Anklebiter - Queue

It's like descending through all the layers of the Earth listening to Anklebiter's new remix album. SubtractiveLAD and Keef Baker supply the finest mixes, and I have to ask where is a new album from Mr. Baker. The direction he takes "Frigid" has me extremely curious as to what his own sound will be like on the next record he releases. Hard as granite is how I'd describe Jatun's remix of the song "Absolution is a Plushy", extremely aggressive yet elegantly restrained usage of literal noise is how this one comes across. Overall, this album is a decidedly diverse gathering of some of the most recognizable names in the electronic world. How could I leave out what Access To Arasaka deliver with his take on the track "University". Sparser than ever before, intricately composed and stripped right down to the base elements; you'll be coming back to this mix to discern new tricks and turns every time you listen.

'Queue' is a continually expanding album, details fluttering here and there like a rush of butterflies let loose from a glass jar steeped in sugary sweetness. In the same way the Venus flytrap lures in it's prey through the use of color and alluring scent, 'Queue' seethes in the dark awaiting the next set of ears. Anklebiter provides two new tracks of his own which are almost playfully optimistic by comparison to what everyone else does, nice contrast if this was the objective. He's come quite a long way since his days in Thine Eyes and shows yet again how much talent is lurking here in the Pacific Northwest. Dead When I Found Her, Goldmund and Helios now have an addition to welcome into their ranks and I'll be watching to see what Anklebiter continue to evolve into because the new work he himself does more than holds it's own against this riveting collection of remixes.

One other to mention is the remix of "One Three Two" which Dryft provide, it's solid enough but I can see now more than ever why Gridlock split up. Lights Out Asia give "Nothing Will Happen Tomorrow" a very spacey, interstellar tone. I really really like what this bunch do and wish I'd investigated them before, I think I have some catching up to do. 'Queue' delivers all the complexity you could hope for from a remix album, the material given back has been transformed into almost entirely new compositions. These guys give their utmost and employ incredible creative range with their submissions, I'm frankly rather amazed that no one did this before. Getting all these artists under one umbrella is a feat worthy of total awe. I'll be over here in the corner, curled up with my headphones on and my face grinning madly. Jun 13 2011