ELECTRONICA

Latest releases reviewed

A Taste of Trouble Penetrator Spitroast

Jump-up electronic whirring of the highest order is what finds its way onto your plate when Trouble Penetrator's crew of jazzers, hip-hop scratchers and funk vocalists take over the grill. While the album's lengthy gestation period (recording began in 2002 and continued when time and money was available) means you wouldn't want to be hungry, time hasn't lessened the album's impressive swell of ideas. While there's little striking innovation on show, the contributions of such quality players as Justin Carroll and Sean Carpio, the throaty vocal licks from Marcus Valentine and the turntable machinations of Simon Milligan give the tracks both authority and presence. Of what's here, it's She Wants Punished (lyrics inspired by Mary Harney) and a treatment of Ornette Coleman's beguiling Lonely Woman that will keep everyone smiling. It doesn't always pay to stay out of trouble.

www.spitroastproductions.com Jim Carroll

Logic Memory Center Plug Research

There are many gems in Los Angeles producer John Tejada's back pages - his Matrix of Us album springs quickly to mind - and Logic Memory Center is wholly deserving of a berth alongside them. Abandoning synths and keyboards, Tejada created this album entirely on computer, using various pieces of sound design software. The method doesn't detract from the deeply warm and soulful surfaces which dominate the album. Throughout, Tejada crafts some of the sweetest electronic pop you'll hear in many a long day, thanks in part to vocal contributions from Kimi Recor (purring suggestively through Strange Creatures), Carl A. Finlow (Alone With You will find many admirers) and Jimmy Tamborello. When Tejada keeps it strictly instrumental, it's the Detroit-style bliss of Unit B1656 and the microhouse clicks of Strive that will have you humming.

www.plugresearch.com Jim Carroll