Deadbeat - Journeyman's Annual

Journeyman's Annual is the latest release from Scott Monteith, AKA Deadbeat, a Montreal based producer with an impressive technical background that includes developing the Tassman Software Synthesiser. This intimate knowledge of the machinery used to create electronic music is evident in his richly detailed, intricately produced music. Although by his own admission Journeyman's Annual is more upbeat than previous releases, it's still more dancehall than four to the floor, with a strong undercurrent of dub reggae throughout. It is a dark, brooding album with electronic bass layers, occasionally enriched by melodic strings and clever vocals on the best tracks, like Deep in Country and Where Has My Love Gone. However these moments of inspiration are spread about far too thinly, resulting in a rather bland, repetitive collection of background music. Embarrassingly, the high point is a bonus remix of Saul Williams' Black Stacey, highlighting the fact that while the album may evoke comparisons with Massive Attack or Burial, he still has along way to go before reaching that level. [Peter Walker]