A Watching Wilder Edit by Various Artists (Review)

In the early ’80s, New York-based engineers and DJ’s such as Chep Nunez, Omar Santana, and others were pioneering a technique which would become known as “multi-editing.” Following in the tradition of earlier experimental tape-looping forms, these prominent sound “editors” would cut up the master tapes of lengthy club hits and piece them back together forming condensed radio-friendly edits.

One of the top “tape edit” producers, Albert Caborera (formerly of The Latin Rascals), in conjunction with Oxygen Music Works, has compiled and lent his editing skills to A Watching Wilder Edit.

Simply put, this disc is all over the place, jumping from dub to hip-hop, drum n’ bass to club-friendly downbeat (if such a thing is still possible), and countless other genres that fall under the banner of electronic music. Things are kicked off by H’s “Come Home With Me.” Before long, the Timbaland-meets-Sun Ra intro to Paul Jason Fredricks’ “Poison” shakes down the speakers and resonates within the mind.

Each successive track manages to not only impress, but stand up well on its own. By the album’s last track, Artificial’s “Car Chase,” pressing the “Eject” button is no longer an option.

Written by John Morrison.