Chris Korda
title:: When It Rains EP
label:: International
DeeJay Gigolo Records
format:: 12"
It's been awhile since we last heard from Chris Korda (Six Billion Humans from 1999) the original founder of the Church of Euthanasia in Somerville MA, and here we have a four song E.P. When it Rains on the International Deejay Gigolo label.
Apparently each track has a socio-political message but to be honest that did not come through so much to me - which I deem a good thing - and when it does come through it is a classic "sample" based kind of way. What does come through is Chris Korda's tech-house styled electro with a true jazzy element thrown in overtop with a funky edge.
a1: When It Rains has a dubby slapping electro bass, with a loping dance rhythm, synth solos and clacking synths which lead into a relaxed male vocal, "When it rains....". The vocals sound somewhat manipulated, but perhaps under-stressed, almost un- touched by reverb, giving it a warm yet detached feeling which counteracts the dance feel of the track overall. Over-emoting a bit further in adds a much needed tension leading it out of slacker territory to dancefloor uptight, followed by a reinstated doubling of the rhythm, just watch out for the false ending when there really is two minutes left in the track.
a2: May Queen is a little more double-bassed, a little more ambient synth, but no less busy than the preceding track, things keep cooking (sans the vocals this time), a might bit funkier, and more honing in on those synth solos.
b1: Gridlock is an upbeat romp with a spoken synth solo, and some over the top Rush-style solo action, overall this is an above average track which really soars, and the best track of the 4.
b2: Salt is a basic electro track with many spoken samples laid overtop - which are the true highlight of this track reminding me of the Brian Eno/David Byrne My Life in the Bust of Ghosts project from the early 80s - this would fit right in on a college radio show.
---Patrick Rands
