DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

Rantoul – Distant Constellations EP

2002

Our next disc in Rantoul’s ‘Distant Constellation EP’ features two more superb tracks. It was kudos to his skills that he had the chance to output two EP’s in this series. There were a number of artists at this time that could have been chosen to have material released; Pariah, Intersperse, Nu Moon, J Laze, Kyro, Pete Rann and Greg Packer where all churning out brilliant work in 2002, each would have been a most appetizing project for an EP. Like I’ve mentioned previously, the 2002 clouds all had very bright silver linings. 

    Let’s dive into the first track for today, which is ‘Mayday’ on Side C. A title no one really wants to hear if the pilots left there intercom on. If you’re reading this on a plane, don’t worry as there have been 5 car crashes globally since you started reading this paragraph. If you’ve just landed, drive safe. Where were we…’Mayday’ sinks its teeth onto a waterfall of high hats and echoing stabs that launch the “Mayday…Mayday!” voice, opening up to the footstep tremors of bass and the tripping break. On the odd occasion the machine rears up its snarling jaws and glowering stares, from that acidic growl, however the delicate and empowering way that this track straps you in and settles you down, wins every time. Rantoul releases the ambient powder from his capsules of atmospheric medication. The breakdown will transform your whole frame of mind and you won’t want to let the music finish. Rantoul takes you out to drift without the need to return. A fucking beautiful piece of music. 

    On Side D we welcome the track ‘Passenger’ which keeps in the transportation framework of the titles on this EP. ‘Passenger’ ties into the calming and floatation effect that this EP resonates out in abundance. I always thought of the tracks on this EP as less futuristic than Blame’s and Future Engineers, but more about the memories of the journey in reaching that visionary setting. The tracks here are the moments you reflect with, the mind casts its way back into the steps that brought you here. The experiences, challenges and the cherished recollections which you have kept, while others are no longer around to accompany the ghosts of your life. 

  The breakdown on ‘Passenger’ is a stirring of the emotional palette, that spins a reel of acoustic wealth out into the cosmos. The energy flows and you’ll revisit the music here again and again. 

   A tremendous EP this from Ian Rantoul. Huge props to him and thank you for these timeless and inspiring tracks. Forever enjoyed! 

   Rantoul will feature again when we reach Nexus Recordings with his track ‘Testing’. Then there’s also that expected AG010 press of ‘The Peasant’ which lined up for an Okbron release in the future. All eyes, ears and elbows are on high alert for that one!

     A big shout to Ian Rantoul. Tomorrow we move onto an EP in the series that I had to do a fair bit of hunting for, some 13 years ago. Until then…