De:Bug
DJ
Dziennik Polski
Exclaim!
Eye!
Gig
Groove (Swedish
or English)
Neural
Uncut
Westzeit
The Wire

De:Bug (Germany)
Endlich hat auch Morr Music seinen eigenen Roboter. Nach langen Verhandlungen und einer bestimmt hohen Ablösesumme hat Solvent seine Koffer gepackt und ein Bündel voll wundervoll kickender Slammer geschnürt. Alles ist wie immer, und was sollte sich hier auch ändern? Die pumping Synthbässe springen durch die Gegend, die Drummachines kämpfen mit ihren Schaltkreisen und diskutieren, wieviele Triolen sie nun eigentlich spielen k;ouml;nnen und ob da noch ein bisschen Spielraum ist, weil dieser Solvent da so einiges vorhat und man ihm diesen Wunsch gerne erfüllen würde, weil...es ist so nett hier im Studio. Find ich auch. Dann kommen Skanfrom und Lowfish vorbei, remixen noch jeder einen Track und fertig ist ein perfektes Mini-Album, dass als CD gleich noch rare 7" Tracks von Solvent beinhaltet. Man nennt das ja gemein hin 'Elektro-Pop so wie in den 80ern'. Aber...Hand aufs Herz...ich habe keine Platte von damals, die auch nur annähernd so klingt. Wenn auch komplett analog produziert, klingt Solvent irre modern, hat längst seine Lektion aus Detroit und Warp gelernt und ist einfach der Mitarbeiter des Monats. Bei mir und bei allen Roboterclubs auf dieser Welt sowieso. Ich will da wohnen...in Solvent City. 5/5

DJ (UK)
It's becoming something of a cliche nowadays to talk about albums in terms of journey's and soundtracks to such and such, but in the case of 'Solvent City' by Canadian Jason Amm - and friends Lowfish and Skanfrom - it's hard to talk about it in terms of anything else, as it is truly a soundtrack to move by. A genuinely involving interaction between man and machine that picks you up regardless of mood, location and time and plonks you down 45 minutes later at a warm and glowing location of your choice. Having soothed and comforted throughout with an inspired selection of warm textures, bright analogue colours, lush '80s synth pop, whirring electronica and soundscaped electro. So if you like Isan and Christian Klein, or indeed Gary Numan and Transparent Sound then you'll bloody love this. 4.5 out of 5

Dziennik Polski (Poland)
Muzyka electro ma bardzo rózne oblicza - najnowszy album Kanadyjczyka Jasona Amma wystepujacego pod pseudonimem Solvent jest doskonalym przykladem na to, iz ten przezywajacy obecnie renesans popularnosci gatunek doskonale wpisuje sie równiez w kontekst formuly ambient. Najwazniejszymi elementami 9 utworów znajdujacych sie na krazku sa polamane rytmy, przestrzenne plamy dzwiekowe oraz popowe melodie. W dwóch nagraniach Solvent wspomagaja dwaj inni mistrzowie nowoczesnego electro - Skanfrom z Niemiec i Lowfish z Kanady. Stylowo i nowoczesnie - prawdziwa rewelacja.

Exclaim! (Canada)
The follow-up to Solvently One Listens, but nowhere near as playfully manic, rather Solvent City adheres closer to his '80s synth pop influences like early Depeche Mode and Soft Cell. A close listen to Solvent's latest effort yields that the compositions arre as detailed and meticulous as ever, and what was sacrificed in energy has been made up for in restraint and timing. The first half of the album has a happy, bubbly tone, exemplified through cute melodies like "Some Assembly Required" and "Solvent City." The latter half is where the rhythmic styling and clipped robotic vocals are more pronounced, especially on tracks like "Built-in Microphone" and "Not For Sale." The best track on this CD by far is "A Panel Of Experts," as remixed by fellow electro modulator Lowfish. The track intersperses robotic vocals with layered synth lines that build in anticipation until a peak is reached, one where rhythms kick in at the very last possible moment, creating an evocative, nostalgic piece. Though I miss the crazy energy of Solvently, I appreciate the restrained, composition-oriented direction he took this time around.

