Nek Sanalet

ollowing on from his Nek Purpalet EP earlier in the year, Clayton's first full-length for the Scape label -- run by Stefan Betke (aka Pole) -- is a masterpiece of experimental dub. Far advanced from the notable progressions made earlier by Berlin's Basic Channel and Chain Reaction crews, Nek Sanalet is even a bit more advanced than Betke's own highly regarded work as Pole. The first track, "Nuchu," takes an unintelligible, haunted vocal sample (Aleister Crowley slowed down to the speed of flowing syrup) and rattles it around volleys of cacophonous, echoing percussion and dub effects. The sheer amount of processing done by Clayton's Powerbook must have easily taxed its memory, for absolutely no effects or beats escape the producer's twisted programming sense. True, a bare few of the tracks on Nek Sanalet -- "Nele" and "Aspoket" come to mind -- sound very reminiscent of Clayton's minimal forefathers Basic Channel and Mike Ink, but even these are done amazingly well. For all the techno fans who thought experimental dub was a bit too ingrown and shadowed to make for truly diverting listening, Nek Sanalet should mark a surprising change of heart. ~ John Bush|