Albums

tKatKa - tKatKa

Matt Churchill 17/07/2007

Rating: 4/5

Tkatka (Te-Kat-Ker) are an electronic music duo based in Shoreditch, East London. Comprising of PJ Norman and the Swedish Carlsson, Tkatka were born on 2004, and have since released several well-received singles that have earned them airplay on Xfm and Radio 1 as well as a europewide audience in Croatia, Russia and over Scandinavia.

If there were to be a soundtrack to the film 'God Is In The TV: In Space', this would probably be it. Intergalactic mutterings can be heard - this music comes from the deepest corners of the galaxy, aliens of all kind have been entranced by it and now it has finally reached planet earth.

First single and opening track 'Lazerslab' had widespread press attention, and rightly so. Its mix of haunting keys and Apex-Twin-esque processed drum beat is drawn against a big booming bass that combine to make the archetypal ambient dance cum techno record. This flows into the menacingly understated E.L.D.A.C., with its looping delayed keyboard which is joined by rasping drums that keep a steady and not too hectic rhythm.

Introduced by waves and seagulls, 'Storm Proof Weather' threatens to explode, but reassuringly doesn't, staying at the same pace and volume level throughout; a lesson in the art of audible relaxtion. '(It's Just a) Molecule' is the most entrancing track on the CD, with a slightly negative but soothing feel, it seeps deep into the soul and is one of the most affecting songs put to digitally controlled tape in recent times. The most exploratory tune on the record is 'Let It Float', it could be pushing it's way through wild undergrowth in a distant undiscovered land with a gentle sliding melody that gives way to cold Antarctic drums.

'Sundae Haze' is the closest the pair come to sounding like they're about to build up into a Royksopp frenzy and with 'Sound Of Sound' almost achieve it, with flowing sounds, reminiscent of an afternoon on the beach in blistering sunshine. The final track is 'Globyl', an ominous sounding song that drives itself along with a gentle pulsating hum with echoed speech somewhere far in the distance.

The collection of songs tKatKa have produced are stunning and if ambience and not too hyper techno is your thing, it is a must have addition to the CD collection. If it is not the sort of thing that would usually find its way onto your stereo, it is definitely worth checking out because of the dazzling array of auditory goodness that will stand before you.