THOMAS FEHLMANN "Visions of Blah" (Kompakt) CD/LP $15.99/$12.99 RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/dufehlst.rm RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/rotenfad.rm Ever since M.Mayer released the "Immer" mix CD, everyone's been craving more uber-modern, swing-beat techno. "Visions of Blah" is full of swing-beat, off-kilter scorchers, and then some. I guess I should mention that Fehlman is a founding father of this whole German post-techno scene, and it shows in his impeccable arrangements. He proves himself a true artist by making an endless variety of tracks using a masterfully chosen minimal sound palette. The general feel is ultra-fresh, warm digital house with aspects of dub, and melodies that glisten and percolate off of one another like droplets at the base of a tropical waterfall (complete with stream). More modern than the Modernist, no offense. The elements of these tracks are so well placed, and arranged... you have to hear it to believe it. And then, after you're confident of Fehlman's dance jam mastery he softly lands you in a light blue cloud from track 9 through 11, with melodic clouds that make the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up. Beautiful album. One of the strongest of the year. [SM] CD http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=71875260372&ref... LP http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=09999186151&ref... --