Dubstep mainstay Boxcutter aka Norn Iron's Barry Lynn delivers his third album for Planet Mu with a distinct progression in sound from the hyper processed 'Glyphic'. It seems the ultra-tech programming of his previous two albums has left Boxcutter in need of a change, resulting is this shockingly organic and refreshingly energised take on garage, hardcore and electronica with some jazzual help from his buddies in Kinnego Flux. The first real change is 'Mya Rave' feeling almost naked without the dynamic trickery, but massively benefitting from richer analog tones, naturally spacious reverbs and a crafty sample of Foul Play's 'Dubbin' You' used to awesome effect. 'Arecibo Message' refers to a sonic signal beamed into space via frequency modulated radio waves in 1974, and it's representation on this album is a rude breakstep cutter, harking back to the more turbulent sound of early Vex'd mixed with LP5-era Autechre, but it's when Lynn indulges his predilection for Jazzy improv that some of the most magical moments on the album occur, such as 'Old School Astronomy' or 'A Familiar Sound' taken from the single with Kinnego Flux. Finishing on the couplet of 'Kab28' and 'A Cosmic Parent' is a canny move, seeing Lynn move through his entire repertoire of equipment from synths to guitars to delay pedals to neatly blur their boundaries with his unique style. An excellent, surprising listen - highly recommended.
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Dubstep mainstay Boxcutter aka Norn Iron's Barry Lynn delivers his third album for Planet Mu with a distinct progression in sound from the hyper processed 'Glyphic'. It seems the ultra-tech programming of his previous two albums has left Boxcutter in need of a change, resulting is this shockingly organic and refreshingly energised take on garage, hardcore and electronica with some jazzual help from his buddies in Kinnego Flux. The first real change is 'Mya Rave' feeling almost naked without the dynamic trickery, but massively benefitting from richer analog tones, naturally spacious reverbs and a crafty sample of Foul Play's 'Dubbin' You' used to awesome effect. 'Arecibo Message' refers to a sonic signal beamed into space via frequency modulated radio waves in 1974, and it's representation on this album is a rude breakstep cutter, harking back to the more turbulent sound of early Vex'd mixed with LP5-era Autechre, but it's when Lynn indulges his predilection for Jazzy improv that some of the most magical moments on the album occur, such as 'Old School Astronomy' or 'A Familiar Sound' taken from the single with Kinnego Flux. Finishing on the couplet of 'Kab28' and 'A Cosmic Parent' is a canny move, seeing Lynn move through his entire repertoire of equipment from synths to guitars to delay pedals to neatly blur their boundaries with his unique style. An excellent, surprising listen - highly recommended.
Dubstep mainstay Boxcutter aka Norn Iron's Barry Lynn delivers his third album for Planet Mu with a distinct progression in sound from the hyper processed 'Glyphic'. It seems the ultra-tech programming of his previous two albums has left Boxcutter in need of a change, resulting is this shockingly organic and refreshingly energised take on garage, hardcore and electronica with some jazzual help from his buddies in Kinnego Flux. The first real change is 'Mya Rave' feeling almost naked without the dynamic trickery, but massively benefitting from richer analog tones, naturally spacious reverbs and a crafty sample of Foul Play's 'Dubbin' You' used to awesome effect. 'Arecibo Message' refers to a sonic signal beamed into space via frequency modulated radio waves in 1974, and it's representation on this album is a rude breakstep cutter, harking back to the more turbulent sound of early Vex'd mixed with LP5-era Autechre, but it's when Lynn indulges his predilection for Jazzy improv that some of the most magical moments on the album occur, such as 'Old School Astronomy' or 'A Familiar Sound' taken from the single with Kinnego Flux. Finishing on the couplet of 'Kab28' and 'A Cosmic Parent' is a canny move, seeing Lynn move through his entire repertoire of equipment from synths to guitars to delay pedals to neatly blur their boundaries with his unique style. An excellent, surprising listen - highly recommended.