In the same vein as fellow Germans Tied & Tickled Trio and Console, this bunch marry sultry, organic beats and tunage with strands of faxmodem crackle 'n' hiss. The occasional episode of excessive, irritating tech-noise is forgivable next to passages of genuine, understated beauty. The raw, crisp production adds a feel that the musicians are right there in the room. Thing is, the pervasive sense of distance, of being removed, makes that a room a few doors down the hall from the one occupied by the listener. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
Canvas Self-titled (Metal Blade/Oasis)
This compilation of early EPs and demos further blurs the lines between extreme hardcore and death metal. On the song "fortyonesixtyonefortythree" Canvas reveal their more noise-friendly, Merzbow side by coupling analog noises with the sound of someone being tortured before launching into an all out hardcore assault on the brutal "Lord." While giving a nod to grind roots ("Last Prayer for Judas") Canvas are looking forward on most tracks and challenging even the most extreme listeners. As the barriers for extreme music continue to come down it's bands like Canvas that will fill the void left by Brutal Truth. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Breach It's Me God (Metal Blade/Oasis)
Take the huge panoramic vision of mid-era Voivod and Neurosis, mixed with the sense of urgency of hardcore's Coalesce and you get one of the best extreme hardcore/metal releases this year. Fresh out of their contract with Relapse this probably would've felt more at home on Victory as the hardcore influence shines through on every track. All songs are on a midtempo leash as this pack of Swedes lead them into dark, uncharted places. Delightfully brutal! 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Futique Go Low (Shadow)
Futique are Taylor Deupree and Savvas Ysatis, who also record together under the name SETI. As well, Deupree carries on a solo career recording techno tunes under the pseudonymns Prototype 909 and Drum Komputer. However, Go Low is not dancefloor music, but a collection of light bleeps and beats a la "electronica" (hate the term), which means it covers the spectrum from abstract jungle to heavy chill-out. Some journos have even likened it to U.K. artists Black Dog. 7/10 (Krista)
Various Future, Jazz (Instinct)
These days versatility is as important as owning a dual-mode cell phone and being able to switch from the cool-kid to the nine-to-fiver persona in a flash. The musically versatile Future, Jazz is a brilliant collection of trip-hip hop funk flecked with jazz maturity from high profile artists like Innerzone Orchestra, Spacetime Continuum and Count Basic, that fits perfectly into the two realities many of us exist in. 8.5/10 (Krista)
In the same vein as fellow Germans Tied & Tickled Trio and Console, this bunch marry sultry, organic beats and tunage with strands of faxmodem crackle 'n' hiss. The occasional episode of excessive, irritating tech-noise is forgivable next to passages of genuine, understated beauty. The raw, crisp production adds a feel that the musicians are right there in the room. Thing is, the pervasive sense of distance, of being removed, makes that a room a few doors down the hall from the one occupied by the listener. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
This compilation of early EPs and demos further blurs the lines between extreme hardcore and death metal. On the song "fortyonesixtyonefortythree" Canvas reveal their more noise-friendly, Merzbow side by coupling analog noises with the sound of someone being tortured before launching into an all out hardcore assault on the brutal "Lord." While giving a nod to grind roots ("Last Prayer for Judas") Canvas are looking forward on most tracks and challenging even the most extreme listeners. As the barriers for extreme music continue to come down it's bands like Canvas that will fill the void left by Brutal Truth. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Take the huge panoramic vision of mid-era Voivod and Neurosis, mixed with the sense of urgency of hardcore's Coalesce and you get one of the best extreme hardcore/metal releases this year. Fresh out of their contract with Relapse this probably would've felt more at home on Victory as the hardcore influence shines through on every track. All songs are on a midtempo leash as this pack of Swedes lead them into dark, uncharted places. Delightfully brutal! 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Futique are Taylor Deupree and Savvas Ysatis, who also record together under the name SETI. As well, Deupree carries on a solo career recording techno tunes under the pseudonymns Prototype 909 and Drum Komputer. However, Go Low is not dancefloor music, but a collection of light bleeps and beats a la "electronica" (hate the term), which means it covers the spectrum from abstract jungle to heavy chill-out. Some journos have even likened it to U.K. artists Black Dog. 7/10 (Krista)
These days versatility is as important as owning a dual-mode cell phone and being able to switch from the cool-kid to the nine-to-fiver persona in a flash. The musically versatile Future, Jazz is a brilliant collection of trip-hip hop funk flecked with jazz maturity from high profile artists like Innerzone Orchestra, Spacetime Continuum and Count Basic, that fits perfectly into the two realities many of us exist in. 8.5/10 (Krista)