Paul Haslinger
Score
I must admit to having been slightly worried when I saw this CD categorized as Rare Groove / Urban Lounge / Cine-Fi / Fringe Pop. The opening rhythmic salvo on ‘Accidental Measures In Cool’ made me think that these worries had been unfounded. More powerful ‘World Without Rules’ stuff I thought but then a moaning female vocal and trumpet sound are added. OK thought I, if this is as ‘urban lounge’ as it gets I can probably live with it. It is really not that bad a track, just not what I was expecting.

Then we get ‘The Infinite Jest’ that has some bloke gibbering on then a tune is introduced that would not have been out of place in an Egyptian market. Rhythmically, there is nothing wrong with the track and again it has strong WWR elements but it was the introduction of such prominent brass sounds and world music influences that I found very difficult to take. As for ‘When Worlds Collide’ it could be a hit pop song. If you like Sade you will probably go for this. Again it is a very good track but your tastes will have to be much wider than EM if you are going to like it. ‘The Real Question (Is...)’ has the same groove that by now you will either be tuned into or will have taken the CD out of the player. Its very slick with excellent production and could well sell loads but will only be of peripheral interest to the bulk of EM fans.

‘Fantastic Voyage’ starts brilliantly with dark string sounds, a restrained rhythm is added but then the trumpet makes an entrance, cool man, skip to ‘Magheida’. The combination of ethnic samples and rhythms with dance influences works well and gets into an infectious groove, really pretty damned good and will appeal to a wide audience but will it appeal to SMDers? ‘Inbetween Nowhere’ on the other hand is a track that most members will like, it is a very atmospheric piece that I would have no worries about recommending to any of you.

‘Life, Lounge and Lesser Evils’ gets back into the groove but this time is very relaxed, not bad at all, the string melody being particularly impressive. ‘This Station’ Is another one that initially could have come from ‘WWR but as the rap samples are introduced the skip button becomes a very welcome device. ‘Hardboiled Wonderland’ was to have been the title track but for some unknown reason they changed it to the very bland ‘Score’. ‘Hardboiled...’ leans on jazz and rap influences heavily, nuff said. ‘War in the Heart of Eden’. is an apocalyptic piece full of vivid images, helicopters, sirens and explosions. It is awesome and wouldn’t have been out of place on ‘Planetary Traveler’. Easily the best track on the CD. ‘New India’ sounds just like an Indian pop song emphasizing the heavy world music influences that dominate this CD and as such is a good way to finish.

This album is superbly crafted, the rhythms are very infectious and everything about it shouts class. I really hope it does very well for Paul but if this had been sent under a name we didn’t already stock it would probably not have made it into the magazine because it is just too far away from the styles of EM we concentrate on. (DL)

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