Mediadrome

Larry Kucharz – Unit 34:Assorted Tracks (International Audiochrome Inc)

Some artists when they try to create CDs with various genres on the same CD but
this one is different because it takes a different approach. How so? Read on to
find out!

Assorted (adj) (taken from dictionary.com)

Definition - Consisting of a number of different kinds

This is the third CD from New York based artist Larry Kucharz and this CD
contains assorted tracks. This CD title goes very well with the definition; it
contains different types of tracks. Some albums that have assorted tracks,
don’t work well, some do but what does this album hold? It holds a mixed bag
of tracks, which include house, techno, hardcore, chillout, ambient and other
genres. How do they go together? how do they sound?, well read the review
below.

1.U341
The first track on this album starts with some quick beats with some flashy
effects; I’m not sure what to make of them. Around a minute in, it suddenly
changes gears and goes into a laid back 1980’s feel sort of house with some
funky snares. I did not like the transition but the song has some decent
effects. It reminds me of the late 1980’s Chicago House for some reason.
Around two minutes in, it changes gears and adds a piano that sounds altered
and the snares and the hi-hats are there. He adds some effects that he used at
the very beginning now and then a minute later, it switches to the same thing
it did about a minute in. This will be confusing to some listeners but it will
make the experimental lovers, very happy. The song changes gears again after a
while and you are left wondering, why so many different changes. I don’t
think it is a bad thing but might tick off a few people or a few might just get
bored with it. It continues the same housy groove after that with some swirling
effects and the hi-hats and snares. It continues the same housy way till the
very end; I believe this is a solid introduction.

2.U342
We begin with very faint music here and it is almost dead silence at the very
beginning. You start to hear some music instruments creep in and out at times
for the first while. It is certainly a unique start and Kucharz draws the
listener in slowly. You get an almost ambient feel here for the first bit of
the song. You have some instrumentation come in and out at points, it is hard
to say what exactly has been changed about the instruments. The song could be
termed almost chillout in some areas because it makes great use of silence and
instruments coming in and out, almost teasing the listener but the only issue I
have with the song, it is far too long.

3.U343
We start here with some noises here and a quick tempo is established. A nice
riff is introduced and then Kucharz throws in the normal parts, more snares and
hi-hats. He uses some effects and instrumentation in places here that I just
cannot describe accurately. It sounds almost orchestra like in parts because he
is using one effects then building on that with another effect and quickly
bringing in another. Not quite like a symphony because more instruments are
used and it is not electronic but you do see him building on it. Some of the
effects do tend to repeat themselves at times and it does wear on you about 6
minutes in but at least he is trying to be different.


4.U344
U344 starts with a 1980’s video game feel, this reminds me of Pacman. Snares
are added in quick secession. The snares do increase in their speed and some
weird noises are added and more effects are added. It changes gears very
quickly about 1:45 into it and you wonder why the sudden takeoff. It uses
snares but throws in this noise that reminds me of Pacman. It tends to clash in
parts, with all the effects coming in and coming out. I just don’t like it.

5.U345
This starts with some usual effects, it uses snares as usual and some effects
and noises that sound like one you would hear in a space influenced video game.
The effects, you have heard before and they do start to really wear on you. I
liked them, the first time around but this seems so much like tracks from the
other CD. It sounds like something you have heard before.

6.U346
This is an incredibly calming tune, almost ambient like in parts. It starts
with some swirling noises and some filtered effects. It gives you a warm calm
feel and it is better than the previous two tracks. It does not contain the
same “effects overload” and I feel that is good. The first three tracks
were very strong but the previous two could be improved. This goes into; more
drum instruments building around a nice melody. I will say that some effects
that have been used in the previous CDs and some tracks on this CD have been
used repetitively. Some will enjoy it; I just tend to love diversity. This is a
good calming tune, nice to take down the pace of the CD.

7.U347
We start minimal techno here (Derrick May circa late 1980’s). He uses what
sounds like a filtered organ notes at points. I do like the melody because it
reminds me so much of the early Detroit techno days. It has some filtered
equipment coming in and out at points and I like this. About 2:45 into this
song, it adds these deeper keyboard keys and adds some nice instrumentation to
back it up. This is the Kucharz that I enjoy listening to because you have an
orchestra type mentality, add something and build on it then bring in another
and get it to sound good together. This does not contain too many effects and
none clash and it all works out. I would love to know what equipment; he used
to make the background noises coming in and out.

8. U348
If you had to describe this song in one word, it would “Different”. It
starts very quickly and very fast with some altered keyboard notes. Some would
label this hardcore experimentalism because it is so fast. I like hardcore but
he throws this effect in at some point that I feel does not add to the song, I
believe it takes away from the song. Some cool effects are thrown in at times
here but the effect that just does not go hurts it. You have some effects that
sound like something from the cheap key chains you buy with the sound effects,
well this one is a grenade launcher type effect. It does have some hard bass
lines in places but that noise that is just too weird.

9.Blue Through City Night Lights
This is the first title of a song that I’ve seen from Kucharz that does not
have a U then a number. This is easily the best song on the CD and it certainly
gives it the appeal. This song sounds similar to something out of the Ninja
Tunes Stable. It starts with a laidback groove with a Blue Through City Night
Lights as a vocal but the same vocal is added over top and at different times.
You get this layered effect and it immediately becomes a favorite of mine
because I am a big fan of the Ninja Tune type tunes. It continues like this to
the very end and finishes very strongly off this CD

Tracklist

1.U341
2.U342
3.U343
4.U344
5.U345
6.U346
7.U347
8.U348
9.Blue Through City Night Lights

Conclusion:
This is certainly an assorted bag of tracks from Larry Kucharz. The starting
was extremely strong with the first three tracks that made the album, so
enjoyable. The album then took a downturn with song four and song five but
U346’s ambient type calm feel helped take the enjoyment level back up. Song
seven was a great take on late 1980’s Detroit Techno, which pleased my ears.
The second last song went down a bit not because it was hardcore but because it
had that effect, that made the song sound weak. The whole CD was made
worthwhile with the last song. The final song had such great hallmarks and it
sounded so much like a Ninja Tune song. It was not completely like a Ninja Tune
song but it did remind me of that label. So the label contains some very strong
songs but has some equally weak songs. The strong songs outweigh the weak ones,
so this ends up with a six out of ten. If you like experimentalism or you like
inspired Detroit techno from the late 1980’s then give this a try. Rating:
6 User Rating: 10
Andy P www.ivibes.nu

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available from BACKROADS MUSIC toll free (800) 767-4748
available from Amazon.com
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Armchair DJ Interview “CLASSICAL TO TECHNO TO CLASSICAL” Larry Kucharz
interviewed by Brian J. Dillard complete interview at:
http://www.armchairdj.com/handler.as...ry_kucharz.asp
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Unit 34: assorted tracks
“...techno by a composer rather than a dance producer. The distinction
is that one would move your feet and the other would move your brain. ...”
(thunderfinger) M station http://www.mstation.org/beatz.php
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