Kirk's softer side
filterite | Dublin, Ireland | 06/11/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Inspired by a trip to Haiti - Kirk had set about doing things slightly differently. He wanted to venture into something more cinematic and less aggressive. And it has to be said he's done a great job here. Fusing techno's more intelligent and imaginative genre with African beats and chants and the effect is something that is something subtly emotional but nothing melodramatic. The second CD carries on from where the first left offHowever having said that, listening to this, you do miss the aggressive style that you would associate with Kirk. But then I suppose everyone likes to have a change now and then."
A truly excellent album of intelligent/Dub orientated electr
fetish_2000 | U.K. | 09/07/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sandoz is the alter ego of "Richard H Kirk", former member of electronic-industrial outfit "Cabaret Voltaire". A man that has consistently released and looked to expand the boundaries of electronic/techno orientated music. With a prolific amount of releases behind him as "Richard H Kirk". His alter ego "Sandoz" is a more ambient and Afro-centric version of the techno/electronica, that he is known for. Sandoz's work is largely well-covered by influences as far ranging as: Dub, Electronica, Ambient, percussive rhythmic drumming, and techno. In fact such is the wide variety of downtempo tracks on offer here, that it feels more like a compilation of the various styles of intelligent electronic music.
Throughout the album, Sandoz is able to play with ideas that are a fusion of Afrocentric electronic textures and tribal-disco rhythms. It's a beautifully produced album, that has an abundance of ideas that are fully explored and expanded upon. One track can be a hypnotic and fractured almost electro IDM based track, that feels has an uptempo feel, without necessarily being considered a dance track ("Armed Response"). The next minute he's producing something that is far closer to the cerebral and pulsating oddly coldly reflective and melancholic ambient techno, that 'Aphex Twin' did so brilliantly on his "Selected Ambient Works Vol.1" ("Digital Lifeforms"). Tracks are also varied enough to introduce the detached and a hypnotic enough feel like the delicate electronic listening music of someone like "Boards of Canada" ("Chocolate Machine"), that has that dreamy and slightly bleak feel to it.
But one of the things that personally I feel that Sandoz completely excels at, is the intergration of African-style rhythmic tracks, that are coupled with the electronics of ambient techno. Tracks such as "Human Spirit" & "Limbo", are arguably some of the finest fusions of Afro-centric percussive electronica work, I've heard in some time. A sublime mix of the sort of hypnotic techno and added synthwork, that are overlayed with impressive percussion and fantastic sounding African polyrhythms and chants, that although possibly simplistic in structure remain heavy on rhythm. And its just a typical example of the kind of ingenuity that is on display throughtout this album. Although for some, it may not seem like it at first, but give it time and the sophisticated & inventive ideas begin to really take hold. There is such a diversity of ideas here, that it probably doesn't flow as a normal album should. As a great many styles are played around with, jumping from African techno Dub one minute ("White Darkness"), to the sounds of industrial sounding electro-Dub (""Drum Meditation"), and even touching upon very ambient sounding tones, on several tracks. But regardless of how each track may (or may not) flow into each other, its arguably an incredibly strong set of tracks here, that remain the finest collection of tracks that Sandoz has produced.
Anyone that has a broad interest in electronica, or the various sub-genres of the more gentle end of techno, simply must seek this out. its a brilliantly varied release that presents its As a varied collection of purely melodic electronica, and although there is a strong traces of African and dub influences, these just merely add to overall progressive material here. It's also important if you are going to dive in and give this album a go. That you make sure you purchase the 2-Cd edition that is available, as the second disk not only contains early material, but also several remixes, and is most definitely worth the extra outlay. This is a highly recommended purchase for either: (1)Richard H Kirk fans, that are interested in hearing his more subdued side. Or, (2)anyone with a board appeal of the cerebral / downtempo side of electronica/techno."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
