Kim Gordon / Ikue Mori / DJ Olive - Kim Gordon / Ikue Mori / DJ Olive

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Sonic Youth have actually just been to Europe to celebrate the release of their 'NYC Ghosts & Stories' CD. But before the conception of that album, Kim Gordon, the band's singer and bassist, hung out with DJ Olive out of We, the inventors of illbient; the dark side of ambient, and former DNA percussionist Ikue Mori. What has been recorded for her own Sonic Youth Records, is most of all like an Ikue Mori album. The breakbeats are experimental, and as Kim meanders through city life and ghost stories, the rather varying input is held together by Mori. DJ Olive blows the horn in order to start the tour around an ill, desolate and industrial soundscape. A hefty frantically-patterned drum apotheosis develops in the opening track and then cleverly changes to a New York type drum and bass. Okay, now get on the bus. This trip leads to things that you've probably never heard before... Before we get to relax on the closing track 'Take It To The Hit', with the jazzdub of Olive, there's a lot of discomfort to get through first. The music's not unsettling but Kim's voice becomes increasingly alienated as the music starts to become more and more surging. As Kim is strolling down the road, Olive's beatbox is switched on and off. The arrangements do seem to be Ikue's. In 'Fried Mushroom' and 'Lemonade' the minimal but loud bursts of music are focused on becoming compositions and after repeated playings do indeed. There is a nasty encounter towards the end when sounds from an assault are enraptured in a confrontational, but impressive moment. Olive and Ikie not only perform tightly but with inspiration also.There is no 'star power' with this New York super trio, and this is pretty compelling all the way, but I guess you could tell so from knowing the line-up.

Track Listing:-

1 Olive's Horn
2 International Spy
3 Neu Adult
4 Paperbag / Orange Laptop
5 Stuck On Gum
6 Fried Mushroom
7 What Do You Want
8 Lemonade
9 We Are The Princesses
10 Take Me Back
11 Take It On The Hit