Album Review: Fabric 45 - various mixed by Claude VonStroke

Claude VonStroke has something of an identity problem. His breakthrough track 'Who's Afraid Of Detroit', with it's spooky, spacious take on minimal and Detroit techno, was met with pretty much universal acclaim. It was the kind of track any DJ could get away with dropping. Yet whilst VonStroke's 'The Whistler' managed to garner a certain degree of attention it certainly didn't achieve the same level of acclaim.

VonStroke, or Barclay Crenshaw to give him his proper name, started making hip-hop and got into house and techno after being forced to write the soundtrack for a documentary he helped make on superstar DJs. Unable to afford to license music from the DJs themselves VonStroke and his fellow collaborators on the film wrote and made all the music themselves, replicating the style of each DJ. Given his background, a lack of identity is perhaps a little understandable - he has neither managed to create a great artist album nor is he regarded as a truly great DJ. A least not yet.

Because Fabric 46 is actually a pretty consistent and coherent mix. Odd, given VonStroke's history and his own assertion that this mix deliberately a mixture of styles. It's a testament to the sequencing then that the likes of the sleazy Detroit Grand Pubahs' 'Big Onion' manage to sit in a mix that also dabbles in strings (in the fantastic instrumental dub of Kiki's 'Immortal') and contains touches of jazz (Robag Whrume's tech-house 'Guppipepitsche') and the intelligent noodling of two Stimming tracks.  Claude has deliberately twisted this mix in on itself and chopped the tracks up to the point where the whole thing flows.

Fabric 46 is another tech-house mix and whilst it is varied Claude VonStroke hasn't exactly torn up the rule book here. What he has done however is construct a mix that progresses and does far more and with more consistency than many others could do within the confines of the genres visited throughout the album.

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Album Review: Kitsuné Tabloid - Various selected by Phoenix

In a departure for Kitsuné this is neither remotely dance related nor mixed. It is a compilation in the classic sense, as Phoenix select a range of songs - almost all of which are at least ten years old (usually more) - that they love and that inspire them.

Being the well mannered possessors of catholic taste that they are, Phoenix's first compilation is a considered, methodical and, most of all, utterly beautiful affair. From the opening strains of Kiss' 'Love Theme From Kiss' the latest Kitsuné Tabloid (Digitalism provided the first) is like losing yourself in a good book. It's a journey full of texture and detail and feeling beyond that which should be provided by a mere Tabloid.

As you might expect from Phoenix the overall sound oozes intelligent sensuality. The sublime 'Rise Above' from The Dirty Projectors is a case in point - unbelievably for an artist that specializes in covering Black Flag records they have never heard it is a gorgeous piece of folk music with the kind of falsetto vocals that will soon have you making a fool of yourself when no-one is watching.

Pretty much every track is a highlight - whilst Elvis Costello & The Attractions' morose 'Shipbuilding', Urge Overkill's 'Stull (Part One)', Irma Thomas' 'It's Raining' and Lou Reed's stunning 'Street Hassle' stick in BlackPlastic's head but there are plenty more gems here. Oh, and of course Tangerine Dream's 'Love On A Real Train' is always gorgeous as well.

Phoenix have described this album as selfish - it's just what they would make for themselves. What's great is that in the hands of the right person, the selfish album they make for themslves is the most interesting. It's autobiographical and it's genuine.

BP x

Available on Amazon.co.uk on CD (not available on MP3 yet as far as BlackPlastic knows, plus the artwork is lovely).

Album Review: FabricLive 45 - Various mixed by A-Trak

After making his name winning the world DMC mixing chanpionships and then as Kanye West's tour DJ A-Trak has gradually taken a sideways step towards a much more dance orientated sound. FabricLive 45 reflects that, taking the eclecticism of Hip-Hop (and Turntabilism more specifically) an applying it to what is largely a house set.

The results are pretty solid, if not necessarily innovative. Except for a handful of through backs most of the tunes themselves are pretty current and generally good, with the notable exception of the auto-tuned 'I'm The Ish' by DJ Class which makes Kanye's last album look like Sign o' The Times it's so shit (appropriate given the lyrics) - not even good in an ironic sense.

Predictably Zombie Nation, Alex Gopher and Metronomy, whose 'Heartbreaker' gets a spooky remix courtesy of Diskjokke (when did that name ever sound like a good idea?), all deliver the goods. With a mix between the squealling electro Zombie Nation have become known for together with more straight up house (the lush Aeroplane mix of Friendly Fires' 'Paris') the result is a suitably varied set.

The main criticism of FabricLive 45 would have to be that such variation ends up in a set that could simply do with a little more direction. It represents a good snapshot of 'now' but is unlikely to keep you coming back in years to come. What's more, given that this is a set from a World DMC Champion the mixing is functional over mind-blowing: this isn't to say it's bad, just that it isn't a noticeable as one might expect.

Overall a solid mix, just don't expect a revolution.

BP x

Album Review: Fabric 45 - Omar S

Double Fabric props this week with a look at the next two Fabric albums. First up: Fabric 45 mixed by Omar S.

Less a mix album, more a continuous career retrospective: Fabric 45 takes its cue from Ricardo Villalobos' and Pure Science's sets, featuring no tracks from other artists. An outsider in his own scene (and hometown of Detroit) Omar S has long refused to compromise on quality or delivery and it is from this quest for perfection that the approach for Fabric 45 was derived: in the Omar's opinion these are simply the best tracks in the past few years. A bold statement.

It is always a dangerous path for a mix - it paid dividends in Villalobos' case as the variety in his own work shone through but it is difficult to imagine many artists who would benefit from some variety in this type of setting.

Omar S' disc is an interesting one. Initially dry, if excellently paced, what starts out as a fairly straight forward techno mix soon starts throwing in the curve balls. Whilst the general quality of the techno is great it probably wouldn't be able to sustain BlackPlastic's interest all on its own.

The changes are subtle - So 'U' adds a vocal and jacking, funky acid line, 'Oasis 13 1/2' veers close to house with a simple piano refrain and a skippy garage beat and 'The Maker' is soulful with a deep house female vocal. Best of all, Fabric 45 ends on proper full on house track 'Set Me Out' - it sounds like vintage Masters At Work (yes, before they lost the magic) with soulful male vocals and female BVs backed with a lovely minimal (small 'm') house beat... It really is that good and the fact the tunes are created on all analogue equipment really comes through.

The homegrown variety in this mix lifts it from being just quite good to great, turning it into much more than just another techno mix.

Available at Amazon.co.uk

BP x

Comment: Teen Creep - James Kane

Twin Peaks' Agent Dale Cooper advised his partner on the show, Sheriff Truman, that you should give yourself one treat a day, even if that treat is just a real cup of coffee. It's a mantra BlackPlastic tries to stick to and today, dear readers, you can start living the life of glory that I do by downloading James Kane's glorious Teen Creep mix from fellow blogger Kitsune Noir.

Aside from a couple of ever so slightly rough transitions the only criticism that could be levelled at this mix is that it is too damn short. In less than 40 minutes you will have taken in some recent destined-to-be-classics (Appaloosa) and some genuine-classics (Roy Parker Jr.'s 'Ghost Busters' or Prince's 'Erotic City') and the result is always pleasingly consistent. This mix has an electronic dream-like vibe throughout that really is fantastic so go and check it out.

James also has some more music and remixes (some of the tracks on this mix have felt his loving touch already) over on his MySpace and at his site and I would recommend checking them out.

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