Wildplanet Transmitter 430 West 3/99 [CAT#??] The name Simon J. Hartley doesn't bring immediate recognition, but when the Burden brothers of Detroit's 430 West Records released the "Synthetic"/"Moving On" 12" from Wildplanet last August, people took notice. In the vein of Octave One and the Is-it-House? Is-It- Tech House? Is-It-Techno? quandary, these two warm wigglers were easy to appreciate--and the work of Mr. Hartley. The big discussion was why did the Wildplanet name seem familiar? Turns out, six years ago Hartley recorded two EPs and a full length as Wildplanet for the reputable Warp. He then went on to record as Feedback (for Fnac, F Communications, and Planet Rhythm), a 12" for Hybrid under his birthname, and as Kindred Spirit for Brute. Hartley has experience and it shows on his second LP, "Transmitter". Over 14 tracks, there's a variety of tempos, moods, and styles: techno, tech house, electro, and experimental downtempo material reminiscent of Speedy J's less-noisey work. There's cuts for the DJs--both 4/4 and trickier rhythms--and it's quite listenable at home as well. The key here is the balance involved: just when you notice he's tipped his hat to Kraftwerk on one song, he goes new school on you; dark basslines in others are soon ridden by bright keys. Look for a remix of "Genetic" to be released as the album's second single, and seek out his other projects. Before his move from England to Stockholm, former LFOer Mark Bell was his best friend. Now settled in in Sweden, Hartley's joined up with the Lucky People Center, a group of likeminded artists who work in music and film; there's a LP out on Beverage. Hartley says a "hard electro" 12" done with LPC member Jean Louis Huhta (aka Cosmic Nigger on the Danish Dance Cop imprint) may be pressed soon on Stockholm's a P.M.S. plan imprint. Hartley's will likely be a name you'll be quoting when you put together your best of '99 list. --Andrew Duke More Wildplanet: Interview to air on an upcoming edition of In The Mix. Read what 430 West and Octave One's Lawrence Burden has to say about Wildplanet here. Back to album reviews index