Issue #64 [Album Reviews]

Reviews of the latest by Autechre, Black Tambourine, Caribou and Chin.

Autechre
Oversteps
Warp
Overstep by Autechre is an album of interest. Our Hero Ducky the penguin, began his quest to pacify the dreaded Cthulhu from the helm of his majesty’s underwater clam capsule “HMC Invuncible.” Leaving behind certain mackerel and eel, he charted the navigatron to full and sought the distant sous-marin montagne of TrFtrk. Bearing closer, Cthulhu’s breath hung dank in the current. His sea pipe clearly lit. Ducky minded his father’s heed: “to harness brain not brawn,” for Cthulhu was a creature of superb strength, wielding dragon wings, talons worthy of devilship, and the mantle of a giant squid. Ducky then eared Cthulhu’s whisper of hospice. Quoting Burns, it uttered: “Calces o’fossils, earth, and trees; True sal-marinum o’ the seas; The farina of beans an’ pease, He has’t in plenty; Aqua-fontis, what you please, He can content ye.” Ducky threw down his gauntlet. They danced the most ancient of steps, that of the game kerplunk. Ducky sought to trick Cthulhu into a sense of complacency… And won. Intelligent dance music: fuck off.
—Dr. Ian Super

Black Tambourine
S/T
Slumberland
I was so excited that this compilation came out that I almost called you “dude”, as in “Dude! Black Tambourine just released their complete recordings!” However, I don’t call people dude, especially because unlike some music dorks, I talk to girls. Black Tambourine formed around the time the Eighties became the Nineties and North America needed a response to the right hook from the UK’s fist of fuzz pop. Canada had Eric’s Trip and America had Black Tambourine. Not only was the band directly influencing Sarah Records acts and other boy versus girl bands, but Black Tambourine eventually split and became Velocity Girl and Lilys, two bands who made some real artistic man moves in their own right. “Throw Aggi Off The Bridge” will forever be Black Tambourine’s version of a hit single, a dark and cheeky number sang in the voice of a crazed Pastels fan wanting Stephen Pastel to axe his girlfriend, and is also referenced in one of the era’s key stone songs, “Twee” by Tullycraft, a song that name checks all you need to know about twee pop and fuzz girl/boy shoegaze pop from the era. Bro! You really need to own this album!
—Trevor Risk

Caribou
Swim
Merge
Most people are not about to forget the magic that was Dan Snaith’s 2007 release, Andorra. My parents certainly won’t forget their confusion when I pressured them into listening to Andorra after buying it for me for Christmas. It is now 2010 and the electronica math master is following up with the unequalled and liquid dance record, Swim. Dan Snaith has done exactly what he meant to do—he’s made music that sounds like it’s made of water. Each song floods into headphone space, nestling into the expanse of what makes up our ears. “WHOA!” The reoccurrence of the sound of the word ‘she’ sloshes in and out, pouring into the lyrical composition of almost every track. “ECHO!!” The single “Odessa” was literally the beginning. The looseness continues and deepens with “Kaili”, “Leave House” and “Jamelia”—which is also the final track and features vocals by Luke LaLonde of Born Ruffians. Swim is a crackle of Arthur Russell, a teasing clamour, a stream of engaging melodies. I know what I’m asking my parents to get me for Christmas this year.
—Stefana Fratila

Chin
D’Tach
Sparks Music
Chin Injeti was in Bass is Base way back when they had that song “Funkmobile.” After that they had “I Cry” and then Ivana Santilli went and did some solo stuff which was pretty fun too. D’Tach is a record that pretty much illustrates why Chin hasn’t disappeared into Canadian trivia obscurity (Bootsauce anyone?). This isn’t just a tailing solo effort, it’s the songsmithing that has caulked the gaps between Chin’s schedule producing with and for artists like Dr. Dre, Nas, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Clipse, 50 Cent, and Esthero with his bosom buddy DJ Khalil. The fact that he finds the time to pen an album replete with Eastern-influenced urban folk gems is staggering. Good work Chin; you went from “Diamond Dreams” to giving us aural wet dreams.
—Patrick Stewart