Album Review - Dirtwire
Well this turned out to be some of the most interesting instrumental music I've heard in quite some time. While looking for an album from Beats Antique to feature as a part of Album August, I happened across this side project from Beats Antique member, David Satori. While I'm not a huge fan of drawing close comparisons between under appreciated artists and better known names, lets just say Dirtwire is a trifecta of win, whether you call yourself a Browncoat, have spent too much time hanging out with Claptrap on Pandora or are a music fan with an insatiable thirst for something unique.
Just to throw one more pop culture reference in the mix; where Dirtwire succeeds is much like the Lord of the Rings films. (Wait, what?) Not because of its sound (it sounds absolutely nothing like Howard Shore's score) but because it eschews digital in favor of the real in copious amounts to achieve an altogether wonderful result.
Dirtwire is comprised of the previously mentioned David Satori of Oakland's electro-acoustic gypsy hip hop outfit, Beats Antique, along with Evan Fraser of hypno-groovers, Hamsa Lila. Hitting play on their bandcamp page turned into multiple back-to-back listens, and I am still finding new things with each subsequent spin.
Please press play.
"Amphibian Circuits" - The album opens on this eclectic collision of styles, which sets the tone for the album with its very unusual mixture of instruments. There are western folk, North African and possibly Asian motifs woven throughout this aural tapestry. It really would not feel out of place as music one would hear while playing the video game, Borderlands.
"Back Home" - This one was initially really hard to pin down, but man is it good. A bit of banjo, violin, non-traditional mouth harp and ethnic folk instruments which I'm not entirely sure what they are called. Do not let this jade your opinion, but really, if you call yourself a Browncoat, could you not imagine hearing this in some dank drinking establishment on an Alliance-ignoring world?
"Xiang Zone" - Where the previous track was a world music/blues collision, this one is a hip hop beat powered groove with Chinese folk undercurrents. Slow, mellow and oh so good. Again, this could easily have been incidental music featured in a scene of Firefly, but don't let that put you off. It's not overt, or at least doesn't feel intentional. Just reminiscent.
"Sailing the Solar Flares" - Unless I'm very much mistaken, a berimbau fuels this mellow piece. Continuing in the atmospheric vein, it shifts from banjo folk to electronica without sounding contrived.
"Knock" - It was at this point in the #LiveTweet review I pushed for readers to check out the impressive list of instruments played by David Satori and Even Fraser on the album. Languid and humid in tone as an opium haze hanging in the air, soundtracked by a jazzy shuffle under Prohibition piano, with numerous other instruments painting colorful swaths of sound throughout.
"Hunter's Harp" - As far as fully indie bandcamp releases go, this album could easily be one of the best I've heard, with this track being a big part of that. A mix of Asian, traditional African, Southern Delta and urban hip hop elements. Creativity in music is NOT dead.
"Rusted Railway" - This intriguing track has a very North African sound to the beat and tones. What is so great about Dirtwire is how each song is in a state of constant evolution. You never know where it's heading.
"Freeka 5" - A bit of a belly dance feel going on with this one, with a more pronounced hip hop beat and with electric guitar and traditional instruments. The most "machiney" of any song so far, as heard in the edits and breaks, but not out of character.
"Old Upright" - Just as promised in the title. Slightly discordant sound, like you've walked into a speakeasy in another dimension.
"Bed Spring" - Back to the more interesting genre bending. Is it aboriginal? Blue Man Group-ish perhaps? Mechanical but humanist percussion. Definitely some jazz modes in there, like Acid Jazz without the loops. Listen ten times and you will still hear something new.
Dirtwire's self-titled release succeeds on so many levels it's almost scary. It plays equally well as an alternative soundtrack to Borderlands or as background music for the Firefly inclined. There is enough otherworldly originality going on that it works well in a steampunk setting and for those in the belly dance scene looking for something unusual to add to their mix, you would do well to give this a listen.
But setting all those areas of interest aside, it goes without saying that after listening to Dirtwire on loop most of a day, if you are looking for a truly unique and great instrumental listen, this is it. I intentionally did not embed the whole album here, as I want you to click away right not and experience it for yourself.
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