MEDITRONICA

In some ways, this Meditronica project of Ashtech’s reminds me of any number of Laswell’s groups, in that given the players involved there’s potential for something interesting. Here, ol’ Ash has paired up with Polcari, a frequent keyboarding wingman for several notable dub musicians (er, including Laswell –the guy’s just everywhere). Sounds like a strong combination for more dubbed out fun, and you do get that on this album. Unfortunately, as also has been the case with many a Laswell project, you get a distinct lack of focus in the process.

To cut to the chase, Meditronica sounds more like a couple guys jamming in the studio than a concerted effort to create a unique moniker that will stand out from the annual dub crowds. Honestly, the ideas seem to be all over the place, which is surprising for a tidy ten-track album. Of course, you have your bass-heavy dub cuts like The Third Planet, Azimuth Navigation, and Mare Nostrum, but Ashtech wasn’t in the mood to retread Walkin’ Target. Rather, the whole reason for creating Meditronica with Polcari (along with other Italians like guitarist Eraldo Bernocchi and vocalist Raiz) was to inject Mediterranean influences into the dub template. Sure enough, there are little nuggets of Ibizan bliss that’ll remind some folks of perennial Balearic acts like Sven van Hees or any number of Café Del Mar compilations, though more prominent at the end with tracks Byblos From Above and Black Haik. Elsewhere, Northern African vocal flair is added to tracks Dame Paz and Ki Eshmera Shabbat, which should appeal to folks who enjoy that sort of thing. Mostly though, this release is about dub textures as our intrepid musicians noodle about in their jam sessions.

It is all perfectly pleasant music to hear, just very unassuming in the process. Meditronica is almost infuriating in how it can be casually thrown on and simply disappear into the background. This is an album that you feel should hit something higher, as any one of these tracks would undoubtedly stand out as a highlight on a themed compilation of similar tunes. Yet, it never quite does. Stuff like Rainbow Rain and Andromeda are lovely little listens but all too quickly fades from your head. The seemingly carefree way in which these songs are written and arranged makes it incredibly hard to contextualize them in the album, and their lasting impact is lessened as a result.

Despite this, Meditronica is a safe purchase for dub connoisseurs. Even those who fancy Mediterranean chill will find some enjoyment here. Ashtech and Polcari have something going for them with this project, but they need to figure out exactly what that something is if they want to take it to another level. Otherwise, Meditronica will probably fall by the wayside much like Laswell’s Divination did.

3/5

Sykonee (courtesy of the Trance Critic website)

Meditronica is a dub electronica project born from the minds of Italian producer/bassist Ashtech and keyboardist/composer/producer Polcari, and based on the self-titled debut release, Meditronica will continue to be known as only that. Though a perfectly competent collaboration, featuring the talents of Dub Gabriel, Eraldo Bernocchi, and Raiz, Meditronica lacks any sort of significance to set it apart in the electronic world.

There is nothing particularly awful about Meditronica; there's just nothing particularly outstanding about it either. As the name suggests, the outfit combines electronica with Mediterranean undertones, but also swirls in influences from trance, Ibiza, ambient, and reggae. Some tracks such as "Mediterranean Electronics" and "The Third Planet" even have an almost hip-hop-esque vibe about them, while "Ki Eshmera Shabbat" is rife with Middle Eastern sounds. If nothing else, Meditronica at least succeeds in combining countless genres into fairly coherent pieces of music, though there is no real fluidity from one track to the next.

The instrumentalists on the album are certainly fluent; Ashtech provides a solid bass line to form the back beat throughout the album, while Polcari's keys and Bernocchi's guitar work fill out the sound. The problem is that sound is easily lost as most of Meditronica's debut fades willingly into the background. If someone were ever to open an electronic-influenced hookah house, Meditronica would be the ideal soundtrack to the experience, but as far as fitting into any other uses, this album falls short.

2 1/2 out of 5

Tori Biggs (courtesy of the RE:.Gen Magazine website)

Meditronica is a dub project by Ashtech and Polcari and features the talents of Dub Gabriel and Eraldo Bernocchi along with vocalists Raiz and Poppy Kinlogh. The album is due for release in June 2009 on the new London-based record label RareNoise.

First a little bit about the album itself.

On my first listening, I was surprised at the eclectic soundscape which ranges from being heavy dub to ambient with a strong bassline underscoring the entire album.

The most striking feature of this album is the blend of the Mediterranean with electronica and dub. I particularly liked the combination of a global sound interwoven throughout the album, which was fairly subtle and did not take away from its primary genre of dub-electronica.

A second listening made the musical nuances and rhythms clearer for me. The musicians on this album are all highly skilled at layering the songs. I began to recognise the unique tapestry this album weaves around its rhythm and melody.

While I recommend playing this music out aloud on your best hi-fi, I have to admit that I enjoyed listening to it on my headphones even more. I felt transported to an ethereal world and did not want to return!

As I mentioned earlier, this great album is the collaborative project of Ashtech and Polcari. In the making of the album they have also involved other artists of a high calibre to produce the music that is Meditronica.

With a solo album in his name, Ashtech has already proven his mettle as an artist, bassist and producer. His skills are undeniable on Meditronica where the bassline is smooth and flawless and the production of the music is clean, complex and strong.

His co-collaborator on the album is Polcari who has worked with heavyweights like Horace Andy and Bill Laswell. His skills as a keyboard player and composer resonate throughout this album.

While being the core producers of Meditronica, Ashtech and Polcari have worked with various artists on the album to give it the eclectic flavour it undoubtedly has. Dub Gabriel with his producing skills and the guitarist and sound designer Eraldo Bernocchi have also contributed their ideas and influenced the making of this album both as co-conspirators as well as musicians.

Alongside them all, is the vocalist Raiz who has worked with a talented range of musicians like Massive Attack, Adrian Sherwood and Zion Train. Vocalist Poppy Kinlogh adds a special flavour through spoken word on a track. Both vocalists enrich the album and add to the Mediterranean feel on this album.

Composition throughout Meditronica is smooth, lilting and subtly complex which will make you want to listen to the album again and again. This is testament to the collaborative style of all the artists on this album. Definitely an album you want in your personal music collection.