Curvepusher Sessions Vol. 1 does what you’d expect it to do, that is deliver four tracks of electro that will slice through speakers and floors with equal devastation. The 12” visits a range of sounds, all of which have influenced and inspired, and continue to do so, the entire gamut of machine music.
The collaboration of artists is always an interesting undertaking. Despite the digital age, the ease with which we now transfer information, partnerships amongst machine musicians is a rarity. Perhaps that is just it, there’s a desire to be behind the banks of flashing lights and jungle of cables and sharing such a space just isn’t done. There’s the difficulty of sending on half ideas, MP3s and WAVs of little but musings and the frustrations of unfinished work. But, the greatest hindrance has to be time. Finding time music is one thing, finding time to discuss, to debate and ultimately agree; clock shaped obstacles. With this in mind it’s a fair wonder that Keith Tenniswood (Radioactive Man), Phil Klein (Bass Junkie), Simon Brown (The Dexorcist) and Matt Whitehead have not only found the spare hours to form The Resonance Committee but release Curvepusher Sessions Vol. 1.
Stooped over a feast of blinking analogue equipment this quartet have served up four steaming cuts with one central aim: to keep the “electronic groove” alive. Not sure if the “electronic groove” was on its death bed, but nevertheless the foursome are certainly giving it some welcome adrenaline. Basslines are stabs with scalpel-like snares while a cold voice states the group’s mission statement with just a touch of hip-hop style. The “Bonus Vision” lets the machines do the talking, vocals stripped back to allow bars in to fully melt in a caustic bath of distorted reverb. All tracks are live jam recordings, sounds beaten together on the fly and then edited. That live quality is clear to hear on “Change.” Lyrics return, a voice buried under circuits and cables, ghosts behind racing rhythms juxtaposed by sheer synths. “Sound Bites” staggers down the acid route. Squirming patterns bellow and bulge as a shrill line stalks between teeth bearing beats.
Curvepusher Sessions Vol. 1 does what you’d expect it to do, that is deliver four tracks of electro that will slice through speakers and floors with equal devastation. The 12” visits a range of sounds, all of which have influenced and inspired, and continue to do so, the entire gamut of machine music. Apparently the sessions of The Resonance Committee happen twice a year and the line-up is as flexible as the gear set-up. Cultivated Electronics recommendation, expect more and be ready.
Curvepusher Sessions Vol. 1 is available on Cultivated Electronics.
