NEUTRAL CALLER ID ALBUM HYMEN RELEASE: SEPTEMBER, 2003 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 14, 2003

Behind the Neutral moniker we find Texan Nicole Elmers. This is the first thing I hear by her, but she’s released records as Squab Teen and under her real name as well, on labels like Mike Paradinas’ Planet Mu, Mad Monkey and Hymen. “Caller ID” features remixes of songs from earlier Neutral releases alongside two brand new tracks.
Since I haven’t heard the original material, I can’t comment on how well the remixers are doing, but the whole of this album works well in its own right. It brings together gentle melodies, industrial grind and shape shifting song structures, and encompasses a wide range of contemporary electronic(a) sounds. Among the highlights are Solenoid’s post-Aphex Twin reworking of “Hey Ash” and Xingu Hill’s disjointed take on “Bird in the Air”. The only remark I have is that Elmer’s dark, smoky voice doesn’t show up very often, because when it does it makes me want to hear more of it.

KRISTOFFER NOHEDEN