Enter The Spektrum

Spektrum is an anomaly on the Playhouse label. They're an actual group, not a single producer or duo. They play a somewhat awkward, skeletal version of funk that involves some apt -- if very overstated -- comparisons to post-punk bands like ESG and A Certain Ratio, and a good number of their tracks resemble Remedy/Rooty-era Basement Jaxx, albeit with all the crazy ornamentation (some would say "fun parts") stripped off. The group owes plenty to the past yet remain modern-sounding (the very Devo-like "Interference" excepted), applying a minimalist house re-fashioning to their decades-old inspirations. And though they don't seem like the easiest fit for Playhouse, they've had a little help from remixes granted by Losoul, Alter Ego, Tiefschwarz, Ricardo Villalobos, and Richie Hawtin. Enter the... Spektrum is an album that conveniently includes the past A-sides but is based around new material, much of which stacks up to those past singles quite well. Listeners may have trouble with Spektrum's skewed, less-is-more take on funk, and an hour of Lola Olafisoye's pinched-nose vocals can be as potentially taxing as that of Cameo's Larry Blackmon. Still, this should be a nice change of pace for Playhouse followers, who may appreciate a breather from the label's recent spate of disco/boogie-influenced releases. ~ Andy Kellman|

独プレイハウスといえばクリック系のイメージが強いレーベルですが、最近は趣向が広がってきているようでして、今回も一風変わったユニットの登場です。黒人女性ヴォーカルがいますが、別にソウル云々という雰囲気じゃなく、エキセントリックなエレクトロクラッシュという感じでダークにハジけまくっています。いや、コレはヘンですよ!　こんな立ち位置のアーティストはちょっといないし、放っておく手はありません。
bounce (C)池田 謙司

トレヴァー・ジャクソンやチキン・リップスも大リコメンド!　衝撃のミニマル・ファンク・チューン“Freakbox”で、ヨーロッパ中のクラブ・シーンを席巻したノーウェイヴ・バンド、スペクトラムが待望のフル・アルバムをリリース!　リキッド・リキッドやESGが現代に蘇ったかのような、人力ミニマル・ハウスやノーウェイヴ・ファンクはマジでヤバイです。ラプチャーに続く、アンダーグラウンド・シーンからの強烈な一撃!
bounce (C)則武 秀保