Find The Hits (And Then Use Them)

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With the RIAA cracking down on the misappropriation and abuse of samples, projects such as "Find The Hits (And Then Use Them)" become essential, last-ditch efforts at the vindication of sampling as a valid and vital artform. Suetsu & Underwood are careful not to step on any toes with this low-key set. After gathering field-recordings from international environments and spaces both expansive and claustrophobic, the S&E collective burned forty 2CD sets (an initial pressing of 30 and a follow-up run of 10) - including a disk of the source recordings (surprisingly engrossing even without processing) and a disk of "stitchings," S&E's assembled versions of their source material. Even with the beautiful packaging - pastel baby 'jammies sewn into two pouches and backed with a third cardboard pouch (for liner notes), it is this second disk which makes "Find The Hits" so memorable. The splicings are ingenious, arrangements which recall the work of no less than the most exacting and celebrated of musical neo-Dadaists (Stephen Stapleton, Christoph Heemann, Hafler Trio, Jim O'Rourke). Where many tape artists rely on a funky beat as a crutch, Suetsu & Underwood's work is entirely beatless, succeeding on the strength of its juxtapositions and forged atmospheres. A remarkable CD. Run - don't slither - and bug S&E (c/o Lucky Kitchen) to burn a copy for you, or you'll risk missing out on some of the most important sound art being made today.