Музыка и песни M-Ziq / M-Ziq

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CD, Album

Mike Paradinas has been a pioneer and a mainstay of the electronic music scene for over 20 years now and "Chewed Corners" is his first proper solo album since 2007. As the boss of electronic label Planet Mu, he's always been at the forefront of innovations and has released music by some of the most celebrated modern electronic artists around. The album was written in the same period as Mike's recent Heterotic project while he was home alone. Mike says he intended the compositions to evoke drama and emotion and while the music was made with no conscious influences, after listening back Mike says KUEDO, APHEX TWIN, CHICAGO FOOTWORK, ART OF NOISE, ORBITAL, JAPAN and RUSTIE must all have had an effect. While his last album, 2007's "Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique", was at times as harrowing and miserable as its title suggests, "Chewed Corners" is almost the polar opposite, relaxed, self-possessed, and a pleasure to listen to. The innovation is subtle and inviting and it exudes happiness. It also foregrounds probably one of Mike's most important characteristics - something that has always shone through his far-reaching experimentation and kept it sounding both personal and accessible - his knack for great melody and lush arrangements. "Chewed Corners" sidesteps affiliations to any genre; instead it's a suite of 14 retro-futurist tracks, created with a lush, analogue sounding palette. Style: Electro

Earlier this year, to celebrate 20 years of µ-ZIQ and Planet Mu's 300th release, Mike Paradinas, owner of Planet Mu prepared this carefully compiled album charting unreleased productions from the start of his career in the early nineties. Curated by his wife and partner in the band HETEROTIC, Lara Rix-Martin, the twelve tracks on this album run the gamut of his various styles from the placid, evocative ambient rhodes of "Air" to the syncopated industrial techno of "Toy Gun #2" and lots more inbetween. The album opens with the woozy yet elegant counterpoint of 1993's "Jewel Tea" which swiftly descends into distorted HR-16 drum machine chaos. "Vinxel" switches to a more stately mood with its woodblock bassline and measured 4/4 pulse keeping pace with one of those patent µ-ZIQ melodies you'd swear you've heard somewhere before. Both "Trail Quest" and "Spooky Tooth" continue in this melodic vein until the aforementioned "Air" slows it all down with a much needed breather. The second half of the album goes into darker territory with the detuned mandolin and piano of "Str06" duelling it out with its low-slung hip hop beat. "Diala" sustains the reverb drenched mood while adding a sweeter edge as a synth line makes an appearance straight out of his 1993 album "Tango N'Vectif'". 1995's "Airto" brings some Marimba pierced dark cut-up jungle and the album finally starts to settle down with the Peel Session tracks "Johnson's Q-Fab" and the classic "Green Lanes". Style: Electro

Artist: U Ziq Label: Planet Mu

Mike Paradinas' µ-ZIQ solo project has been quiet for a while. However, with "XTEP", he makes a welcome return from hiatus and gives us a gentle taster for a forthcoming brand new µ-Ziq album due this summer. In stark contrast to a large percentage of his previous work, XTEP is joyous all the way through. The five compositions abandon the quest for cutting-edge exploration exchanging it for an altogether more carefree fun approach, with only the footwork-influenced "Monj2" directly referencing any current electronic influences, however even on Monj2, the vintage sound palette dominates. Opening with the gorgeous "XT"; a smudged piano/moog melody recalls the abandon of 70s pop melodies before the composition falls out into airy arpeggiated funk with splashy drums. "Ritm" debuts with ravey piano and whistling synths, condensing early dance music tropes into a gauzy bitter-sweet haze. "Pulsar" is a perfect tribute to late 70s electronic cosmic space-disco, gently nudged towards more modern dancefloors with pulsing electronics racing above robust kicks. "New Bimple" succinctly uses a short space of time, woody, swinging 2-step drums and downcast piano melody, to bring the EP to a conclusion on a sadder, unresolved note. Style: Dance