| James Rutledge makes good music. Since 2000, he has put out several EPs in limited release that were never made readily available in the United States. Fortunately enough, his label, Mush, sought to put an end to this by issuing a re-release of his self-titled album, Pedro. Included are the works that Rutledge has been creating since 2000, along with a second disc of remixes by the likes of Four Tet, Prefuse 73 and Rutledge himself. Pedro gives a solid listen by maintaining a consistency of quality throughout the disc. But while all of the work is well-done, it certainly does not have a consistent feel throughout. The intro is a beautifully arranged bridge between classical and techno. While the combination has worked well in the past, Rutledge hits the nail square on the head with this one. Imagine a simple, syncopated three-note piano line with additional piano lines and chimes providing melodies. The soft and almost nursery rhyme-like melody give the impression that Pedro will retain that feel for the rest of the album. Unexpectedly, Pedro has an up and down presentation to it, giving it an almost bipolar feel. Many of the songs vary greatly in tempo and key, giving Pedro a pervading sense of inconsistency. To his credit, Rutledge is a versatile musician. Too often, though, Pedro is difficult to settle into because of its unexpected direction and presentation. It is not uncommon for one track to emote a completely different feeling than the following track. So on the whole, Pedro may have benefited from a reordering of sorts. That being said, these pieces show that Rutledge knows a thing or two about music sequencing programs. Oftentimes, he combines varying layers of melodies with sharp and cut-up drum lines. One of the benefits of working with computer music is a virtually unlimited access to various sounds. Rutledge always manages to put the right ones together, using several combinations of drum kits and synthesized instrumentation. The result is something right in between Aphex Twin's Druqs and Four Tet's Rounds, and the albums certainly influenced Rutledge's work on Pedro. The Pedro package also includes an entire EP of remixes of the track "Fear and Resilience." These seven remixes are extremely varied, and it's often difficult to imagine that they have originated from the same track. In the end, it is a welcome addition to the package, but does not contain much of the artistry of the first disc. Overall, the qualities of the tracks on Pedro outweigh any inconsistencies that the package has. Anyone who is interested in electronic music should give this package a listen. You'll find yourself coming back to it more often than you might think. - The Pitt News |
![MH-240 Pedro - Pedro [2006 Edition]](/album_art_front/MH240_F.jpg)
1XLP/Out Of Print