Misled
Convoy – Translations (Dubmission Records)
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Out
Now
8.5
/ 10
New Zealand producer releases a new remix
album.
For many people the name of Michael Hodgson may
not be an instantly recognisable name, but in his homeland of New Zealand he
has made over 20 albums in the last four decades as part of Tinnitus, The Projector
Mix and Pitch Black.
Translations presents eight very different
tracks from the genres of ambience to electro by eight different artists all
remixed in a very distinctive style.
Some tracks are so far removed from the original that they take on their
own persona and become new tracks in their own right.
A version of last year’s Neurotrash single by
Louder Than War favourites Feral Five kicks off proceedings with a mellowed
version of their critically acclaimed single.
Hodgson adds reverb and the drumbeat is slowed somewhat to allow the
track to weave itself into your daily earworm.
A stunning centre section sees the track employ dub over dub at Kat
Five’s voice echoes in and out between slurred guitar and added synth effects.
The dub theme is one that prevails throughout
the album, and the way in which it is used is often subtle but
incredibly effective. Holotrinica (aka Stuart from Hexstatic) have an ambient treatment applied to You Are Supernova as early voiceovers smear themselves over a lazy percussion and instrumentation that sneakily enters and leaves the mix.
incredibly effective. Holotrinica (aka Stuart from Hexstatic) have an ambient treatment applied to You Are Supernova as early voiceovers smear themselves over a lazy percussion and instrumentation that sneakily enters and leaves the mix.
Reason guests on Do You Know Where You Are
Going by Super Cozi adding vocals to an almost trance track which glides along
in a gorgeous dreamscape of filtered echoes and wisps. Frontman from The Adults, Jon Toogood is
represented by a minimalist Please Wake Up which gains pace and percussion in
the closing two minutes but still retains an air of relaxation.
London’s Flies + Flies add a more post punk
feel to the running order with guitars that are brought to the fore in front of
voices. Described as ‘making the apocalypse
sound fun’ the band’s sound is dark with Numanesque vocals and drawn out
screeching guitars. Additional delay
from Hodgson once more gives the track and added slant.
With the beautiful sounds of Lost In The Valley
Of The Scintilla Strings by Animat comes a calm and wonder which is formed
around some brilliant dub effects and drone/ambient feel, and the curiously
entitled Wimble Toot by Banco de Gaia once more offers an otherworldly texture
in a composed and unruffled Pastscape Remix.
Closing with a Misled Convoy track, Leap Beneath
from last year’s Tickling The Dragon’s Tail album is a track with an underlying
reggae feel and beat. The dub effects
are nothing short of stunning and as an end to the album couldn’t really be
improved.
If you like your dub and/or a bit of ambient
then Translations is a great way to kick off any day. Varied and skilfully assembled, it is an
often stunning album.
Links
Dubmission Records
Misled Convoy on Soundcloud
Misled Convoy on Twitter
Misled Convoy on Facebook
Feral Five on hiapop Blog
Gary Numan on hiapop Blog
Published on Louder Than War 7/04/16 - here
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