I Sing the Body Electric

by Chris Pacifico

10.16.2005

Ah, it seems like the '90s were only yesterday and every weekend you could find a good rave where the E flowed like water, the top DJs were spinning the platters that matter and you could dance your ass off all night long. It was almost like a weekend ritual where you would get your glow sticks ready, and your Vicks Vaporub on as you tightened the laces of you're dancing shoes. The best parties were not at clubs like they are today but instead at warehouses where there were interesting people who would come from all around the state and sometimes the country to see their favorite acts perform. Music also came in various forms by the rooms at the parties. One room would have DJs spinning house, the others trance, drum n' bass/jungle, and of course, there was the downtempo room. But then people starting slipping. News magazines like ABC's 20/20 started doing features in a propaganda campaign that would scare parents with cliché lines like "It's 10 o' clock, do you know where you're kids are?" and all sorts of other bullshit. The main problem with the media attack wasn't so much that it caused parents to meddle in their kids lives but instead it just attracted lots of stupid kids who attended the events purely for the drugs and didn't give a fuck about the music. Before you know it these kids start taking enough designer narcotics to kill a giraffe while Hot Topic and other mall chains started marketing a whole realm of cheesy fashionable items of clothing. By the time the 21st century rolled in the scene was just downright null and quaint. DJs started charging more to play and the politicians had put the final nail in the coffin of the whole scene. Nowadays in the only thing close to these parties are held at trendy clubs and the music is dry. But do ya still wanna dance?! Are you sick of all this bullshit electronic music that all sound the same and has no vision? Have no fear because Treble is here to tell you about some of the most prime choices in electronica that have come out lately.

Break out the Red Bulls for your body and have the Epsom salts ready to soak your feet in because this next batch is for the true dance addicts. If you need a lesson in prog-tech look no further than German veteran Timo Maas. On his latest release Pictures (A&E) Mass barrages the listener with his signature brooding funk as he gets his chameleon on with electro jaunts like "Big Chevy," showing that a man like himself who hails from Düsseldorf (the home of Kraftwerk) has his Krautrock jitters shine on with "Pictures." Seattle's United State of Electronica breaks loose on their self titled debut on Sonic Boom Records with their own sunny brand of left-field house of which is massively peppy and merges likenesses of both Daft Punk and the Polyphonic Spree. Speaking of Seattle, KJ Sawka is the boy to keep your eye on as he takes the entire concept of drum n bass to some exciting new directions on his amazing release Synchronized Decompression, which shows his abilities as a producer and a percussionist. Beltway mavericks Deep Dish are back with George is On(Thrive) featuring tracks like "No Stopping for Nicotine," something that seems like it was lost off of the soundtrack from the film Bright Lights, Big City as Michael J. Fox was yuppied-out and doing `luudes in the stall of an uptown NYC club. Also included is a second disc with two remixes of "Flashdance" and five of "Say Hello." Philly's King Britt has released a remix homage to the late great and forgotten New Orleans Gospel soul sister Sister Gertrude Morgan on an album of the same name on the Ropeadope label, with Britt's own jazzy touch to Morgan's uplifting bayou spirituals.

For those of you who take the think mans approach to electronica, with you're craving of something more along the lines of experimental and IDM; we haven't forgotten about you. The nutty Floridian duo Yip-Yip get crazy with Pro Twelve Thinker (Strictly Amateur Films) as they blow gaskets on "Big Bass with Platinum Limbs" on an album with two guys who dress like they were extras in Beetlejuice. Mr. Oizo's Moustache(Half a Scissor)( Mute) brings us back the guy whose inspired that weird puppet in the Levi's commercials (ed note: I miss Flat Eric) as he whimsically takes his sonic experiments and cuts and slices and dices them like a tweaking Japanese steakhouse chef . Test Shot Starfish has released their fabulous self-titled debut (Kanpai) whose track selection goes from dreamy Orb-like tunes such as "Souvenirs" on an album chock full of trippy samples from two guys that have remixed everyone from Coldplay to Snoop Dogg while scoring numerous commercials in between. Let us not forget some good compilations of this side of electronica as well. Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound performs AphexTwin (Cantaloupe Music) is a grasping classical tribute to the work of IDM nutball Richard D. James and for those who don't know what's up with this particular sound, be sure to pick up Various Artists: Autonomous Addicts (Designed Disorder), a masterful collection of the best from such great laptop wizards as Richard Devine and Deru.

Germany's Boozoo Bajou has released a stunning release with Dust My Broom (K7!), officially the first (German) group that has ever mixed some down home Americana and given it their own trip-hop touch. Coming along for the ride are guest stars like alt-country legend Tony Joe White with "Keep Going" and pimp funk paladin Willie Hutch coos some smoky soul on "Treat Me." Traveling through Eastern Europe brings us to Romania where Shukar Collective has put out Urban Gypsy (Riverboat), an amazing goulash of jazzy grooves, dub, and ambient musings that go from funky ("Calling Tamango") to jumpy ("Maladema"). If only you only buy one CD of world music this year make sure that Urban Gypsy is the one. The Quannum label is moving forward into it's own brave new world with the jazzy chillness emitted from General Elektriks' Cliquety Kliqk, with songs of serrated funk like "Central Park" and a spot from Solesides hero Lateef the Truth Speaker on the Gorillaz-esque "Facing That Void."

Self proclaimed "techno-anarchist" T.Raumschmere lives up to his title on Blitzkrieg Pop (Novamute) an all-out assault on the nerves in the human cortex with some industrial abrasiveness on "Sick Like Me" and lurking creepiness on "Der Grottenolm." If you like your techno loud and assaulting, Blitzkrieg Pop should be right up your alley. If you're looking for chicks that rawk with some hard house dance beats look no further than the self titled EP from Von Iva (Cochon) as front woman Jillian Iva makes the music sultry and intimidating.

Let us not forget the Astralwerks label as they have graced the autumn season with a pair of spectacular releases. First up are big beat blokes Audio Bullys on their sophomore release Generation as they pull off a bubbly mash-up of Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)." The paisanos from Italy's Gabin have come partyin' on Mr. Freedom with the swinging "Into My Soul" featuring the great torch singer Dee Dee Bridgewater on an album that is a disco-spliced fracas.

And there you have it kiddies, so go get your party on!