CD, Tympanik Audio, 2011
www.anklebiter-music.com
Inexperienced with Tanner Volz, a.k.a. Anklebiter’s previous work on “I Will Wait”, a sense of confusion was prevalent as I first started listening to “Queue”, noticing the arrangement of artists under an album that was clearly and curiously labelled as his work. By the time the ominous ambience provided by Access to Arasaka shifted in the final moments of “University”, paving the way to the second track, I began to understand.
The title being a clear indication of the cold melancholy resonating through Keef Baker’s soundscapes, “Frigid” also serves as bridge to the next track, “Absolution is a Plushtoy”, a more aggressive mix bordering on electronics with post rock, courtesy of Jatun.
Anklebiter’s first original offering to the album appears, not inadvertently but, as the title states, “By Design”. A fascinating track, replete with a solid rhythmic foundation and intriguing synthwork, it feels nothing like ‘extra’ material that didn’t cut it before.
Subtractivelad’s take on “Frigid” is a completely different affair from the Keef Baker offering, opting for a more organic sound, specially in the end moments where string-like synths and piano further amplifiy the track’s emotional impact.
The second new track by Anklebiter, “OTT”, is a bizarre yet entrancing display of great IDM, shifting mood and sound within moments yet remaining memorable as a whole rather than having some parts overshadow others.
Irulan’s take on “Accessible” indeed feels like the most radio friendly of the tracks, the vocal elements and chiming synths easing even unconditioned listeners into the track, while still giving them a clear impression of the overall album’s feel and sound.
“I Will Wait” is the track that follows (twice) in another display of clever and experienced track arrangement, Boy is Fiction provides a version that, while more complex and unusual in sound compared to “Accessible”, fits snugly between it and Dirk Geiger’s outright digital yet intricate rework of the track.
Dryft’s version of “One Three Two” is a slight return to easier material, despite its almost neurotic rhythm, the calm synths managing to bring the pace down. A call well made, as the last track, “Nothing Will Happen Tomorrow” as imagined by Lights Out Asia, is a seemingly perfect close to the album with its emotional yet resolute mix of synths, drums and vocals.
A collaborative work between Anklebiter and various Tympanik Artists, “Queue”, as the name implies, feels less of a remix record and more like a mixtape, written with love from the artists, to the original artist, to the listener. Anklebiter’s skills in creating good electronic music certainly seem to assist him in choosing fitting mixes for this collection, resulting in a record that feels almost organic in its continuity and flow, rather than a disjointed track list, a problem plaguing more than a few such collaborations.
[9/10]
— George Mouratidis