SPEEDY
J
A SHOCKING HOBBY
ALBUM NOVAMUTE, PLAYGROUND RELEASE:
APRIL 10, 2000 REVIEW: APRIL 18, 2000
Emerging from the early 90's rave scene, Speedy J started his carrier making extremely
monotonous acid house. Much has happened since then. His new album "A Shocking
Hobby" is an exhilarating journey through hostile industrial techno landscapes,
far from the multicoloured neohippie mentality of the short-lived rave culture.
"A Shocking Hobby" dwells in electronic noise, apocalyptic drama and rhythms as
intense as shots from a nail gun. In tracks like "Borax", Speedy J leaves me standing
with my mouth wide open, awestruck by the unbelievably brutal force with which
he fires off his murderously heavy hi tech funk.
But Jochem Paap, the Dutch that hides behind the Speedy J pseudonym, is far too
clever to rely only upon pure muscular force and filtered noise. "Balk Acid" sounds
like Autechre on amphetamine, and every now and then the rhythms disappear, giving
way to calmer moments that could have been called ambient, were it not for them
being so intimidating.
At its best and most dramatic, "A Shocking Hobby" is as stunning a musical experience
as "The Matrix" was a cinematic.
