Follow Your Bliss

Few artists of his age can match Wally Gagel's breadth of musical experience; this explains the impressive range exhibited throughout his debut under the nom de plume Production Club. His technique as a producer in no way distracts from his ability to integrate varied, often primal influences. On "Let Go of the Reigns," for example, he blends street gospel, tribal chant, postmodern pastiche, timbral echoes of Kraftwerk, and raw techno without breaking into even a virtual sweat. Tracks that feature guest vocals skew effectively to each visitor's strengths: Elan Atlas finds an especially sympathetic setting for his reggae-inflected performance on "Sacrifice," while the Incredible Moses Leroy slips easily through treble-heavy processing and an early British synth pop vibe on "Man on the Scene." But when working on his own, with samples providing the vocal reference, Gagel is even more impressive; on "This Is a New Generation," a Malcolm X sample provides the match that sparks a firestorm of rhythm and loop manipulation. This talent for shifting from intense self-expression to building appropriate accompaniment to other artists distinguishes Follow Your Bliss and marks Gagel as a major player. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk, Rovi