Shot In The Dark

Album review

As a DJ and producer, Laurent Garnier has never attempted to disguise his endless love for classic Detroit techno and Chicago acid-house. On his first album, Garnier blatantly follows the blueprint laid by the music's pioneers, although he rarely lives up to the lofty expectations. It seems as though Garnier's technical skills did not match his musical aspirations. The cutting acid whip of "Astral Dreams" takes the minimal jack beat to the next level of aggression, but loses most of its funk in the process. "The Force," with it Darth Vader vocals, is "Garnier's" attempt to re-create Lil' Louis' dark masterpiece "Blackout," but comes off more joking rave than epic apocalypse. The hyper-speed "Geometric World" follows like an exploding hoover blitz, moving the record even closer to Belgium hardcore-rave and further from the original Midwest soul. Fortunately for Garnier, all can be forgiven by the fact that his later albums would reach, and in some ways surpass, the historical landmarks he continues to visit. Shot in the Dark is comforting proof that even the most astoundingly talent musicians need time to learn their craft.
© Joshua Glazer /TiVo