Kiss My Arp
Though bits ofKiss My Arpremind one of a moody, mysteriousDJ Rap, Andrea Parker is more than the thinking man's DJ Rap. As one of the torchbearers for eclectic electro, Parker turns in music that is both refined and rough; stirring strings soar with shifty breakbeats and manipulated found sounds. Parker weaves sonic odds and ends into chunky electro workouts like "Melodious Thunk," which was previously available in a modified version as an import. Easily the gem of the album, "Melodious Thunk" sounds just like the name implies: heavy, sweltering bass drum kicks, raunchy electro noise and percolating synths carry the track through to its magnificent end. The record reaches its lowest point when Parker sings in a distant voice that neither provokes nor engages the listener (see "The Unknown"). But the beats, as they say,arephat.--Tricia Romano