As you might or might not be able to discern from the skull 'n' crossbones 'n' headphones artwork,
T. Raumschmiere's trucker-capped cross between big beat and IDM is in full effect throughout most of
Radio Blackout, his first release for Novamute. Closer in approach to his noisy The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle than his more minimal-minded Anti (both of which were released in 2002), each of the 11 tracks on
Blackout feature distinct assaults that range from corroded shuffle-tech to paranoid ambience. The opening "I'm Not Deaf, I'm Ignoring You" has a riff that's just begging to constantly creep up in the background of a low-budget horror movie. "Monstertruckdriver" and "The Game Is Not Over" (the latter featuring
Miss Kittin) are buzzing cyborg mating rituals that fall closer to
T. Rex and
Foghat than
Aphex Twin and
Autechre. There's a weak hip-hop tangent and a couple of other low-wattage clunkers, but the highlights have no trouble adding up to an album that should satiate those who have grown weary of overcerebral, prissy laptop producers. If most of the full-lengths released by
Raumschmiere's German brethren in 2003 are autobahn-traversing Lamborghinis,
Radio Blackout is a bog-bustin', mud-caked Ford pickup. ~ Andy Kellman