Link: Meat Beat Manifesto
The Inside Pulse:
For a combo that started out as straight industrial, Meat Beat has certainly evolved over the years, incorporating hip-hop elements and gradually turning into a unique soundscape. For At The Center, the band continues their movement towards and focuses on jazz, tossing in a wide variety of samples, instruments, and complete randomness to create a modern, semi-electronic bastardization. There’s a lot of nuance for those patient enough to wade through the experimentalism; it’s a deviation from damn near everything currently being pushed in either the electronic or jazz markets. It’s not easy, relaxed listening, and definitely an acquired taste.
Positives:
“Want Ads One” and “Want Ads Two” feature some hilarious samples of absolutely off-the-wall want ads. “Bohemian Grove” is a stark, ambient beauty. Individual songs aside, there’s definitely a vibe to this disc that may catch even those who aren’t jazz-inclined.
Negatives:
Crossing genres surely can get weird. Bad? No, but definitely odd and sometimes hard on the palate.
Cross-breed:
Tricky goes to bed with Bill Lazwell.
Reason to buy:
You like your jazz with a good dose of chaos. No other reason will fly.
