Long time F Communications signing Alex Kid has been a constant strength for the eclectic French electronic imprint set up in 1991 by Eric Morand and Laurent Garnier. Kid has progressed with the label, honing his sound from his early drum and bass/trip hop grooves to today’ stripped back techno and house melodies with grunt and soul, which is where we find him on his latest offering Caracol (translating to “snail†in Spanish).
This recording is a DJ’ album more than a listening album. He leaves passages wide open for many bars, especially during the intro’ to many of the tracks, with most of the “meat†appearing around the three quarter mark. The meat being the surging synth lines and the bubbling acid sounds, bringing to mind the froth spewed at times by the very creature the album takes it’s title from.
Ruminating in places with the soul of signature sounds from Detroit’s influential masters, Alex Kid’ obvious skills behind the production desk grab your attention on all the tracks presented here. He has the ability to move the feet and gut with his deep throbbing basslines, while manipulating the cranium with expert, tightly wound mid and high sounds that are gone almost before they’ve arrived. Tunes such as “Basic†and the title track “Caracol†give the impression that Kid still maintains an element of spontaneity when creating his music, most likely an extension of his inventive DJ sets that have garnered him world wide acclaim.
Vocals appear at times courtesy of Daniella D’Ambrosio, chanson singer with fellow Parisians Nouvelle Vague and used to their best effect on the tune “Love Lettersâ€. Never does Kid create a club “song†with obvious verse/chorus structures, but rather, he allows the vocal to be considered with the same “less is more†vibe that structures the rest of the album. There’ a gentleness here as well, but it’s pushed along with a force that doesn’ allow any saccharine moments to get in the way of this tough little unit that should have the dancefloor satisfied at the right time of the night, to no end.
