Anemik by Dinky

written by: Cory Q

I bought this album the old fashioned way: browsing in an actual brick-and-mortar store. The Electric Fetus to be more accurate. It is an old trick, one that sold many record albums of hideous music (I’m looking at you, 101 Strings...) and while I am fully aware of the trap, I will fully admit that I am still a sucker for a cover that I like. I consider it to be a part of the total aesthetic brought forth by the work. The cover of this particular album grabbed my interest immediately.

Beyond just an eye catching cover, I was struck by how much being able to preview the album, even if only a little bit, influenced by buying decision. The Electric Fetus used to have a very good listening station set up which has vanished in favor of a 'compile your own disc' set up. Some cuts are preview-able, but most of what I was looking at in the electronic section was not. Some of the tracks on Anemik were available and that is what actually swayed me into the purchase. Turns out that iTunes has officially changed the way I shop for music in all realms. Dinky (as Alejandra Iglesias is otherwise known as) is originally from Chile and has lived in the US and Germany. She melds together a style that I would call "glitch minimal synth house with organic elements" (and yes, that is the best I could do to try to define the sound). She also wrote and produced all of the tracks on the album, and has clearly listened to a lot of house music and Aphex Twin. There are a lot of clicks, whirring noises, and thump. The whole album has an oddly catchy groove that isn’t too heavy on the dance floor elements, nor is it too coldly electronic. Little vocal snips keep it accessible and intriguing to the ear. There tiny disco touches here and there. The Album has an organic feel to it, as if what you are hearing is growing as you listen.

Anemik is distributed by wordandsound and is on the Canadian label Wagon Repair. The album clocks in at an hour with 13 tracks, but three of those tracks are incidental (under a minute).

Most importantly, which tracks are good? Well, most of them, as it turns out.
"Childish" has a good beat and a tiny little vocal glitch that makes you lean in. The track has a good layering to it as well.
"Romantiks" would be a good track if someone stopped banging on that pot! There is a steel drum sample gone wrong that ruins the flow.
"Rainfallic" is built around a light haunting vocal with a more buzzy sound that is mellow and trippy with what sounds like an acoustic guitar overlay. This one stands out for me. Good stuff.
"Ceramik" has a great low end beat, plenty of layers, cut up vocals, and latin overtones. Catchy!
"Fadik", according to the back of the album, is inspired by Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You".
"Skyped" is the most accessible track with a strong beat and less glitch than most of the album. This one would be good to move to.
"Epepsia" has great house/trance beat, with a little glitch and clap. It is the longest song and best on the album.

This album earns my recommendation.

You can hear what Dinky is up to on her MySpace page.

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