| NARCOTIC SYNTAX | |
| The Emotional Maximum | |
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Selected review excerpts Provocative Percussion 2x12"EP (WIR 005)
(…) "Provocative Percussion" is a double maxi that introduces a percussion play to us that sounds as if some tropical-style Funk has passed through sophisticated Latin and merengoid rhythms (…). The whole thing has been achieved with the skills of a well-lubricated orchestra (…). A record which is reminiscent of those Disco-Discos with live bands and much sweat in the arena.
With the most interesting title "Provocative Percussion", Narcotic Syntax appear on WIR, one of the most promising labels lately. In 2x12" format and with four themes of imposing titles like "Blast Excavation", "Fusión Nuclear", "Descarga Narcótica" and "Lumbago Groove", the German binomial formed by James Dean Brown and yapacc brews a sophisticated and exotic sonorous minimal-maximal-cocktail based on Click Funk House while touching Latin and tropical styles and vindicating the sound of the 50es and 60es. Moving away completely from the conventions of present dance music, they produced an eminently organic and classic, emotional and seductive work, but contrary to how it could seem, directed to the club. However, the walls of an average club hardly will have the pleasure listening to virtuoso structures and pernicious rhythm themes like these, unless the DJ on duty is ace.
(…) The work is excellent and very novel. In order to realize "Descarga Narcótica", the aid of Carsten Skov (member of the crazy combo Señor Coconut) and several Piña Coladas was invaluable. (…) "Blast Excavation" is without doubt closest to a dance track, and "Fusión Nuclear" is deliciously extravagant (…). WIR never leaves the listener unimpressed, and counting on the presence of artists like Narcotic Syntax in their ranks, even less.
•••••••• out of 10
Narcotic Syntax are known for a somewhat arcane sound on their Perlon releases. The "Provocative Percussion" EP on WIR is far away from the previous, vocal-heavy single, indeed, but once again the level of obscurity has been enhanced here. (…) "Fusion Nuclear" und "Blast Excavation" are strongly percussive and very exceptional concerning the beats arrangement. This record is more than a homage to bygone times and completely reinterprets the beach bar Caipirinha feeling. Sun, beach, more of that!
•••• out of 5
"Provocative Percussion" explains everything! Narcotic Syntax, already known for their kind of Chicago brand of funky and bizarre Perlon output, this time omit the vocals and focus solely on rhythm! Nearly scientific, but not too detached. For your body and your soul. Electronic dance music composed of almost any kind of percussion instrument samples you can imagine, whether membranophones or idiophones or whatever. Narcotic funky tracks, that may sound Free Jazz-alike, Post Punk or reveal some Latino grooves. For instance "Descarga Narcotica" with marimba and vibraphone improvisations by Carsten Skov (member of Señor Coconut combo) is pure Latin-Jazz-Techno!
(…) This 4-tracker on WIR is the shit supreme. As you may have concluded from the title, percussion makes out the main part of these four side-long workouts. All four are good and not near as minimal as you would expect from these guys' previous outings. "Fusión Nuclear" even has some motorik touches to it. But "Descarga Narcotica", with its improvised marimba and vibraphone parts, is the one that will positively set the dance floor on fire. Recommended!
(…) The tracks are working beyond the expectations of the listener, at the same time over-delivering them, thus produce "provocative percussion", indeed. Narcotic Syntax never generate a simple confrontation of old and new, neither a mere experimental test arrangement, in fact they invent a very particular kick – and a very peculiar esprit.
(…) Like a Samba orchestra without soul and heart they keep playing monotonously and soulless, without understanding why.
Perlon act prod. long trippin' + percussive groovin' Tech House.
(…) Reaching for the 50es/60es exotic corner, (James Dean Brown and yapacc) unearth aplenty of breaks and acoustic percussion samples which define the position of "Provocative Percussion" within the scope of the basically technoid sound. "Blast Excavation" already propels energetically, while "Fusión Nuclear" combines a functional, straight beat with metallically scraping sounds and nervous drumming. In contrast, "Descarga Narcotica" develops a little quieter, creating a surreal dream atmosphere out of drums and electronic elements before "Lumbago Groove" provides some fine, finishing percussion fireworks by means of Disco hand claps, a nicely reduced bass line and much ballyhoo.
