(04.30.07) The Scottish electronic music scene has always been superseded, for the most
part, by one group, Boards of Canada, and one label, Benbecula. This is not
to say that Scotland has not been releasing other great electronic music,
but all have fallen into the shadow cast by the above names. One label
standing outside this eclipse is Mighty Robot Recordings. Mighty Robot
Recordings is a Glasgow based label, with the brilliant Rub-a-Dub record
shop helping with distribution, that has a number of influences. The imprint
started off with the acclaimed Opium Den series by Ra-X, one of the
artists of the early Bunker Records years. Yet, the label has not just been
releasing cool minimal electro from Holland. One of the latest 12″s from the
Glaswegian label is by the talented Canadian Sneak Thief with Lindsey J. The
pair blend elements of electro, techno, even disco, into energised,
sometimes vocoder driven, tracks. Now Mighty Robot is releasing its first
full length album, Welfare State of Mind by Finnish artist Imatran Voima.
Some might already know Voima after his appearance on the Stilleben 016 12″
under the moniker of Vulva (not the same as those who released on Rephlex
back in the day.) But, Voima and Vulva have a surprisingly different sound;
Voima has moved into the realm of angry, teeth gritted electro. How does
this aggro electro sound fair up after the quality electro releases that
Mighty Robot have already put out?
One immediate surprise of putting this record on is its speed, with the
album playing at 45rpm instead of 33; an initial indication of the bpm that
listener is about to be exposed to. The limited 2xLP and CD release started
out with the title track of “Welfare State of Mind.” The track is a
frustrated futuristic social welfare office scenario, with clever vocals
mixed with robo welfare bots and sharp beats. Lyrics, of a kind, follow as
annoyed drums snake and slide. The initial anger is maintained and
multiplied with “Valisoitto” (Vinyl only), distorted acid lines are ripped,
shredded and then re-fed through the speakers.
“Intoxication” starts off the B-Side, as the aggressive beats are kept to
the front. Vocoders push in as Imatran moves up the keyboard whilst a solid
melody holds things together. Breaks are injected before the track is torn
back into being with a sound similar to some Squarepusher or Planet Mu
material. “Comedown” is, ironically, mixed out from “Intoxication,” with the
ghetto electro assault continuing. “Wanna Get Hi” finishes off the first
slab. Voima turns up the tempo, instigating a speed techno, even breakcore,
element. Kid606 cutting and samples move in, as arcade game melodies are
driven and drenched with high bpms.
Side C begins with “Nuttin But Leechin.” Acid influences and razor beats
taunt each other before the track is broken into a cyclone from whence it is
turned back as vocals descent. “Lok da Grove” holds the anti social pounding
before the record is brought into it’s final resting place. Side D has only
one track, “Paracity.” This urban dystopia is secreted from an underbelly of
electro sounds. Knobs are tweaked as acid pours down the listener’s ears.
Dirty, dishevelled thuds rip the track in half before fuelled beats pile up
a car crash of sound. The epic electro damage breaks once more before being
pelted again with high speed acid rubble.
Welfare State of Mind is a dark, disturbed and distorted shanty town of
music. Voima has created high velocity, beat loaded, acid absorbed, pieces
of squalid electronix. The LP has a dancefloor power, and underhanded aspect
to it. The tracks are not as extreme as the likes of Venetian Snares or
Shitmat, but are aligned to some extent. Voima’s sound is not new, but it is
well produced, clever and one for BPM junkies. It is interesting to see
Mighty Robot Recordings, after its very electro centered first few years,
move towards this sort of sound. As a small label, it can be prudent to
release what you know; but this is not always the case. It is difficult to
say if this sound is the right move for Mighty Robot or not, as there are a
number of labels already releasing similar stuff; but at least they are
willing to give it a go.
Welfare State of Mind is out now on Mighty Robot. [Purchase]
