WOEBOT

Truly Revolting.

Got asked down to the Rephlex gig by none other than Paul Meme (be sure to totally ignore Paul's eulogy for TWANBOC...too nice pal!) and another big fella John Eden. I jumped at the opportunity and paid for the pleasure to meet the Meme-ster in the flesh. He's barking mad, refreshingly larger than lager and I had the feeling that even if the music hadn't been earsplittingly loud he would have been shouting at the same volume.

Aphex was on the decks second. Dead early in the evening. Isn't that cool! Not at 4am shrouded in a cloak and dry ice but just like a regular DJ. More than anything I like Rephlex's attitude. And I like the fact that they've taken us bloggers to their bosom. In case you hadn't noticed we dudes are where it's at! Their new compilation is well nice, I'm particularly into the things like Yee King's "Goodnight Toby", D'Arcangelo's "Shipwreck", Cyclob's "Smack 'em up sharp" and Bochum Welt's "Radiopropulsive" these four are all marked by their subaquatic flavours, backwards techno riddims and fondness for sounds that make you go "ooh!" Really gourgeous and alone worth the entrance fee.

As far as this hardened (deaf) raver is concerned the eternal re-run of early 1990s Idyllitronica is more artisitically respectable than the various strains of Fungle. While beautifully executed Luke Vibert's "Remember This", Bodgan Raczynski's "There are many things" and AFX's "Mangle 11" are verging on the exhausting. Somehow the signifier as it's intended (Jungle Beats=We're Well 'Ard) doesn't work for me on disc. At the Rephlex show this criticism was, however, made irrelevant. When mashed up with 'riginal Ardkore and Jungle from back in the day (I spotted Made in 2 Minutes "21 Seconds", 2 Bad Mice's "Bombscare"(not the remix alas), Splash's "Babylon" and was that Remarc's "Gangsta" off the new Planet Mu comp (jesus creepers that sounded ABSOLUTELY fantastic)? Then it works like a dream, like a funny/goofy sideshow off the main event, softening the old jungle's towering bombast. Other things worthy of a mention on the Rephlexions comp include Pierre Bastien's endearingly silly Gamelan Blues and The Gentle People's "Tiki Mix", the latter all turquoise lagoons and swaying grass skirts.

The thing about Rephlex is that they are what you could term a "POST" label. For them history seemed to end sometime round 1996, the latest datable sonic signposts being the Shadowboxing bassline off Luke Vibert's track, and last through the gate JP Buckle's "Flex" an IDM vision of bashment that needs a bit of a tweak. Maybe it's a result of the dearth of what Reynolds would call "pungent cliches," I'd argue (no really I would!) that Grime is still groping around for a signature sound around which to glom. The hungriest Tiger probably nearly there. But survey the panoply of Hip-Hop, Ragga and R&B. Maybe only Timbaland has produced any enduring sonic innovations. I like the "POST" attitude. I have no problems with it. I liked the fact that AFX remarked in that Wire interview recently given by the Rephlex crew that he was exhausted by novelty, that: "To be honest, I'd be quite happy never to hear anything new again." Yo soundbyte!

At the gig, was it Cyclob (or Smojphace) played a set that was a timeless amalgam of cold techno, mentasm stabs, and ragga flavours. A stranger came up to me and asked me "What track was that?" Do I look like that much of geek that I'd be able to tell you! I'm not craned over the decks like those saddos yonder! I've not got a frigging notebook in my mitts! Mate, I have not a bloomin' clue! "Probably a dubplate I opined", off the hook (phew). The immaculate selection just this, well Rephlex-ive sound. If you were being cruel you could remark: "C'mon get with the program Grandads!" But, unlike the first time around, this is less like a revolt, than a permanent riot. Less Castlemorton more a drifting commune of gypsies. And yes politics are in evidence! Refusal is all over The Bug's LP, whose live show I missed, my ears eventually throttled by AFX's set which seemed to escalate forever in intensity and ferocity eventually suffocating the gaps between the beats. I tried to record the Peel show last night (man like Pete Maplestone asked me to in June!), dammnit I waited up till ten o'clock, I'm usually in bed at 9! I've been informed you can hear it here. And if it's coming to your town BE SURE to check the Rephlex Tour. Rephlex we loves ya!

Posted by Woebot at November 14, 2003 12:36 PM