Some albums are experimental and the ones that are experimental, try too hard to use old ideas and make new versions of old ideas. These are new ideas from an experimental perspective. How so? Read On to find out

Some albums try too hard to be experimental and some don't try hard enough. This album is a case of making new experimental ideas and using them, not a case of reusing old ideas. This is a another album from New York Based producer Larry Kucharz, who uses new ideas and builds on them, making it something that is different and new.

1.U955 , Techno

Judging by the title, this should be techno but instead it sounds more like a cross between drum'n'bass and techno. It contains techno elements but has an almost drum’n’bass bassline feel. It’s not quite drum’n’bass but it is far too fast for techno. It gets going very quickly then sort of kicks you in teeth with some bass in moments. I can see this actually fitting into some deejay sets, the ones that tend to pitch their stuff up.

2.U969, Drum N Bass & Strings

Tune number two starts out very bass heavy and then the drum’n’bass beats kick in. I like heavy basslines and when they are used in a song, I tend to enjoy it. I find that the song is too slow for my liking but this is not meant for club consumption but more for at home listening. The drum’n’bass beats have the UK sound in terms of structure and have the common UK heavy bass. He adds the strings delicately to this, almost to the point where you are just concentrating on the heavy bass and really don’t notice them. It’s another new idea because this is the first time that I’ve heard strings with Drum’N’Bass.

3. U312, Techno

You hear right off the bat, a really quick and almost stomping type beat, which reminds me of a marching army on display. Just like the first album, he puts one element in, builds on it then brings in another one. The result is a very layered song, just like this song, where the riffs are added and then more effects. I can’t really describe the effects in this one because I’ve never heard of these effects before.

4.U962, Progressive Classical

Now the term progressive classical was used here as he was spoofing the classic minimal music of the 1970’s. It starts off lightly, then a snare is thrown in, then hi-hats and the background has this sound and then the sound gets quicker. He uses a noodle-doodle theme that he wrote in 1973 but updated it for today. Everything in this song, seems almost in the background, not in the forefront and some of it, is faint but that is probably intentional. This certainly fits into the forward thinking music category and top marks for a new take on something old.


5.U313, Techno

This is song five and this starts out quickly and right after the start, you hear layers of sound building upon layers of sound. I hear this TB-303 type feel for some reason in this song. The layers become more complex at some points and you feel that these layers are playing mind games with you. It becomes apparent at this point of the vast experimental nature of this CD and you see that the ideas are new and fresh. It sounds like an early Derrick May production in places because of the emphasis and the use of strings. Who would have thought that something would sound like Derrick May ?


6.U310, Hardcore

This is also a track that may confuse some people because hardcore to some was the techno, trance, drum’n’bass, jungle and all the other non house genres under one genre in the late 1980’s before each split and formed their own genres. Hardcore to some is 190 beats per minute, trashing the ear drums type music. Whatever your description, just remember that this is experimentalism. At the very beginning, you hear a drum beat, then it gradually moves into a hardcore type sound, just much slower than the usual hardcore track. You hear strings at points and this is the first time that I’ve ever heard strings like this in a hardcore tune. This is not my version of hardcore but like I said at the very beginning, this is experimental music.

7.U311, Progressive Classical

This is probably another spoof of classic music - maybe Stravinsky? Track 7 starts out and it builds, snares are added and hi-hats soon follow. This catchy melody soon follows, which I like. These noises build in later and you do hear some classical elements but when I think of classical, I think of Handel and Bach. I like the interesting take on this idea because no one has really done this before.

8.U922, Dub

Dub in my book has always reminded me of Leftfield’s Rhythm and Stealth album from 1999 and this is no different. You hear a heavy bass with a housy feel but it is still dub. You get the feeling that this is more of a minimalist take on dub. At one point, you hear the strumming of an unknown instrument, which instrument is being used, I have no clue. At this point, you get the impression that Kucharz takes an idea then builds upon it, like a child building a castle with Lego blocks, then at one point, he knocks a wall or two down and then goes building up the castle again. Certainly a fresh take on new ideas and he gets top marks for originality. Only problem with this song is that it wears on me near the end.

9.U350, House – Four on the floor….then three

For all those who don’t know, Detroit techno was heavily influenced by Chicago House and in this track, he seems to incorporate both. You start with Chicago house feel but then about half way into the song, you hear strings, which give you the early Derrick May production feel. A keyboard riff drives this song, I believe this falls more into minimalist techno than house. You see again how the ideas are taken and new life is breathed into them, which I enjoy.


10.U921, Dub

You have heavy bass, then he throws in hi-hats then this almost piano type effect. You get a minimalist feel to this production. There is not much else that I can describe in this song but it is certainly a fresh take on dub.

11.U333, Minimal Techno

The last song starts faintly and you hear the sounds but they are not quite there, they are confined to the background. You get an almost ambient feel to this production in places. The sounds that are added later in this production, make you guess because some of them sound familiar and some of them don’t sound familar. Great ideas but only problem that I have with this production is it is far too long, I would have shortened it.

Tracklist
1.U955, Techno
2.U969, Drum'N'Bass & Strings
3.U312, Techno
4.U962. Progressive Classical
5.U313, Techno
6.U310, Hardcore
7.U311, Progressive Classical
8.U922, Dub
9.U350, House - Four on the Floor...Then Three
10.U921, Dub
11.U333, Minimal Techno

Conclusion:
Some of these ideas are new and some are not what you would expect from a electronic music artist. You have to give Kucharz credit for being brave and daring to be different with his compositions. This is experimental and I must say that we need more people with new ideas. So if you want something different or experimental then this cd is a must have.