|
Frankly you could have beaten me senseless and the smile brought about by this release would still have remained fixed and beaming brightly. Those with memories stretching back - ooh - a month or two ago may well remember us fondly waxing lyrical about Cheju’s ‘A rainy mile’ EP for Static Caravan. Since then there’s been an explosion of activity at Chez Cheju (Wil Bolton) what with the ‘Despite all resolutions’ EP available from Camomile (http://camomille.genshimedia.com/091.htm); a live split with Mint available via Kahvi at www.kahvi.org/110.php and his debut full length ‘Pica’ for Unlabel as part of their ongoing Series 52 catalogue (which is basically the issue of a weekly release by an artist not normally associated with Unlabel - each edition limited to just 100 cd-r pressings - subscriptions are still up for grabs - check www.unlabel.net for more information). Okay that’s the recent history out of the way. Cheju as said previously is none other than Wil Bolton a London based producer / musician and label owner (Boltfish Records - home of Statskcartsa, Mint, Infinite Scale, Lum, October Man etc….) who seems to delight in wiling away his days constructing and despatching his delicately absorbing electronic hatchlings to all fortunate enough to hear them. Pressed on an orange CD and housed in a homemade cream and gold sleeve designed by the man himself, this tasty 5 track outing is ridiculously limited to just 50 copies and only available via Norman Records (www.normanrecords.com) for a measly 95p plus postage (surely some mistake there?) and sure to have sold out faster than the time it takes you to say where my feckin credit card given that the labels previous 10 releases have a flown the coup in record time (well one of them was limited to just 7 copies). As said - five sublime slices of electronics and treated guitar ear wear lovingly inhabit this set that by our reckoning are of a better and more honed standing than those found orbiting that tremendous Static release (see above). The set opens with the grand sounding ‘Data Packet’ a stately slice of something else pop, all at once contemplative, drifting, lulling and creative wise expansive to the point it as though you are being lovingly smothered by an ever consuming and ever evolving (texture wise) hermetically sealed lunar-esque bubble of delights. Chamber like initially it soon begins to unfurl into a deliciously affectionate cocktail of glacial pirouettes and Oriental regalness with temptingly treading squelching beats that converge to gently tweak the mid 80’s standard bearing Harold Faltermayer euro electro pop axis while at varying points sublimely cross referencing elements of Japan (’Tin Drum’), Manual, Portal and the lushly vibrant ambient folds more common of Yellow 6. The aching ‘Sundial’ is more skeletally honed in terms of texture, execution and delivery, bobbling around in its own lonesome orbit it could be a tearfully mournful post scripting overture for a long forgotten celestial beach front contrast those moods with the classic metronomic chassis of ’Outdubstarn’ with its ‘Autobahn’ era Kraftwerk meets early career Jean Michel Jarre mindset as though paired down into a cerebra dissolving kaleidoscopic sonic experiment blurred with the suggestion of vague acid / house crossovers with Fly’s 70’s retro induced motorik ’Put the needle down and fly’ used as a key overriding template onto which Sonic Boom crafts his hypnotic states of tranquillity. The atmospheric sounds capes and subtle house / club overlays hinted within are coaxed seductively to the fore by a superbly scored remix of the same track by Mint. Elsewhere not forgetting the wonderfully lilting ‘Casiotonic’ which like ‘Sundial’ previously courts an element of sad eyed seaside ballrooms, think TV test card signatures given a lullaby-esque polish by Raymond Scott with ISAN on hand to twiddle with the analogue controls - one suspects that toasters and other electrical instruments may well see this as ’lurve’ music - you have been warned. Absolutely recommended. www.members.lycos.co.uk/octoberman or www.cheju.co.uk
MARK BARTON
|
