Holden* – The Illuminations

A few days ago this year James Holden, owner of the label Border Community released in his own label “The illuminations” LP.

James Holden has had composed during his last few releases in every LP, the complete version of the track and some DJ tools like the Drumsolos, the Arpsolos, Drum-tools, Synth-tools, vocals... “The illuminations” LP is not the exception. In this LP in the A side is an extended version of the original, named “The illuminations (12” version)” that features some bouncy techno rhythms and cosmic arpeggios that work really well in the dance floor ending with corroded static, and in the B side there are two other tracks as DJ tools, “The illuminations (Drum solo)” that as its name says its all the percussion in all its amazing complexity which creative DJs can take advantage of, and the other track “The illuminations (Arpsolo)” which contains all the synth arpeggiated layers free from the drum rhythms that gives this track a really abstract and cosmic feeling.

James Holden has had during the last decade really amazing productions an releases like “The idiots are wining” in 2006 with amazing tracks like “Lump” and “Idiot”, he has also produced grate remixes between which is the most commercially known “The sky was pink” a remix he made from Nathan Fake, artist also from his label, Border Community.

During all this time Holden has adopted and constructed a style that differences him from the rest of electronic music artists when you hear his music like some arpeggiators, some rhythms and processed vocals. In his last releases like “The Illuminations”, “Circle of fifths” and “Gone feral” you can clearly distinguish his style.

“The illuminations” cover, also like all his recently last releases, have kept the same magical, ancient tribe symbols which give an intriguing feeling to the cover making you want to discover what out of this world sounds are inside.

So having nothing at all bad to say about the music of “The Illuminations” even though the Dj tools is a cool idea, it would be really cool to hear again a full album or a LP of different songs. Sometimes just one track is not enough sometimes you just want to hear more.