
Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird imprint will celebrate five years with a monster 3xCD package, to be released in April.

Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird imprint will celebrate five years with a monster 3xCD package, to be released in April.

Claude VonStroke is a relentless innovator. Ever since songs like “The Whistler”, “Who’s Afraid of Detroit”, “Deep Throat” and “Chimps” were released, he’s carved a name as one of the most interesting producers in house and techno, combining quirky samples with irresistibly catchy beats. Bird Brain – his second studio album and worthy successor to 2006’s Beware of the Bird – combines house, techno and a myriad of other genres and influences – not least his San Francisco home – into a truly unique and original electronic album. He spoke to Juno Plus editor Aaron Coultate about nerdy bloggers, fatherhood and the influences behind Bird Brain.
Artist: Claude VonStroke
Title: Bird Brain
Label: Dirtybird
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital, CD
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
At last the new album from the somewhat legendary Claude VonStroke of the San Francisco labels Dirtybird and Mothership is here. Remaining ever inventive, the clever production techniques used to make his inimitable breed of minimal tech-house are no disappointment on Bird Brain.
From the epic opening track, the aptly-named “Monster Island”, we hear an instant representation of the creative array of sounds he’s been perfecting over the last years, dipping into dramatically dark tones amongst wonkier tracks like singles “The Greasy Beat” and “Beat That Bird”. The disgustingly catchy
“California” and “Big ’n’ Round” mix bassy kickdrums whilst playing with echoing and rising vocals, while “Vocal Chords” terrifyingly pitches them in scales. Far from a one-trick pony, the album features the softly ambient “Aundy” and hip-hop tinged “Bay Area” whilst the end track is an almost percussion-less piece with subtle vocal samples.
Review: Flora Wong