Velvet Grooves

New Yorkers 'Gang Gang Dance' return with a new release on The Social Registry entitled 'Retina Riddim'. Admittedly, this is my first time for them, so comparisons to their early stuff is not going to happen. Maybe comparisons to some Warp stuff, like Squarepusher maybe. They have a bit of an avant-drum 'n bass/dub thing going on here, to create something out of the ordinary.... yet at the same time, approachable.

We've been treated to a DVD and CD release, combined into one arty package - where the artwork is incredibly lush. Plus we have a poster, which is a nice touch. The DVD is meant to accompany the audio from the CD, to extend from Gang Gang Dance's new visual attempt at developing their art into new territories - which it works well (ish) for an arty release rather than something commercial. 24 minutes of audio only, plus a 30 minute DVD collage of gig takes, sound checks, field recordings, tour footage and a ton of other stuff they've manage to mingle together - soundtracked to their own...

With the audio, it tends to be a cut & past collage mixed into a 24 minute entity. It tends to swap between genres, like drug fuelled randomness, which swoops between melodies fairly swiftly. It places drum hooks with non-hooks (i.e. samples), then changing into something entirely different.

I see this as being one of those releases which'll be pleasing to the more music obsessed of us. But to the ones who demand complete melody, or something to completely seep you in - I'm not too sure if this will do. Could be completely wrong though!