there Is a Problem With My Tape Recorder

Album Review

Using a purist production code similar to that of Matthew Herbert, the third album by Ohio-turned-Brooklyn-producer Ben Tweel test itself against several advanced forms of IDM, from the folksy wilt on "Mackeral Scout" and "Notices" to the staunch minimalism of "Servo" and static humming on "Pendulum." Unfortunately, none of these seem to match up with the creativity found in other corners of the experimental electronic sphere. "Dib" comes the closest, evolving through several parts, from gentle Autechre felt chimes and wooden knocks to a swaying dulcimer and guitar frolic that recalls the longer free jazz work of Four Tet, yet in a much more concise context. "Wash" is also stirring, with a string and farfisa-like step that is clipped as short as the two-minute song itself. More time then for "November," which takes the muted minor keys of Portishead and cuts them off at the knees, with the decay set to blunt. It is hard then to find empathy in music that seems to insist upon turning something graceful into something awkward just for the sake of being unique.