CW/A - Words Unspoken, Acts Undone

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  • Words Unspoken, Acts Undone is not a mellow record. Italian producers Clockwork and Avatism have openly professed their love for early Warp bangers, classic UK jungle and dub techno, and all of those influences are present—and readily apparent—on the duo's debut full-length. CW/A's sound isn't all that far from what Special Request turns out these days, although Paul Woolford is more willing to indulge in the wild unpredictability of UK hardcore. The pair gravitates toward brooding techno menace. They may cringe every time someone brings up their history as one-time purveyors of high-gloss tech-house for Hot Creations and Life And Death, but the overly polished precision and flatness of that style does seep into their work. Words Unspoken, Acts Undone occasionally tries too hard. CW/A often sound like they're emulating past inspirations instead of drawing from them. The result is an expertly assembled album that sounds fantastic even as it lacks a strong identity. Their formula is solid but familiar—no help, then, that it's also been better innovated by the likes of Millie & Andrea, Tessela, Akkord and Lakker. CW/A are at their best when they stray from standard techno templates and experiment with breakbeats and untraditional rhythms. "Bury The Hatchet" is a stirring piece of jungle-techno drama, and "Conjunct Empathy" ups the ante with some hyperactive, footwork-esque percussion. The drum workout of "19-9241--75-13294" is wonderfully unrelenting, and "Handful Of Dust" is a big, bold DJ tool in the guise of industrial-tinged hip-hop. On a track-by-track basis, there really isn't a bad one on Words Unspoken, Acts Undone, yet the LP bleeds together and drags in its second half. If anything, the music is too uniform, which goes to explain why "Mantra" is such an obvious highlight. With its crunchy rhythm, the bouncey house cut isn't a total departure from the stark motif, but the bloopy synth melody—which greatly recalls Simian Mobile Disco's "Cerulean"—brings some much-needed levity to Words. On an album as rigid as this, it's something of an oasis, and an indication that CW/A could do well to loosen up a bit.
  • Tracklist
      01. Rapture 02. Bury The Hatchet 03. Mantra 04. Conjunct/Empathy 05. Handful Of Dust 06. Mind-Body Problems 07. 19-9241--75-13294 08. Disquieting 09. Acrimony 10. Rainer Has No Shadow 11. Ghost Covenant
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