Magnetic

Here's a cover blurb to give you pause: "From the sink estates of north London to the trailerparks of North Carolina, this album is a celebration of low culture everywhere." Um, okay. Given that Magnetic (aka David Harrow) is known for creating his music using nothing but a laptop computer, one has to wonder what effect on the music his apparent affection for trailer parks and housing projects will have. Luckily, the answer appears to be: none. This album might as well have been dedicated to the spotted owl or the legalization of marijuana for all the influence his stated theme has had on the music itself, which is, as usual for this artist, far more interesting and fun than you'd have any reason to expect given the instrument used. The focus is on beats (mostly of the frenetic, drum'n'bass variety) and textures (mostly somewhat cold, though occasionally warmed by an almost organic, dubwise influence). Titles like "Trailerpark," "Doggy Daddy," and "Scared Sacred" give little or nothing to go on -- "Trailerpark," for example, is an edgy and jittery excursion into hardstep drum'n'bass softened slightly by lush synth washes, while "Scared Sacred" offers a deep reggae-flavored bassline and trippy dub echoes offset by a muscular breakbeat. You get the idea. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide