The Rubber Room column is a weekly look at recent and notable releases that don’t fall into the rubric of traditional reviewed material—namely 7”’s, 12”’s, 3” CDs, EPs, and MP3 only releases.

Kaito
Soul of Heart 12”
[Kompakt, 2004]

More micro-trance from the Japanese Kaito and while it’s certainly not as strong as either 12” preceding Special Life, it’s still nothing to sniff at. “Soul of Heart”’s build features sickly synthesized strings and a bounding bassline that breaks into action just as the four note triumphantly reconnects with the beat. It’s no “Peace of Landscape”, though, wherein Kaito gets a bit more tribally to good effect. Perfect for a mash-up ala Tobias Thomas’ Smallville, try this one under Phantom/Ghost’s “To Damascus”.
[Todd Burns]

Donnacha Costello
Grape, Blue, Green, Rubine Red 12”’s
[Minimise, 2004]

Eight tracky track tracks, each corresponding to a color of the spectrum. Costello makes them work with varying degrees of success, each acting as a possible segue between more show-offy type tunes in a DJ set. “Rubine Red” seems to have the most bounce of all four, but each 12” seems to be working in tandem with one another. Maybe not the most exciting of avenues, but taken in concert with the totality of his work I think it’s appropriate we now take a few moments of silence, each corresponding to Costello’s versatile guises as a producer.
[Todd Burns]

Various Artists
Quartett EP
[Level, 2004]

A promising debut release from this Dusseldorf label features four artists: Oliver Hacke, Andy Vaz, rhythm_maker and Daniel Fritschi. Hacke unleashes some dark funk to kick things off nicely, while Vaz weighs in with some of his signature dark atmospherics to very strong effect. The second side is a more laid-back affair with rhythm_maker’s acoustic bass and sweeping chords, tempered by Frischi’s very Dettinger-like closer. Keep on eye on Frischi, it’ll be easy with a forthcoming 12” on this very label. His woozy track is the gem here, amid some very good stuff.
[Todd Burns]

Minimal Man
Chicken Store 12”
[Perlon, 2004]

If the last few releases are any indication, Perlon is not the vegetarian division of the microhouse contingent. Here, the Minimal Man duo (you’d think they’d cut the group down to one considering the name) enacts that Perlon sound (microhouse as the upsetter) via a hearty bass and jacking beat. A chattering madman babbles on underneath amid myriad of sounds, but nothing that truly takes away from the primacy of the beat. The B-side is “Stay On (A.M. Edit)” and “Six of One (V_04)” both of which are rather insubstantial tunes despite pockets of interest here and there. “Chicken Store”, though, might be worth the price of admission. Enter at your own risk.
[Todd Burns]

Markus Guentner
Detective Stories 12”
[Ware, 2004]

Which came first, the ambient or the house? Seems like, either way, Guentner saves the latter for the Ware imprint. “Sunny Days Are Not So Very Bright” leads this one off and ‘s a doozy. The main attraction is an acid line to die for, which at times reminds of “Chime”. “Die Herren Dieser Welt” follows up on a smoother tip mit vocals, but they’re nothing until paired with a female on the extraordinarily banging B-side “Black Coffee”. “The Centre of Nowhere” finishes it off, sounding like an extended instrumental section off of The Downward Spiral. Search this slab out, if you get a chance. Guentner’s easily one of the most talented and flexible producers out there right now.
[Todd Burns]

Melchior Productions
Searching
[Playhouse, 2004]

Seems right that the two biggest labels in the German scene right now are the ones that are the most hit and miss. The title is probably the best indicator here, as it seems that Melchior is searching for that special something that will make all of the elements here gel a bit better than they do. Too busy to really work like Costello’s tracky compositions talked about above, it just ends up being slightly boring throughout. “Deep Steps” is slightly better, utilizing a more snare-sounding beat to its advantage, but it again drags. Skip this one and search out Isolee’s mix of “Cardiology” instead.
[Todd Burns]

WB’s and Superpitcher
Baby’s on Fire (Super Dope Underground Mixes) 12”
[Road Rage, 2004]

Brian Eno cover put under a Velvet Underground backing by the WBs. Wasn’t it obvious? It is. And it’s great. And while the B-side doesn’t quite do anything to speak of, the final track on this 12” refashions “Riders on the Storm”. Don’t worry Doors fans. Sans vocals. In a schaffel style. Is there any reason this isn’t completely massive?
[Todd Burns]