Cardiology

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A long-awaited full-length from Recloose released nearly four years after his first EP, Cardiology proves -- nearly effortlessly -- it was well worth the wait. Trainspotters attempting to peg sounds and styles on these 11 tracks could well do their heads in; Cardiology lies at the intersection of several scenes bubbling up around electronic dance: moody techno; the half-programmed, half-live sound of broken beat; the computer-processed turntablism of Prefuse 73; even synth-heavy jazz from the late '70s and early '80s (later borrowed by Chicago househeads like Larry Heard). It's obvious Matt Chicoine is an inventive, even restless producer; though his sound focuses on high-energy breakbeat techno with light, jazzy keys and the occasional stuttered vocal, the former DJ Bubblicious throws quite a few change-ups. Processional borrows the old rattle-and-clatter effect from a dub version with sped-up chatting going round and round, while the next track up (Get There Tonight) rescues '80s dance from history's dustbin with echoing keyboards and an angular synth-bass. M.I.A. is a nice nu-soul track for the Ronnie Scott's crowd, and the single Can't Take It goes from distorted electro to a tight turntablist bridge and back again with no energy loss. Nothing here sounds derivative because Chicoine simply uses sounds as building blocks to create a collection of great tracks. ~ John Bush, Rovi