An intrinsic mysteriousness is inherent in the sound experimentation of Tokyo-born Luca Hiroyuki d'Addario who began his tests with tape machines and listening devices used by his industrial spy father. Trip-hop, ambient, and drum'n'bass mix on this studio electronica project. Taking out the heavy, liquid bass sound, much of the soundscape and multi-tracked male vocals bring to mind In the Nursery. Brightened with subtle and tasteful guitar additions and deepened with thick, sonorous reverberations of rhythm, Codex is an intelligent and artistic take on electronic composition infusing modern beat music trends. Featured in the bottom end are furious breakbeats and smooth lines of elongated funk. Along with Loop Guru and Perfume Tree, Codex makes a trinity of sophisticated, compositional techno. This dark, chill-out music veers toward Dead Can Dance when employing ethnic percussion, as with the East Indian tabla on "Consumption Queen." Decidedly noir but textured with real, effected guitar also gives Codex the brooding feel of more downbeat Tones on Tail cuts. Codex has rich and sinister electronic compositions that are among the most listenable and rewarding from this crowded genre.
© Tom Schulte /TiVo