- The latest five track sampler from UK based Cside Trax represents new sounds in the realm of abstract lyricism and quirky beats. Cside themselves have found favour with the likes of Ninjatune artists Fink, Mr Scruff and dance music heavyweight Andy Weatherall. The Manageable Chunks EP features 5 new tunes from Afrophysics, Genocide II, The Slumberjack, Muad'dib and The Popeye Dolls.
Afrophysics - Voodooman (Average White Boy Mix)
Average White Boy's mix of Voodooman takes a country guitar riff and chops it up to create a weird and quirky effect backed up with heavily syncopated drum breaks featuring plentiful use of stabby pads and rimshots. A female vocalist delivers spoken word lyrics taking the listener to a dark and mirky world, calling out for the Voodooman. Towards the end a funky slap bass lick takes over giving the tune some bottem end grunt.
Genocide II - Imperial Flow
UK hip hoppers Genocide II take a futuristic alienoid beat with out-of-this-world tech samples and wobbly alien bass and deliver their English flows that take the listener to another dimension.
The Slumberjack - Ladby
Ladby goes on a futuristic electro tip with elements of Booty Bass thrown in, and yet sounds quite retro as elements of 80's electronic music come to mind. Arrpegio melodies mingle with off key synth lines and militant drum beats to produce a highly quirky tune.
Muad'dib - Isaac Rublev
Muad'dib provides the EP with more electro, this time on a much dirtier and darker tip with a rolling bassline and technoid synth lines all held together with stabby drum beats - and that's just the intro. Drum breaks reminiscent of old skool hardcore kick in to give the tune a little more oomph and they feature toward the end in a massive breakdown.
The Popeye Dolls - Bonus Track
Bonus Track earns its name from the vocal samples lifted from what sounds like 1930s jazz music and TV shows which are then chopped up frantically in an Aphex Twin/Squarepusher stylee, while a manic drum'n'bass tempo break brings out the beat. Definitely not reserved for bonus track material as the name implies - those who appreciate quirky musical production styles will appreciate this.