••• out of 3
Already when listening to the opening track it is clear that ("Provocative Percussion") is about tracks that are breaking ranks. One percussion attribute beats another, nevertheless all tracks appear pleasantly ergonomic. "Fusión Nuclear", reminding of some "Orange" titles on M_nus, catapults the listener to an energetic atmosphere. With a breeze of whirlwind, exact drum inferno and euphorizing soundscape effects, Narcotic Syntax achieve a propulsive, rhythmical impetus. Very lively! •••• out of 5
(…) The club tools on "Provocative Percussion" discharge exactly what the title implies: challenging sounds through percussion! With Luciano & Ricardo Villalobos lapping these tracks up, it's sure to get more people listening to them. An EP of unusually inventive use of percussion giving birth to punchy, progressive, quirky beats!
(…) "Fusión Nuclear" is geared to classical 50es Exotica recordings, catapulting them to a rough and rapid Techno outfit with a steadily increasing percussion curve. Initially very gloomy, with booming timpani and deeply throbbing metal, ("Descarga Narcotica") takes off to become an exotic Jazz number by cue of the beat and Carsten Skov's perfect vibraphone play. It's a pity that there isn't more of that on this record!
Inventive, tangled percussion that has pricked the ears and buttered up the dancefloors of Luciano & Villalobos! Narcotic Syntax are not indulging in any misdirection with this release – the title calls it percussion and it is indeed pure percussion. These are club tools not songs (unlike their recent work on Perlon). Narcotic Syntax are, however, indulging in their customary eccentricity. In a sharp left turn away from the simple, clinical rhythms of most current club music, these four tracks have baroque, layered and twisting patterns, which bring to mind serried rows of drummers bashing away in perfect time. The most exciting thing about this direction, which is also reminiscent of some of Stefan Goldmann's recent work, is that it hints at ways to bring back some of the panache and showiness that have been exorcised from the mainstream of minimal without the tired baggage of more conventional "Latin" or "funky" records (although there is a clear Latin influence here).
These tracks are unlikely to appeal to a wide audience in their current form. For people who appreciate pure drumming and are willing to listen to tracks gradually evolve over several minutes, there is artistry and pleasing rhythmic complexity. For DJs wanting to splice and dice with some of that new-fangled laptop software there are biting and effective grooves. And for geeks and obsessives there are new ideas and interesting points of reference. However, more casual listeners may want to wait for a forthcoming Narcotic Syntax album with the same "provocative" production, but a more song-based approach. The signs are that such an album could be stunning. ••••••• out of 10
(…) Certainly the propulsive "Descarga Narcotica" represents the highlight (…). File the other three tracks under: "Techno maximo matemático", or broken Techno with a Latin-American impact. Driven by percussionness and intensity getting out of hand, the tracks absolutely remind of the Drum 'n' Bass excursions by the project Dots & Dashes and early works by Photek from the mid-Nineties respectively. (…) Thus, these tracks are conditionally working at home, but rather in states when lost in reverie, when the night has been cheated anew. (…) Punning Germans? Really?! Well, as it turns out, Narcotic Syntax is actually yapacc and James Dean Brown, with the ribald puns being the work of the latter. Narcotic Syntax have been popping up on the "Superlongevity" compilations since the word go, and their Latinized, percussive Microhouse jumped a zany inch out at you after the sometimes flatlining funk of other überminimal trackmakers. "Provocative Percussion" takes you from this context to where the title would suggest, with four drum swamped tracks that would work wonderfully well as tools, provide the raw materials for a whole batteria of loops, or carve things up on their own. "Blast Excavation" sets the agenda, with a slow building heave of hits which add, conjugate, and multiply as the track unfolds. A background listen lends the impression of a straight-ahead barrage, but closer ears expose endlessly proliferating layers of grooves, breaking down, breaking apart, reforming, but always marching onward.
