(06.09.06) Quietly in Scotland’s capital city, and second home of this writer’s brother, the Benbecula label is collecting together a reputable array of artists. Slowly but surely the stock pile of talent is gathering and growing. Artists like E.stonji, once on the amazing but sadly defunct Sendertechnik label, and Phrizzm are examples of some of the great musicians that Benbecula have corralled. Despite Scotland’s isolation, the Edinburgh imprint is sourcing artists from across the globe; the latest being Jakob Scott a.k.a. Syntaks.
The Danish born Scott has been making electronica for some time now. He is one of the four members of Limp, along with Manual, Aerosol and Jess Kahr, who released the wonderful Orion LP on the Berlin based Morr Music label back in March of 2002. Syntaks released a collaboration album with Manual in 2004 on the Darla label entitled Golden Sun. The album ventured into the rougher side of electronica, whilst maintaining the melody and harmony on which the IDM sound is based on. Deep basslines, complex beats, well conceived soundscapes, and topped off with the beautiful voice of Maja Maria, made Golden Sun an instant hit amongst the electronic masses. Benbecula saw the obvious talent that Scott has and have now bagged him for his first solo album, Awakes.
The album title itself is emblematic of what Benbecula were attempting to achieve by signing up Scott to release a full length; to awaken the solo artist from the collaboration slumber he had been in. The group releases Syntaks was part of were all high class, Benbecula had enough faith to believe that Jakob could stand on his own; and they were right. Awakes is a rich full sun, glowing and melting with wondering rays of audio light. The album showcases just what Scott is capable of, laid back electronica, computer glitch, post rock guitar, complex hip hop crunch, magnificent soundscapes with an intense attention to detail. This is not simply another IDM album, but a work of feeling, a work of talent, a work of emotion.
One of the most commendable aspects of this CD release is the amount of styles that Syntaks experiments with. “Kilgore Lives” is a journey through sound, a development from downright ghetto glitch to heady harmonies. Scott embraces traditional facets of music, guitars and vocals, but adds technology, software and programming, into the equation to transform the foundations. Track six, “Respirator Birth,” illustrates this notion, with its warm inviting strings and squelchy digital beat that merge together effortlessly. A handful of small minute long tracks pepper the tracklisting, acting like musical sorbets to help cleanse the audio palette before the next breathtaking piece of IDM enters. In this, Awakes succeeds where countess other albums fail, giving the listener a relaxing respite before delving you once again into the electronic ocean –but not butchering the album’s continuity.
The final track of the album, “In the Wake,” sees Syntaks teaming up with an old musical partner: Maja Maria. This track is a nine minute long epic, somewhat reminiscent of Seefeel’s “Spangle” from Artificial Intelligence II (Warp). A wonderful climax to the album; Maja’s hauntingly beautiful vocals, the crisp shuffling beats and submerging melody create an unforgettable ending to a well rounded first album.
Benbecula have once more come up with the goods. The label, now going strong for almost seven years, has proven itself time and time again as a purveyor of top notch electronica and an able discoverer of great new talent, like Syntaks. It is great to see labels like Benbecula releasing IDM with a passion and knowledge, ensuring that only the best electronica is coming from your speakers. This album not only shows how adventurous and IDM smart those highlanders are, but how capable a young artist Syntaks is. Scott knows this music, but, like all great electronic musicians, is not just trending the path of programmes and glitched up beats. Scott is adding onto what pioneers like Skam, Musik Aus Strom and DUB set out doing; making great electronic music, but adding something of his own, adding something of himself to the sound. Perhaps it is the countryside that makes these Danes so good at making IDM, who knows; all this reviewer knows is that Awakes is one of the most refreshing scores of electronica he has heard in a long time; respecting the foundations of the sound, but building onto them with skill and an individuality.
Awakes is out now on Benbecula.
