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Sometime member of Oxford alternative under-achievers Cody, the now Tyneside-based Steve Jefferis exists at twilight hours under the alias of Cathode. The manufacturer of magnificent minor-key electronics, Cathode comes on like a placid Plaid swiping slices of melancholy from Boards Of Canada's spooky stash. On debut full-lengther 'Special Measures', carefully-coiled clicks and cuts are flooded under sweeping percussion that any android would struggle to accurately compute, where the key is always in the melody, and those luscious rolling rhythms. The delicate day-dream of While Making Other Plans recalls 'Ambient Works'-era Aphex Twin, the marvellous momentum of Spin Cycle evokes thoughts of Kraftwerk's 'Trans Europe Express', while This Just In flutters by like a dizzy Orbital. Late-night contemplation has a new near-perfect companion.

Ian Fletcher
March-April 2004

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