cyne and Alias respectively.
I’m disappointed to say that, for all of the detail and intricate beats, I found nothing that really resonated on Arche-Lymbe. I fear Depth Affect have tried to put far too much into this album, often interrupting the overall flow of the tracks. The use of effects also hits the overkill mark at several points on the CD, resulting in some very harsh noises that had me reaching for the skip button.
Arche-Lymbe is out now on Autres Directions In Music.
