Get Down

Pita's follow-up to the critically acclaimed 1999 album Get Out came out in June 2002 under the title Get Down and in the suitable format of a lathe cut. Suitable because Peter Rehberg's art is of course rooted in the digital age; hence the quirky nod to a technology he ignores as a DJ. Surprisingly, this solo set really feels like a solo effort; it explores the artist's language more extensively, yet it sounds less crowded than some of his collaborations (like the Fenno'berg releases). Beautifully packaged in a sleeve drawn by Pita himself, Get Down offers nine slabs of digital noise. Some are sculpted into dynamic pieces, others sound a lot harsher and monolithic (close to Merzbow's digital phase). Does "We Don't Need No Music" have the power to become an anthem for the anti-dancefloor music fan? Not really, but it will force your ears open if they are not ready yet. At almost seven minutes in duration, "43353.rf" stands out as the most ambitious piece, rich in crackling textures and mood swings. The biggest surprise is found at the beginning of the flip side; "Acid Udon" has at its core a whooping Moog-like synthesizer sweep that gets bounced around and distorted. Things get short and fast-paced in this second half as Pita alternates harsh noise ("Fine Swex") and quirky tunes ("Iida Denki," the possible glitch reincarnation of a Perrey & Kingsley tune). Get Down is a short but very convincing album. ~ François Couture, Rovi