Search - Various Artists :: Dublab: Freeways

Exactly what we needed...

Melanie Ward | Parker, Colorado United States | 01/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with the fact that this album is experimental. Dublab was experimental when it set up shop some time ago and now that they've garnered themselves enough attention to warrant a release they've attempted to extract the best elements from their show and put it on a cd. In my opinion they've done their job. The first time you listen to this cd it washes over you gently. Some of this may be IDM but forget that genre shelving for a second and realize its experimental from the start, so while you might be able to categorize it in a way (IDM, hip hop, etc.) its still something in and of itself. And thats something rare these days.
How many electro-hip hop hybrids are there anyway?
To be brief, if you want to try something new... check this out.
Viva Emperor Norton."

A little too experimental...

tristanfrank | iowa city, iowa USA | 08/08/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Dublab was launched back in 1999, an internet radio station that aimed to display wide varieties of new music. It featured dj sets from artists as diverse as Mouse On Mars, to Saul Williams, Rainer Truby, and Coldcut. This disc sets out to take the dublab musical aesthetic to the cd platform. This compilation is a meeting between Dublab and Emperor Norton Records, it seeks to expose underground rap and dance music artists from in and around los angeles to a wider audience. The content here is not typical dance or hip-hop music, but freeform experimentation. Some of the experiments by these artists go wrong. Underground hip-hop producer Madlib (aka Quasimoto) attempts to recreate the sound of an old jazz group under the name yesterday's new quintet, the result soul searchin sounds like an old dusty record you have in your basement but never listen to. I wasn't feelin it. The other hip-hop songs include an electro inspired work by divine styler and instrumentals by . Electronic knob twiddlers create half of the tracks here. Similar to Autechre, these tracks display more interest in process than in the final product, best exemplified in the aptly titled "A Mashnote" by Daedalus. Many tracks fall into the IDM category, if only because they contain many bleeps and bonk noises. There is also mediocre drum and bass courtesy of Mia Doi Todd. This disc is loaded with exclusives, but there are many songs here that you won't listen to again. This is the first exposure for some of the acts here. Perhaps the scope of the project went further than the talent."

Innovative, Fresh and Laid-Back

Peter A. Carbonaro | Oceanside, NY | 06/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Over the nearly two years that it's been in existence, dublab has pursued a single-minded vision of spreading innovative electronic music around the world via internet broadcasts of DJ and live sets, featuring such renowned artists as Alex Gopher, Rae and Christian, Photek, and Jazzanova. However, on freeways, dublab takes a more subdued approach, focusing on innovative and emerging artists from the L.A. area. Though there are various styles represented here, all of them reflect a distinctly laid-back, organic vibe. The opening track, Languis and Fer Chioca's "The Sky Below" sets the tone and pace for freeways. Combining sparse analog sounds with delicate acoustic guitar, it achieves a perfect blend of the electronic and organic, of machinelike precision with soulful, expressive undertones. There are refreshing bits of silence between the notes, a nice reminder that electronic music doesn't have to consist of a wall of sound. It's a warm, gentle composition that gives the listener plenty of room to breathe, and its easygoing ambience wouldn't be out of place on a Kreidler record. There are other standouts as well. Daedelus' "Mashnote" continues more of the low-tech aesthetic, albeit with a more experimental edge, random bits of static rhythmically peeking out from under chiming, single-note melodies. There's a distinctly cinematic edge to MIA Doi Todd's "Digital, Version 2.1", which blends sultry stream-of-consciousness vocals with subterranean cello sounds. Hip-hop producer Divine Styler (MO Wax) gives us "Shen", a spoken-word/rap that drifts in and out of the mix over stop/start beats: it's almost conspiratorial in its subtlety. Skull Valley's "Death Zone Reflection" is a funky, sensual and mysterious, with an exotic vibe so thick so you can almost smell the opium.

In addition, there's representation given to experimental, downtempo, and jazz-flavored tracks as well, and these are solid efforts in their own right. Of course, not every track is a winner. Tracks by Mannequin Lung and Ammon Contact are, at best, nondescript and end before they can really go anywhere, and percussionist Adam Rudolph's track, "Nawa", comes across as percussive noodling. These, however, are in the minority, and freeways succeeds as a solid collection of up and coming talent who share a common musical aesthetic. In addition, it represents a risky (and commendable) move on the part of dublab -- instead of going for the sure thing and releasing a mix by one of the marquee artists they've had on their site, they've opted to give exposure to fresh new talent, in turn rewarding the listener with an highly enjoyable CD."