ARTICLES
2006 Top 10s and 20s
2006 Artist Picks

ALBUMS
17 Pictures
Angina P
Ateleia
Benni Hemm Hemm
The Boats
Cappablack
Celer
Dead Letters Dead Words
Deceptikon
Deerhunter
Denzel + Huhn
Displayaz
Dollboy
Drone
Eluvium
Emanuele Errante
The Eternals
Fear Falls Burning
Marcus Fjellström
Fonoda
Funkstörung
Goldfrapp
Gyroscope
Robert Henke
James Holden
The Idealist
Anders Ilar
Landing
LCD Soundsystem
Library Tapes
L Pierre
Lullatone
Tor Lundvall
Mad EP
Mahogany
Melodium
Mem1
Daisuke Miyatani
Mole Harness
Momus
Monoceros
Mormo
Mothboy
Original Hamster
Pierson & Horton
Prince Valium
Radical Face
Retail Sectors / Yaporigami
Rylander & Elggren
Scott Solter Plays PIM
Sideshow
Silicone Soul
Skream
Splinters
Mark Templeton
Thread Pulls
T. Raumschmiere
Tycho
Ultre
Virculum
Xela

COMPILATIONS/MIXES
AudioArt 03
Cumulous
Dubstep Allstars Vol. 4
Eriksen / Toft / Utarm
Katapult VA Vol. 3
Let's Lazertag Sometime
Mr Geoffrey & JD Franzke
Skagen / Halvorsen / Toft
Tectonic Plates

3"/7"/10"/12"/EPs
Gabriel Ananda
Robert Bardini
DAT Politics
Dead Letters / R. Sundin
Dogmixer
Benjamin Fehr
Fenin
HL
I Make This Sound
Zoë Irvine
Kyriakides and Moor
Lamont & 2tall
Ljud. & Piloten / Kama Aina
Jacob London
Sam Mcqueen
Miskate
Ryo Miyashita & Hiiragi_
[nara]
New Faces
Of / Greg Davis
Charlemagne Palestine
Phon.o vs Litwinenko
Portable
PostPrior
Samarah
Nicholas Sauser & Ditch
Someone Else
Hannes Teichmann
Tractile
Andy Vaz

IMAGES
F.S. Blumm

Ryo Miyashita & Hiiragi_: Liberating to the Shape of Nature
Nataural Anthemes

Tokyo-based artists Ryo Miyashita and Kazuki Mochizuki (aka Hiiragi_) appear to have designed Liberating To The Shape of Nature to function as a mixing tool for other DJs as well as potential source material for art installations and multimedia performances, but it also can be listened to as a five-track 12-inch of sample- and DSP-based character. Side A features three “Float” variations starting with a brightly swinging shuffle that sails through a tunnel of crackle and owl noises. That same owl-like theme chirps throughout “Float2” with the tune now dominated by a barrage of percussive clicks while “Float4” retains the jubilant spirit and pulse of its siblings but dramatically ups the noise and glitch ante—Autechre by way of Merck might be one way of describing it. The most memorable piece is side two's opener “Deco” which, notwithstanding some obsessive squirrelly chatter, is distinguished by a forcefully strutting mid-tempo techno pulse. Of entirely different character is the closer “Waichi” which writhes in seeming agony, ensuring that Liberating To The Shape of Nature will be heard as more of a curio than straight-up techno.

January 2007