Adam Johnson first got noticed on the MAS Confusion
compilation released last year. Yet, this first album
is set to propel the man into the light, despite only
a thousand copies being made available worldwide. Hailing
from Mineapolis, more famous for being the home of Prince
than for its electronic scene, Johnson puts with this
release his multi-faceted talent to the test.
Released on the excellent Merck label, Chigliak
follows Johnson’s Pressure Point EP,
released earlier this year. Kicking off in rather chilled
fashion with the beautiful Changer Demain,
and Trinity, which introduces guitar elements
slightly reminiscent of early Cocteau
Twins, spread over infectious waves of sounds and
laidback beats. If Version02 seems to accelerate
the pace slightly, it is with Autopop that
things really heat up. From this moment on, the album
takes a different turn. As the dark electro beat infused
with hip-hop flavours progresses, Johnson unashamedly
steps on early Plaid
territory. Yet, if the melody and soundscape recalls
the melodic approach of the duo, the atmosphere seems
murkier and more palpable. This pretty much sets the
tone for the next few tracks. Cleverly avoiding to stick
to a too polished formula, Johnson brings interesting
touches of abstraction into the mix, as on the laidback
Anex which opens with metallic percussions
fighting to establish a defined beat pattern before
the melodic body of the track finally appears to bring
some kind of order. As Chigliak look as if
he has found its pace, Johnson injects some elements
of dub into Malk, reaching yet another level.
Leaving ethereal grounds for a more upbeat section,
this album dives into classic techno territory, with
elements of Detroit and Berlin grooves colliding to
bring a more radical dance floor feel to the earlier
soundscapes, culminating with the dreamy Four Square,
arguably one of the most fascinating moment here as
Johnson finely bring his many sonic incarnations together
before returning to the starting point of this record
with the closing track.
This album might not be the most original piece of recording
heard this year, but the uncanny combination of melodic
electronica, evocative ambient and atmospheric dance
floor stompers proves to be strangely haunting. Set
as a journey through various genres, and meticulously
assembled to seamlessly progress from one point to the
next, Chagliak traces an interesting path through
dance music and proves to be one of the surprises of
the year.
3.9/5 |
