Alternative Press
De:Bug (German or English)
Motion
The Wire

De:Bug (Germany)
Suction, das kleine, aber feine Label aus Kanada, beglückt uns mit seiner ersten CD. Solvent ist Jasom Amm aus Toronto, dessen Lieblingsplatten offenbar aus England kommen. "Pineapple Boy" nimmt einen gleich zu Beginn an die Hand und zeigt einem voller Stolz kanadische Melodien, knufft einen dann in die Seite, schaut ein wenig skeptisch und fragt: "Ich höre, dieser Aphex Twin hat einen ähnlichen Ansatz und verkauft verdammt viele Platten? Vielleicht sollte ich den mal kennenlernen?" Brauchst du nicht, Mr. Solvent, bleib lieber so wie du bist. Die Tracks springen zwischen gemütlich verträumten Melodien, Breaks, mal schnell, mal langsam, mal gefiltert, pöckenden 808-Bassdrums, MS-20 Tischhupengedaddel und der obligatorischen Distortion hin und her. Das kommt euch bekannt vor? Kann schon sein. Solvent hört man dabei aber an, daß er, verglichen mit anderen Platten dieser Richtung, mindestens doppelt so viel Spaß beim Produzieren hat, die digitale Revolution an ihm fast vorbeigegangen ist und man in seinem Studio bestimmt vor Elektrosmog fast umkommt, weil da so viele kleine, unheimliche Machinchen und Pedale vor sich hin strahlen, daß das nicht mehr gesund sein kann. Das ist nicht Warp, schon gar nicht Drill'N'Bass. Das ist Solvent. Das ist Killer. Das läßt einen nicht mehr los. Das gehört in jeden modernen Haushalt. 5/5

Thaddi Herrmann

De:Bug (Germany)
Suction, the small but fine label from Canada, delivers its first CD. Solvent is Jason Amm from Toronto whose favourite records seem to come from the UK. "Pineapple Boy" takes you by the hand and, full of pride, shows you Canadian made melodies, knocks you with his elbow in your ribs, looks a bit sceptical and asks: "I heard this Aphex Twin has a similar approach and sells a shitload of records? Maybe I should meet him? You reckon?" You don't have to meet him, Mr. Solvent. Stay the way you are. The tracks are somewhere in between dreamy melodies, breaks (slow, fast, filtered, sharp 808-bassdrums, MS-20 tabelhonks and the obligatory distortion. You say that sounds familiar to you? Well, you may have heard stuff like that. But Solvent makes a difference. You can tell by the way the record has been recorded that Solvent had at least double the fun producing it, that he hardly knows what the digital revolution is and that anybody not used to his studio would for sure be killed in there because of the heavy electronic smog in there. There must be way too many little pedals and spooky machines radiating in there. That can't be healthy. It's not Warp, especially not drill'n'bass. It's simply killer. You'll never forget it. This CD belongs into each modern household. 5/5

Thaddi Herrmann

Motion (UK)
Remember when you first heard all the classic Rephlex stuff? Remember the chills you got when you heard that lovely crunchy distortion mixed with the light haunting melodies and odd samples? Prepare to feel that way again when you listen to this CD. Thirteen tracks of absolutely stunning melody-infused electro that reminds me of classic Aphex Twin, Kinestheasia and μ-Ziq mixed with a little Octagon Man and I-F. It's hard to pick some favorites on this CD because all the tracks are so good but probably the ghosted melodies over light polyrhtyhms of Pineapple Boy, the minimal squelches and vocoder samples of Nervous, and the carnival meets electro sound of Googly Eyes are my favorites. This one will definitely be one of the IDM releases of the year. A must buy for fans of classic Aphex Twin, Kinestheasia and μ-Ziq. 10/10

The Wire (UK)
Jason Amm, aka Solvent, commences proceedings in nostalgic style, with Vince Clarke-style synths, before stumbling across various points between past, present and future: bodypopping rhythms, toytown electronics, chinese puzzle drum programming on the edge of overload, contemplative synths, shredded beats. It's all here; half the time on a single track. Amm's a confused lad, certainly, but when it leads to the silicon teens going drill'n'bass, or Jeff Mills drowning in a quicksand of Squarepusher's making, I hope he stays that way.