Some artists when they try to create CDs with various genres on the same CD but this one is different because it takes a different approach. How so? Read on to find out!

Larry Kucharz – Unit 34:Assorted Tracks (International Audiochrome Inc)

Assorted (adj) (taken from dictionary.com)

Definition - Consisting of a number of different kinds

This is the third CD from New York based artist Larry Kucharz and this CD contains assorted tracks. This CD title goes very well with the definition; it contains different types of tracks. Some albums that have assorted tracks, don’t work well, some do but what does this album hold? It holds a mixed bag of tracks, which include house, techno, hardcore, chillout, ambient and other genres. How do they go together? how do they sound?, well read the review below.

1.U341

The first track on this album starts with some quick beats with some flashy effects; I’m not sure what to make of them. Around a minute in, it suddenly changes gears and goes into a laid back 1980’s feel sort of house with some funky snares. I did not like the transition but the song has some decent effects. It reminds me of the late 1980’s Chicago House for some reason. Around two minutes in, it changes gears and adds a piano that sounds altered and the snares and the hi-hats are there. He adds some effects that he used at the very beginning now and then a minute later, it switches to the same thing it did about a minute in. This will be confusing to some listeners but it will make the experimental lovers, very happy. The song changes gears again after a while and you are left wondering, why so many different changes. I don’t think it is a bad thing but might tick off a few people or a few might just get bored with it. It continues the same housy groove after that with some swirling effects and the hi-hats and snares. It continues the same housy way till the very end; I believe this is a solid introduction.

2.U342

We begin with very faint music here and it is almost dead silence at the very beginning. You start to hear some music instruments creep in and out at times for the first while. It is certainly a unique start and Kucharz draws the listener in slowly. You get an almost ambient feel here for the first bit of the song. You have some instrumentation come in and out at points, it is hard to say what exactly has been changed about the instruments. The song could be termed almost chillout in some areas because it makes great use of silence and instruments coming in and out, almost teasing the listener but the only issue I have with the song, it is far too long.

3.U343

We start here with some noises here and a quick tempo is established. A nice riff is introduced and then Kucharz throws in the normal parts, more snares and hi-hats. He uses some effects and instrumentation in places here that I just cannot describe accurately. It sounds almost orchestra like in parts because he is using one effects then building on that with another effect and quickly bringing in another. Not quite like a symphony because more instruments are used and it is not electronic but you do see him building on it. Some of the effects do tend to repeat themselves at times and it does wear on you about 6 minutes in but at least he is trying to be different.


4.U344

U344 starts with a 1980’s video game feel, this reminds me of Pacman. Snares are added in quick secession. The snares do increase in their speed and some weird noises are added and more effects are added. It changes gears very quickly about 1:45 into it and you wonder why the sudden takeoff. It uses snares but throws in this noise that reminds me of Pacman. It tends to clash in parts, with all the effects coming in and coming out. I just don’t like it.

5.U345

This starts with some usual effects, it uses snares as usual and some effects and noises that sound like one you would hear in a space influenced video game. The effects, you have heard before and they do start to really wear on you. I liked them, the first time around but this seems so much like tracks from the other CD. It sounds like something you have heard before.

6.U346

This is an incredibly calming tune, almost ambient like in parts. It starts with some swirling noises and some filtered effects. It gives you a warm calm feel and it is better than the previous two tracks. It does not contain the same “effects overload” and I feel that is good. The first three tracks were very strong but the previous two could be improved. This goes into; more drum instruments building around a nice melody. I will say that some effects that have been used in the previous CDs and some tracks on this CD have been used repetitively. Some will enjoy it; I just tend to love diversity. This is a good calming tune, nice to take down the pace of the CD.

7.U347

We start minimal techno here (Derrick May circa late 1980’s). He uses what sounds like a filtered organ notes at points. I do like the melody because it reminds me so much of the early Detroit techno days. It has some filtered equipment coming in and out at points and I like this. About 2:45 into this song, it adds these deeper keyboard keys and adds some nice instrumentation to back it up. This is the Kucharz that I enjoy listening to because you have an orchestra type mentality, add something and build on it then bring in another and get it to sound good together. This does not contain too many effects and none clash and it all works out. I would love to know what equipment; he used to make the background noises coming in and out.

8. U348

If you had to describe this song in one word, it would “Different”. It starts very quickly and very fast with some altered keyboard notes. Some would label this hardcore experimentalism because it is so fast. I like hardcore but he throws this effect in at some point that I feel does not add to the song, I believe it takes away from the song. Some cool effects are thrown in at times here but the effect that just does not go hurts it. You have some effects that sound like something from the cheap key chains you buy with the sound effects, well this one is a grenade launcher type effect. It does have some hard bass lines in places but that noise that is just too weird.

9.Blue Through City Night Lights

This is the first title of a song that I’ve seen from Kucharz that does not have a U then a number. This is easily the best song on the CD and it certainly gives it the appeal. This song sounds similar to something out of the Ninja Tunes Stable. It starts with a laidback groove with a Blue Through City Night Lights as a vocal but the same vocal is added over top and at different times. You get this layered effect and it immediately becomes a favorite of mine because I am a big fan of the Ninja Tune type tunes. It continues like this to the very end and finishes very strongly off this CD

Tracklist

1.U341
2.U342
3.U343
4.U344
5.U345
6.U346
7.U347
8.U348
9.Blue Through City Night Lights

Conclusion:
This is certainly an assorted bag of tracks from Larry Kucharz. The starting was extremely strong with the first three tracks that made the album, so enjoyable. The album then took a downturn with song four and song five but U346’s ambient type calm feel helped take the enjoyment level back up. Song seven was a great take on late 1980’s Detroit Techno, which pleased my ears. The second last song went down a bit not because it was hardcore but because it had that effect, that made the song sound weak. The whole CD was made worthwhile with the last song. The final song had such great hallmarks and it sounded so much like a Ninja Tune song. It was not completely like a Ninja Tune song but it did remind me of that label. So the label contains some very strong songs but has some equally weak songs. The strong songs outweigh the weak ones, so this ends up with a six out of ten. If you like experimentalism or you like inspired Detroit techno from the late 1980’s then give this a try.