Hangable Auto Bulb / Ventolin (EP + Remixes)

i hate arched maid via rdj

  On 5/5/2010 at 1:23 PM, LUDD said:

i hate arched maid via brad pitt

me too

  On 5/7/2010 at 10:59 PM, bubbhasdance said:

  On 5/5/2010 at 1:23 PM, LUDD said:

i hate arched maid via brad pitt

 

me too

  On 5/5/2010 at 1:23 PM, LUDD said:

i hate arched maid via rdj

Obvious troll is obvious.

Anyway, sorry I wasn't able to write reviews last week. It's a bloody good thing that none of you care whether or not I write them, eh?

Time to write my review for Ventolin and its remixes. I've always loved these tracks, and to be honest, I don't think you really appreciate them enough. Just because these tracks all have the same original mix (at least, we are led to believe) doesn't make them lesser tracks, or anything like that. To me, many of these tracks are severely underrated.

Ventolin (Salbutamol Mix) - No doubt about it, this is one of the most extreme tracks ever recorded. Not many people are able to enjoy the sonic screeching present throughout, let alone the abrasive synths and distorted pitches. But if you can appreciate it, it's wonderful. It has a very powerful atmosphere, a feeling of claustrophobia, and intense panic. Maybe this is what it feels like when you're having an asthma attack?

Ventolin (Praze-An-Beeble Mix) (best track title EVER.) - This is one of my all-time favourite tracks by Richard D. James. Every single sound in this track is awesome, and they combine wonderfully to create an eerie, very surreal atmosphere. It reminds me of little girls breaking apart into pieces of piano, people making funny faces and bouncing around and floating, and pianos exploding and transforming. And what's with all the laughing? Crazy shit man.

Ventolin (Marazanvose Mix) - This could easily have been a Caustic Window track. It's basically just a fairly simple mash of industrial beats and bassy melodies. If I recall correctly, my first ever post on WATMM was a question about the noises at the end of this track. What the hell are they?

Ventolin (Plain-An-Gwarry Mix) - I can't really get into this track. It just seems to have a weak atmosphere, with little going on apart from simple percussion and synths. Still, I think the melodies are pretty groovy. Overall, I'd say it's OK, but not great.

Ventolin (The Coppice Mix) - This is a very pleasant track with a rich, warm atmosphere. It's like taking a relaxing walk through a breezy woodland and seeing plenty of tree stumps. It's really hard to believe that something like this could have developed out of a track like the Salbutamol mix. Very nice indeed.

Ventolin (Crowsmengegus Mix) [0:00 to 1:42] - I love this track. The main synth comes on very strongly and powerfully, like hot metal glowing and sparking. And it's full of little sounds and melodies, which can be found all over the place. The whole track sounds like an anthem to power and glory, I just love it so much.

Ventolin (Crowsmengegus Mix) [1:43 onwards] - It's rather strange to cram two entirely different tracks into one remix, don't you think? Anyway, this is another great track. For some reason, it puts me in mind of a bustling city on a lovely, colourful, sunny day. There are plenty of nice buildings to look at, and walking down the streets just makes you feel so alive. The track is full of seriously good melodies built on top of each other. The overall atmosphere gets more and more powerful as the track progresses, and it ends beautifully.

Ventolin (Wheeze Mix) - I don't know about you, but to me, this is the only true remix of Ventolin. That is, a track that ever had anything at all to do with the original mix. The first seven seconds make up one of the most powerful track openings Richard has ever created. The original mix is very powerful and abrasive, but this track adds so much more. It's like powerful, complex machinery working and motoring around. There's plenty of rhythmic movement. The high-pitched ring, instead of dominating the track, acts more like it's merely enhancing the effect of what is already present in the track. This is a tremendous remix that greatly rewards anyone who can tolerate high frequencies.

Ventolin (Carharrack Mix) - This is another underrated track. It starts with gentle percussion, but the mood quickly turns foul and nightmarish. That melody is just amazing. It so powerfully embodies feelings of extreme fear and trauma. It reminds me of decaying post-war cities, the opposite of the Crowsmengegus Mix city I mentioned earlier, with much poverty and oppression. And it's all in black and white, of course.

Ventolin (Probus Mix) - This mix is simply beautiful. It's so sensitive and emotional. I get lost in my own feelings every time I listen to it. The section from 2:07 - 3:18 is a tragic journey through the deepest regions of a broken heart, and I love it every time. For some reason, it makes me think about towers of ice and crystal in a cold, snowy, deserted world.

Ventolin (Cylob Mix) - This is a very powerful, strongly emotional mix. Cylob did a great job with this one, it's full of rich, vibrant sounds that form a truly amazing atmosphere. At 1:22, when that melody comes in, it's just pure awesomeness. I don't know how he does it.

Ventolin (Deep Gong Mix) - If you listen to the start of this track very carefully, you'll hear some very low, quiet notes being played at 0:05, 0:06, 0:10 and 0:11 (you might have to turn up the volume). Anyway, this track is kind of meh for me. Sure, it's got some great beats and the trademark deep gong, but where's the atmosphere? Where are the powerful melodies present in the other Ventolin remixes? I've heard things about an unreleased "Actual Mix" of Ventolin that Luke Vibert produced, but for some reason he released this mix instead.

Ventolin (Asthma Beats Mix) - This mix makes me think of being disorientated in zero gravity. I love the dreamy, spaced-out atmosphere created by the melodies and sharp beats. This is a great closer to the EP.

So, as per-usual, I'll go ahead and put them all in order:

Ventolin (Cylob Mix)

Ventolin (Wheeze Mix)

Ventolin (Praze-An-Beeble Mix)

Ventolin (Probus Mix)

Ventolin (Crowsmengegus Mix)

Ventolin (Salbutamol Mix)

Ventolin (Carharrack Mix)

Ventolin (The Coppice Mix)

Ventolin (Asthma Beats Mix)

Ventolin (Marazanvose Mix)

Ventolin (Plain-An-Gwarry Mix)

Ventolin (Deep Gong Mix)

Whoa, there were some tough choices there. There are a lot of interesting opinions surrounding the Ventolin remixes, so I urge you all to post your own best to worst lists. I'm sick of being the only one who writes them, and I'd love to know your thoughts. At least tell us your favourite mix.

  On 5/9/2010 at 9:42 AM, Rhombix said:

  On 5/5/2010 at 1:23 PM, LUDD said:

i hate arched maid via rdj

 

Obvious troll is obvious.

You're retarded. I don't like that track either.

  On 5/9/2010 at 2:31 PM, Rabid said:

  On 5/9/2010 at 9:42 AM, Rhombix said:

  On 5/5/2010 at 1:23 PM, LUDD said:

i hate arched maid via rdj

 

Obvious troll is obvious.

You're retarded. I don't like that track either.

Watch your language! I like that track.