Haujobb- Vertical Mixes

Artist: Haujobb
CD Title: Vertical Mixes
Label: Metropolis Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 7-19-05

Haujobb’s Daniel Myer is a prolific producer, not only remixing nearly every industrial and EBM act under the sun but also releasing a slew of side projects. On this CD, he steps aside to let other artists rework some of the songs from his last album. Being the workaholic that he is, however, Myer has filled most of the first half with Haujobb remixes of his own, as well as two brand new tracks. This gives the album a more coherent feel than you’d expect from the average remix collection, and new tracks “Mind Crush” and “Perpetual Motion” occupy a similar space as his remixes of “Renegades of Noize,” “Metric,” and “Platform.” There are differences, of course – Myer’s new mix of “Renegades of Noize” has a more neoclassical approach, while “Perpetual Motion” focuses more on manipulated beat structures – but they share in common a sparse electro aesthetic made sinister by ambient string arrangements. Of the guest artists, the two most interesting are the most different from another. Hecq’s take on “Metric” is all industrial ambience resting on organic, dub-tinged rhythms, with Myer’s vocals buried in gently ebbing layers of sustain. French-Canadian power noise act Iszoloscope, on the other hand, turns “The Noise Institute” into a harsh, techno-inspired blast of mechanized shouts and pounding beats. Glis’s mix of “Slide” is a well executed if fairly conventional EBM club track, while Asche’s remix of “Renegades of Noise” occupies a funky but industrialized middle ground between house music and rhythmic noise. Abstract without losing its dance appeal, this album is definitely a must for intelligent club-goers and hardcore electro geeks alike.

Visit Myer online at www.planetmyer.de.