Daedelus, the nom du plume of polygensis electronic alchemist, Alfred Darlington, describes his latest offerings title and relevence thus: “Bespoke, a term employed to mean an item custom-made to measure. I not only intended it as a reflection of the LP itself, but also as an outlook on life”. Keeping the tailoring/fashion methophers to a minimum in a review of this craft inspired songbook, is impossible – every other track name carries a reference to either the process or item of clothing.
Darlington’s omnivorous tailors dummy framework fo abstarct electro, glitch and house, is further enhanced and made more intresting by the addition of Ed Banger Records style Baroque, Sew.Darn.Mend – especially that of Justice, Busy P and Mr.Ozio, when they go all 18th century classical on us – Exorcist meets Solaris drum ‘n’ bass, French Cuffs; and The Association 60s pop-psych ballerdery, Nightcap. This album is indeed eclectic, helped on its way by an odd assortment of vocalists, plucked from the leftfields outer realms. Again each of these singers brings yet another layer of influence to the already over-bubbling musical cauldron. These include diverse tastes, from the neo-soul and jazz tones of Bilal on Overwhelmed to the 80s faux-phrasing and Hayden Thorpe-esque warbling of Young Dad on One and Lonely. These swoons and choral like vapours are enveloped in an over-burdening thick-as-milk fog of effects, which can obscure in a bad way.
Though there’s certainly no mistaking that this is a record of varried electronic and dance styles, alongside the tight cyclonic synth sequences and retro sound clashes, sits a live band feel with plenty of break out rousing showpieces – imagine a combination of Air and Holy Fuck if they were a jazz-surf-rock quartet: crikey!
Surveying a wide vista of aloof and chic musical horizons, Darlington always teases out the more surreal and intresting elements of electronica; nome more so then with the immaculatley turned out ‘Bespoke’, whose cuffs proudly don’t much the collar.
www.myspace.com/daedelusdarling
[Rating:4]
