Ceniq – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Mixes/Remixes) {ep/lp release #18}

Artist: Ceniq
Title:
D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Mixes/Remixes)
Label:
 Milk
Catalog #:
ep/lp release #18
Release Date:
2001/03/28


Review by O.Paasovaara:

I have heard many mixes in my life but some of the tracks on this EP made me wonder what the word “mix” actually means. Obviously the concept is likewise a bit blurry to Roger That Jr. whose mixes have absolutely nothing to do with the original “D. Exiguus Was Wrong”. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing, quite the opposite. Then again, Lime and Vhiiula went the other way and made somewhat more typical mixes which balances the EP nicely.

The EP starts off with Lime’s nice and mellow track. After listening to those relaxing pads and steady beat I wondered what the hell is going on when RTJ’s “Radio Mix 1” began to play. The broken speech synth and stoned harddrive sounds just made me go nanners. The third track is also from RTJ’s obviously deviated mind and continues with the “original? what original?” line. This one isn’t plain experimental noise like the second track but more like noisy ambient with something that could perhaps be described as melody. Moving on to the fourth track was quite a shock for me as it went back to the more typical way of remixing. Vhiiula’s mix is a bit like Lime’s but only a tad. Lime’s mix is mellow and steady all the way but Vhiiula went for the original’s style mixing up a calm melody with medium fast beats. The fifth and last piece on this mixes & remixes EP is by the man himself, Ceniq. Again the lets-forget-D.-Exiguus approach is there. This “C Side” is something I didn’t expect from Ceniq because it’s quiteaggressive and without a proper melody. Strangely this one turned out to be my favourite of the five tunes.

Long story short “D. Exiguus Was Wrong (Mixes & Remixes)” is a collection of tracks that have almost nothing to do with each other except for the fact that they are music (at least some of them). In my opinion that is the reason why the EP works so well. “Brilliant” is one of the words that come to my mind at the moment.

Review by Jan Robbe:

1. Ceniq – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Bulentoi Mix)
Lime/Bulentoi did the first remix of ceniq’s excellent tune. The result is a fine ambient piece with a lot of strings, and a typical relaxed everchanging beat (samples reminded me of BrothomStates). No innovation, though a nice tune.
84%

2. Ceniq – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Roger That Jr. Radio Edit 1)
3. Ceniq – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Roger That Jr. Radio Edit 2)
These are different, we’re going way experimental here. Packed with infinite sound effects, Roger That Jr. managed to create 2 original pieces that have atmosphere written all over it. The second edit is more melodic and perhaps more mysterious than the first, which I think has better effects… Definately worth your downloading time if you’re into experiments…
85%
87%

4. Ceniq – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Vhiiula Mix)
Vhiiula brings us a happy piano-tune with complicated breaks and a lot of samples. Subtle tempochanges and dsp effects make up for the repetitive melody. I love the breaks… 🙂
89%

5. Ceniq – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (C Side)
C Side brings us back to the experimental side of this EP. The beats and bassline (?) are very chaotic, but in a good way. Quality haunting noisy sound effects. Short but long enough (2:37), and a nice ending.
92%


Tracklist:
01 – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Bulentoi Mix)
02 – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Roger That Jr. Radio Edit 1)
03 – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Roger That Jr. Radio Edit 2)
04 – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (Vhiiula Mix)
05 – D.Exiguus Was Wrong (C Side)

Artwork:
Front Cover

Additional Files:
ceniq-d.exiguus_was_wrong_(mixes_&_remixes)_info [TXT]


md – Sweaty Palms {mtk050}

Artist: md
Title:
Sweaty Palms
Label:
Monotonik
Catalog #:
mtk050
Release Date:
2001/03/27


His last release on Monotonik was wayback when we were putting out .MODs, so it’s a delight to finally put out another tune from Helsinki native, Jaakko Manninen, aka md, and as our 50th Monotonik release, too.

Now residing in London, his “Appelsap” mp3-release was put out on CD by Merck Records recently, including some great remixes from Thug, Ilkae, Crankshaft (Yolk!), and even Warp-signed Brothomstates, and his “Between Gaps” opus, formerly due out as the first release on the scrapped Monotonik ‘real-life’ record label, is now due in the near future from Merck (and is well worth the wait!)

In any case, “Sweaty Palms” is a great example of the new and way-ahead md style, dense as feck and full of foreboding bassrumble and cut-to-heck drums and Finnish voices. It grooves, but in an unholy way, and we like this, like it a lot.


Credits:
cover by rents


Tracklist:
01 – Sweaty Palms

Artwork:
Front Cover


License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial 1.0 Generic (CC BY-ND-NC 1.0)


Published
Categorized as Md Tagged

Pendle – Caffeine Low {mtw020}

Artist: Pendle
Title:
Caffeine Low
Label:
Mono211
Catalog #:
mtw020
Release Date:
2001/03/16


We’re very proud to present the first Mono211 release from UK musician Pendle, who’s also known as Idmonster for his more idm-ish, _reallysmart_ forthcoming releases on Monotonik.

But who is this Pendle wallah? Well, having formerly been a member of the excellent dream-pop band, Butterfly Child, who were major-label signed in the early 90s, Pendle then went his own way, working on projects as diverse as working with Laurie Anderson, conducting a German birdsong symphony (?!), and soundtracking Sony Playstation TV adverts. And now he’s gracing Mono with his presence, and we thank him.

In any case, “Caffeine Low” is a Mono211 doozie, a string-filled paean to coffee drinkers everywhere, with shuffling beats and a gorgeous bowed lead, and the end-product sounding a bit like late 90s triphop-meisters Archive (who were, coincidentally, also Playstation advert soundtrackers.) Air violin-ing is permitted, but just this once, got it?


Credits:
cover by pendle


Tracklist:
01 – Caffeine Low

Artwork:
Front Cover


License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial 1.0 Generic (CC BY-ND-NC 1.0)


Aereal – Connect {mtk049}

Artist: Aereal
Title:
Connect
Label:
Monotonik
Catalog #:
mtk049
Release Date:
2001/03/10


A debut of distinction, this, as a brand-new artist from the UK, Aereal, kindly grabs our attention with this emotional “Connect”-ion that truly shines.

Reminiscent of the rangiest early 90s material from dark canines and their ilk, “Connect” blends the background industrial clank to the lushest of strings and percussive clicks to make, honestly, one of the dreamiest tracks we’ve put out in ages. And if Aereal isn’t significantly more well-known, significantly quickly, we’ll eat our post-ironic DJ Touche-style cloth cap.


Credits:
cover by rents


Tracklist:
01 – Connect

Artwork:
Front Cover


License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial 1.0 Generic (CC BY-ND-NC 1.0)