frank and bill - ma0x 7" review from electronicdesert.com The duo is adding to their release list with this second release, the first ever was naturally “Viva Fab!” as FAB on our very own Electronic Desert Recordings. They also appear on the newly released (Feb 2003) compilation CD Sand Waves Sector One also on Electronic Desert Recordings. Solid beats, nicely played bassline and a playful melody starts of this Frank and Bill 7-inch. The opening track “MA01” is followed by MA02’s simply excellent rhythmic compositions fused with expertly chosen sounds, creating a fantastic and forward moving track. “MA03” features more solid rhythmic constructions alongside tremendous basslines and very nice melody on top. The track auto-deconstructs itself and reassembles again and yes it is fantastic! The final and fourth track MA04 contains high-octane beats and a melody with toy like characteristics and ends this beautiful 7-inch delivered by Frank and Bill and released by high-quality label Merck. The actual order of the songs on the 7-inch is different from the order that is presented in this review, but well-informed sources claim that in order to maximize the listening experience the songs should be played according to their numbering... and who am I to argue with that? frank and bill - ma0x 7" review from thaddi@de:bug Und nochmal Merck, hier auf 7". Wenn ich mich recht erinnere, gab es von Frank und Bill neulich schon eine EP auf dem schwedischen Electronic Desert-Label. Vier kleine Miniaturen im klassischen Retro-Style und langsam muss man das wirklich mal recherchieren, warum IDM in seiner ganzen Bandbreite plötzlich und unerwartet auf uns zurückfällt und es dabei nichts zu bemängeln gibt. Große Handwerkskunst, mit einem Hang zum elegischen Abhängen auf den Akkorden und kleinen Plinkereien, die fast schon barock rumtanzen in ihren viertaktigen Sprüh-Loops, dann wieder schnell und hektisch über die Straße flitzen, um dann einfach mitten auf der Kreuzung stehenbleiben und brüllen "Ich bin stärker als du". Come and try me. Tracks wie geschaffen für unser Lieblingsformat. frank and bill - ma0x 7" review from igloomag.com Frank & Bill's four-track 7" record, Ma0x, is a slab of shuffling electronics that rattles around the room like it is gravity-challenged. The bass drum is a swollen aquatic thump that implodes on itself, sucking its echo back into its own mouth. Tiny metallic percussion rattles like dust in the airducts while Frank & Bill eke out winsome melodies on aged analog equipment. "ma01" doesn't even clear two minutes -- not more than a few times around the melody line before it peters out and the aquatic bass wanders off to find a new friend. "ma04" lasts longer -- the remainder of the A-side -- and it wheezes on like a stuck hurdy-gurdy until night falls and we all go home. The B-side tracks, "ma02" and "ma03," are more energetic: "ma02" sizzles with a glimmer of energy that goads the slumbering bass into a quicker pattern, while "ma03" chirps and hiccups like a clearinghouse of unused synthetic noises. The B-side is a bit reminiscent of early Aphex Twin, full of analog squelch that almost sounds human-made and not the anonymous machine music which become the buzz-sound of the closing years of the last decade.

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