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Thar's pandemonium in them thar pants. A whole caboodle of imaginary animals, terrorists in fluorescent paisley ski-masks, dancing girls blessed with the middle name Doreen, and bodhisvhattas selling small statuettes of themselves. A whole host of corruption and silliness interacting in a limited space. What kind of a situation is that to find yourself in? Well, imagine that you're writing an anthem for the first Free State of Cornwall. And that the State is going to be based in east London and that, that, well you just don't give a fuck really, not at all, ever, anyway. And anyway, it's cartoon time (and Cartoon Time) and well, well, well, you like your bedroom and why the hell should you leave? And imagine that you're one of the Holy Trinity of Cornish spiritualist music (Aphex Twin and Tom Middleton/Global Communications being father and son). And that you've released previous symphonies as Wagon Christ and Plug and even Luke Vibert hisself. You would, of course, be Luke Vibert whose name, despite whatever you may say or think, really is Luke Vibert. And who lives in North East London and who really does continue the noble tradition of the bedroom knob-twiddler long after he made a big enough rep to sit round in a special-built studio largin' it in photo shoots for 'Future Computer Kit Music With Extra Plug-Ins'. After his many moves and moods and interludes and so on, so forth and thereafter, Mr Vibert, as Mr Wagon Christ, has ended up producing his first album for his spiritual home-buddies, Ninja Tune. Thoughtfully taking us on a Vibert tour of the past 4 years "Musipal" presents a mixture of new tracks and previously unreleased archive material. And very nice it is, too. From the most bubblegum nonsense to woozy, off-centre strangeness and taking in acid re-works, panting rapping and, as usual, the crispest, most swinging beats about, it confirms that Mr Vibert is happy to head on doing what he wants to do regardless. Nobody else in dance music can claim to be serious about cheese without actually being very cheesy. It's a rare talent and if it means that the unique individual with that talent has to put up with crap press releases about paisley-bedecked terrorists rummaging around inside their (giant) pants then so be it. |
