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 | Mox:Mox (RGB - 1998) With so many genres cross-breeding out there, there's bound to be some kind of new life form showing up on your doorstep. Through musical gene-splicing, Mox's self-titled debut is a clean, likable mutt, a tail-wagging mixture of electronic, ambient, world and retro-rock. |
| These highly polished tracks are billed as being "instrumental pop for a shrinking world. A wicked stylish mix of classis electric guitars, ambient electronics, world beats and tasty samples". All this shows up in the first track; Slow, reverb-drenched guitar notes intermingle with "world" vocal samples, beats and many various keyboard sounds in Dr. Bombay. Hazily slurred electronics, world flute, and slight beats form the opening of Bubble. The track solidifies, but retains its gentle nature, as bass, drums, guitar and flute meander over a surface layer of synth.
An acoustic alterna-folk strum is the main strand of Wig. Stronger electric guitar and electro-horn ring out in parts, as does an occasional wailing voice. Again, the influences (like the trippy reverb, and rockstar drumbeats) are coming from several places and times. A leftover organ chord from that track drones on, accented by vanishing beats, and trickling dulcimer strings in the short (2:31) Blind. Middle-Eastern effects abound in Fez; various male and female vocal samples, sitar and flute effects come together over a mid-tempo rhythm. With its kitschy 60's retro feel, "Groovy" is a word that applies to Fin. Shimmering electronics, banging bongos, burbling bass take us back (and forward and sideways, too). With shifty, buzzing undercurrents and leisurely pace, Orange is colored by big fat waves of hollow-body guitar and flutey synths. Those ringing Christmas bells really demonstrate how the sounds are coming from all over.Sprocket is geared toward a vibraphonic sound, with a quietly clattering electronic rhythm and an occasional chorus. The 5-minute-long Dome features guitar, violin, bagpipe-like tweedlings. The mood is light, relaxing, innocuous... building a bit as the track progresses. Echoing strings swirl in Loop. More elements are thrown into the gentle whirlpool; muted, horn-y blares, electronic glints and occasional bass notes appear, but no beats. Acoustic guitars strum prettily to open Twirl, another excursion into the lite. Active drumbeats wander all around, and more "world" vocal samples appear. Fetish steps lively, closing the disc with a flourish. Guitars, horns, samples, beats, rockin' bass... everything is pulled out for this final fling. The rangey, guitar sound, and the tribal chant could be a soundtrack for riding across some wide-open plains of South America. |
| More puritanical ambient listeners may feel it's "watered down" by the pop influences. Then again, others (attention: Deep Forest/Enigma fans) will find it an exciting blend of styles. I give Mox 1 Thumb Up. It may be a mixed-breed, but it's clean, well-behaved and nice to have around. |  |
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