|
Various
As technological advances hurtle humankind forward into the year 2000, we often find ourselves swept along by the consumeristic mantra of "more more more"; we find ourselves so busy with details that the broader picture tends to be obscured. We are here for a limited time. That's a fact. We've got to make an effort to do good, to make a difference, but also, and importantly, to enjoy ourselves. A truly universal language with the capability to transmit to and be understood by people the world over, music is a magical thing we should never take for granted. It has the power to heal, the power to express raw emotion, yet always remains personal in that every listener can interpret what he/she hears-differently. Brooklyn New York's Statra label debuted in 1999 with the Harry The Bastard Presents Club H compilation. Where Statra could easily have brought together some smash hits with guaranteed "selling points" and other market-savy mumbo jumbo, they instead showed their dedication to the music by putting together a lovingly packaged combination of previously released but hard-to-find house and tech house material that spoke volumes. March will see the release of Statra's Paradigm Shift (on CD and 2 X LP), the imprint's very first original artist release. Featured are 12 cuts of quality electronic music, two tracks each from the six artists who will release full length albums on Statra over the next year. Lypid. Susumu Yokota. Denver McCarthy. Supersoul. Laurent Brondel. Jeff Sharel. Some will recognize a number of these names, while others might find all of them new. The important thing is the music itself, and not whether the performer's name is familiar: Does this release make a difference? Has it been injected with value? Is it worth it? Rest assured, Statra's Paradigm Shift delivers. Giving the compilation its title and kicking things off is Lypid's uptempo "Paradigm Shift" and its downtempo counterpart, "Uptown", shows this artist's ability to handle both styles with ease. Out the same day as this compendium is the "Stratospheric" EP from Lypid which features a bonus cut and remixes of the title track from Henrik B (a techno reinterpretation) and Jonah Sharp's Spacetime Continuum. Susumu Yokota, with many respected electronic music releases on a wide variety of labels in the 1990s, contributes the atmospheric "Kodomotachi" and "Genshi", a mimimal yet warm techno piece. In the same vibe is Denver McCarthy's "First Reflections", whereas his "Rainbow City" is invigorating electro. Supersoul brings on the alien funk, Jeff Sharel dabbles in exotic forward-house and juicy jazz textures, and Laurent Brondel represents with the uber-chic of "Turtleneck" juxtaposing this with his "Happiness", a snappy electro thumper with orchestral flourishes and a nod to the city of Detroit. These future-focused songs are engaging, innovative, and shot through with the passion of musicians who live a heartfelt compulsion to express themselves. Prepare to immerse yourself in the sound. Then breathe deep, dive in, and enjoy Statra's Paradigm Shift. --Andrew Duke Back to album/book reviews index |
