Dimension Mix
As adults we make assumptions about sound, that some combinations of notes and structures are inherently pleasing. Mass market forces dull our senses over time so that fat major chords and verse-hook-verse arrangements are the main (often the only) ingredients necessary to inspire a zombie-like lurch to the record store. But we forget how wide open to the listening experience we were as children. Other forces came into play then, mixing the pleasure of repetition with an exhilarating newness. Electronic music offers a lot of potential as a music form that might find success with this niche audience, a fact not lost on more adventurous composers like laptop wizardNobukazu Takamura(particularly in hisChild’s Viewpersona). Bruce Haack and Esther Nelson recognized it early, a good forty years ago in fact, releasing 10 records conceived and created just for small ears on their Dimension-5 label.Dimension Mixis both an homage to Haack and Nelson’s work, as well as a charitable venture aimed at helping kids with autism. It’s also an opportunity for some of the hipper names in off-center alternative music to get goofy.Beckdrops his indie-folkie cool for "Funky Lil’ Song," sounding freer and sillier than he has in a long while.Stereolabblend right in with their chanteuse drone, along with other artists likeFantastic Plastic Machine,EelsandDJ Me DJ You, who all make contributions chock full of mirth and disarming playfulness. Your inner child will approve.–Matthew Cooke