Crossfade Grimoire

Crossfade 5.1.1: Just the tracks, ma’am
Current mood:  ninja
Category: Music

CROSSFADE GRIMOIRE

5.1.1

“Just the tracks, ma’am”

Editor’s Note: This is more or less the blueprint for the website, which is now under construction. This section will be linked to the main page, where all sort of news, rumors and assorted nonsense will greet the unsuspecting viewer. Had planned to go full out this time, but with Issue 6 comes interviews, features, and some Crossfade exclusives, so here’s the breakdown, by type.
the other reason I’m kind of rushing? Well…how bout a review of Nine Inch “?Nails’ newest release, “The Slip”? Yeah..I thought that might do it.

DRUM AND BASS

4 eva blesst   (2008)
w/Jonny Details- Breakin’ Silence             5.05
vs. J-Dub- Everything they say                   5.3
vs. J-Dub- Nervous Breakdown                  5.2
(2007)
Tweeker’s Peak                                              5.2
Bastard (demo version)                                  5.4
Pain Game 5.55

Last issue, I seem to recall mentioning that New Jersey-based jungle/d’n'b artist J-Dub was starting to come into his own as an artist and as a producer.
With this issue, 4 eva blesst, the NY metro hip-hop junglist, goes supernova, not only in the company of the aforementioned, but on his own as well. If the newer tracks lack the spark and crackle of earlier whiplash symphonies such as “Bastard” and the awesome “Pain Game”, they make up for in arrangement and restraint, two qualities not usually found in dark EDM.
“Breakin”, the Jonny Details/4 eva blesst collaboration, is a refreshing spin on a dark theme. Edging into classic shoegazer/rave territory, the track contrasts nice counterrhythms with tense and funky synths that come of sounding like an Orb song remixed by Fatboy Slim, but has contains neither’s taste for excess. “Everything” is a great amalgam of fucked-up samples, jump-cut drumkit and dark-as-night jungle loops. More minimal than classic dark d’n'b, the track is also highly danceable. “Nervous” takes a more intense d’n'b groove and frames with haunting leads and environments. Instead of heading to light-speed rhythm, the track heads out to space, alhough the usual mad inventiveness of both artists’ beats is a little lacking here.
4’s 2007 work are marked by three distinctively different tracks. “Tweek” is true to its name, all methed-up and and tweeked out with twitchy kit, heavy bass buzz and funky d’n'b that goes over the seven-minute mark. “Bastard” takes an Atari 5200, runs it through some prime electro, and ends up cutting one hell of a dance track, throwing in some Big Beat vfor good measure. “Pain”, though, is the true find. The track weaves its way through more EDM styles than you can shake a stick at: hard techno, breaks, hardcore, electro, and more. The kicker here is how every style runs seamlessly into the other, and the ending is truly a great example of pop formatting. Don’t miss this one!

Broken Youth
(2008)  Inside You 5.9
(2008)  Imagination 5.65
(2008) Lil L a.k.a. Lisa- Individually Twisted
(Broken Youth remix) 6.5
(2007) Instrumental                         4.65

BY’s lone 2007 track is a departure from the rest of these amazing cuts: a chunk of chillout electronica that morphs into crunk then a kind of minimalist drum’n'bass. It’s a good track, but a mere taste of things to come, “Imagination” was done roughly in the same time period as his remix of Facade’s “Suicidal”, a masterful and brooding piece of club gold that meances and grinds at the same time. (see CG 3 for review) ”Imagination” approximates that great song’s feel , adding in a catchy synth reminiscent of Faithless’ 1998 smash, “Insomnia.” The tune never loses its intensity nor its groove. Just great.
“Inside You” is heavier d’n'b, surprisingly dark in timbre for BY, and is a relentless dark techno workout that alternates in and out of the d’n'b framework. It’s also a floorkiller, and should he played out everywhere, which brings me to the Lil L collaboration.
“Twisted” isn’t so much revolutionary in production or beats as it is timeless. The Hawaii Five-0 timpani beat seguing into great mix of synth, bass rumble and one hell of a funky groove. It’s simply one of the best fucking dance tracks I have ever heard in my life, bar none. And just when you think it’s not going to get any better, the track fades slowly away with an awesomely reverbed synth riff (I-Isus2-V-I). I wish to god I had a copy of this for my own. If you don’t like it as much as I do, then consider it a quirk of my personality. But try it, and try it standing up, just once!

