REVIEW: Andrea Parker, Kiss My Arp (Mo Wax)
- I.K. MacLeod
The title is a reference to a vintage keyboard, but is the sound and feel of this album are what end up aging gracefully. It is an extremely well thought out release, which explains why it took four years of studio tinkering to complete. It has an introspective, as opposed to an indulgent, DJs touch with the added bonus of blending pure emotion seamlessly with underlying sophisticated sonic themes.
"The Unknown" sets the mood, with it's deep percussion and gloomy atmosphere that winds around her vocals. "Clutching at Straws" continues along the same path, sounding like the soundtrack to a European thriller. "In Two Minds" has a dense hard-house sound that is not overbearing or angry and "Sneeze" was constructed of the sudden spasmodic reflex of breath caught on DAT. It is all techno enhanced with a classical sensibility, exemplified by the lush orchestral sweeps of Wil Malone on "Return of the Rocking Chair." The songs are strong evidence that Andrea's voice was made for her own eclectic mixes, while the instrumentals (like the epic "Melodious Thunk") can stand firmly on their own deep grooves and reliable rhythms.
It all adds up to an adventurous mix of Massive Attack ("Breaking the Code") through the ears of a well behaved Aphex Twin ("Some Other Level"). It's a deep and rich dish of raw isolationism that is best served with your favourite set of headphones.
