Album Review: Darkroom Dubs Volume Two - various mixed by Silicone Soul

If you have heard of Silicone Soul you probably know them for their genre-defying track 'Right On!' from the turn of the last decade. It was the kind of track that found a place in many DJs sets it managed to please both techno fans and house heads with a combination of strings and loose percussion and despite the duo having released four albums over the years it remains their biggest track.

What you may not know is that the Glasgow duo are not only still active but they also run their own label, Darkroom Dubs. This is their second label compilation, following on from Darkroom Dubs Volume One in 2005.

Darkroom Dubs Volume Two surprises just based on how understated it feels. 'Right On!' was never exactly a fair barometer for Silicone Soul's sound but this never strays even close to the elements that made that track cross over. This is an album for fans of dark, atmospheric minimal music and it takes itself seriously. What you get, therefore, is serious music for people in clubs that want to dance and don't want to talk to other people.

It's clinical then, but in places it works. Opening track 'Diabolus In Musica' by Mirror Music lays down a delicate introduction that feels like floating in space and there are numerous tracks, especially those from Silicone Soul, that get a groove going on.

But what Darkroom Dubs Volume Two lacks is any form of transcendence. There is nothing here that adds up to more than the sum of it's parts - so it's basically a collection of average to good quality minimal tech-house tunes. Nice if that is your bag but ultimately, as the name suggests, this is music for darkrooms in nightclubs.

BP x

Darkroom Dubs Volume Two is out now on Darkroom Dubs.

Video: Who's Next - Curry & Coco

You liked Devo and the Human League, right? Good. You thought Shy Child were better when they sounded broken and that Datarock's sappy second album lacked the punch of their first? Us too. In which case check out Curry & Coco because they are pretty sick.

Originally from Lille, France, Curry & Coco have been busy in London working on an album with producer David Costen (Bat For Lashes, Chew Lips, Everything Everything). Entitled We Are Beauty it will be out "later this year" but rather than getting bogged down in that BlackPlastic suggests you bask in the sunshine brilliance of 'Who's Next' and Curry & Coco's forthcoming EP Sex Is Fashion.

BP x

Video: Drunk Girls - LCD Soundsystem

It's not that we are biased, it's just that LCD Soundsystem are still more exciting than everybody else. Check out the video Spike Jonze has made for new single 'Drunk Girls' as it's probably Jonze's best in years:

Very punk. Love it.

Forthcoming album This Is Happening is out on 17 May, the This Is Happening EP featuring 'Drunk Girls' is out now, both are on EMI.

Stay tuned - we will have a full review of the album on BlackPlastic soon.  The album can also be streamed in full over at the LCD Soundsystem website.

BP x

Video: I Said - Full Crate & Mar

BlackPlastic doesn't know much about this video apart from its awesome-ness.  It's a soul joint that is a bit reminiscent of some of Common's material from the Like Water For Chocolate era only a bit more melancholic. The video itself is pretty special so stick with it - it starts off very understated but as the song progresses it really starts to reflect the sounds - we won't say any more than that because it would spoil it.

The song is taken from the Conversations With Her EP, which is out now on Melting Pot Music, and the video is directed by Eric3000 & Marque.

Album Review: FabricLive 51 - The Duke Dumont

The Duke Dumont appears to be getting his props for the right places - much like upstart Rory Phillips the Duke has seen increasing popularity as the result of a string of successful remixes for the right bands, triggered by his winning the Diesel U Music competition.

At thirteen tracks long FabricLive 51 features less tracks than most Fabric albums, let alone most albums in the FabricLive series and, whilst that may seem like a trivial point it says a lot about Adam Dyment's style. Ultimately this mix is about function more than anything else - there are no tricks here and FabricLive 51 demonstrates that, refreshingly, The Duke Dumont is more about playing ten quality songs than 20 average songs just to prove he can.

And the tracks themselves are a lovely mixture of big room, twisted techno and darker sounds. So from the Vincenzo Remix of Audio Soul Project's 'Reality Check' through to Dyment's own deliciously freaked-out remix of Late of the Pier's 'Bathroom Gurgle' the overall vibe is varied yet consistently spacious and atmospheric. Taking a step-back, FabricLive 51 ends with two slower tracks - Floating Points' loose breakbeat, Flying Lotus-esque 'K&G Beat' and Idioma's melodic 'Landscapes'. It's perhaps a brave move but it shows that The Duke Dumont is more than just a DJ and a good mix CD is more than just a DJ set.

FabricLive 51 may lack thrills but ultimately it delivers a fluid, considered collection of well-mixed tracks and demonstrates a better level of programming and sequencing than many DJs deliver on these sets.

BP x

FabricLive 51 is out now, available from Amazon.co.uk on CD [affiliate link].