"Descarca Narcotica" is a re-presentation of their track "Ping Pong Voodoo" from "Superlongevity 3" which introduces the old version's groove to the melodic equivalent of a leopard-skin couch in a mondo cocktail lounge. While somehow not as directly satisfying as their work incorporating vocals (check the hilarious "Raptors' Delight"), this is an engaging and useful EP for anyone who wants to add more than a pinch more drums to their box.
コメント
店頭でも話題の大推薦盤！！！！！これまでPerlonから作品をリリースしてきたJames Dean BrownやYapaccによるユニットNarcoticSyntaxが、TreibstoffのサブレーベルであるWirからニュー・シングルをリリース！二枚組の構成で、非常にエキセントリックでハイファイな音作り！今までに聴いたことの無いような質感で、生のビートとエレクトロニックなビートを混ぜあったようなすごい斬新なトライバル・リズム・トラック！！クラブでプレイするとすごくカッコ良さそうなパーカッション・サウンド！！完全に独自の音を作り上げています！！大ヒットの予感！！！
キーワード Narcotic Syntax (sound scientists James Dean Brown and yapacc) take a sabbatical from eccentric vocal-based Exotica (Reptile Sweat Accelerator's "Komodo Dragons" and Superlongevity 4's "Raptors' Delight") for four rhythm-centered instrumental workouts on WIR ('We in Rhythm'). Constructed entirely from a voluminous bank of percussion samples, the four cuts on the double-vinyl "Provocative Percussion" (the title references Command Records who released four volumes in an identically-titled series between 1959-62) are as fastidiously assembled and meticulously sculpted as any of the group's other creations.
Each piece is given an extended eight- to nine-minutes workout. Steadily anchored by handclaps, "Blast Excavation" (Draconic Funk) initiates the proceeding with a broiling staccato groove whose incessantly percolating patterns run the gamut from Techno Funk to syncopated Latin Swing. A more straight-ahead metallic stomp bursts from the gate in "Fusión Nuclear" (Exotech), barreling forward while a separate but equally insistent pulse repeatedly steps alongside and then retreats. Conflating two previously issued tracks, "Descarga Narcotica" will likely sound familiar to Narcotic Syntax listeners. What won't, however, is the jazzy marimba and vibraphone flow Señor Coconut's Carsten Skov brings to the song's thrusting Disco Funk shimmy. Handclaps once again stabilize the colossal tribal swing of "Lumbago Groove" (Jungalectro) as the duo digs deep into its percussion cabinet for a frenetic shakers-and-timbales workout. Provocative Percussion's nouveau dance material makes for an enriching enhancement to the Narcotic Syntax discography.
Superb percussive minimal Funktrax.
You'll definitely get what the title of this double 12inch release suggests – 4 tracks full of percussion freakiness. James Dean Brown & yapacc deliver an excellent choice of tribal infected Tech House tracks. Marimba and vibraphone filled, complex in its arrangements with different feelings and sounds. Try it out!
Cassy (Perlon, Ostgut), Berlin/D
Coyu, Barcelona/E
decks.de, Parchim/D
Disco Inn Shop, Bologna/I
Franklin De Costa (Trapez, Karmarouge), Berlin/D
Gabriel Ananda (Karmarouge, Treibstoff), Cologne/D
Geoffroy Dewandeler (Hi-Phen, Eskimo), Brussels/B
Giles Smith (secretsundaze.org), London/UK
Good Groove (Frisbee, Multicolor), Frankfurt/D
Gudrun Gut (Monika Enterprise, Ocean Club), Berlin/D
Katya Vanila, Moscow/RU
Luciano (Cadenza), Geneva/CH
Marcel Janovsky (Treibstoff), Cologne/D
Mike Shannon (Cynosure), Montreal/CAN
p3.14 (sor-b.ch netzine), Zurich/CH
Ricardo Villalobos (Perlon, Playhouse), worldwide
Sammy Dee (Perlon), Berlin/D
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