Jan Jelinek’s “Farben” moniker is back in full force. After what seemed to be a one off from last year, it looks as if this project is getting a complete re-haul. Generally I’m a huge fan of what Jan Jelinek though I have been tempted to state that his more recent material has been somewhat lacking compared with his earlier stuff. With Xango, that is unfortunately the case.
Head-nodding grooves are present. Many of these are nearly un-recognizable from his previous work. Little crackles and hisses from records, those have also been edited away for the most part. What we hear in this latest outing is purely clean sounds, lacking in the other-worldly charm of his previous tracks.
“Xango” the title tracks starts out awkwardly before shifting into a heavy bass with some noises thrown on top. Considering how he used to create some truly cryptic micro-dance tracks this is a big step backwards. Ditto goes for the finale’s uneasy shuffle which appears to take far too long in going nowhere.
Not every track is a dud. The beginning does have an elastic beat, and the random percussion elements create a strange sort of atmosphere. It sounds like a potential place for Farben to expand into; at least that’s my hope. “Parada” is perhaps my favorite track, as it mixes everything good about Farben in a single track: a good beat, an unidentifiable sample and a general playful mood.
This is only the second EP he’s released under the Farben moniker in the past seven years. Maybe it will take him time to fully embrace it again. Unfortunately Xango does come across as being a bit scatterbrained as a result.
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