Call it formula, call it genius, call it tribal techno. Whatever Johnny D was doing in the studio a few months ago has seen him vault into the top-tier of producers based upon the success of his mega-hit "Orbitalife." Listeners weary of that track's ubiquitous inclusion on recent compilations can take heart, though: The Eritrean-born producer has plenty more from the "Orbitalife" sessions.
"Requiem of a Dream," for one, mines the same tick-tick-tock-tock-tick-tick-tock-tock beat, layering strings underneath that presumably take directly from Clint Mansell's score from the Darren Aronofsky film of the (almost) same name. But even if they aren't sourced from Mansell, the effect is the point: This is tribal techno as jazz funeral—with a funky bassline to match—that mourns death as it simultaneously celebrates life.
"Scope of Mind" is less quirky than its counterpart, but it's no less affecting. A bubbling synth sounds out its main theme over the course of the track's six-and-a-half minutes, rarely deviating from its upward lilt. There's no "Orbital"-esque moaning here, though. Like "Requiem," the track relies on a sample that's been tweaked just enough to no longer make complete sense to mark time. As their titles imply, both are personal affairs—and all the better for it.
"Requiem of a Dream," for one, mines the same tick-tick-tock-tock-tick-tick-tock-tock beat, layering strings underneath that presumably take directly from Clint Mansell's score from the Darren Aronofsky film of the (almost) same name. But even if they aren't sourced from Mansell, the effect is the point: This is tribal techno as jazz funeral—with a funky bassline to match—that mourns death as it simultaneously celebrates life.
"Scope of Mind" is less quirky than its counterpart, but it's no less affecting. A bubbling synth sounds out its main theme over the course of the track's six-and-a-half minutes, rarely deviating from its upward lilt. There's no "Orbital"-esque moaning here, though. Like "Requiem," the track relies on a sample that's been tweaked just enough to no longer make complete sense to mark time. As their titles imply, both are personal affairs—and all the better for it.
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Published /
Sun / 26 Oct 2008 -
Words /
Todd L. Burns -
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Tracklist /
A Requiem of a Dream
B Scope of Mind
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