Eye (Canada)
Metro Techno

"Please file in the techno-pop section," one of the liner notes of Solvent City helpfully suggests. As it rightly should, though it would be a forgiveable faux pas placing it in the IDM bin. As much as Solvent City draws from Kraftwerk and their early '80s British progeny, it wouldn't exist in its current form without a firm grasp of the Warp catalogue and, by extension, would not have landed on avant-electronic hotbed Morr Music if the Human League and OMD were sole influences. "Techno pop" will have to suffice for now until record stores get hip to creating a "robot music" category, one pioneered by Solvent (Jason Amm) and partner Lowfish (Gregory de Rocher) right here in our own backyard and released through their Suction imprint. The category would include, for starters, the duo's Suction releases, casio kings Plone and the Man Machines themselves as exponents of the uber-melodic analogue pop supported by manipulated beats - though "supported" is a relative term, as the backing tracks offer anything but a solid foundation. Rather, the busy rhythmic inventions can be just as active as the melodies they co-exist with. Melodic appeal is Solvent's essence. The opening trio, "A Panel of Experts," "Some Assembly Required," and the title track, are bright, fresh and full of wide-eyed childlike wonder which, in a just world, would wind up as songs on a kids' show. Afterward, the sun dips behind the clouds over Solvent City as Amm trades joiviality for a more measured tone and swaps the verve of his Solvently One Listens debut for a steadier pace. As accomplished as the remaining tracks are (including remix work by Germany's Skanfrom and Lowfish), that early jubilance is missed, making you wish for more of what painted the smile on the face of the jitterbugging replicant on the cover. 3/5

Gig (Germany)
Der Synthie-Pop lebt. Siebenmal Solvent und zwei Remixe von Skanform und Lowfish. Und aufdringlich niedlich lassen einen diese hübschen Stücke mit Float und einer Menge Samples in den Abend driften. Musik für Träumende. Musik, zur der man aber auch lächelnd durch die Fußgängerzone gehen kann. Und sich amüsiert über all die Hektiker in Taxen und Bussen. Solvent bremst aus, erinnert an gute Zeiten mit Synthesizern. Klingt aber trotzdem nach 2001. Kein Retroquatsch. Einfach schöne, sehr reduzierte Popstücke für Lego- und Playmobilfreunde mit dem Highlight "That Will Be 49¢". 3/5

Groove (Sweden)
Det här albumet är jag väldigt kluven till. Å ena sidan tycker jag inte kanadensiska Solvents musik är vidare intressant. En orgie i analog retro- kitch, Solvent City låter mest som en uppdaterad variant av Yellow Magic Orchestra. Endast av intresse för folk som är totalt insöade på gammal technopop. Å andra sidan är skivans sista spår helt fantastiskt bra. Det är Solvents kompis Lowfish som remixat A Panel of Experts, resulterande i ett tidlöst stycke elektronisk lyssningsmusik med influenser från både förr och nu. Jag trycker in repeatknappen.

Groove (Sweden)
I'm very divided in regards to this album. On the one hand I don't find Solvent's music very interesting. An orgy of analogue retro kitch, Solvent City mostly sounds like an updated version of Yellow Magic Orchestra. Only of interest for people that are totally snowed in on old techno pop, it does nothing for me. On the other hand, the last track of the album is absolutely fantastically good. It's Solvent's friend Lowfish that has remixed "A Panel of Experts", resulting in a timeless piece of electronic listening music with influences from both then and now. I'm pressing the repeat button.

Neural (Italy)
In un'immaginaria città popolata di robot gentili che si beano dei suoni di vecchi sintetizzatori, si articola questo lavoro di synthpop discreto e struggente, colonna sonora delle 24 ore di un mondo solo ipotizzato. Con un tributo dichiarato ai primi Depeche Mode, i Solvent incarnano una buona performance stilistica che radicata in una Berlino sempre pi&ugarve; alter ego della sperimentale Colonia ritaglia e incolla svecchiandoli pezzi di un passato compositivo classico ma prezioso quanto una registrazione televisiva per un videoartista. Chill out per il club degli automi.

Uncut (UK)
Warm, melodic electro-instrumentals from Canada. Modern digitalia can be harsh and inexpressive in the wrong hands, so it's a very pleasant surprise to come across electronica that's melody-driven with lush, intricate textures. Solvent (AKA Jason Amm) create synth-pop-influenced audio environments that push the melody-driven early work of Depeche Mode into a more abstract area. The use of whimsical, plaintive melodies overlaying soft-focus beats charms the listener with its beautiful simplicity. Skanfrom and Lowfish provide remixes to round-out this near-perfect package. 3.5/5

Westzeit (Germany)
Die Platten, die das Berliner Label Morr Music veröffentlicht, können zwar meistens überzeugen, oft sogar begeistern, aber seltener überraschen. Für diesen Aspekt ist nun aber der Kanadier Jason Amm zuständig. Er erweitert als Solvent den klassischen Morr-Sound aus verträumten Lego-Melodien und chaotisch anmutender Begleitung stark in Richtung 80er-Synthie-Pop. Was prätentiös anmutet, entfaltet aber schnell einen unwiderstehlichen Charme.

The Wire (UK)
For this listener, the boundaries between Techno and techno-pop have always been inviolate, but it's clear that a new generation of composer is gleefully blurring the lines. Thomas Morr's Berlin label, working with the likes of ISAN and Hermann and Klein, has been instrumental in foregrounding melodic sweetness in electronnica. Solvent City goes one step towards early Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Dare era Human League. The project of Zimbabwe-born, Toronto-based Jason Amm, Solvent traces nifty one finger keyboard lines around dapper, not quite naive beats - no vocals, though - and the results are nothing short of charming.