Album reviews: Aphex Twin, Sam & Dave
By Jon Dawson
Columnist
New album: Syro
Artist: Aphex Twin
Label: Warp
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Aphex Twin is actually one Richard D. James, a man who over the last two decades has become one of if not the most significant figure in the world of techno/ambient/electronic music.
For anyone unfamiliar with the robotic cockroach scuffle that permeates the Aphex Twin sound, look to the electronic heavy music Radiohead started making after “O.K. Computer.” The combination of dark melodies and glitched up beats is an Aphex Twin staple that has for better or worse been highly influential.
As Aphex Twin, James has released everything from beat-heavy techno epics to formless drone music. After 13 years of releasing music under pseudonyms and remixing other artists work, Aphex Twin returns with “Syro,” a dense electronic album that will thrill some and run others up a tree.
After two opening songs that sound more athletic than entertaining, a memorable melody pokes through in “Produk 29.” Disjointed percussion pattern aside, “Produk 29” sounds like a cross between Harold Faltermyer’s “Axel F” and the music played underneath the old Max Headroom commercials. Is retro electronic music actually a thing now?
“4 bit 9 d” (and you though Prince’s song names were annoying) delves deep into Kraftwerk territory, and wouldn’t sound out of place serving as the soundtrack to an early 1980s rap tune. “180db_” is a rather dismal track, as if the listener was being subjected to the inner workings of a cyborg with a digestive issue. “Circlont14” and “Aisatana,” however, are both inventive pieces of music that are melodic and memorable.
“Syro” is an aggravating listen. For every redeeming moment there’s another one that makes you want to take an ax to your stereo. Longtime Aphex Twin fans may eat this up, but novices are advised to proceed with caution.
Classic album: Sweat & Soul
Artist: Sam & Dave
Label: Atlantic/Stax
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Without a doubt, Sam & Dave were the greatest soul duo of all time. Although their recorded output was minimal, what is there is mostly brilliant.
Sam Moore and Dave Prater were a product of Stax Records, arguably the greatest record label of the 1960s. Motown had the glitz, but Stax had the grits. Southern soul is the best kind of soul, and the combination of Sam & Dave’s fervent vocals with the Stax house band, writers and production team was one of the greatest marriages in all of popular music.
With production and musical support from the likes of Steve Cropper and Booker T. Jones, Sam & Dave could have probably sung the ingredients to a glass of water and churned out hits. That being said, the duo came into the Stax universe just as Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter started churning out classic songs as if it were a bodily function: “Soul Man,” “Hold On, I’m Comin,’” “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” “I Thank You” .... just typing those song titles gives one the chills.
What made Sam & Dave unique was the disparity in their voices. Sam Moore’s smooth highs paired with Dave Prater’s dusky lows set them apart from other soul acts. Their call and response vocals on “Soul Man” were nothing revolutionary, but the chemistry of their blended voices made it special. Having world class musicians such as Jones, Cropper, Duck Dunn and Al Jackson behind them didn’t hurt either.
Anyone who has come to soul music through the brilliant work of modern acts such as Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Charles Bradley owe it to themselves to give this Sam & Dave anthology a listen.
Jon Dawson’s books available at www.jondawson.com.
Jon Dawson’s album reviews appear every Thursday in The Free Press. Contact Jon at 252-559-1092 or jon.dawson@kinston.com.