Slowfoot Records “house band” Snorkel, follow up to their lauded 'Stop Machine LP' with a remix EP, which kicks off with a new recording, an improvisation laid down to tape and film simultaneously in their studio. It is also the first recording of Snorkelʼs current line up which adds the talents of guitarist Roberto Sassi [Vole, Cardosanto] and Ralph Cumbers [aka Bass Clef] to the existing trio of drummer Frank Byng [Crackle, Spring Tides], keyboardist Ben Cowen [7- Hurtz] and trombonist Tom Marriott [Pest].
And then come the remixes... Maverick audio- visual duo Sculpture start us off. Fresh from releasing two acclaimed albums on Dekorder, the pair grab Snorkelʼs “Wet Tongue” and drag it kicking and screaming into the BBC Radiophonic workshop for a playful, dubbed-up workout. Slowfoot alumni Crewdson and Robert Logan come next. The former twists ʻDead Skinʼ into a beautiful mutant, oozing soul and glitch and his trademark junkyard clatter. Logan takes on ʻStop Machineʼ whipping up a blizzard of chops and edits. The set closes with another duo, this time former Rothko members Mark Beazley and Crawford Blair with their new project, the majestic Rome Pays Off. Blissfully ethereal as one would come to expect, their remix of “Loophole” closes the set in classy style. Reviews: "‘One Long Conundrum’ is appropriately titled, being a nine-plus minute jazz-based improvisational piece that incorporates elements of Krautrock, dub and vintage electro avant-garde weirdness. It’s pretty spaced out, far out and doodlesome." [Whisperinandhollerin.com] "So a remarkable listen all round, highly recommended." [Incendiary Magazine] "The title track is a brand new recording that throbs through its 8 plus minutes, with attitude, bass and scatter shots of electronic mood." [Terrascope] "...a killer improvisation... ... For nearly ten minutes the quintet jam out on lean, punchy steppers' percussion with taut, sparing interplay between guitar, keys and trombone inna pensive fashion." [Boomkat] "... an outstanding EP. 9/10" [Soundblab] "a real genre-fuck-fest, featuring krauty grooves and jazz moods, under the soundscape of a cinematic experience." [The 405] "‘One Long Conundrum’ is 9 and a half minutes of krautrock madness, a droning beat that serves as the digital foundations for several instruments to springboard into a sort of ethereal watering hole. It is massively impressive, more so after reading that the whole goshdarned thing was pretty much improvised by this 5 member army. Brilliant and perfectly executed, it’s a great calling card" [Sloucher] |
CREDITS
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Frank Byng - drums, sampler Ben Cowen - synths, keyboards, sampler Ralph Cumbers - bass, electronics Tom Marriott - trombone, fx Roberto Sassi - guitar 2. remixed by Sculpture 3. remixed by Crewdson 4. remixed by Robert Logan 5. remixed by Rome Pays Off Snorkel - One Long Conundrum
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