Articles
2009 Artists' Picks
Lymbyc Systym

Albums
Cory Allen
aus
The Bird Ensemble
Canaille
Catlin & Machinefabriek
Greg Davis
Loren Dent
Dirac
Drafted By Minotaurs
Flica
Sarah Goldfarb & JHK
Gown
John Hollenbeck
Viviane Houle
I/DEX
Akira Kosemura
Andrew McKenna Lee
Le Lendemain
LRAD
Lymbyc Systym
Melorman
Muskox
The Mercury Program
Nikasaya
Northerner
nörz
Noveller / Aidan Baker
Redshape
Marina Rosenfeld
Stripmall Architecture
Sturqen
Wes Willenbring
The Tony Wilson Sextet
Julia Wolfe
Peter Wright
Zelienople

Compilations / Mixes
Blackoperator
Glimpse Four:Twenty 03
Kod.eX
Portland Stories

EPs
Molnbär Av John
Tommi Bass & B.B.S.C.
Julian Beau
Colours-Volume 5
Dalot
Echologist
Simon James French
Geiom & Shortstuff
General Elektriks
Geskia
Ernest Gonzales
Gradient
Jacksonville
Joker
Ann Laplantine
Loko
Machinefabriek
Stefano Pilia
Damian Valles

Sturqen: Piranha
Kvitnu

One naturally is first of all struck by the presentation of Piranha, which houses Sturqen's CD within a jagged fold-out sleeve whose points are as razor-sharp as the group's music. On the basis of the dozen tracks issued on this collection by the Ukrain-based label Kvitnu, Portugal duo César Rodrigues and David Arantes specialize in a raw and uncompromising brand of dark electronica tangentially rooted in dance rhythms. Largely bereft of melodic elements, a given Sturqen track writhes for a three-minute interval before the machinery re-sets and a different program of industrial patterns and gritty frequencies kicks into gear.

“Vyk” elastically thumps and wheezes but then surreptitiously settles into a rather straight-ahead funk-techno pulse. “Unbu” mutates its head-banging squelch into the pulsating throb of “Tul,” after which “47” squeals like a butchered pig before turning ever more clangorous in its mix of low-burning frequencies and scabrous beats. Bulbous beats in “K2n” provide the forward thrust while a drilling noise mercilessly subjects the listener to what feels like a trepanning procedure, “Facce” opts for acidy noise convulsions and techno throb, and “Alk” caps the album with a wayward mix of hammering rhythms and granular showers.

January 2010