Futique is one of several identities used by New York minimalist
Taylor Deupree and Greek techno producer
Savvas Ysatis during the mid-'90s when
Ysatis was living in New York. Released on American downtempo institution Instinct Records,
Luv Luv finds the duo producing tracks that are more elaborate and in some ways more conventional than their work as
SETI or Arc. While all of these projects are based squarely in the ambient realm,
Futique is the most downtempo of the three, allowing trip-hop-style beats and bass to anchor the free-floating soundscapes. "One Up" follows closest to the trip-hop protocol, with a sharp and funky drum beat and smoky jazz bassline, while "Good Things Happen With the Rain" transforms itself from an aquatic dub transmission to an acid jazz exercise with gentle jazzy piano. But these more cliché sounds are thankfully the exception. "Beamship" propels its mysterious sound effects with a click-and-clap rhythm that
Deupree would later pursue with earnest on his 12k record label. "Dimitra's Bedroom" almost adheres to strict ambient territory, were it not for the bleeping loop buried way in the back to give the otherwise formless soundwaves and airport(?) samples a path to follow. Those interested in
Deupree's minimalist work will probably find this release rather heavy handed. But those who like the occasional blunted beat to break up the monotony of ambient's bleeps and sweeps will find
Futique to be the preferred alias of
Deupree and
Ysatis. ~ Joshua Glazer