Mindstream

This tight and relatively obscure release from Jack Dangers and company showcases a single from the 1993 album Satyricon. As is the norm, Meat Beat Manifesto throws in plenty of dance-friendly samples and loops, which are punctuated here with soundbites from meditative gurus and talking robots. The first two tracks are relatively similar, though track two is an especially good instrumental deconstruction, with fluttering snare drums and hi-hats, dubby basslines, and Middle Eastern vocal riffs. Track three features a recognizable but original enough remix from Richard James (Aphex Twin), who rarely disappoints considering how eclectic his work can be. Crunchy percussion and 16th-note chirps pulse steadily along to distant dreamy chords and vocal loops, courtesy of Dangers' own voice and others. James gives listeners just enough of a sonic sorbet before a more typical piece rounds out the EP, with "Original Control (Electro the Robot)" giving mix credits to DHS. Equal parts eerie and humorous, a robot comes to life and declares his various attributes to a hip-hop beat for 90-plus seconds before the tempo changes up to match the album version of the same song, one where synthesizer noodles flange along with sequenced precision and Kraftwerk-like automation. Mindstream is memorable, and a very engaging 22 minutes for the collectors and the curious. ~ Glenn Swan