Cakebuilder
(2006)
Book of the Dead [1]                         5.35
Necron the Hell God [1] 5.75
Servant [2]                                          5.2
(n/a)  Taste of Blood                              5.0

Winnipeg, Canada’s Cakebuilder has recorded for a variety of independent labels and features a superbly evolved mixture of breakcore, hardcore and d’n'b. [1]- both tracks appear on “Decks’n'Demons” 12″ EP on Ad Noiseam Records. [2]- “Servant” appears on “Electric Puke” on, fittingly enough, Electric Puke Records.
Cakebuilder’s URL is www.redroomrecordings.com. Check it out!
These tracks, though over two years old, are cutting-edge examples of how the lines between the various genres that make up dark EDM have blurred or disappeared altogether. I will be honest; While I am familiar with d’n'b, breakbeat, techno, and the like, the harder-edged realms of hardcore, grindcore, etc. are a sound I have only been absorbed in, so I will spare you the pseudo-intelligent review that I could have given.
Without exception, these tracks, as I’m sure the releases they are culled from, are impossible to encapsulate, indescribable to all but those who have heard them. What I can tell you: every genre I can think of (techno, dark techno, breakcore, hardcore, grindcore, d’n'b, darkstep, experimental electronics…) weave in and out of these tracks with a genius’ touch and a madman’s whim. By all means, search these tracks and their albums out…just keep a candle lit, just in case.

Con, the Bassmaster
(2008)
Sick Days                           4.15
Panicka                             5.45
Con vs. Makina                 4.85
Main de Dieu                     4.75
Phonotrigger                       4.2
(2007)
Phry                                  5.05

Con, the Bassmaster comes to us from Kenosha, Wisconsin….yeah, I don’t have a clue where that is either, but at any rate, it could be an important thing to know as some of his tracks are top-notch. 2007’s “Phry” is a catchy and instantly recognizable piece of drum’n'bass whose hook is well-disguised and funky to boot. I’m not going to tell you what the tune is or where it comes from, though: just check the tune out. You’ll know, trust me.
2008 has been sort of a mixed bag so far for Con, with “Sick” featuring well-programmed freeform d’n'b beats over a spacy palette. Not bad, but definitely more for the experimentalists than D’n'B Nation at large.”Phonotrigger” is, of course, the classic (arguably THE classic) SNES RPG game, Chrono Trigger, put through various editing and montage effects. Again, more of an experimentalist’s taste, although the use of the game’s key themes (Lavos’ theme, the time travel sound effect, Marle’s necklace, etc.) are used to good effect. God..I’m such a nerd for knowing all these sound bites!
On the flipside, “Panicka” is a cool conglomeration of analog and acid trance leads over an insistent d’n'b that stretches out into more improvisational territories without losing its upfront flavor. The track is a great tune, and it goes well while watching parts of “Gothika”…(nerd alert again..). “Makina” is most probably a play on the phrase Deus ex Machina, because the song doesn’t sound a lot like the EDM genre “makina”, which was fleetingly popular in the 80’s among 4 people, I think. Overall, the track is solid Eurotrance laid over a solid d’n'b routine. Nice “Flaming June”-like piano and spacy textures lend it a late 90’s electronica that is very enjoyable. Looking forward to the Kenosha Kid and his future endeavours. Um, sorry, I mean Con and his future endeavours!

