To give this release some context, it’s worth noting that When It’s Ajar is not quite a re- mix album. It’s a compilation of re-compositions of Daniel Figgis’ work by prominent producers and musicians from the experimental and electronic music scene. The only premise given was that the source material, every sound they used, be derived from original recordings made by Figgis – aka Princess Tinymeat – which technically makes it more ‘musique concrete’ than re-mixes.
So now that the logistics are out of the way, what about the music? Broken up into two CD’s (with a ‘third side’ available online), the first CD is rhythmical and the second more ambient. As with many compilations of this size (34 tracks) some tunes are better than others, but the better tracks on this album are indicative of how innovative and fruitful electronic and abstract music has become in Ireland over the last couple of years.
Deep Burial’s ‘Avant Guard Your Grille’ could easily be on Ninja Tunes and Ambulance’s ‘Magellan’ is as good as anything Warp have released recently. David Donohoe’s offering is a pristinely produced piece of soft ambience, while songs from Roger Doyle and Americhord gently rise and fall through calculated leniency. Booger and Formika display a more up- tempo end of the spectrum, skipping and bleeping along with waves of lo- fi, Fat Cat Records- style tendencies.
There are fillers for sure; songs that make the album that bit too long and a tad self indulgent, but this is an experimental release so if you bear that in mind it does exactly what it says on the tin.