This month's pick is from Rucksack Records - a blazing four song EP split between K-Alexi and Jivaro. The hypersexualized "Nasty Drums" from K-Alexi leads it off and beats it down hard with a simple but addictive disco-style loop and dirtygrrl vocal (or, to be more accurate, moan) samples over a jacking beat. This is definitely 2 a.m. high energy material. K-Alexi's second contribution, "Yellow Sun", has a spiritual African vibe to it but is far more mellow, bringing the mood down to one of contemplation. There's a vivid contrast between these two tracks (on opposite sides on the original 12" vinyl) can't be accidental: it's like K-Alexi has kicked your ass and is now sitting you down to teach you something important.

I would have wagered that "Jivaro" is the nom de plume of Derrick May or Carl Craig when I first heard his tracks, but a little googling reveals it to be label owner Henrik Dahl himself. The fact that I thought they originated with two of the giants of Detroit techno - and two of the most soulful artists of the genre - should reveal how great these two tracks are. "Tronik Ride" has a nice Chicago jack to it in the hi-hats and is the pick of the EP for me. This really shows an affinity for crafting melody and a great hook out of the acid 303 sound rather than sacrificing it all on the altar of electronica. "Turiya" is a different take on the 303 - this is really an homage to the acid sound of the mid-'90s (complete with the handclap!) but manages to bring it forward to today.

 

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:: posted mar 10 by terry matthew in music reviews, february 2007 issue