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Luke Vibert, "Lover's Acid"
From the start, I didn't have much hope for Luke Vibert's latest, a CD reissue of his two Planet Mu records, 2002's Homewerk and 2000's '95-'99,with four previously unreleased bonus tracks. Upon hearing a handfulthe MP3 samples from the Planet Mu website prior to its release, I wasbrought back to the grand letdown that was his lackluster YosepHalbum on Warp Records, which I referred to back in 2003 as "a journeyfar away from the dancefloor to a rather deep place somewhere insideVibert's rectum."
Planet Mu
Fortunately, the material on this CD, while largelyunspectacular, isn't nearly as self-serving and kitschy, perhaps due tothe fact that 2/3 of it was originally released on DJ friendly vinyl(with the latter 1/3 now available in 12" format as well). The JUST ADDACID technique Vibert has employed consistently in recent years hasproduced a catalog of music that dramaticallyvaries in quality, rangingfrom delicious disco of the Kerrier District project to theover-the-top gimmickry of Wagon Christ's Sorry I Make You Lush. No exception to this phenomenon, Lover's Acidis all over the map. Tedious numbers like "Funky Acid Stuff," "Come OnChaos," and the title track are examples of Vibert's noodling goneboring, lazily blurting and bleeping along with no direction orpurpose. A surprising execution of the formula comes on "Dirty Fucker,"a rediscovery of the dancefloor with snappy breakbeats and a dirtybleating bassline complete with ominous breakdown and a bonkers acidbuildup. Still, the best tracks here are those where Vibert isn'tgratituitously doling out sloppy globs of TR-303 like a dementedlunchlady. "Gwithian" brings back the spirit of Musipal, deepand jazzy with well placed vocal snippets for feelgood Sunday afternoonvibes. Deceptively starting off minimal and brooding, "Prick Tat"evolves quickly into a smooth hip hop groover shimmering with brightsynth patterns and spaced out effects. Despite my initial prejudices, Lover's Acidhas more merits than expected, yet still leaves me wanting forsomething better, something revitalizing. All I can suggest at thispoint is plead for Vibert to take a chance and return to his old Plugmoniker. Considering some of the more "liquid" records coming from drumn bass labels like Hospital, I'm sure he would be greeted with openarms.
Planet Mu
Fortunately, the material on this CD, while largelyunspectacular, isn't nearly as self-serving and kitschy, perhaps due tothe fact that 2/3 of it was originally released on DJ friendly vinyl(with the latter 1/3 now available in 12" format as well). The JUST ADDACID technique Vibert has employed consistently in recent years hasproduced a catalog of music that dramaticallyvaries in quality, rangingfrom delicious disco of the Kerrier District project to theover-the-top gimmickry of Wagon Christ's Sorry I Make You Lush. No exception to this phenomenon, Lover's Acidis all over the map. Tedious numbers like "Funky Acid Stuff," "Come OnChaos," and the title track are examples of Vibert's noodling goneboring, lazily blurting and bleeping along with no direction orpurpose. A surprising execution of the formula comes on "Dirty Fucker,"a rediscovery of the dancefloor with snappy breakbeats and a dirtybleating bassline complete with ominous breakdown and a bonkers acidbuildup. Still, the best tracks here are those where Vibert isn'tgratituitously doling out sloppy globs of TR-303 like a dementedlunchlady. "Gwithian" brings back the spirit of Musipal, deepand jazzy with well placed vocal snippets for feelgood Sunday afternoonvibes. Deceptively starting off minimal and brooding, "Prick Tat"evolves quickly into a smooth hip hop groover shimmering with brightsynth patterns and spaced out effects. Despite my initial prejudices, Lover's Acidhas more merits than expected, yet still leaves me wanting forsomething better, something revitalizing. All I can suggest at thispoint is plead for Vibert to take a chance and return to his old Plugmoniker. Considering some of the more "liquid" records coming from drumn bass labels like Hospital, I'm sure he would be greeted with openarms.samples:
