Fatcat Records

Process v DAT Politics marks the ninth installment in FatCat's split 12" series. Again merging two very different sounds and styles, this time gritty, laptop-based deconstruction is pitted against minimalist post-techno rhythm-scaping. Now based in Cologne, Process is the work of Brighton exile Steve Barnes, whose bold debut album, ‘Shape Space’, is due for release on FatCat in January. Having previously released material on the Brighton-based label Ultimate Dilemma (under the name Blueshift), Barnes made his debut as Process with an early, yet seriously underrated 12” on FatCat (12FAT021 – June ‘98). Whilst that release scratched out a flickering, low-key ambience that lay close to the foggy shimmer and fuzz of Gas or the Chain Reaction label, Process’ new work marks a shift in approach. Still produced and sequenced on a Kurzweil, the three tracks gathered here build a bold and propulsive dynamics, moving closer to the hypnotic minimalism of Mike Ink’s Studio work, all stabbing offset rhythms and EQ-tweaks. ‘Shape-Mod’ is an extended re-working of an electro-based track first heard (and enthusiastically received) in Process’ set throughout the FatCat tour of Germany this summer; whilst ‘Popbeat’ and ‘Shape-Mod (B)’ expand on Barnes’ individual sound / style. Combined, all three tracks cohere into what’s probably the most floor-friendly material released on the split series to date.

On the flip-side, FatCat are again pleased to release work from a fresh new artist. Having been discovered (simultaneously with A-Musik) from demo, DAT Politics are a 4/5—piece unit based in the northern French city of Lille. Having been formed in October 1998, this split 12” marks one of their first releases as DAT Poilitics, although three of the group’s members have been operating for several years under the name Tone Rec, with three albums released on the Sub Rosa label. A mixture between minimalism, electro-acoustic, and deconstructed techno, the three tracks on this split were constructed on laptops, and move from the twitchy, glitchy flow of the two ‘Untitled’ tracks, to the phat, staggeringly sliced-up hip hop of ‘Et Hop’, based around choppy layers of the old ‘Apache’ break, and littered with flying shards of aggressive digital noise.

PROCESS Process' new work marks a shift in approach. Still produced and sequenced on a Kurzweil, the three tracks gathered here build a bold and propulsive dynamics, moving closer to the hypnotic minimalism of Mike Ink's Studio work, all stabbing offset rhythms and EQ-tweaks. 'Shape-Mod' is an extended re-working of an electro-based track first heard (and enthusiastically received) in Process' set throughout the FatCat tour of Germany this summer; whilst 'Popbeat' and 'Shape-Mod (B)' expand on Barnes' individual sound / style.

DAT POLITICS DAT Politics are a 4/5'piece unit based in the northern French city of Lille.A mixture between minimalism, electro-acoustic, and deconstructed techno, the three tracks on this split were constructed on laptops, and move from the twitchy, glitchy flow of the two 'Untitled' tracks, to the phat, staggeringly sliced-up hip hop of 'Et Hop', based around choppy layers of the old 'Apache' break, and littered with flying shards of aggressive digital noise.