Reads The Books [EP]

prefuse has always created some brilliant tunes to chill out to... this is one of them, collaborating with the books... my god very very good..... any of prefuse 73's records are good, but this one is a must.

If you know the Books and Prefuse, then you know exactly what this collaboration will sound like. Its fantastic, don't get me wrong, but just as it starts to get going, its over. I've listened to it several times, suspecting that I would soon tire of it, but I haven't. Much like the Books' albums, they only grow over time as you engage in more in depth listening. Its actually interesting that clips from their last three albums make apppearances during the EP. However, a part of me was really expecting to be surprised by what I heard. Each of the Books' albums has been a surprise as they change and grow into their sound. So, something in me was hoping for that moment of "wow, I didn't see that coming." It never came, but the strength of this EP further lends credence to the importance of these two artists. It compliments their full-lengths, and is a must for fan of either artist. I used to be a huge fan of Prefuse (pre-surrounded by silence), and was glad to find him try his hand at something of this magnitude. Overall, a great listen, just not long enough, or adventurous enough......

While working in disparate genres, the Books and Scott Herren share a bit too much in common in the process department of their glitch leanings to augur anything truly revelatory out of this one-way collaboration. No less pleasant for the obviousness of its execution, this is a brief "read" that only offers a few standout chapters.

Listening to the results here, the simpatico between these dual forerunners of modern pop-glitch is evident, but Prefuse 73 is too tight and perhaps too careful with his source material to do anything unexpected. The lack of verve or nerve with the programming here only leads to new sonic juxtapositions--no transformations, and nothing with the inherent playful humor of The Books LPs. For one, "Pagina Cinco" is no more than the sum total of its sources from "The Lemon of Pink". Herren even retreats to the sound of his Savath and Savalas project with "Pagina Ocho", enlisting one of his vocalist collaborators for another non-starter of a track.

That being said, three tracks exhibit direction and energy. "Pagina Tres" is a short burner with some vintage Prefuse melancholic funk, and "Pagina Seis" is a strong longer piece. I also dig the interplay between the freshly chopped vocal & banjo samples and the beat clip on "Pagina Dos". Despite these standouts, this reading can't be recommended to anyone but Books diehards.