Nonwrestler Blog

weekly mp3 #18: Ten and Tracer - Kunstenaar

The largely excellent label Archipel gives us this week's tune as part of the ridiculously named, free EP L-Msaria B-Lglass. Gah. If it's a nod to Autechre-style titling nonsense it's not to be encouraged. Mind you, at least Autechre's titles suggest some kind of playfulness. Just seems funny to have song titles you can't say.

Kunstenaar is soft and fuzzy textural electronic stuff. Archipel is almost all techno and the choice of sounds and rhythms points that way. Tiny percussion sounds are scattered around rounded, bass drums knocking out a largely regular doof doof doof doof on every beat. An off-beat skank and a bassline that's not only longer than one bar but changes at various times (my gosh!) suggest more of a reggae feel, though.

When I first heard American producer Ten and Tracer his music was more trad "IDM", fitting in with the sound of the heavyweights on Warp Records and wherever else. This EP puts him more in the territory of Jan Jelinek, Murcof, et al - bods making stuff which shows an interest in techy house stuff, but which is really still focused primarily on texture and home listening. That still fits the uncomfortable remit of "intelligent dance music", if you take that tag at face value, i.e. bourgeois music that uses the sounds of dance music but doesn't want you to get sweaty, boozed or your freak on.

Haha, watch my neuroses about the way my own music could be criticised played out in blog-space! ;) In fairness to Mr Canupp, his "about" page suggests he doesn't take himself too seriously. :)

Labels: music, weekly mp3

Posted at 13:10