Gouseion

Portland Written by Ralph Kramden

Some artists stand out in Portland that can make one think, “I can’t believe this cat lives here!” Gouseion is one of those artists. Seriously, I can now be proud of our hipster city for not sucking on the IDM tip. This dude brings production precision the way any Warp Records artist would. With his new release entitled Puisne, each track is chalk full of discordant melodies wrapped in glitched out beats. But even with all the techno wizardry Gouseion displays, the sum is still greater then Puisne’s parts. Gouseion’s dramatic static cling percussion is brought forth in a constantly changing jiggafied bounce, keeping everything chaotically intact and the listener confident that a pro is at the wheel. Not once do you feel that Gouseion is demonstrating his editing skills for lack of feeling since every track hints at a stronger emotional charge with a reflective quality one cannot fake. Gouseion also produces for the group Brokaw as Ca$io City with mc Colin Jones, approaching hip hop with a jilted cut and paste tech style that would even make Timbaland raise a brow.

It would, however, make sense if Portland takes longer then usual to warm up to Gouseion’s Puisne, giving our city’s techno lackluster and possible fear of techno sincerity. But fear not my tongue n’ cheek partiers, because Gouseion has whipped up some mix tapes for your fornicated ears. Back in IDM’s infancy I never would have imagined someone using diva vocals atop of some Autechre style beats, but here we are in 2007 and the game has changed. Mash up madness just might save Gouseion from keeping his fan base full of non-dancing white dudes (a classic IDM symptom). I’m not sold on ironic pop remix’s most of the time but Gouseion, at least, brings it darker and more creatively then most. If he can pull the kids in with some Hillary Duff remix he just might eventually work them into the real peanut butter. Maybe then our club scene can finally take off with out the need of teen pop training wheels. Carry on Gouseion, show em what you got .