Mimi+Boyd
came about after Michelle “Punisher” Herrmann
and techno veteran Mark Gage narrowly escaped a police
raid on a Detroit rave in 1998. Within weeks, the pair
had recorded Angular Island in Gage’s New
York-based studio. Gage spent the next three years fine-tuning
the result, to eventually releasing it through experimental
Los Angeles label Phthalo.
Michelle Herrmann made a name for herself via her typically
minimal techno releases published on her own label, Seismic
Records, gaining wide recognition across the US. She has
played with the likes of Richie Hawtin, Dave Clarke, Derrick
May and many others. New Yorker Mark Gage started recording
music in the early eighties, although he would wait over
ten years to see his first material released. Space
& Time, Liquids & Metal, originally published
by London-based label Swim in 1995, saw Gage compiling
his work as Cusp on one album. As Vapourspace, Gage released
the seminal Gravitational Arch Of 10, around
the same time. Named by URB Magazine as one of the 20
most important techno tracks of the nineties, Gravitational
Arch Of 10 remains to this day an absolute classic,
frequently sampled by the likes of Fatboy Slim or more
recently X-Press 2 (Lazy). Gage followed with
the Themes From Vapourspace (+8 /FFRR, 1994),
and Sweep (FFRR, 1997) albums. He is also a respected
DJ and remixer.
Angular Island was recorded in record time, Gage
confessing that Herrmann is one of the most incredible
drum programmers he has met. The nine tracks presented
here are led by the sharp metallic hypnotic percussions
created by Herrmann, cemented by Gage’s added electronic
interactions. Cleverly balancing his trademark electronic
twinges in the background, Gage weaves short looped melodies,
giving enough definition to each track while not affecting
the drum machine onslaughts. Only on the tamed Stretch
+ Contort does he seem to jump on the driving sit
for a moment, wrapping Herrmann's exotic percussions with
a dense dub wave.
Not entirely dissimilar to the work of Baby Ford or Mark
Broom in its minimalist approach, Angular Island
is described by Gage as “techno pop with an emphasis
on machinery”. If the “pop” aspect is
not all that terribly obvious, the momentum dictated by
Herrmann's uncompromising rhythmic patterns gives this
album a razor-sharp edge, making it one essential club
record. Despite its slightly uniform atmosphere, Angular
Island is an inspiring piece of modern techno, drawing
the listener deep into underground club culture. A fruitful
collaboration by all means, Mimi+Boyd proves to be one
of the unexpected successes of the dance movement of recent
years.
4.5/5 |
