360 records from 2000: 64. Amon Tobin: Supermodified

64. Amon Tobin: Supermodified

Country: Brazil
Artist: Male solo artist
Career: recording since 1996
Language: Instrumental
Genre: Electronica

I’d like to say this record is a monster. Now I only have to describe what kind of monster. It’s not human, that’s a given – no psychopath, no face of evil tormented loner, nothing as comforting as that. This is nature, baby, a cold, unflinching force which will swallow you without prejudice. It could be a field of tropical flesh-eating plants feasting on a man in a psychedelic suit. It could be a shape shifting chameleon-like lizard snaring you in its tongue. It could be a virus, ripe with heat emitting molecules ululating under a microscope’s eye (what a sound!). Anyway, this monster operates either on no intelligence at all or on a plane of intelligence we can never attain – the difference is purely theoretical. Either way we can only steer clear or submit.

I would definitely suggest submitting. Parts of this album are plain uncomfortable, but you will experience something, some refraction of stereotypes you’re not even aware of through a prism of concentrated madness. This album could be the ‘Richard D. James album’ for the next generation, though replace Aphex Twin’s ambient influences with more noise and some warped jazz. The first half is like the album in miniature: it begins with two noisy, but surprisingly funky smashes (‘Get your snack on’, ‘Four ton Mantis’), settles down into a languid, jazzy, sun drenched stroll on ‘Slowly’, then scares the hell out of me (‘Marine Machines’, ‘Golfer vrs Boxer’ – that’s the monster taking over. ‘Marine machines’ begins like entering the jungle, it’s kinda idyllic though you can hear the animals chewing in the shadows, then it all turns upside down and they’re chewing on you) and finally performs some post-psychotic therapy (‘Deo') – I need it. At first that was all I needed (all I could take?). But, though the 2nd half runs through the basic emotions again, there’s subtle variations in there. It’s beginning to pull me in. Not like I can help it, I’m stuck inside the curve of a shape shifting lizard’s tongue. Recommended uncomfortable listening.

At its best: Get your snack on, Four ton Mantis, Slowly, Deo