I first heard Australia’s Anthony Pappa in 2000 with the first release of the Nu Breed series by Boxed Records, who’ve brought us the classic and countless Global Underground collections. Back then, and with even greater intensity now with his latest release for the Balance series, Pappa’s world-renowned grooves and sounds exude sweat, sex dancing, and animal instinct; his character and approach to mixing personifies this new breed, transforming the love, aggression, and fear (sometimes) found in sound into this ethereal logic and dreamlike, demeanted status.
Luke Chabel’s introductory track “Into the Storm” begins with a both awkward yet accurate perception of the world. The atmosphere begins transforming into a very dark, hybrid experience that seems alien, and then stands up with Tim Fretwell’s “Faceless,” which lets the air back in and cools the mix off.
Pappa really pulls in more weight from female vocal samples this time. Especially in Michael Lanning’s “Bound For Ascension” featuring Charity Havens, whose voice haunts like that of Lisa Gerrard (of Dead Can Dance).
But just like his other releases, this isn’t a predictable mix at all. Demeanors change. Turn to chill out. Then spin to spaced out. And then there’s the phallic, freak-inducing beats and breaks. Rhino Drum’s grinding masterpiece “Underground Sound” should be the 2005 New Year’s crowd anthem. Then the mix takes a step back and humbles itself with Jacob Todd’s chilled out “Nothing Is Real,” with despairing vocal sampled lines questioning freedom and existence, “I am nothing more than a stain… Soon all traces will be washed away…”
But don’t think too hard, every track on this entire mix demands full attention - it is this obligatory balance of Pappa’s diversity of elements that is what sets his sound apart. CD 1 finishes with questioning change, with a maniacal, booming, raunchy mix of Tilt vs. Quivver called “I Know Your Afraid.”
CD 2 continues to produce more eccentric hard breaks and unconventional approaches to rhythm. Tracks like Moonface’s “Our Prediction” are full of loops coloring Pappa’s whole aggression, attitude and sound, with a throbbing deep house mysticism. Opposite of MCCP’s “Deeper Inside”, which delivers a neo-futuristic sound with some more Eno-ish space elements, matched with the heartbeat of dark, bleeding house.
Musgrove and McGrath’s “Freakout” tears down the aural atmosphere and reschedules the beats and samples of the mix into totally new animal, followed by the definite highlight of CD2, Chris Salt’s “Atmosphere Graffiti." Staying in the shadows and with an unfinished approach, this after hours “point of cloud nine” hits home, chanting “welcome to the basement." The synths provoke memories of the sound atmospheres of early 90’s releases by Laibach, or even Lab Report, with a military and sinister edge
The flavor of the rest of CD 2 continues to be just as dynamic and far-reaching with selections like Ozgur Can’s “Connected” - an addictive and complex anthem that I wish lasted longer.
Overall and as expected, for the latest release in the Balance series, Pappa’s talent shines and his intellectual approach to sound, music and manipulating the human response wins again - marrying chaos and sexual energy, with dark beats and denser melodies.
