Nor Elle: Slapstick

Lucy Beer

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Published: December 1, 2001

Under the guise of Nor Elle, Terry Lee Brown Jr. leaves the world of tech-house far behind, and delves into beats of a more reclined nature. Known for his bangin’ house anthems on the Plastic City label, the German producer also known as Norman Feller is using the downtempo haven of Mole Listening Pearls to manifest another side of his musically schizophrenic personality. Slapstick is one of the more essential purchases a downtempo fan should make before the year is out. Ranging from the sublime relaxation of "Desert Storm" to the more hip-hop influenced "Key To The City", the album is beautifully constructed throughout. Displaying a natural affinity for subtle ambiance, Nor Elle captures a reflective pre-dawn mood and dresses it in a sophisticated coat of dubbed out vibes and understated emotion. His musical vision incorporates the jazzy flourishes of "On The Roof", alongside the dub-tinged "Sunset Print" and the deliberate percussion of "Before You Leave".

Nor Elle has crafted an outstanding album full of quality tracks that suspend you in a sonically eloquent world of moody atmospherics and intelligent production. With next to no vocals on the album, Nor Elle keeps you hooked with tracks that hypnotize as they slowly unfold, and a consistently intriguing atmosphere.

Track Listing: Desert Storm, Episode 1, On The Roof, Sunset Print, Before You Leave, At Close Quarters, Key To The City, Bassbin Dive, Dubsolution, Episode 2, Digital Diary, Lost Memories, Red Sky, Departure 1

Personnel: Norman Feller

Record Label: Mole Listening Pearls
Style: Beyond Jazz