Skylab – ‘#1’ & ‘#2: 1999 (Large As Life And Twice As Natural)’ [Double Review]
Electronica fans are in for a treat this June, as the influential Tummy Touch Records gear up to re-release a pair of classic experimental albums by creative collective Skylab. The result of collaborative efforts between Howie B (Björk; U2), the UK’s Mat Ducasse, and Japanese duo Tosh and Kudo (aka Love TKO), #1 and #2: 1999 (Large As Life And Twice As Natural), these albums are considered masterpieces in some corners – and with good reason.
Listening to #1 and #2 back to back is a deeply immersive and challenging experience. Skylab’s music is far from orthodox, with everything from synthesisers to guitars getting dragged through assorted treatment processes and gifted with a unique sonic edge. In short, it’s everything the fan of eclectic electronica could ask for.
#1 gets going with the guttural River Of Bass and trip-hopping Seashell before diving into the uncategorizable with the aptly-named Depart. From there, this is a journey like no other, taking in the likes of Next (which would fit snugly into the soundtrack to any classy gangster movie), the quirky Ghost Dance, and the borderline-pornographic gasps and funk guitar of Ah Ee Hu. By the time Six Nine stutters itself to death, it’s hard to come back to reality.
If you’re going for the full back to back, non-stop trip, #2 opener Ikb / Mothra‘s glitches make it clear that you’re taking a step into much more advanced territory. Newly-added vocalist Debbie Sanders’ lines enter and fade over funky jazz-fusion vibes before a strained, tortured guitar solo moves things on. Those who feel comfortable in that territory are sure to be unsettled by brief noisy interlude Trepanation, then elated by the hard-rocking and bizarrely-titled Nickers Of A Girl, where Led Zeppelin riffs are broken up by smooth strings and spoken word samples.
From here, things get really unpredictable.
? Pt. 1 manages to merge Latin sensibilities with dissonant guitars and multi-tiered lyrics, all backed up by a solid beat, while Pt. 2‘s urban jazz vibe (complete with roughly-handled double bass) becomes fractured by modem-having-a-fit electronic elements. Mother’s Milk offers a startlingly accessible piece of songcraft during which Skylab’s now-trademark electronic demons do their best to upset the order of things; Crocodile #1 drives hard from start to finish; Ghost gets anthemic and uplifting; Breakfast Girl opens with disturbingly vocoderized vocals before proceedings become increasingly warped and twisted to the point of incoherence; and ? Pt. 3‘s harmonies are flat-out fucked. Magenta‘s percussion is a standout aspect; Crocodile #2 contains some seriously sexy grooves and blissful sitar work, making it my absolute highlight; Hypnotika‘s beats and bass drown under electronic invasions; and Please is an appropriately pleasing way to end it all, taking everything from funky rhythms to serene atmospheres and languid bass.
In short, #2 sucks you in super-effectively and leaves you with a smile on your face. Looking back over it all, it’s hard to take in the fact that that really happened – but all you need to do to confirm it is play it all again.
TMMP RATING: 85%
Links
#1 and #2: 1999 (Large As Life And Twice As Natural) will be available from June 9.
Tummy Touch Records official website.
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