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02'02 |
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SANDOZ
Afrocentris (INTONECD001) Intone 2002 12 Tracks. 71mins36secs. |
For years, Kirk has been raising awareness on various issues surrounding the African cause through his music, either as Sandoz, or with other solo projects, including 1999’s Al Jabr splendid One Million & Three album, on which he touched the subject of Afro-Americans and the persecutions they suffered through the age. As the title suggests, Afrocentris is very much a journey through the heart of post-colonial Africa, during which he goes back to the essence of some of his work as Sandoz, as he base his compositions on tribal rhythm patterns, vocal samples and elements of African music, on which he superposes harsh electronic structures. More than corrupting these traditional forms by taking them out of context entirely, he builds a picture of today’s Africa by simply playing on the contrast between ritual and modernity, very much reflecting the contrasts found on the continent. Although Kirk focuses mainly on Central Africa, hence the plethora of French samples heard all along, he borrows from all parts, from Maghreb (I’m Not Afraid actually features a sample of a Spanish-style guitar, reminder of the strong North African presence in the Hispanic peninsula through centuries) to South Africa, as he uses elements of Zulu music on Dissolved In Acid. But it is for his more techno/ambient sound that the former Cabaret Voltaire is best known. As a precursor of intelligent electronic music, Richard H Kirk has exploited the increasing possibilities of sequencers, computers and other machines to develop a unique sound, as much inspired by the pioneers of Detroit as by the stark severity of the Kraftwerk’s music. These two sides of his musical personality are reflected here, as he builds slightly rigorous melodies that he then enrobes with intricate beats and patterns.
There is nothing really new on this album, but, as usual, Kirk manages to remain creative and to keep his music fresh and interesting. Afrocentris introduces some clever elements of African music in the compositions included here, and bring the tracks to live.
| 01 | Spooks Inna Congo | 07 | Na Panza |
| 02 | Nye (We Are Silent) | 08 | Bring Me Joy |
| 03 | I'm Not Afraid | 09 | Nye
... Mix |
| 04 | Dissolved (In Acid) | 10 | Technique Of Transformation |
| 05 | Beaucoup De Grisgris, Beaucoup De Talisman | 11 | Panza |
| 06 | Terminator Chop & Clean | 12 | Phaseur |
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03'01 |
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BLACWORLD
Subduing Demons (In South Yorshire) (ALPHACD7) Alphaphone Recordings 2000 10 Tracks. 58mins41secs. Buy this CD on line now |
Built around the concept of short wave radio frequencies and voice recording manipulation, Subduing Demons (In South Yorkshire) is the third in a series of four records to be released by Kirk. If Darkness At Noon was a rather quiet musical affair, and Loopstatic, a heavy technoid monster, then, Subduing Demons is a cerebral work. The album opens with a voice recorded from a satellite radio transmission, on a bed of deep electronic bleeps and noises and African percussions. It’s The Truth sets the tone for the rest of the record. With years of digital tweaking behind him, Kirk knows what to do with sounds. All along Subduing Demons, the man tortures his samples, arranges waves of vintage synths on non-academic rhythm patterns, and constantly disconcerts. Digging deep into his Cabaret Voltaire roots for industrial inspiration, Kirk demonstrates his agility at inserting some light in his dark horizons, when he turns an acoustic guitar sample into a dub weapon, (Europeanz). The heavy hip-hop beat on Financial Institution, together with a highly repetitive guitar sample gimmick, echoed in the following This Planet or Coup-d’Etat, give the album one of its darkest moments. In contrast, Pop-u-lation, with its bouncy feel, covers the other end of the spectrum, still inducing Kirk’s trademark dub, but this time in a rather funky, early-Warp, way. Guerrilla War and Cyber War conclude the album, the earlier in a concise trip-hop form, the later with a more radically hard edge, both displaying the signs of radio conversations.
This third part in the series of short wave radio frequencies experiments is definitely the most interesting and achieved by far, and Subduing Demons (In South Yorkshire) is one of the most exiting Kirk releases in years. The album has a lot to offer, the man using his wide palette of sounds and experiences to the full.
| 01 | It's The Truth | 06 | Europeanz |
| 02 | Yorkshire Ham | 07 | Coup d'Etat |
| 03 | Gun Control | 08 | Pop-u-lation |
| 04 | Financial Institution | 09 | Guerilla War |
| 05 | This Planet | 10 | Cyber War |
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08'00 |
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RICHARD H KIRK
LoopStatic (TONE12CD) Touch 2000 08 Tracks. 60mins46secs. Buy this CD on line now |
Richard H Kirk
is more difficult to follow than a soap opera omnibus on Sunday afternoon.
