Remedial

Remedial is the umpteenth example of Mike Paradinas' skill at snapping up challenging, innovative, and cheeky talent for his Planet Mu label. Gasman is Portsmouth's Christopher Adam Reeves and Remedial consists of tapes of classical music fed through a laptop. The source could have been anything, since Reeves bends the sounds enough to call them his own. Putting the pieces back together in a quirky and jerky way, the album bounces along like Aphex Twin used to with Akufen's backhanded respect for a tune. "Trill" is a good example of Reeves' command of melody and "Pyloric" offers up a spastic beat with another killer hook. "Titled" is a Casiotone workout that would make both Perrey-Kingsley and Trio smile. Besides the grabbing appeal of Remedial's more outgoing numbers, Reeves succeeds when playing with the more cerebral. The album's opener brings an inspired Nurse With Wound to mind while "Krona" is moody fiddling about with the laptop while an opera is performed next door. Some of the short interludes could have been left out since they only slow down an otherwise cohesive album. Despite the very slight interference, Remedial is another thrilling transmission from Planet Mu.