REVIEW :: LUKE VIBERT VS SPAC HAND LUKE

Current mood: ERONNIE
Category: ERONNIE Music

Perhaps it's a good thing that the Rephlex mob haven't sold out and become the alt.pop stars they could so easily and cheesily be. But at the same time I wonder if moving in endless experimental circles for the sake of it isn't sometimes a little contrived and an exhibition of musical stubbornness as much as a proud display of integrity??

I mean there was a certain point 3 or 4 years ago when every Rephlex or Warp London rave culminated in 2 or 3 hours of complete head rinsing, fast, nasty, heavy and mental shit drilling bastard hard bassssss the like of which boshed my head out very quickly.

It was pure Nihilism – the electronic equivalent of death metal and after a while it got tiring. I mean, it's Saturday night and you're off your box and you just want to love everyone and everything, and instead you're faced with a tirade of noise at 2am that you can't dance to unless you've had 23 choke pills and a pint of super unleaded straight off the forecourt.

Perhaps I'm not hardcore enough and should have been going to the Ministry of Sound, or perhaps it was cutting edge and one day I'll get it and boast 'I was there!!!' But at the time, that infernal, too quick, too nasty, racket sounded more like being heavy and loud for the sake of it – like turning up your stereo because you know it pisses your neighbours off, rather than because you want to hear loud music….

Anyway this record isn't quite like that, in fact in sound it's nothing like that. I am however not convinced it's anything other than a temporary stagnation from Mr Vibert. In fact, more than anything else Luke Vibert Vs Spac Luke sounds, as it's title suggests, a little like the composer is fighting himself.

My main bone with this is that there's nothing that stands out or at least very little. Whereas Multiple Stab Wounds is close to a rousing romp and just the sort of track where obtuse and apparently unmixable resources of much dance, easy listening and hip hop are spliced together into damn fine melodic and groovy music, such moments are very few and far between.

Instead there are a few too many tracks that plod along with no particular verve or direction - tracks like Barrave which mixes well known hooks, samples and beats of rave, but does nothing new or worthwhile with them. Maybe it works LIVE! at Bangface, but it doesn't work for me on the platter in the front room…

Yes boss, I'm sorry, but I've listened through this a good few times now and I can't get into it at all. On the whole it feels like an album of out takes and leftovers.

This so, I can't be mean about Luke Vibert for too very long. Indeed, the sheer volume of his almost completely excellent output means the odd duff record and/or track is bound to sneak out amongst the others comprised of more or less total tunreful genius ….

So, if you've yet to sample Viberts other multiple delights - get to it right this instant! Just don't start with this one...

Currently listening : Drum ’N’ Bass for Papa/Plug EP’s 1, 2 & 3 By Plug Release date: By 09 September, 1997

22:52 - 5 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

	DANX GROD!	I saw Luke a few years back in Vegas. Great show. Thanx for the review... Cheers! Posted by DANX GROD! on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 01:42 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Secondo me, Berty is one of the kings of recent electronic music... This album didn't grab me, but every other one has... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 01:54 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	scuba steve	You're talking about Amen Andrews vs. Spac Hand Luke album right? As much as I hate to do this, I must agree with you. Spac Hand Luke has been one of his least impressive side projects, in my opinion. I think it started out as an experiment in Vibert Dubstep, but I only find a few of the tracks on that album listen-able. I hardly ever have anything bad to say about Luke Vibert, and I feel like his other good material almost makes up for the not-so-good output. Lovers Acid, Kerrier District 1 & 2, Ace of Clubs, Wagonchrist - even going back to the classic Vibert/Simmonds stuff on Rephlex - those releases are amazing. Posted by scuba steve on Monday, August 13, 2007 at 17:57 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Oh jesus... Has my journalism sunk to a new low??? Have I completely misquoted a title & artist in one fell swoop??? Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Monday, August 13, 2007 at 18:10 [Remove] [Reply to this]

: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :

Yes I have This is what comes of naughty downloading Sorry Luke.... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Monday, August 13, 2007 at 18:15 [Remove] [Reply to this]