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Voks, "Vaks Vanskab Ak"

Dekorder
For the second Dekorder release, Denmark's Voks delivers a 3" thatlacks Un Caddie's adventurous sound-grabbing, but is no less colorful.With former releases including a spot on Goodiepal's V/VM 7" series,Voks makes intensely na?ve computer music, revealing an obsession fortoy instrument sounds and dawdling, childlike rhythms. These songs arenot playful in the punky, campy style of artists like DAT Politics orthe oddball fringe of the Sonig label; instead, Vaks Vanskab Akis more of a mood piece, despite its more flamboyant qualities. Tracksreject dominant melodic roles; rather, sounds scatter in loosecompliment of each other, haphazardly forming recognizable motifs, likethe loose Middle Eastern feel that invades songs like "Hottenslot" and"Tuuie." The disc acts like a scatterbrained attempt at scoring anabsurdist's animated short, full of swift mood swings but with enoughopen space to imply corresponding action or visual reference. Vaks Vanskab Akwould make a perfect backdrop for the bizarre puppet show pictured onits cover in which skeletal figures ride elephants and giant chickens,though I'd warn against extending its 20-min. length. Voks shows acharming command over his arsenal of tinkering toys and popping synthsounds, but a move to larger format will require a furtherconsolidating of ideas and perhaps some NyQuil for the manic innerchild who gets carried away ad nauseam on a few of these.

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