Where to start with Jimmy Edgar? He’s 22 years
old, he DJed with the legends of the Detroit scene at
the age of 15, he has his own clothing label, a graphic
design company and of course he releases music on Warp
Records. He doesn’t really seem real. A sense
of this unreality runs through this his debut album.
In his vocals Edgar appears to be playing a role. Tracks
like My Beats where Edgar spends the whole
song asking girls if they are impressed by his beats
sound at first glance like outrageous braggadocio. Look
longer however and the track becomes quite comical -
how many girls would be so impressed with Jimmy’s
beats that they would hop into bed with him after all?
Is Edgar merely poking fun at modern hip hop/R&B’s
macho posturing? Similarly I Wanna Be Your STD
('come on little girl and talk to me') seems an absurd
position to take.
Whatever is going on here there is no doubt that Color
Strip announces the arrival of a very serious talent.
As expected the influence of Detroit techno pioneers
like Juan Atkins and Derrick May is present throughout,
but mixed with more modern flourishes. The skittering
beats, chopped up vocals, half-suggested melodies and
gorgeous production of album opener Pret'a'Porter
set the tone well. To say that Edgar enjoys a good chopped
up vocal would be an understatement. My Beats
- the album’s stand out track - with its synthesised
vocals and cracking electro sounds eerily like early
Cybotron material - as if filtered through the mixing
desk of Timbaland.
Elsewhere, the aforementioned I Wanna Be Your STD
adds a note of menace while Telautraux signals
a real change of pace. Interference patterns merge with
whispered echoed vocals, finally breaking through with
an almost demonic power. The electro beats can be fast
and furious as on Personal Information and
Hold It Attach It Connect It, which sounds
like Electric Café-period Kraftwerk
but with the voltage turned right up. One of the album’s
great highlights however comes towards the end in the
insistent groove of Semierotic with its Pac
Man-esque melody set against classic haunting strings
plucked straight from Motor City.
As if this wasn’t enough, there’s some pretty
serious bonus material on offer from Edgar. For those
who dose off at the end of the album, there is another
hidden little gem waiting ten minutes or so after the
album is finished. The bonus hidden track features Edgar
in full vocoder style. Customers who buy the record
through the Warp site also receive the exclusive Rhythm
Denial CD, a 30-minute beatless mix of the album.
The mix really is seriously down tempo. Without the
beats, the album showcases a whole different side to
Edgar. Through the lush soundscapes, at times interrupted
by complex interference patterns, melodies are merely
hinted at. Color Strip has been deconstructed
to the point where it sounds more like Zoviet France
than Juan Atkins. Only the playful melody of Semierotic
is allowed to shine through, sounding in this context
all the more joyful.
Coming over like electronic music’s answer to
Puff Daddy, Edgar is also due to unveil his new Autumn/Winter
' 06 range of men and womenswear - said to have been
influenced by the album itself. Edgar may not have this
music business sewn up quite yet - but he’s made
a very good start.
Stuart Aitken
4/5 |
