When reviewing an album, such as the excellent ‘Random Equations’ by USB, the reviewer often goes through song by song, mentioning high and low points and linking the music with the lyrics or song titles. As I’m listening to this on holiday on a portable CD player without the track listing, I can’t do that. Luckily, with USB’s new album it’s not really necessary. There’s plenty of variety here but nevertheless the album slips seamlessly from track to track, each displaying USB’s mastery of melodic IDM.
The music does indeed have many classic electronic reference points- from Aphex Twin through to Orbital and in particular many of the best artists on the label- but USB doesn’t just meld them but also builds on them to create something distinctively their own- listenable and evocative. The album title suggests finding a beauty in science and patterns- and what USB finds is definitely worth hearing.
The beats are characteristic of this kind of music and display complex abstract progressions, glitches and syncopations. You imagine the scientist here, connecting esoteric pieces of equipment and discovering strange new worlds through mathematics. So far, so electronic. However, science has other sides to it and whatever USB is working with definitely has an organic element. Vitally for this album, at the core of what this artist does is an understanding of the power of melody.
The tunes on ‘Random Equations’ fly and there are many moments that are nothing short of beautiful. Themes build and die, bell-like synths glisten, baselines roll forward, a solo piano forms abstract shapes. Everything is done with a clarity which makes this music very enjoyable to listen to.
As an aspiring electronic artist myself, I have very few criticisms to make. Perhaps some of the music very occasionally gets too repetitive- but this does allow for focus and is in any case a rare event. On the whole this is a superb album that sweeps the listener along with it. In science, as in life, you have a choice between detail and the big picture but USB somehow manages both simultaneously. Whoever says electronics doesn’t have a soul will be proved wrong here.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 16th, 2006 at 5:15 pm and is filed under Reviews by Northcape. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.