pandorabox ":songs:seldom:sung:anymore:2:" 1999 (54:08)
fallow (3:51)
aedes (4:45)
dirigible (4:54)
jammern (5:52)
mouche (3:28)
madlove (5:01)
tulgeywood (3:54)
one (6:56)
siren (5:05)
fugue#4 (8:49)
plod (1:33)
pandorabox is a johnson.
Pandorabox is an experimental solo project of San Francisco Bay area resident Alex Johnson, also of Dropstar and Monsieur Croquemitaine. The debut release is a hand made limited edition run of 150 cds packaged in a clear, plastic clam shell case (same as the Raster/Noton "20' to 2000" series") with all proceeds being used to produce a second limited edition run of 1000. ":songs:seldom:sung:anymore:2:" is a collection of modern electronic music tracks that draw on Johnson's IDM and industrial influences, such as Aphex Twin, Autechre, Download, Skinny Puppy etc. I get that impression that he is expressing an experimental/industrial/hiphop mind frame here with an array of "IDM" and minimalist style beats, sounds and samples. The majority of the disc is beat driven, ranging from abrasive ("dirigible") to future techno ("aedes", "mouche") to somewhat hip hop ("fallow" and "plod") ... and the rest fall into a difficult to distinguish, somewhere in-between category. A few ambient sections intervene within a few tracks as well as make up the majority of a couple others ("madlove" and "fugue#4"). I especially enjoy the beautiful sprawling ambiance of "fugue#4". As a whole, this is a solid, impressive debut with a nice variety and professional sound. You will want to keep tabs on Johnson's future work. Look for the debut Monsieur Croquemitaine covers ep next, the upcoming (2000) Dead Voices on Air album which Johnson contributes to as Dropstar and hopefully a future collaboration with David Wright of Not Breathing ...
Neverville - home to dropstar, pandorabox and m. croquemitaine
Where did I get this cd? - from pandorabox to review