Komputer are North London beat merchants Simon Leonard and
David Baker. Their band name is very appropriate given that their music
revolves around the manipulation of complex electronic rhythms. For rough
reference points think Aphex Twin and Warp Records, both leaders of
the musical avant garde. Komputer's 1998 World Of Tomorrow debut was a
faithful re-interpretation of the seminal Kraftwerk synth pop sound, and
now, four years on, Market Led shows itself to be the product of a long
period of musical experimentation and research.
Immersing themselves in the bleeding edge world of contemporary
electronica, Leonard and Baker took inspiration from the likes of Pole,
Matmos and Oval. They also took an enlightened
attitude to technology by streamlining their studio to a portable two black
boxes and sampler, whilst adopting a 'live in the studio' philosophy to
recording. This innovation is reflected on the album and as the pair
themselves acknowledge, "the basic spirit of the thing is using the
technology that we've got and trying to push it as far as we can to make
music".
This heavy emphasis on technology is contradicted though by the
surprisingly organic approach to sampling that Leonard and Baker
demonstrate. The album title, Market Led, alludes to this idea. As day
jobs, the duo assemble and disassemble the stalls at London's Spitalfields
Market, giving them random access to a myriad of abandoned vinyl from the
day's trading. This has allowed them to incorporate anything from "70s
glam rock to some obscure dub thing" into Market Led. On the track
Kompaktor they even sample a rubbish compactor at work - not something
that would crop up on your average Gareth Gates record!
The sonic invention and trickery on Market Led is at times quite
refreshing. Gaps is composed mainly from the samples of dramatic musical
drops / pauses of a few '70s hits, and has a strange, otherworldly texture
to it.
The undoubted star of the show though is Mum, where all of Leonard
and Bakers' ambition crystallises perfectly. Hypnotically wistful, mournful
chimes rock back and forth over spitting, metronomic percussion, to
startling effect. Joanna is worthy of a mention too, with its'
schizophrenic shift from foreboding, storm cloud thuds to light, sun
drenched beats.
Whilst Market Led does at times hit the heights, it is important
to place it in context. It is most definitely not a commercial record,
operating as it does in the marginal world that is electronica. Recognisable
melody is frequently hard to find and the cold, functional atmosphere can
make for uncomfortable listening. Add in the splintered beats which are
strewn across most tracks like broken glass and it becomes clear that,
despite the occasional gem, Leonard and Baker have created an album that
will appeal only to the aficionados and sonic wanderers amongst you.
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