Live @ Roxy 3
More than a little dark around the edges, Peter Rauhofer's third entry in theLive At Roxyseries is lean and nasty, focused on cavernous beats and lush, cold textures. PastRoxyreleases have mined the DJ's captivating sense of timing and rhythmic patience, butRoxy 3's flat terrain makes even slight modulations feel like sky-high rocket rides. WhileMadonna's airy "Nobody Knows Me" gets dropped into the deep end of the sonic ocean, Rauhofer's remix breaks the central melody up into digitized rays of light that pierce the gloom. Disc two's contrasts are more limber, concentrating on shadowy, tribal techno with hints of electro (Cajmere's "Midnight") and the occasional anthem (the set-closing "Time" fromMurk). Really, there's nothing revolutionary here for Rauhofer's usual clientele. But when the status quo is dressed up with this much craft and class, who needs a revolution? --Matthew Cooke