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| There's something about the four-on-the-floor poundings upon which vast swathes of dance music predicate themselves that recommends to me a prompt toaster-and-bath suicide attempt. I hold my hands up - I'm biased, I admit it. But I'll try, oh how I will try. |
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The brief skinny: Herbert (aka Matthew Herbert; see what he did there?) makes so-called house music (which, incidentally, is a touchstone case for proof of ever-narrowing niches of musical obscurantism and divide-and-conquer ethos). Herbert apparently has released a number of EPs (three in fact, indulgently and craftily titled Part One, Part Two and Part Three), culminating in this debut album release, 100 lbs.
I normally find music quite distracting when performing certain chores, but this album's insignificance ensures that it fades effortlessly into the background and I find myself struggling to actually concentrate on the music (an unusual occurrence). Most of this is a function of the hypnotic incessance of the four-four beat. Nothing too challenging or unusual jolt one from a concentrated moment. I suppose the routine-ness and pull-no-punches attitude means there is nothing to grab attention anyway. In some sick and perverted way, listening to music like this is rather comforting, actually: not having to really listen, not worrying about missing anything, and yet still having the comfort of some white noise rather than silence.
It would be unfair to say that there aren't some well-crafted tracks on 100 lbs. Certainly there is no rhythmic variation to speak of until 'Pen' - where there is a slight hint of inspiration and irregularity. But by and large this is an exercise in an emotionless sensibility, flawlessly (perhaps cynically?) executed from start to finish. |
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| Stuart Reeves - 3/10 |
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