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TEST SPINS
APRIL 2002
VOL 12.10
CORNELIUS
Point
(Matador)
After the delightful cut-and-splice wizardry of 1998's Fantasma, it was hard to imagine what Japanese producer Keigo Oyamada could do for an encore. The long wait was frustrating, but Point actually tops its predecessor. While Fantasma could seem like just a frantic collage of quotes and influences, Point is much more surefooted in establishing its own style. Grabbing elements from pop and techno yet not sitting comfortably in either realm, it's a brilliantly distinctive stew of beats, blurred harmony and melodic fragments. Incidental vocal riffs decorate an even balance of traditional and electronic instruments, while the crafty moods span lounge-like grooves ("Nowhere"), flashes of hard rock ("I Hate Hate"), New Age contemplation ("Tone Twilight Zone") and a twittering cover of "Brazil." The pieces are so stuffed with twists and details, it's virtually impossible to get tired of the disc. Easily the best release of the year's first quarter.
Grade: B+
ERIC BROOME |
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