Articles
2007 Ten Favourite Labels
Backtracking Greg Davis
Shackleton Interview

Albums
John Luther Adams
Joseph Auer
Commix
Dartriix
Floratone
Furniture
Shuta Hasunuma
Richard Hawley
Hologram
Icarus
Kiln
Kobol
Labradford
Last Days
M83
Mai
Darren McClure
Near the Parenthesis
David Newlyn
Objekt4
OK Ikumi
Ontayso
Wendel Patrick
Phon°noir
Pocahaunted / Robedoor
Poostosh
Prefuse 73
Quosp
Rapoon
The Retail Sectors
Skull Disco
Socos
Supersilent
Tigrics
Trentemøller
Zuydervelt / Baars / Veld.

Compilations/Mixes
Airport Symphony
Devil in the Detail
Dinky
EXPANSION | contraction
Funckarma
Little Darla v. 25
One Five Zero
Playgroup / Alter Ego
Signal Path
Soul Jazz Singles
U-cover Mix 03 [IDM]
Ricardo Villalobos
We Are All Cotton-Hearted
Well Deep

3"/ 7"/ 10"/ 12"/ EPs
Basic Unit
Bodycode
Kit Clayton & Sutekh
Dartriix
Ditch
INKlings
Insanic4
Lackluster
Najem Sworb
Ontayso
Sutekh
The Tamborines
Telafonica
Zainetica

Kobol: Extempore
Static Discos

Extempore's sometimes elusive stylistic character can be attributed to its make-up, given that multi-instrumentalist Ignacio Nashio Chavez and drummer Argel ‘Arhkota' Cota split their second Kobol full-length between remixes and originals. Predictably, contrast is more evident in the remixes than in the originals which boldly weave acoustic, jazz, electronic, funk, and broken beat elements into sparkling instrumentals (Cota consistently showers the material with cymbals and chattering snare and tom patterns). Complementing those settings are vocal tracks that range from the entranced, Radiohead-styled singing in the remix of State Shirt's “Straw Men” to the more playful approach heard in the remix of Pepito's “The Dogs.” In addition, Emma Ejwertz imbues the breezy “Blue Like You” with warmth and Ximena Sariñana adds sensual growl to the Spanish-flavoured funk of “Valenciana.” Not surprisingly, Murcof's “Urano” is fundamentally funereal in spirit but Kobol humanizes its string-based dramatics with drum flourishes and acoustic guitar shadings. Perpetuating the album's contrasts, the remix of Kampion's “Dreamy Snapshot” mixes hip-hop and broken beat into atmospheric rumble, while “Paragon” resembles an electronica-jazz fusion jam featuring an uncredited Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. Extempore's panoramic production style and lush arrangements invite comparisons to The Cinematic Orchestra, so much so one could easily picture a tour featuring the two outfits sharing a double-bill.

December 2007