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I:CUBE Live at the Planetarium Versatile ***

Nicolas Chaix's turn at last summer's StarBall festival in Paris saw him up the ante by quite a few notches for his peers. I:Cube is one of the more interesting cats in French electronica's peloton of producers; his performance at the Planetarium de la Villette may have been exploring an electro-ambient landscape much mapped by others, yet he still found some highly original diversions and excursions to take. While it's at quite a remove from his Château Flight work, Live is hugely rewarding, despite one or two fanciful Steve Hillage-like moments. Pushing confidently and quickly from deep house stirrings into dubbier, darker waters, I:Cube is at his best when he pulls a swell of different sounds and sources together when you least expect the mix to gel. Possessing a sure touch throughout, I:Cube's shuffling, soaring, spinning electronica is thoroughly refreshing. www.versatilerecords.com

Jim Carroll