Plastic City

Jean F. Cochois, a.k.a. Timewriter, has been involved with music since he began lessons at age 10. Both his classical training and European background figure prominently in this collection's sound. Rhythm, melody, tempo, instrumentation, texture, and contrast are all effectively explored over the disc's 15 tracks. Each cut can be taken separately or as a progression through mood, and the tracks on Jigsaw Pieces run the gamut from deep, abstract house ("Almost Lost") to midtempo tech-house ("Sunset Walkin'") to textural studies that combine elements of acid house mixed with Future Sound of London-esque eclecticism ("Deliver Me"). Jigsaw Pieces is the type of recording that will appeal to novices exploring the dance-music genre, because it is not aggressively rhythmic. For this very same reason, die-hard house and techno fans may feel slighted. But for anyone willing to listen, Jigsaw Pieces is not only a satisfying dance record but an excellent couch listen as well.