eMusic Review
Some of Kranky's acts are as indefinable as the label itself, a fact perfectly illustrated by the loose-knit AMP. Based around the core of British duo Richard Walker and Karine Chaff, the band evolved rapidly through experimental rock styles until this album, made in collaboration with Robert Hampson of Loop/Main and beat programmer Olivier Gauthier, which takes a magpie approach to genre. From the Sonic Youth guitar clang of "You are Here" to crystalline piano pieces like "Songe" and "Just-Ice," meandering analogue synth trickles to dubbed-out breakbeats, abstract drones to practically jaunty songs, Stenorette pulls together dozens of disparate elements — yet they never feel chosen arbitrarily just for the sake of diversity. That it avoids sounding like some kooky postmodern collage is impressive; that it shows a coherent and compelling personality of its own is little short of a miracle.
