| ***u-Ziq's place in musical history is secure. As a key innovator who to brought electronic music to a wider audience in the nineties, the group, a moniker for Planet Mu founder and head Mike Paradinas, pushed boundaries and rattled heads with a consistent stream of releases, each exploring some new realm of consciousness. It's been four years since the whirlwind of chaos that was Bilious Paths, and Paradinas' new album a more reflective body of work that is no less as revelatory. More introspective and melancholic, u-Ziq revisits his roots in the early 90s ambient techno scene pioneered by, among others, The Black Dog, Aphex Twin and himself. Amongst these 17 tracks of off-key melodies, nauseous harmonies and woozy beats can be found gems such as the beautiful "Strawberry Fields Hotel" in which a lone bassline strikes out a refrain of unexpected simplicity while bees swarm overhead around a fig tree. And "Drum Light" where a five-part melody gives way to a startling noise assault. "Acid Steak Night", a collaboration with labelmate The Doubtful Guest, is a more straightforward techno number with 303 basslines warring it out with spooky melodic synth lines. A melodic tour de force, and a welcome return to one of the most vital artists in music today. 30-second MP3 excerpts: Prongh Seemness Duntisbourne Abbots Dexedrine Girl Woozy 2CV Eggshell Dirtylush Stinkwife Strawberry Fields Hotel Pons Pons Old & Tired Rise Of The Salmon Something Else Insomnia Painshill Park Acid Steak Night Eggshell 2 Drum Light If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks: Go to iTunes to browse downloads for Mu-Ziq "Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique" If you have a subscription account at emusic.com, you can download tracks for purchase here. For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music service, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page. |