Record Review - 3 July 10 2003

If you didn’t know it was Eastern Developments’ first-ever vinyl offering, you might take Ammon Contact’s Beats From Bina’s House for a demo tape. Simple production qualities keep the clunky, mechanical rhythms a little rough around the edges, but therein lies the distinction that sets Ammon Contact apart from the impeccable, post hip-hop maelstrom the label has harnessed to date.

Crafted by Los Angeles DJs Fabian “Ammon” Alston and Carlos “On Contact” Nino, gelatinous beats and bass tie the record together in a loosely conceptual manner. The opening cut, “That’s My Jam” oozes along at a murky pace, its meandering flexibility evocative of Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin. “Cruisin’” resets the momentum, with a sloth-like bass that spills over to slow down the rest of the music.

In the first of his several guest appearances, Daedelus drapes a lightly strummed guitar over the drifting beats and rhythms in “Tudo Que.” On the flip side, two versions of “Segal” feature a monstrous flutter of bass and electronic chirps. And in a telling metaphor, “Playful” culminates with an all-inclusive overview of the record’s loose demeanor and carefree methodology.

Such a totally laid-back approach coming from a scene dominated by electro-funk brainiacs will be the subject of intense scrutiny. But Beats From Bina’s House doesn’t sound out of place alongside recordings from labelmates, Dabrye, Daedelus or even Ahmad Szabo. It’s just a little dirtier.