| An exercise in subtle variation resulting in micro-overhauls, Melodic put forth an EP of one track being remixed by several of blip-hop's current superstars. A wonderful solution to the problem of remix albums – different tracks re-rubbed by different artists almost always results in a horrible jumble – Pedro has compiled a full-length album with very limited original source material. The results are varied but cohesive. The original Fear & Resilience Pedro mix, also included here, is itself a lush stuttering folktronic piece, with processed acoustics swirling around ticking hi-hat taps and cut up strings, the whole thing breaking down halfway into dramatic wiggling bursts of horn and trumpet before restarting once more. Prefuse 73 applies his magic touch, ironing out the edges and subsequently making new ones that hook you in, with vox chopped up and hidden strategically in the mix to produce a sort choral sound. Cherrystones' version is remarkably different, infused with a sawing Pulp Fiction guitar loop and overall more sinister feel. Dangermouse's version is straight orchestral downbeat hiphop peppered by what sound like hummed vocals by the girl at the end of Jungle Book. Home Skillet drown Pedro's track in a stream of 1s and 0s; utter bleepy chaos converging into a greater whole, an electronic pointillism. Four Tet's remix closes the album – a 20 minute crescendo that passes though psychedelic minimalism into blazing late-night jazz and then out the other end into messy but beautiful electronic feedback that slowly fades out. Nothing short of epic. - Dot Alt |
1XEP/Out Of Print