chok rock - big city loser
a fine chunky funky 4 track ep from the parisian gael baillier, also known as "chok rock". this was originally released on a small french label (chateau rouge) before the crossover potential was picked up by warp label mates !!!, who played the tracks to label bosses, realising that the music on offer needed to be given more exposure to the public they set about re-releasing it, adding 'take a plane' to make matters even more compulsive to purchase.
the ep's central tour de force is the 12 minute 'give it up' - all jittery guitar licks, synthetic sub woofer wobbly bass lines, and an addictive distorted vocal line that drops in from time to time, which just when the patience could begin to wane, the pressure is dropped, and the track mutates into a wonderfully chilled out ambient dub monster with laid back blues guitars - total excellence which will enthral any fans of french styled house grooves and james murphy's dfa production techniques.
if that were the only track on offer i would be impressed, as it is there is more on offer that makes life just peachy. 'buzz', 'happy man' and the extra side dish 'take a plane' don't have the same dance floor filler potential, but take the listener on a laidback high tech recording studio enhanced journey, with more attention on the song structure as opposed to the groove. the vocals are still phased and treated but are far more harmony fulfilling, surrounded by all manners of twisted and fucked u electronica styles. however this is totally listenable and addictive. not an unfriendly white noise experiment (though ther are elements of such advertures), but instead wraps the songs in a hyper modern george clinton sanctioned bass funk update that is warm and inviting. if anyone recalls the first super_collider album - then that's the kind of sonic league we are dealing with here, but this time round the songs connect on a a far more enjoyable level making the ep stand out from the crowd. just treat yourself to the electric piano lead out of 'happy man' and tell me the world doesn't go all smooth and easy on you.
if i tell you this has been one of my favourite records of the last few weeks whatever mood i have been in, then hopefully that will indicate just how special this record is.