September 28, 1998

Slag Boom Van Loon

Last November in Rotterdam, following an ace curry, Jochen Paap (aka Speedy J) and Mike Paradinas (aka 5-Ziq) headed back to Paap's place to make this album....

7 / 10 LAST NOVEMBER IN ROTTERDAM, FOLLOWING an ace curry, Jochen Paap (aka Speedy J) and Mike Paradinas (aka 5-Ziq) headed back to Paap's place to make this album. They titled it after the alarm system in the Dutch producer's studio. Then they named the first track 'Light Of India', in honour of "the best Indian restaurant in Rotterdam". Mmm, that's right...

Once past that stack of brow-furrowing information, the next surprise is this rarely sounds like either of these electronica scholars' previous works. Instead it cuts a strangely regal path from Spacemen 3-esque choral ambient to more feisty missives, including the superb acieed attack of 'Poppy Seed'. Though sometimes the more skeletal and plaintive tunes partake in a fruitless search for a purpose, when P&P hit it off, like on the grand classical-techno of 'Fallen Angels Entering Pandemonium', this proves a collaborative exercise which defies the obvious danger that it would nullify their respective talents, and instead spurs them toward potent, striking and sometimes even unique orbits.

Almost as unique as this being the product of Dutch curry, rather than courage, in fact.

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