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(Entropy/Vitamin)
Dance music without digitally produced electronic music? That’s the Entropic way, “double bass, guitar, drums and Rhodes keyboard are prepared and treated with latex, plastic, metal and tape, allowing Entropic members (Conrad Harris, Campbell McGuiness, Oliver Smith and Robbie Mudrazija) to extract unique sounds from their instruments that mimic digitally produced electronic music?” as described on the bands website. Well actually that’s how they produced their debut album Braille. This time around they have invited various Sydney electronic music artists to interpret and remix tracks from Braille, releasing the resultant Rendezvous. Whilst this may sound a little confusing at first it’s worth the journey to the second paragraph to see that this is must listen CD.
There’s only one thing that really bugs me about this CD and that is that not only have the tracks been remixed but so has the track order on the CD cover. The track listing and remix details are presented in a 3 X 3 square (like the Channel 9 logo) on the inside cover. They are not however in any particular order. To find out what track number each one is you have to look at the corresponding key in the bottom corner which is a mini 3×3 with each square numbered – aarrgh!
Back to business though and what I really love about this album is the variety on offer from the nine different tracks. People familiar with the Sydney dance scene may recognise some of the remixers; – Rick Bull, Michael Moebus, Peter Hollo, Julian Culpan, Chris Hancock, Bruce Clark, Julian Culpan, Jim Sherringham and Chris Townend & Scott Horscroft. The beats throughout range from funky house to drum’n’bass to more experiemental. Rarely does it range too far a groove you can tap your feet to, but never sounding the same.
The live Entropic experience is reportedly one which is one partly prepared and partly improvised. Much like a jazz band, to which comparisons fly, where the musicians are given the freedom to explore and develop their tunes in a live performance. Given that the original recording of Braille was done live to tape it would be of little surprise that many of the tracks still retain the feel of musicians playing off and to each other.
The album gets off to a very mellow start with the first two tracks, Deep Child and Meem, both being very downbeat and laidback . Monk Fly continues with this feel but picks up the tempo with some drum’n’bass, chilled and melodic style. The deep filtered sounds of Mutante Frequante give a real feel of a mix between the live jazzy guitars and the electronic remix. B.A.B.S on the other hand seems more minimalist in the remix treatment with much of the live sounds being retained. Raven sees another visit to drum’n’bass territory, this time with a more Warp Records kind of approach with screechy effects and drum patterns often losing control. Why is built around a slow 4/4 beat and with its combination of scattered high keyboard interludes and distorted bass lines can be a little hard to get into, the beat somehow being too much of a distraction to everything else. Mt Druitt on the other hand is Sunday afternoon percussive house, a rather straight remix that works extremely well. The final track, Magmafinder, has a more ambient feel which sees the echoing guitars notes being driven by a deep and low humming beat.
Does the track-by-track summary all sound too much? Put simply it’s electronic music artists remixing live music with each track managing to retain an individual feel. It’s a fantastic album for those are after something a little stimulating to listen to. It get’s better each time you put it on, go check it out now.
Tracks & Remixers are:
Deep Child – Rick Bull
Meem – Michael Moebus
Raven – Peter Hollo
Mutante Frequante – Julian Culpan
Monk Fly – Chris Hancock
B.A.B.S (Beat And Bongo Science) – Bruce Clark
Magmafinder – Julian Culpan
Mt. Druitt Millionaires Club – Jim Sherringham
Why – Chris Townend & Scott Horscroft
