Richie Hawtin - a.k.a 'glitch' artist Plastikman - has cited this album as his most personal yet and it certainly has to be his bravest. It's a sprawling great thing, full of the dark chill, clicking beats and analogue aftertastes favoured by Massive Attack at their most menacing.
The random and organic structure and pacing of many of "Closer"s tracks are reminiscent of the early AI experiments of 50's Electronica pioneer Raymond Scott and deserve a listen. Brooding swathes of orchestral synth verge on subliminal in places and allow Hawtin to strike a delicate and intoxicating balance between natural and artificial textures. It's psychology taped.
Unfortunately some of the slow burn climaxes and body rhythms are ruined by some genuinely ridiculous throaty vocal samples ("Disconnect" and "Ask Yourself") which could only add to the claustrophobic atmosphere if you happen to struggle through your daily routine with class-A drug-addled paranoia.
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"Closer" is an imperfect masterpiece but a masterpiece nonetheless. As Hawtin himself states, it's less of an escapist soundscape, more like being locked inside his head. Buy the CD and you buy yourself a timeshare. Besides, you ought to get out more.
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