DJ Silver

Liquid Sky Music operates the cutting edge labels Home Entertainment and Jungle Sky Records that have featured such luminaries of the New York electronic scene as DJ Soul Slinger, DJ Spooky and DJ Wally. Given this remarkable pedigree, DJ Silver's debut seems, at first, disappointing. Liquid Sky Music's first release, Don't Panic! is an uptempo concoction of four-on-the-floor beats and thick synth lines. But DJ Silver is deceptive. This is much more than a dance album. Although tracks like "B My Dog" and "Wardance (Never Trust a Hippie)" have dancefloor potential, these songs are often far too erratic and cerebral to liven up your next party. In the tradition popularized by Richard James of Aphex Twin, DJ Silver charts his sonic terrain with analog synths sighing and chirping over energetic beats. And although lacking James's technical brilliance or devilish imagination (DJ Silver remains faithful to standard house and breakbeat rhythms), DJ Silver's music is much more accessible. For people whose only exposure to electronic music is in clubs on Lansdowne Street, Don't Panic! is a suitable introduction to intelligent dance music. Those who can tell the difference between ambient and illbient, however, should wait for the next Liquid Sky release.