Nick Forté

"Pasted Lakes" LP

Schematic Music Company

Genres: experimental electronic, sound collage

Schematic
376 NE 56th St.
Miami FL 33137

Sep 8 - 14 2003

Brooklyn's Nick Forté is one half of Christmas Decorations, whose Model 91 was a minor success for Kranky Records late last year.  Pasted Lakes is Forté's first solo album, a scrap yard of cut-and-paste re-assemblage based largely on his previous experiments with computer music and apparently influenced by the fast-paced structure and attitude of old Wire and Minutemen records.  As such, it will be no surprise to you to learn that Pasted Lakes' 15 tracks go by in only 33 minutes.  It's electronic music, punk-style, cramming in as much as possible into limited space.  As a result, Forté's compositions are often cluttered and suffocating, but never boring or tiresome.

Corrupted melody, beats, and ambiance are cut and pasted and disintegrated to create short, messy tracks of sonic carnage that range from noisy and unmelodic to subdued and accessible.  Rhythm is always sustained, often subtly, and this helps the compositions remain interesting.  Various tweaks and nuances add to the complexity of the sound, while Forté's eye for melody is only occasionally tapped.  This is experimental electronic music that dares to experiment.

Standout tracks include opener "Green Language," which boasts a pseudo-funk mess collage sound not far off from a more avant-garde Hexstatic, and the terrific "Thistle Rue," which is a beautifully melodic, laidback piece.  Many other tracks, including, most notably, "Sugar Lemoned" and "Kill Your Carpet," are also very successful.

Nick Forté's Pasted Lakes is one of the most inventive and memorable albums of the year.  Buy it and prepare to be blown away.

89%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 15 tracks, distributed by Forced Exposure, released 2003]