Just in time for the holidays is the reissue of V/Vm Test Records' veryfirst Christmas single! Included on the new 3" are all six tracks fromthe original 7" single plus a brand new Christmas treat for 2001: atimeless terrible Paul McCartney tune that time forgot, "Pipes ofPeace". Sure, we all know that the Stockport crew are a bunch of hacks,but there's something amazingly charming about the sounds of deformedclassics threadded through hosts of effects, banks and glitches alongwith creepy new takes on irritating joyous songs unavoidable like thatSalvation Army guy with the bell who won't stop. After a long day ofavoiding grouchy drivers, pushy shoppers and everything else that comesalong with the holiday season, it's nice to throw on something hauntinglike Animal's "Oil Come All Ye Industrial" or the chopped-up audiocollage of Prof. Broxburn's "Christmas Fractions and Brandy Snaps" atunbearingly loud volumes. I think that's even James and Andy singingkaraoke on the V/Vm live show 1997 track! And to think these guys claimto have never heard of Nurse With Wound!
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Solid State is, without a doubt, the best IDM album released in 2001.Now, them's fightin' words, I know - but let us consider thecontenders. Brothomstates' "Claro" was an excerise in derivativenesswhich went absolutely nowhere. "Drukqs"? No, thank you, 1996 was fiveyears ago. "Confield"? Very interesting and pushing experimentalboundaries, but not something you listen to often. "Double Figure"?Now, there's a contender, but.. anyway, Solid State rules. The twoDutch brothers known as Funckarma have singlehandedly tapped into thatamazing Tri Repetae-style of IDM, added some real instruments, and madean album that sounds brand new while feeling delightfully familiar.What I'm trying to say is that Solid State is clearly influenced by themasters, Autechre - but never so much that it sounds like a ripoff orsomething unoriginal (*cough* Funkstorung). What really sets it apart,though, is the beautiful (and real) instrumentation - upright bass in"Lolala," sighing violins in "Bace"... lush sounds that give it anorganic edge the likes of which you only find in something like, say,Plaid's latest album. But electronic-noodling fans, fear not, sinceSolid State delivers those goods too: just listen to "Nuncas" and feelthe way the synth squiggles between your ears.... it's classic. Trulyclassic. These guys clearly aren't getting the recognition they deserve.
You know those collaborations you read or hear about and you think toyourself 'now that's gonna be cool' but then you finally hear it andare completely underwhelmed? Ok then, lets file this one in that bin. 
Before you fill out that brainwashed poll's category of "bestcompilation," make sure you own this collection. If you are stillunconvinced the Chicago-based Hefty Records is one of the strongestmodern electornic music labels, then this compilation will surelychange your mind. 'Immediate Action' was first reported on The Brainabout a year ago, as a series of limited 12" singles which suddenlypopped up in record stores and clubs all over the world. The premisewas to manufacture and distribute all the records quick, sinking littleor no money into artwork and promotion. The result was an assortment offine singles from Tortoise's John Herndon's dub guise A Grape Dope, theorganic live jazz and post-production electronic manipulations ofSamadha Trio, the hypnotic electornic Retina from Italy, the deepechoes of Twine, and Savath + Savalas - the now legendary and muchsought after project from Prefuse 73/Delarosa and Asora mastermindScott Heren. Along with these came a bit of remix work of John Hughesfrom the 'Scarlet Diva' by people like the Scott Heren and theundisputable Telefon Tel Aviv as well as a Slicker collaboration withthe Aluminum Group. For the most part, all records were gone as quicklyas they came in. For the CD release, the song collection has beennoticably truncated, missing A Grape Dope's "Time Makes You Suffer";Retina's "No Escape from Paradise"; plus "Hour 36" and "Loki" fromSamadha Trio. Consequently, 'bonus' tracks are included like unusedremixes and tracks from Bogdan Raczynski, Beneath Autumn Sky, andRetina. The end result is a fine assortment totalling over two hours ofsome of my favorite depth-penetrating electronics which never getboring, predictable or mundane. Those music fans who have addictivecollector tendencies should act soon if they want the bonus 12" that'savailable to accompany the comp., I don't know what's on it yet butyears from now it'll be a fine, much sought-after prize in yourcollection.
Time travel the easy way: just follow the beat and dive into nostalgia.The early 80's are present just like Vicious Pink Phenomena (ViciousPink later on) or Ensemble Pittoresque never went away. As hommage, TheHacker (Michel Amato) incorporates parts of Memorabila (Soft Cell) andI Feel Love (D. Summer / G. Moroder), but that`s about it withwellknown reference points.
Doing a search for this band on the internet is frustrating for obviousreasons. But what I can gather is that the band is the brainchild ofTom Crossley of Appendix Out fame and Annabel Wright (Aggi from thePastels, of which Tom is a more recent member). It is also the work ofa rotating group of musicians working with Wright and Crossley at hishome, and mixed with nice studio help from John McEntire. Fitting,since the music has a very Tortoise-like vibe to it, but with morevocals by Crossley and Wright. It's loungey, it's relaxing, and it allhas a nice groove anyone can fix on for a time. About half of therecord is instrumental only, and it is on these tracks where most ofthe power of International Airport lies. The tracks with vocals arefine, but tend to be more of the basic pop song structure through theInternational Airport kaleidoscope. This tends to make them a bit morestructured, where this music works best without that sense ofdefinition. The exception to this being the second track, "movingwater," which is just plain beautiful. Wright has a section of the songall to her voice, then Crossley gets his counterpoint, singing partsall his own. The end of the song pares back down to instruments only:majestic, solitary, magic. As a whole, the album possesses a quietpassion that makes it a worthwhile listen. Is it the best record I'veheard this year? No. But there's plenty of potential here...
Jazzkammer are the Norwegian duo Lasse Marhaug and John Hegre. Aftertwo albums they've opted to make the third a collection of remixes forthe Smalltown Supersound label. This means they have more time forsnowball fights or whatever it is they do to keep themselves amusedwhen they're not creating collages of glitch, noise, pop, static andthose little pasta stars that are good in soup. Although this is acollection of remixes, it holds together pretty well as an album takingin candle flicker glitchscapes from relatively unknown Norwegians, bigloping looping international laptop noise eruptions from Pita, ZbigniewKarkowski and Merzbow and some deep haunting ambience from FranciscoLÑpez and Reynols. The biggest name amongst mixers is Thurston Moore(didn't he used to play kazoo for the Butthole Surfers or something?)and after I picked up a great little free jazz freak out Schneiderremix of his from a bargain bin, I was curious to hear what he'd get upto here. He basically hacks up a lot of noise skree with cackhandedscratch attacks on jazz and disco cheese and the effect is like quicklytuning a radio dial whilst all the stations are broadcastingcompetitions for the worst DJ on the most fucked up turntable. Somepeople in very popular rock bands obviously don't take themselves asseriously as Radiohead, for which I'm grateful! 
The "Anti NY" compilation gathers seven songs by bands from the early80s scene that centered around the New York City's Mudd Club (perhapsbest known these days for its invocation in the negative by TalkingHeads, i.e."This ain't no..."). The sound stems from the collision ofpunk, disco and electronic noise that coincided with No Wave (bandslike the Contortions or DNA) and the beginnings of rap. While the songsare certainly fantastic, I can only offer a qualified recommendationfor this comp due to the needless inclusion of five "remixes" at theend that do little more than take up space. 
