4LP Reissue
20th anniversary repress of Ricky V's supreme debut album sees the already mammoth set get the four disc treatment. So much extra for the man that does less so well! You get the original three 12s, plus the Alcachofa Tools EP, originally issued as a standalone the same year. The turn of the century post-Cologne/Kompakt minimal techno/tech house sound that was dropping jaws and pumping Pitchfork 8.0+ scores circa '03 hasn't quite carried that same status for the last decade or so, pushed aside by other innovations within the Mannerist, recursive organisation of electronic music topology - there's rooms within rooms within rooms to become preoccupied by in that house. But Alcachofa still carries some significant power, not to mention heat. Minimalist monoliths where nothing ends before it should but could still go on forever (has 'Easy Lee' ever really ended? Yes, but you get my point) and propulsive linear motion shaded with pointalist detail, it's a continually interesting structuring of contrasting elements and genre confluence that keeps drawing you back in. And more besides, it's rare the bleeding edge is this enjoyable, future FWD>>> with more joyous celebration than furrowed brow. You don't get much of that in 2023, and you probably didn't get much of it 20 years back, either. High watermark moment.
