textura

Albums
Alejandro & Aeron
Balustrade Ensemble
Jeremy Bible
F.S. Blumm
Cadence Weapon
Cataclyst
Cepia
Chloé
Cooler
Disinterested
edIT
Erik Enocksson
For Barry Ray
Ernest Gonzales
Grand National
Hakobune
Halou
Frode Haltli
Arve Henriksen
Ielasi & Ratti
Jumpel
Lawrence
Lickets
Manual
Melodium
Mono
My Fun
Marissa Nadler
Prints
Rekalix
Remote_ vs Ontayso
Will Saul
Sixtoo
Small Sails
Songs Of Green Pheasant
Christian Wallumrød
White Rainbow
Xeltrei
Yndi Halda

Compilations / Mixes
Paolo Mojo
Ewan Pearson
VA: 5 Years Get Physical
VA: Monza Vol. 2
VA: U-cover mix 01 [a]
VA: U-cover mix 02 [d]

3"/ 7"/ 10"/ 12"/ EPs
Ateleia
Pier Bucci
Cio D'Or
Cloudland Canyon
Curium
Laurine Frost
Dave Graham
Hakobune
The Infant Cycle
Lerosa
Lullaby Leagure
Mole Harness
Mowbray & Sullivan
Ontayso
School of Seven Bells
Science Teacher
Sleep Robot
Unwed Sailor
VA: Spies & Lies
Rick Wade

VA: Spies & Lies
Items and Things

Minus associates Magda, Troy Pierce, and Marc Houle established Items and Things as an outlet for a rather wackier brand of experimental minimalism than is typically heard on their better-known label. Of the three, only Houle appears to contribute to the latest Items and Things 12-inch, with Thrill Cosby, Kasper, and Alexi Delano rounding out the artists involved. Parking themselves midway between through-composed pieces and jams, the four cuts each spin disparate variations on the central theme.

More gleefully spacey than sober, Houle's truly minimal “Extreme” is dominated by a thrumming synth line that ascends octaves like Kong leaping progressively taller buildings, and is goosed by an occasional snare splat and backbeat strut. African percussion situates Thrill Cosby's “Oogity Boogity” at the center of the jungle and then dresses it up with a stomping groove, demented vocals, and groaning stabs. Kasper's “Turn Tricks On The Side,” on the other hand, opts for a nocturnal cityscape where pumping bass lines purr amidst voice snippets and percussive gunfire while a spidery synth figure stretches its legs. Returning to more familiar Minus-styled territory, Delano's “Would You?” pairs its taut motorik skip with Hutter-esque vocal exhalations and twisted synth lines that, strangely, suggest steel drums.

October 2007