"Oh, Didn't She Ramble!" is only $5.00CAN plus shipping and taxes where applicable!

Anne Sulikowski is one of my favorite musicians. She makes really intelligent electronic music that shows an equal appreciation for futurism and emotionality, and she's equally comfortable writing songs about the demons that lurk deep in her heart and the soaring joy that true love can bring. She's an artist of the highest regard in my mind and she's a really sweet and wonderful person in real life too. So it should be no surprise that I love her latest release under her project "Building Castles out of Matchsticks". Indeed "Oh, Didn't She Ramble!" stands as one of my favorite releases of the year so far, and will easily hold that title in December or January or whenever it is that I get around to compiling a list about that kind of thing.

"California" opens the disc with repeated phrases and a steady drum loop that would suggest an actual drummer, combined with piano and distorted and fleeting sounds in the background. It's a haunting piece, something that captures both the bohemian lifestyle of California while simultaneously exposing it for the seedy underbelly that lies beneath. Brilliant work.

Title track "Oh Didn't She Ramble!" follows, a variety of sounds coming together in one place overtop a series of steady percussive loops. There's definately a rambling quality to the track, but it smacks of a certain order, a planned sequence of events that works really nicely. Very cool.

"Sorry" is a blend of rotating drones and breathy processed vocals that works very nicely in this context, a steady piece that explores an existing environment rather than moving around from one space to another. Very intricate and intriguing.

"With Sympathy?" builds from a steady drone, static and crackle overtop of an almost breathing synthline, a steady funky drummer playing in the background. I like it, there's something here that bears further investigation.

"Space Star Bliss" is the sound of crickets and late nights after all the rest of the world has gone to sleep, the sound of secrets that can only be shared between two people that understand what it all means. A quiet vocal plays deep in the mix, low and subtle but a very definite and significant part of the musical framework.

"This boy I've got" features a number of backward pads layered overtop eachother, a dense blend of sounds all working together to create a wall of sound. Vocals drift in and out but remain uninterpreted.

"Even my sure things" begins with a sparse highhat pattern that evolves into a steady drum and bass pattern accompanied by sustained synth tones. Quiet vocals are whispered in the background adding a certain mystical and mysterious air to the track. Great stuff.

"I quit" has a steady drone accompanied by a chirping tone that oscilates throughout. While the drone increases in volume, the tone varies slightly creating a sense of movement and locomotion that works very effectively.

"I just don't care what happens next" takes a slightly warmer and more inviting tone, but remains dark and resolved to stay that way. Slight percussive elements play throughout.

"In love with you and everything you are" is a brighter though still vaguely subdued track, a playful percussive track paired with a more upbeat synth line. A synth plays a steady honk, a tone that I would normally find rather unsettling but it works well in the context of the song so I'll let it pass.

"The beholder" rises from nothing, a drone building in intensity and volume. There's a simplicity to this track, an effectiveness that works on a grander scale. Very nice.

"There is no one in here" uses a small phrase and a steady drone that weaves throughout a backdrop of static and noise to become more clear and distinct. A simple drum pattern rises and sweet chorused vocals rise up through the sound. Very nice.

"Slow ensemble" is a steady drone piece that rises and falls, some small percussion overheard in the background while small snaps and pops are integrated into the course of the track. It's a nice track, something very soothing, something that feels womblike almost. Very nice.

"I'm not your girlfriend" is the sound of jets and guitars and rockin' out in the basement of your best friend's house. The vocals layer overtop eachother, delivered in the best bored and unhappy way that they can be. It would stand well as a disc closer, but there's also a secret track fifteen, a playful song that sounds largely improvised and fun. It's a nice tonic to the darkness of earlier tracks, and leaves the listener with a smile on their face.

Once again, Anne has shown her mastery of the medium with an engaging and effective release that sets the standard for her work even higher than before. Cheers to Anne for continuing to live up to her own high standards, and for continuing to be an artist who can be so highly regarded on so many levels. "Oh, Didn't She Ramble!" is the work of a true talent, and I thoroughly recommend it to electronic enthusiasts of all genres.

rik - ping things