Kone-One (dates not available on tracks)
isor lights & broken mirrors      4.6
PACK                                        4.8
news & tears                              5.3
one-minute warning                 5.1
A short trip to wonderland        4.5
Disorder                                    4.95

Salzburg, Austria’s Kone-One works primarily in the more experimental end of durm’n'bass. Virtually nothing escapes being thrown into the mix, whether it sounds like it would fit or not, and the end result more often than not is eye-opening. In fact, the methods and means that Kone employs in his mizes are more along the lines of classic electronic experimentalists like Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, and Frank Zappa than Goldie, 4 Hero, or Roni Size.
Of the tracks, only “Wonderland” and “PACK” are semi-succesful, primarily because so many ideas and things are thrown into the mix, strained out, hyperjumped, and then remixed through something like a black hole. Fascinating in approach and method, but not always that fun to listen to.
“Disorder” is better: the same “whatever lands in the mind” ethic is there but the proceedings are tempered by a dark techno feel that progresses through breakbeat, jungle and d’n'b. Overall, it’s still a little repetitive, but there’s enough going on to make you forget that pretty easil.
Best of all are “news” and “Warning”, which call up on almost diametrically-opposed influences to achieve much the same result: a well-balanced, varied textural beat experience. “Warning” calls upon ethereal feels (Kitaro), well-organized d’n'b (Mr. Size) and a healthy dose of 70’s experimentalism (Eno, Fripp, Manzanera, Harold Budd, etc.) The whole thing comes off as aggressive new-age, of all things. “News” meshes ambient environments and synths with blistering percussion, radio static, weird-ass samples, and later on, almost sepulchral synths. What is it? Fuck if I know, but it’s excptional and a genre worth looking into, as long as you don’t lose your map.

CerealKila
(2008)  556mm                                    4.65
(2008)  Playing with Blood                  4.85
(n/a)   EdtheAbbot- the Invasion (CerealKila remix)  4.6

You have to give Bass Society founder and patron of dark EDM one thing: when he dives headlong into a project, it’s never half-assed. These tracks, while not bad at all, are missing something, something vital. Let me see if I can explain without sounding vague as hell. Last issue’s “Skull Fucker, arguably one of Kila’s best to date, was a hellacious juggernaut of darkness and rhythm; everything had a purpose, and their purpose was to steamroll your ass. “556″ starts out very promising with a dark miasma of electronics and rhythm stomping into a great techno beat. The atmosphere is there, but it just doesnt elevate or lurk just behind you, waiting strike. Something’s amiss.
“Blood” gets more of the follow-through back into play, featuring a straiught but oddly-delivered beatmap with very cool hyperdigitized breaks. The track has a great retro feel to it (retro as in Ministry, circa “Twitch” or Nitzer ebb’s “Total Age”.) Maybe it’s just me, but “Invasion” doesn’t live up to its promise, which alternated between spacy cinematics and an almost Art of Noise feel. A swet combo, to be sure, but the production seems off. The track is good, just sort of aimless. Both men are capable of far more than this; here’s to hoping this was just a hash break and they’ll be back to the old sturm und drang we’re used to seeing soon.

Daz Hunt
(2008)  Canadian Connection                    4.25
Daz Hunt’s peculiar brew of drum’n;bass is almost minimal in nature: spacy synths that sound like a NES at a rave, and an almost hardstyle beat, then a little more syncopated d’n'b. It feela like one of Walter Carlos’ Moog experiments mated with a d’n'b rhythm track. The track is good and has purposeful builds, but a lack of variety in beats and programming makes the song a little long for what it has to offer.

DJ Browsa
(2008) Go at Once                                     4.35
In light of his collaboration with Jennacide (”Sick Phuck” VIP remix, CG 4), the rating for this track seems harsh, but that’s not the intent at all. Yes, it features the Browsa Bass, that 2-ton electronic fuzzbuster of a bassline, but the BrowsaBass is completely reinvented in this tune. Random stop-edits and dancey rhythms. Lower rating? Maybe. Step in the right direction? Oh, hell yes!

