January 19th, 2012 • Frontpage Rotator, Recommended, Reviews, Single of the Month, Singles
Alexander Robotnick – Robotnick’s Archives Volume 3
The third cache from beloved electronic elder statesman Robotnick’s private collection drops – and it’s a mixed bag for sure, with tracks from both ends of his lengthy career.
Opener ‘Serenade’, from 1986, rides a trademark loping acid groove that’ll seem familiar to anyone acquainted with his renowned ‘Problemes d’Amour’. While not on that level of essential, it sounds fresh and nimble given its vintage.
Fast-forwarding nearly two decades, 2004’s excellently titled ‘Sharper Bluesman’ is probably the pick of the cuts here, owing to an infectious zigzagging (double) bassline. Meatier kicks and a slight nu-electro edge betray its more recent origins. A cover of Chic’s ‘Le Freak’ offers a fun but throwaway conclusion to proceedings – that you’ll probably listen to about twice. With another nine instalments from the vaults to go, it’ll be interesting to see how the ratio of hidden gems to junk-room oddities pans out.
Robotnick’s Archives Volume 3 is out February 15 on Hot Elephant
Alex
