by Andy Kellman
The first release from Canada's Arbutus label is a split 12" shared by Vancouver's Mathew Jonson and Montreal's the Mole. "911, How Can I Help You" continues the streak of superb productions that have been flowing out of Jonson's machinery since 2002's She Is He single. Like the considerably overhyped "Decompression" (released a couple months prior on Richie Hawtin's Minus), the track is skeletal -- but it's so much more exciting, with some of his finest keyboard patterns (zipping, cascading, teasing) and intricate beat-making yet. On the other side, the Mole provides "Touch," a possible nominee for Biggest Moodymann Rip, 2004. It's a very repetitive disco-funk track that gets itself worked up for roughly a minute before settling into a staid (if somewhat compelling) groove; and somewhere in the middle, it dissolves into EQed-out mist before returning for the final few minutes.