DJ Loop
(2008) Lil L a.k.a. Lisa- The Darkness (remixes)
1) remix 1 (shorter edit)             4.95
2) remix 2 (full version)            5.45

DJ Loop’s remixes of Lil L’s “The Darkness” are as much a study in contrast as they are in different production processes. The full remix is a stellar blend of dark electronica brooding over a pulsating beat. The track quickly drops some intense drum’n'jungle and steams into a potent remix. Key usage of montage effects and hypnotic layers lull you into a false sense of safety, allowing the track’s wailing ending to smash your brain into a million pieces. Exceptional mix!
The shorter mix, by contast, takes a spacier approach, jettisoning hard-edged dark EDM for a more ominous club feel. This version, however, is just as intense as its jackhammer counterpart. Proof that it can be done two different ways and both ways succeed equally.

Empty- (2008)  Stargazer      5.05
This track should have acoompanied its brothers in the last issue, but thanks to a Mayfield brainfart, here it is, a month late. And maybe it’s just as well, for “Stargazer” features orchestral textures, dark but not menacing atmospherics and a wonderfully mystical vocal track that makes this almost ambient jungle, if you can picture that. The track is danceable, as well, as comes of as the ultra-spooky track St. Etienne never recorded. Really nice.

Goku (all tracks 2008)
Theft- Bedrooms (Goku VIP Mix)             4.8
Ligament                                                    5.05
Hold on                                                     5.3
Drunken Dub 5.9
Oh Seven                                                   5.45
Cosmo Canyon                                          5.325

You may also recall last issue a DJ Browsa remix of Will P.’s “Choo Choo..,” which was alright, but nothing to write home about. Well, here’s Will, and..um..apparently he’s a Super Seien..or not. Whatever Will P. Goku is, one thing that is certain is that he is one hell of an up-and-coming talent.
The Theft remix is a cool dubby shuffle that morphs into some jumpy 2-step and features really stoned multitracked vocals. Get them some water…The track features good beat shifting and textures but the vocal is just too ftickin weird and detracts from an otherwise choogling groove.
Obviously, the rest of these tracks are great, with the greatest (and hands-down weirdest) now missing from Goku’s player. (Fix that, will ya?) While Goku is at home with d’n'b and jumpy dance cuts, he excels at dubstep, and especially oddball dubstep. While all these tracks are well worth your time, head straight for the last three. “Drunken” is a Jager-fueled stomp through hardstyle/hard house, dubstep, and a killer weirdo Oktoberfest groove. Skol!
“Oh Seven” takes trippy dub and marries it to some vintage SNES sounds, which sounds oddly like an early PS1 track (think ”Legaia” or ”Spyro”). The whole dropkick rhythm crossed with Final Fantasy IV-like leads is really cool, and speaking of…yeah, it’s THAT Cosmo Canyon, refigured and updated for your role-playing and dancing/toking/whatever-ing pleasure. Will P. Goku, I salute you!

Gutter Breaks- (2008)  Round                        5.325

“Round” is a trademark Gutter Breaks mix: massive, full with great jazz samples (is the song by Marilyn Bergman? I cant remember..ugh, I sprained something..), all set to a cruising d’n'b beat. Add to that a melodic bassline, lush jazz substitutions, and what I still think is a classic Yello sample, and you have another tasty, classy yet intense IDM tune that deserves to be bought a thousand times over instead of that nauseous D.A.N.C.E. crap.

