Amon Tobin, Supermodified (Ninja Tune)
Brazillian born, London-based Amon Tobin is uncategorizable. The junglist/drum 'n' bassers won't claim him, nor will the techno ravers. Anyone trying to do the octopus to his music will undoubtedly end up in a dark corner, rocking back and forth in the foetal position. It is most likely jealousy of his talent that forces the man to stand alone. And it's just as well, better to make way for the avalanche of sounds caused by the groundbreaking tracks. Hell, the cracks in the ground are more like the rifts between the tectonic plates. Supermodified is giant steps ahead of any other work of electronica. The lines between samples of jazz, hip-hop, samba, bhangra and congo are blurred and metamorphed with organic and mechanical noises, and out-of-this world rhythms that splay like seemingly random sparks, but form breathtaking kaleidescopic patterns. Titles like "Get Your Snack On" and "Chocolate Lovely" betray a lascivious sense of humor without being too precious. What holds it all together is that Tobin has the organizational mind of a jazz composer, subtly orchestrating the primordial flow like Dark Magus-period Miles Davis, or conjuring and seducing anarchic spirits like Sun Ra. Tobin is a sonic pioneer, and words cannot truly describe his music. Hear for yourself.
