Noisia: Split the Atom
Noisia: Split the Atom
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Tuesday, 06, Apr 2010 12:07
Vision/Division Records, out now.
Who's it by?
Noisia are three ambitious electronic producers from Groningen, Holland and have built a name producing belligerent breaks and deafening drum and bass. The three heads of this bass-heavy beast are Nik Roos, Thijs de Vlieger and Martijn van Sonderen who all share production and live performance duties.
What's it all about?
Although you may recognise their name from their Fabriclive mix, Split the Atom is Noisia's debut album but it comprises a hefty 19 tracks and spans several genres, taking them beyond their drum and bass stomping grounds.
What the others say
"Split the Atom boasts enough variety, changes of pace and nods to the genres that help build Noisia's unique identity without ever feeling forced." - Alistair Lawrence, BBC Music
"Split the Atom is big, loud and overly boisterous in both its approach and delivery." - Sputnik Music
So is it any good?
Noisia have gone for an all inclusive approach to their first album and many musical trimmings or perhaps off-cuts have made it on to the record but has this indulgence paid off?
The album opens with the pounding synth-strafed single Machine Gun which lurches from dirty buzzing break beat to thudding electro and makes for a stunning opener.
However, this is followed by the rather prosaic My World with its soulful but rather vacant female backing vocal making this sound somewhat dated and lacking the momentum of the opening track.
There are a number of short interlude tracks on Split the Atom, like next track Sh*tbox, that although more sketches than finished pieces, suggest Noisia intend for this album to be listened to in its entirety.
Including these shorter pieces is a bold move, especially if you expect listeners to remain rapt throughout, but despite that Noisia have still produced a solid album thanks to some of the bigger tunes on here.
Title track Split the Atom is a shuddering slab of electrified breaks that sounds like an ugly back street fist fight between the Ed Banger gang and Stanton Warriors.
Noisia's collaboration with UK hip hop group Foreign Beggars on tracks like Shellshock is a welcome addition to the mix, particularly on Soul Purge which provides a thudding back drop of bass that seems to thicken up the Foreign Beggars' flow just right.
Fabriclive favourite Diplodocus with its warping, snarling bass line is a standout out track on Split the Atom but the album plays out on a string of tracks that may prove too much for less dedicated fans.
Among these better quality tracks we get further glimpses of Noisia's willingness to experiment on the sparse and spacey Hand Gestures and the down tempo, subsonic wobble of Headknot and while intricate are on the whole a little unnecessary.
Sunhammer featuring Amon Tobin is rather indulgent but will no doubt appeal to those who have a keen appreciation for Noisia's technical ability in the studio.
All things considered this is a great album, with most of that praise being directed at a core of solid tracks and singles. The peripheral more progressive tracks are a forgettable at times but such a varied and honest album should be commended, especially as it's their first.
Ross McTaggart
7/10