Release : Chicago Skyway - Wolfgang Hair EP
Artist : Chicago Skyway
Album : Wolfgang Hair EP
Genre : House
Source : Vinyl
Label : Uzuri
URL : http://www.uzurirecordings.com
Date : 04-07-2010
Encoder : LAME 3.97 / -V2 --vbr-new
Quality : 188kbps 44100 kHz Joint Stereo
Tracks : 4
Time : 21:45 min
Size : 29.14 MB
A1 CP-1 5:34
A2 Confusion 4:26
B1 Acid 7:28
B2 Glasswerks 4:17
Sean Hernandez's Chicago Skyway project is only three releases deep at this
point, but already it seems to have solidified into something quite reliable,
purveying clean-cut takes on classic Chicago house without sounding especially
derivative. On "Wolfgang Hair", Hernandez incorporates a bevy of classic
signifiers, though rather than spacing them out from track to track (i.e. one
track acid, another deep), he tends to stack them atop one another. Its clubbier
pieces draw most of their crowd-pleasing legitimacy from this schizophrenia, but
this is also their main pitfall: amid the mood swings, I sometimes find myself
searching for an identity. Still, what it lacks in consistency it makes up for
in construction, as its low-key highlights are undeniably well-built. "CP-1"
begins meditatively with pitch-stretched percussion and forlorn synths, but soon
gains a bounciness from the sudden addition of kicks and vigorous snares. The
track becomes increasingly physical as a chugging, acidic arpeggio emerges and
the synths drop out, dissolving the initially somber vibe. The juxtaposition
between mellow contemplation and heavy dance floor material is somewhat awkward,
and the track seems unsure of which direction to take. By contrast, "Confusion"
is a minimal, Larry Heard-style piece, floaty and repetitive. Its toned-down
percussion is locked in jack-lite mode, while warm washes and a plaintive,
miniature melody meld with discordant loops. The aforementioned stylistic
schizophrenia is present here, but by gracefully spacing out its elements
Hernandez avoids being jarring; he is clearly at his best when the clutter is
reduced. As its title suggests, "Acid" is all about a snaking acid line and
intense jacking clatter, both of which are performed admirably. While the line
is filtered up and down, percussion and effects erupt around it, climaxing in
aggressive laser fire. Fairly stock, but such a frenetic, no-holds-barred
approach to acid is laudable. The lightheaded "Glasswerks" closes things out
with looping blotches of crystalline tones atop more jacking rhythms. It's a
very close audio equivalent to a glass factory, heavy machinery fixed on a
delicate craft. Although it's a bit overloaded, "Wolfgang Hair" is a worthwhile
listen when it pares itself down, and in these brightest spots shows why Chicago
Skyway is a name with potential.
http://www.myspace.com/uzurirecordings
http://www.myspace.com/chicagoskyway