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If I said the first track ‘Base Introder’ (not a typo) was like a bass heavy version of the Emptyset with a Church organ taking on an electronic fly killer zapper or that the next one ‘Cellular’ was a d’n’b track for electronic pots and pans with the synth choir of the Swingle Singers - if doesn’t really help does it?

Back in the day when the likes of WARP were at the forefront of electronic music experimentation (arguably they still are but you need to check out the Planet Mu subsection for the leftside, see Luke Vibert, Brackles, Legion Of Two et al), Tudor Acid would have been snapped up for a seven album deal.

‘Superstition LV’ is the next longest track on the album at just over six minutes and it’s definitely my favourite as it’s got nearly as much percussion in it as the Fania All Stars (metal machine meets synth pop instrumental version); by comparision the Piano based finish of ‘Twilight’ runs a close second.

The rest of the album is a bit like a Library Music sampler set as all the tracks are so short. This is particularly frustrating as some tracks have a nu-disco/house vibe that’s aching for longer versions (or is the devious plan remix action?) Also check ‘Merri Poignant’ (suggest you do some fruity loop style edit at home), ‘Kitchen Sink’ and the manic ‘Lonsdale Quay’.

The length issue gets even more frustration as Richard Wiggleworth (aka Tudor Acid) knows his 808 state of mind as on ‘Endangered Species’ (coming in at 3:42) is just what Henry VIII would do with an acid greensleeves (Henry was a Tudor wasn’t he?) and ‘Blue Smoke’ is criminally short at 2 minutes.

At least ‘College Chronic’ has some duration that you can manically move to in its horror scope soundtrack way and hip hop-synth pop inst ‘Shimmering Phat’ is a love child that we should all cuddle.

Tudor Acid is like a Madlib of Acid with Tangerine Dream as an absent father, Steve Reid as the distant uncle, Keiron Hebdon as the boy on the block being naughty and Reginald Dixon playing out on the all the Roland drum machines ever invented (in a Cathedral). It sounds weird, but it is/not. If only length wasn’t important, this would be a mainstream must have. Suggest you revel in you underground-ness, get it and tell all your friends (or should that be fiends?).

Other Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Pheren’. ‘Merri Portland’, ‘Slowburn’, ‘Twilight’

Reviewed: Tudor Acid - Merri Portland (Tudor Beats) Cat. No. TB-003 Release date: 15th February 2010
Tracklisting:
01. College Chronic
02. Merri Portland
03. Base Introder
04. Cellular
05. Truth Senses
06. Ethereal
07. Merri Poignant
08. Endangered Species
09. Supersition LV
10. Blue Smoke
11. Waiting For A Second
12. Pheren
13. CTS
14. Capilano
15. Epiece
16. Lonsdale Quay
17. Eclar
18. Shimmering Phat
19. Slowburn
20. Raynor Lounge
21. Kitchen Sink
22. Floodlit Buildings
23. Chive
24. Twilight
25. Pastoral

Links:
myspace.com/hysteresisacid
www.tudorbeats.co.uk
darkhousemultimedia.com