Andrew Duke has been involved in the Canadian music scene as a composer, musician and author for years. Whilst he has released albums on Staalplaat, the impressive French label Bip-Hop, and now on Acid Fake Recordings, his musical has output has been quite diverse, rarely settling on one style for an extended period of time. This restlessness has been reflected on Take Nothing For Granted, where at times he often seems to be inventing new genres or at least existing between the cracks. Shuffle is excruciatingly slowed down dub, stripped of it’s rollicking funkiness, just plodding wearily along, and if you thought that was slow, Mortal is virtually comatose. Other cuts take a markedly different approach, though it’s all quite difficult to define, like the skittering flecks of Suture, the strange sonic waveforms of Cement, or the abstract atmospheric noises and warm tones of Progress. It’s all ultimately pretty challenging and not at all derivative. In fact it may be a little too uncompromising and distinctive for it’s own good. There are vague though undoubtedly un balanced hints of dub running through this disc however it is tempered by elements of electronica, sound design and dark strange film soundtrack material. Utilising numerous experimental techniques Duke has fashioned a challenging and abstract album that is inventive as it is diverse.
Bob Baker Fish |
