James Holden: DJ Kicks
LABEL: !K7

The issue of remixes is a tricky subject. Often devalued as monatizing gimmicks (not unjustly, in some cases), those who take the time to digest these interpretations are split into the camps of slight alteration, or complete re-interpretation to the point where the original song becomes unrecognizable. Admittedly, I’m stuck firmly at the latter point, and James Holden’s contribution to the DJ Kicks series won’t disappoint those with a similar inclination.

What is so immediately striking is Holden’s utter disregard for defining each particular source, smearing all twenty tracks into what feels like one enormous movement. This seems almost as intimidating as the first spin of a stoner-doom record, but Holden excels at creating a dynamic ebb and flow that is almost story-like. Tracks weave together seamlessly, and it’s almost impossible to notice the transitions, expressing electronic through a classical framework.

Holden creates his own personal expressions from the remixes and the liberties he takes with the source material recalls Aphex Twin’s 26 Mixes For Cash. His sound on DJ Kicks can loosely be described as house-electronic’s answer to garage rock. Advanced technique meets lo-fi aesthetics in a product that would feel completely in its element as a revised soundtrack to Bladerunner. The typical gloss that varnishes releases by electronic contemporaries is dropped for a rough, dub feel.

Disastrously, Holden has placed his weakest tracks at the end, only to be saved at the last minute by “Catacomb City,” the very last track on the album. This last stretch is neither minimal or a dynamic release; it’s just boring, and poorly constructed to fade out such a powerful work. Keeping these tracks out of mind, Holden’s DJ Kicks contribution holds up quite well, and while not being revolutionary, offers many new ingredients to the electronic palette for future releases and future artists.


REVIEWED BY NEIL LEVENS
NEIL’S FAVE TRACKS: “Gaberdine” • “The Sun Smells Too Loud (Holden Remix)” • “Auto Dimmer”

James Holden - DJ-Kicks EPK from Get in the Box on Vimeo.