J-Dub (all 2008)
CerealKila- Skull Fucker (J-Dub remix)                5.15
Aliens are approaching                                         5.3
J-Dub vs. 4 eva blesst
Everything they say                                                5.3
Nervous Breakdown                                             5.2

“Skull Fucker” was one of Issue 4’s many highpoints, not only in terms of outright brutal musicality but because of it’s incredibly PC name! I got the rare and awesome opportunity of hearing this when it was so hot off the presses, it almost gave me a heat rash. And for good reason! J-Dub’s remix of the track is well-paced, as dark as a subway tunnel, and features a well-placed Method man sample amidst it all. The reuslt is not as intense as the original, but more ominous and way more kinky..I still wonder if that chick could walk afterwards..
Before you flip back to 4 eva’s column for the collab reviews, “Aliens” is a refreshihng departure from J-Dub’s usual dark d’n'b, instead favoring echoey textures over a crisp dubstep sequence. Sure, midsong is creepy and has a generous helping of dark, splerbly bass, but the returning mutant duck groove (you’d have to hear it for yourself..kind of like Shut Up and Dance’s “Green Man” from the mid-90’s) is a cool departure for this talented artist.

Koga Ninja [a.k.a. Bass Slaves]
(2008)   Verbal Kent              4.1

There’s actually a lot of material available by Koga, and I hope to include that in either Issue 7 or 8. Suffice it to say, this is neither representative nor typical of his work, and should not be treated as such. The track is propulsive d’n'b with metallic synths as lead. The track is very short, but shows evidence of very good mix-up skills. More on this artist soon!

Lil L a.k.a. Lisa
(2008) Individually Twisted (Broken Youth remix) 6.5
(2008)  The Darkness (DJ Loop remixes)                        4.95/5.45
(2008)  The Darkness (demo version)                              4.5

While Lil L’s original version of “The Darkness” is good and can be seen as an able and adaptable sourcepoint for either of DJ Loop’s remixes, you should seek out either of those mixes (see DJ Loop’s article in this segment) or the classic Broken Youth remix (see Broken Youth’s write-up for info).
Either way, this Londonite bears close watching. It’s not a totally correct analogy nor is it meant to be, but all it took was a piar of superstar releases and Olive was everywhere. Here’s to hoping Lisa does the same.

Saint Dirty Soundz
(2008)
Polluted Mind                             5.05
Burn up Five O                           5.1
AniMadness                               5.3
(2007)
War Anthem                             5.3
666 Lbs.                                   4.8
Blood Soul 6.2

Somewhere across the state from me lives and breathes one hell of an EDM collective named Saint Dirty Soundz, of which I am ashamed I only knew about until just recently. With the exception of “666 Lbs.” (Satan’s weight?), each of these tracks offers up a different and awesome plate of jumpy and driven beats, smart and well-polanned builds, and some of the fiercest breaks America the Broken* has to offer.(America the Broken is a Connvolution-registered trademark. yeah, i know..tacky..it’s 4:30 in the morning..I cant help it.)
You should check all these tracks out on their myspace page, but specifically check out “War Anthem” and “Blood Soul.” “War”melds jungle loops and a killer riffage into a mighty protest song, complete with jaw-dropping nanobreaks. Kind of like a cranksta with a stutter and a pharmacy at his fingertips, this track corners like it’s on rails and then some. Potent!
“Blood” offers up a tasty quote from Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular bells”, and wicked drum’n'jungle that breaks into seriously warped nanocore. The groove is unbelievable and the breaks are time-stopping. To miss this is to pass up the last hash brownie of your college career: you’ll kick yourself for the rest of your life. Check this collective out ASAP!

Whew, and that’s not all the drum’n'bass tracks either. CG 5.1.2 will feature the rest of the d’n'b/jungle/breaks tracks along with electronica, techno, hosue, hardstyle, live electronics and more. Also coming up: stellar music by Pray, the Fake Lazy Supernovas, Skizzy-Beats Productions, Derb, and Jonny Details, Crossfade’s first Featured Artist (Alphazone), and “Recreational Chemistry”, a dose of some of the best mixes in the…um, well that I have my hands on right now ..Oh yeah..and a review of NIN’s “The Slip”. Look for more CG 5.0 later tonight!

end CG 5.1.1