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Bola | Mauver

EP, Skam

Tekst: Matthijs de Jonge

Publicatiedatum: 22 juni 2000

Another installment in the ongoing series of "Aphex Twin/Autechre/Funkstörung soundalikes", but quite a good, albeit uneven one. Manchester-based Skam Recordings have always placed more importance on the hip hop connection in electronica than, say, Rephlex or Warp, and this particular offering is no exception. To prove Bola's B-Boy cool, the opening track features a diligent Jamaican rapper who tries to hold his ground amidst wailing electronics and clever cut and paste rhythms. The second track features a subtle background of highly resonated bass and glassy tinkles that slowly builds up before the pleasantly cocky beat pummels the relative tranquility to bits after two and a half minutes. Unfortunately this is immediately followed by a veritable barrage of gratuitous space-drones. These kitschy synthesizer pads constitute the main drawback on this release.
On the third track they're thankfully embedded in a tasty Mouse On Mars-like beat constructed from electronic wet farts and oscillator buzz, but on the last track they return with a vengeance, ruining what would otherwise have been an admirable piece of forward-thinking electronica. Of course there's nothing wrong with space-cheese per sé, but it usually only works if it is used in an intentionally kitsch setting. The tracks on 'Mauver' are rhythmically rather leftfield, however, and this creates an odd and mostly unsuccessful clash. On account of this, 'Mauver' is on the whole not as convincing as it could be. You should pick it up for its refined beatmeistery, but you'll have to endure quite a substantial amount of cheese to go with it.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/bola/mauver/523/
Meer Bola op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/bola