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Released
1997
Acucrack Songs
(ascap)

Label
Slipdisc Records
Lost In Bass

Reviewed by
Kim Alexander

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Slip Disc Records
101 W Grand Ave. 6th Flr.
Chicago, Il 60610
Tel: 312.396.0200
Fax: 312.396.0245

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Last Edit/Update
23 January, 1998

Nation State
A Lost In Bass Production

         
Track Listing

1. Nation State (Shorty Mix)
2. It's More Fun To Compute
3. Bitch Universal
4. Neophyte
5. Time For You To Leave

         WoW!  What a pleasant surprise from Jason Novak and Jamie Duffy! The Acumen Nation revolution didn't exhaust their electronica evolution which is evident in Nation State, the premiere release of DJ? Acucrack.  Thanks boyz!
          Track one Nation State is a super dance tune, filled with strong drumming, (135bpm), (if I read their font right hehehe), an oscillating harmonic backdrop and samples reminiscent of early electronic of the 70s.
          It's More Fun To Compute sounds like the boyz laid some drums over a Kraftwerk sample and looped it. It's a nicely minimal, yet fast enough to dance to, and has a few sampled vocals from Kraftwerk.  Good stuff.
         Bitch Universal (181bpm) is a bit  more complex in that it winds in and out of a strong fast beat of synth drums (?) and an AM radio whine (when you turn the nob on that old 60s style radio tuner), overlayed with a softer slower eville drone of monotonic bass movement, did I detect key sample from Scorn?  The samples are interesting enough in this speedy piece to keep my attention, however most things this fast would make me hit the *forward* button on my player. There are places where the piece does slow down, just in time so my " brain won't explode", (Odium, IRC 1977).
          Neophyte (106bpm) has a slow eerie beginning which evolves into a more *military* type of beat, with a delicious harmonic blend woven through the track.  A sound of some type of machine sample, perhaps a squeeky old washing machine belt (?), persists in the background.
          Time For You To Leave leaves no gap from the previous track and again has the mono-harmonic elements throughout, a single beat bass drum, and snare to fill in the voids which are accented by snappy upbeat percussion. There is a sound sample in the middle of the song that reminds me of blood flowing through the aortic chamber...hmmm...where did they get that one?  The track ends with the single bass drum sounding as if it were from a scratched up 12" and the harmonics fading out.  Guess it's time to leave.

          All in all I enjoy hearing this new release.  It is upbeat, rather happy (?) in mood and uplifting.

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