Released
1996

Label
Map Music

Reviewed by
Dr. Donald J. Netolitzky


Visit

Last Edit/Update
03 July, 1999

Welcome To Lotus Land

Various Artists

This is a Land where many prolific members of electroniculture reside,
creating their own brand of West Coast Trancefusion
and Rhythmic Pacifica. Diversity is the diet upon which
these beat hedonist survive; house, dub, Detroit
techno, global ambient, jazz, ethno experimentalism and sounds
yet to be defined are what they mix into their sonic melting pots.
Whatcomes out is the West Coast's [North America] most eclectic
cascade of inspiring soulsonics.
We are very proud to present this fine collection as
the first release for Map Records.
[Taken From The Map Records Web Site]

Track Listing

1. Cap'm Stargazer -- Perspective
2. Dreamlogic -- Mistral <detour>
3.Pilgrims Of The Mind -- Loosejaw
4. Mere Mortals -- Gunjah
5. Landhip -- Mad Cobalt
6. MC2 & Erra -- Neptunian Bliss
7. Pilgrims Of The Mind -- Who.Is.That?
8. Cap'm Stargazer -- Mourning
9. Mere Mortals -- Shift
10. Dreamlogic -- Sparce Greys

    Canada has a more extreme range of regional cultures than most outside this nation would guess - no, we don't all live in the proverbial igloos. I, for example, reside in an area which is a tad redneck - yes, letters to the editor in our local paper do refer to the homosexual population as 'sodomites.' And there's a street downtown named after the one country 'n western femmebot singer this city has spawned. That's one extreme. Go west until you hit the Pacific, and you encounter another polar state, British Columbia, a node of ... well ... fluffiness. The holdfast of hippy culture (and home of high-end pot), British Columbia is noted as being, err... different. A few years past the premier of the province had his residence in a mock-castle, in the middle of his Fantasy Gardens. No. I'mnot joking. That's just the kind of place it is.
    The nickname 'lotusland' has been quite earned. And the age of Skinny Puppy is long past. So it's hardly surprising that this Electro compilation from MAP Music manages to capture that lightness and frivolity, a certain lack of intensity. Presenting seven different local-area artists, the compositions in this collection are quite compatible in pace, mood, and general structure. The operant word is 'unremarkable.'
    Especially conventional are the very simple flowing electronic tones of Cap'm Stargazer, neither emotive nor evocative, and the simple chord structures and 'twangy' light dance tones of Dreamlogic. More intriguing are the tracks by Landhip and MC2 & Erra, the former a slower-paced, flowing composition utilizing complex harmonics, a melody of squelched sounds and female voice to generate an organic sound which builds in intensity, while the latter utilizes a faster, complex, almost tribal electronic percussion beat against electronic tones in highly repetitious cycles.
    The two tracks contributed by Pilgrims of the Mind are likely the album's high point; 'loosejaw' uses light synthesized notes, simple melodies against a moderate dance beat to produce a sniggering tone, while 'who.is.that' retains the dance beat in combination with spoken vocals and turntable motifs in a simple melody to generate a product which is almost infectious.
    The electronic music scene, and associated rave culture is, in so many ways, the disco of the 90's. Rather plastic and pre-formed, at least to me. Something which captures emotions, evokes powerful responses? No. Fills time? Yes. And, alas, 'welcome to lotus land' does do just that, occupies time, with a not unpleasant product but certainly one which will not present a memorable experience. Perhaps suitable to a certain dance culture, but likely to be quite inadequate for the typical goth/industrial/experimental listener. Though it is as fluffy as the culture from which it originates... perhaps the local market will be appreciative. Frankly, I'm going to look at some cows.