(08.15.05) For the past few years, I have been rather vocal in my dissolution
with the state of electronic music — and more so, with the entirety
of the commercial music industry. In that time, I have witnessed a
throng of cookie-cut artists taking themselves way too seriously,
using the same preset sounds, flimsy beats and geometric graphic
drivel to market their flop. Now, as a reviewer I know it’s not
ethical to make such a blanket statement, but I happen to also wear
the blessing of “indie label owner” (see Nophi Recordings) and am
therefore subject to the curse of “dozens of bad demos every week.”
So, where is this rant going? I’ll tell you. Jamie Lidell’s Multiply
is the kind of recording I dream about getting in the
mail. Granted, it’s on Warp, so I would hardly say this is a demo by
some unknown IDM calculator nerd, but it is imbued with the kind of
spirited musicality and freewheeling joy that I look for in the artists
I release… you know… the wanton musical lust which so many artists
lack. (see the Id according to S. Freud)
The first thing I want to point out is that Multiply is not an IDM
record. In fact, I would say this record is actually 75% old-school
soul, owing much to live instrumentation and the prophetic teachings
of Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding, but not James Brown. In other words,
Multiply is neither revolutionary, nor highly innovative, but a tasty
slice of the soul-flavored bundt cake. What makes this disc so
palatable is the masterful production and execution of ten great tunes
by a rather unlikely candidate from a somewhat likely label.
Traditional soul tunes like “Multiply,” “What’s the use,” “What is it
this time” and “Game for fools” shine super bright — lending their
love embrace to the more programmed sounds of “When I come back
around,” “A little bit more” and the trudging and chaotic “The city”
(which brings an awkward bit of 60’s psychedelia to the disc.)
I must commend Warp for its willingness to adapt, innovate and take
chances with artists like Lidell, !!!, and Vincent Gallo. The post
Aphex/Sqaurepusher world needs more good songs and less over-
calculated, computerized circuit-puke. If you are aspiring to be a
producer or electronic musician in general, you should most assuredly
add Multiply to your list of must-have albums. You should also
consider spending some of that bread you’re saving for an overpriced
synthesizer on a busted-ass drum kit or bass guitar. It’s only a
matter of time before the REAL music fights its way out of your
machines and back into your hands.
Multiply is out now on Warp.
