Architect- The Analysis of Noise Trading

Artist: Architect
CD Title: The Analysis Of Noise Trading
Label: Hymen Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 4/16/06

Haujobb's Daniel Myer is one of the EBM scene's most prolific artists and producers, releasing material with numerous projects and collaborations to explore his various interests in industrial, drum 'n' bass, ambient and experimental techno. Architect is one of his more abstract solo projects, focusing on intricate beat programming and ice-cold soundscapes while still retaining a sense of the fun and funky, as evidenced by such bizarre and ungainly track titles as "A Monkeys Testdive In A Highspeed Car With A Broken Stereo." His latest release starts out rather more pleasant than we might expect, with warm bubbling beats and hints of string and piano on "St. Vodka (Mother Russia)." Things don't stay pretty for long, though, as "If Jim Would Jam With Richie" quickly lurches into dark experimental techno territory, with ominous breakbeats and distorted vocal samples. Despite Architect's overall focus on newly invented electronic sounds, Myer uses hints of more traditional instruments for organic contrast on this album, with minor key pianos adding a touch of liveliness to the skittering beats and echoing drones of "Radio Einheit (Fine Mechanism)" and bits of manipulated female vocals adding to a sense of hopelessness on the unrelenting tension of "Suicide Lake." The closest thing to a hit single, though, is "Speed O.J.," a grim down-tempo composition marked by eerie strings and apocalyptic samples. In a hint of gallows humor that makes the track all the more memorable, the samples suggest that since the world is about to end, all we can do is party. After over an hour of vaguely creepy electronics, guest remixer Hecq is kind enough to close things out with a reconstruction of "St. Vodka" that forgoes all of the intentional intellectualism in favor of good old-fashioned space music, all warm synth tones and psychedelic ambience. All in all, though, Architect's latest offering is decidedly disturbing; think bad trip music for the avant-garde techno set.

Visit Hymen Records at www.hymen-records.com for more information on Daniel Myer's releases as Architect.