Recloose ‘Early Works’ Album Review

Recloose has revisited some of the works from earlier on his career, and put together his ‘Early Works’ album. It is a chance for the artist to look back along the musical path he has travelled. Far from nostalgic, this work showcases Recloose’s feel for musical modernity. He has a phenomenal ability to take his electronic roots and acquiesce to a range of genres that create a flavourful blend of melodic goodness.

The album features releases from his work in the 1990’s. ’Get There Tonight’, ‘Soul Clap’, and ‘Insomnia in Dub’ featured in 1999’s Spelunking. The album opener ‘Get There Tonight’ has an old school jazz beginning which suddenly spins out of control into a jungle-drum, dance frenzy. ‘Soul Clap’ is exactly that, formed on a foundation of clap articulations which are then laced with soulful electronic vibrations. ‘Insomnia in Dub’ wonderfully captures the frustrations of insomnia. Containing a beat that ticks like the hands of a clock, ambiguous sounds start to seethe away through the track. Within all this distortion, piano chords sway like a lullaby being lost amongst all of the agitation of ‘Insomnia in Dub.’

From 2000’s Can’t Take It Recloose includes ‘Absence of One’ and ‘Can’t Take It.’ ‘Absence of One’ enters self-reflexive realms by the use of ethnic strings and a brass melancholy that move into sonic cries. ‘Can’t Take It’ charges through with a scuttling anticipation that leaves you wondering what direction this track will move onto.

‘MYM230’ is commanded by percussion-off beats and sharp step beats propel the Dub Version of ‘First Off.’ ‘Maui’s Lament (Original Demo Mix)’ is a scenic tour of the intergalactic.

The album also contains several previously unreleased tracks. The earthly meets the otherworldly in the dub-electronica mix ‘Lagan (Interlude).’ The album then works its way into the electronic experimental clutches of ‘Antares.’ ‘Land of the Lost’ is a funk-esque, club filler. Hip hop rhythms morph into an exultant plugged-in melody in ‘Flotsam (Interlude).’ Further in the album ‘Crosstown’ features electronica at its most classic. ‘Jetsam (Interlude)’ swings into a hip beat, with eerie chimes dispersed within.

‘Early Works’ is a great album for Recloose followers, to delve into his past and unreleased work. It is also great to reinvest your time into the 90’s electronic vibe, a pinnacle decade for the genre. Recloose has developed his art and skill into a prosperous catalogue of music, and ‘Early Works’ proves its value to belong alongside his newer projects.

-Janise.