Review: The West Mineral imprint is shaping up to be one of the hottest prospects in experimental music this year, with the label dropping three killer records to crown their debut. The latest comes from Pontiac Streator and Ulla Straus, two young artists who have begun to collaborate magnificently, delving into the deeper, more intricate side of percussion, bass, and improvisation. Chat is truly killer throughout, weaving away amid sporadic drums and a washed out bass, often sounding much like the constructions of a dub tune, and there are four parts to it. Part 1 rolls its drums out hither and dither, alongside a flurry of dread bass, whereas Part 2 is much more freeform in aesthetic, its drums bouncing with the help of delay and echo. "Chat Three" teases the crowds with a subtle infusion of something reminiscent of techno, and "Chat 4" ties things off with a cinematic drum roll that confirms just how serious this duo is. Recommended.
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