30 October, 2008
Evangeline


Mary-Anne Hobbs is the self-described "firebrand at the helm of the pioneering experimental electronic show" on Britain's Radio1... "reppin' next generation dubstep, grime, drum&bass, hip-hop, techno, and radical electronic flavaz in every form..." (Myspace; Wikipedia; BBC Radio1; blog;) -- questionable cult-of-personality notwithstanding, she seems to do a bloody good job of promoting cutting-edge electronica, not least through her radio documentary Dubstep Souljahs.

A couple of years ago she put together a reasonably well-known, well-received and well-regarded compilation called "Warrior Dubz"; a couple of months ago the follow-up to that called "Evangeline" was released on Planet Mu. Largely dubstep and grime tunes, however the album is structurally centered around a looooooong track from Ben Frost (pictured, left) called "Theory of Machines" which is remarkable for a couple of reasons:
Ben Frost -- Theory of Machines
  1. It's long. 10 minutes out of an ~80 minute compilation is a big commitment.
  2. While I'm fine with the track being regarded as electronica, it's hardly mainstream; it's not dubstep, or grime, or anything else that falls under the banner of the compilation's theme. In fact, I can easily see it being quite challenging to many of the compilation's listeners. Minimalist drone noise glitchtronica? Have a listen -- it sounds like Birchville Cat Motel (R.I.P.) jamming with Tim Hecker at the Yellow Swans' place.
In addition, the following track by Flying Lotus ("Flattery (Sympathy for the Biters)") is also quite a combative piece of music. While not in the same basket as the Ben Frost track, its characteristic arrythmia-inducing beat-fest asyncopations are no easy listen:
Flying Lotus -- Flattery (Sympathy for the Biters)
So. 10 minutes (or 12, if you include the Flying Lotus track) of the 80 total in a progressive finger-on-the pulse electronica compilation given over to "our" kinda music. That my friends is a very big win. Unintentional, sure, but still a win.

blogpost :: by Stephen Clover   comments (3)


at 31 October, 2008 11:54, Blogger brad rose said...
that comp sounds pretty interesting, and she usually plays some pretty weirdo shit on her radio show. i remember last year her playing one of the xela tracks from the xela/north sea LP which was so far beyond any kind of electronica and a lot closer to noise than anything.

pretty cool about the ben frost track, though.  

at 02 November, 2008 03:10, Blogger stephen said...
I really need to get that xela/north sea LP :)  

at 02 November, 2008 06:05, Blogger brad rose said...
i need a bigger fucking box! LPs + bags of cookies are not conducive to being mailed together, let me tell you.  
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