He has recorded under so many aliases, released four or five albums a year,
none sounding quite like the one before, and on so many different labels,
including his own, Alphaphone. The man though, is one of the greatest artists
of the electronic scene.
With his latest
release, LoopStatic, Kirk digs into his old electro industrial roots.
Not that far apart from some of the later Cabaret Voltaire records, LoopStatic
is a techno album like they used to make them in the mid eighties, with
aggressive sounds, old skool synthesizers, relentless loops, saturated
voices… This record could have been released in 1986 and would have sounded
very modern. Kirk has recaptured the sounds, the atmospheres and the inspiration
of these days. And he’s had fun playing with all that.
LoopStatic
is probably not Kirk’s most evocative record, but, as we can feel the early
signs of an eighties revival, this album is after all… ahead of its time.
Please though, don’t go exhuming these horrible asymmetric shirts and stupid
haircut yet!
| 01 | Devil In Your Name | 05 | Do You Transmit? |
| 02 | All In Vain | 06 | One Zero |
| 03 | With False Identity | 07 | Get Our Heads Straight |
| 04 | Chemicals And Easter Bunnies | 08 | Monday Morning |
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03'00 |
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ELECTRONIC EYE
Neurometrik (ALPHACD6) Alphaphone Recordings 2000 12 Tracks. 69mins49secs. Buy this CD on line now |
Neurometrik, recorded under the Electronic Eye moniker and released on Alphaphone, Kirk's on label, is deeply inspired by African tribal sounds, especially on Super Afrique Highway, and dub. Kirk has always played with dub, adding a more smoky laidback groove feeling to his electronica.
All this works towards emphasising Kirk's very own style. Neurometrik is a brilliant and exciting record, unvailing itself a little bit more everytime, but most importantly, keeping secrets for later on.
| 01 | Harmonic Medication | 07 | Super Afrique Highway |
| 02 | Hey Chief | 08 | The Cruncher |
| 03 | Free I Society | 09 | Bush Techno Incident |
| 04 | Firestorm | 10 | I Saw Him Last |
| 05 | Sals Mutante | 11 | Incense For The Damned |
| 06 | The Chaos Man | 12 | Beethoven Was A Terrorist |
RICHARD H KIRK VIRTUAL STATE Warp Records 1994 Buy it on
line now
|
November X-Ray Mexico
Frequency Band Come Freezone Clandestine Transmission The Feeling (Of Warmth & Beauty) Velodrome Soul Catcher Worldwar Three Lagoon West |
RICHARD H KIRK THE NUMBER OF MAGIC Warp Records 1996 Buy it on
line now
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Lost Souls On Funk
Love Is Deep So Digital Indole Ring East Of Nima Atomic Poets Saints Revolutionaries Monochrome Dream The Number Of Magic |
TRAFFICANTE IS THIS NOW Alphaphone Recordings 1998 Buy it on
line now
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Energy
This Is Channel One Bump The 45 Vaporetti Soul & Salvation The Art Of Darkness El Cid Inna Dub How You Know |
AL JABR ONE MILLION & THREE Alphaphone Recordings 1999 Buy it on
line now
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Africa Must Be Free (By 2003)
Kaleidoscope Hard Rain Burnt Out On Precinct 13 Those Who Dare (Funk) Spy In The Sky Afro Americana Somewhere In The Near Future Gone To Earth Click Click Black |
SANDOZ DARK CONTINENT Touch 1996 |
Dark Continent
Biosynthetic Neon Soul Transworld Satelite Orgasmatron Neotek Your Mind Gun (Time Will Tell) Libation |
SANDOZ DIGITAL LIFEFORMS Touch 1993 Buy it on line now |
Armed Response
Chocolate Machine Digital Lifeforms Human Spirit Drum Meditation Limbo Zombie Astral Beam Steel Tabernacle White Darkness |
| SANDOZ
Original discography from this fan's site, contains sound files. |
| CABARET
VOLTAIRE
Complete Cabaret Voltaire and solo work listing, reviews and interviews... Well a very informative site about one of the most prolific artists around. |
| ALPHAPHONE
RECORDINGS
The Kudos Records web site, to which Alphaphone Recordings is associated with, provide much need information on a myriad of independent record labels and artists. |
| TOUCH
RECORDS
Touch have released a good few Richard H Kirk albums over the years. This is a good opportunity to catch up on some of his more recent work. |