Mixing politics and abstract electronic music can be somewhat of a dodgy affair. How does one impart their side of the debate through a series of blips, bleeps, and booms? Does the artist constantly ruminate over the issue at hand whilst tapping away at his keyboards and drum boxes? One can only wonder.
Fortunately, Phonem’s Ilisu comes packed with liner notes. It’s virtually impossible to extract from the music alone but Ilisu’s themes are heavily steeped in political activism. A quick read through the inserts will inform listeners of the environmental dangers of the Ilisu project, a hydroelectric development in the Tigris Valley of Turkey.
All politicizing aside, Ilisu doesn’t take long to break into its reformative and somewhat abrasive beat structures. And don’t be tricked by its occasional and slight Boards of Canada-esque subtleties. Once the harsh, clunky breaks kick in, it’s hard to get off this ride. Still, for a drum ‘n’ bass project, these rhythms, at times, are quite soothing and not in the hedonistic, intoxicated sense. Ilisu’s intense rhythms are packaged so densely that their structure lays a beautiful foundation beneath the soft and ringing tones that flutter above. This record is hardly intended for dance floor nirvana, but in its dark simplicity will come quite an enlightening and fulfilling experience. – Ken Taylor