Stairfoot Lane Bunker

Album review

Following the critical success of Soul Music, Paul Woolford's ode to U.K. pirate radio produced under the name Special Request, he signed to XL, the label responsible for many of the U.K. house and breakbeat techno scene's crucial tracks during the '90s. Following three Modern Warfare EPs, which contained more club-friendly tracks than the rough-cut darkside jungle that made up most of Soul Music, Special Request returned to the Houndstooth label with the far more experimental Stairfoot Lane Bunker EP. Several of these tracks were also included in his excellent Fabriclive 91 mix, but here they're given the chance to sprawl out on their own. "Redrum" opens the EP with tough electro beats, Speak & Spell samples, and razor-sharp edits and manipulations. The title track starts out with a few minutes of slowly rising airy synths and bass hallucinations, along with softly rolling thunder. Sharp jungle breaks crash out of nowhere, destroying any hopes for peace and tranquility. More blown-out, mangled breaks and storm clouds twist through the similarly exhilarating "Replicant," which pauses for a requisite Blade Runner sample before the breaks smash back in. This track, as well as ambient piece "Telepathic Dog," point to more of a science fiction influence than previous Special Request releases. The EP concludes with Minor Science's remix of the title track, which starts out with subtle, glitchy quasi-drum'n'bass similar to the Samurai Horo label before finally exploding into tear-out jungle during the last few minutes. Venturing far beyond the conventions of club music, Stairfoot Lane Bunker is some of Woolford's most daring, dystopian work.

© Paul Simpson /TiVo