CD Album Recommendations November 2009

Review: At last the new album from the somewhat legendary Claude VonStroke of the San Francisco labels Dirtybird and Mothership is here. Remaining ever inventive, the clever production techniques used to make his inimitable breed of minimal tech-house are no disappointment on Bird Brain.

From the epic opening track, the aptly-named “Monster Island”, we hear an instant representation of the creative array of sounds he’s been perfecting over the last years, dipping into dramatically dark tones amongst wonkier tracks like singles “The Greasy Beat” and “Beat That Bird”. The disgustingly catchy

“California” and “Big ’n’ Round” mix bassy kickdrums whilst playing with echoing and rising vocals, while “Vocal Chords” terrifyingly pitches them in scales. Far from a one-trick pony, the album features the softly ambient “Aundy” and hip-hop tinged “Bay Area” whilst the end track is an almost percussion-less piece with subtle vocal samples.