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Throwback To K.I.M’s ‘Selected Jerks 2001-2009’

What can be said that hasn’t already been said about an artist like K.I.M? Accomplished in every avenue of work, the king of Australian techno has seen it all and is still, to this day, refines what it means to be relevant in electronic music. Ahead of his headlining performance at tomorrow’s AAA Backstage’s Birthday Bash, we take you back through K.I.M’s illustrious career and his cataclysmic solo record, ‘Selected Jerks 2001-2009’.

Just to state the obvious, K.I.M—real name Kimberley Isaac Moyes—is one half of famed Australian duo, The Presets. Since 2005, The Presets have been revolutionising frantic dance music into a digestible and often times fractured discography. Come 18 May, the duo will have another album to add to their ARIA Award-winning collection of albums with ‘HI VIS’—their first in six years.

Aside from his time in The Presets, K.I.M has been pulling the hard years with his solo works. His one and only solo album, titled ‘Selected Jerks 2001-2009’, is a disjointed and fragmented insight into an electronic music purveyor. It’s sporadic and jumps from one ambling alp to another in quick succession. As the name suggests, it pieces together K.I.M’s one-off works into one album, so forgiving its sometimes messy approach is very easy considering the quality of its content.

Tools of the Trade is the perfect way of entering K.I.M’s warped world. A brambling rush of harsh, crusty noise and inaudible computer jags. There’s no rhythm or kinetic flow to it—it’s simply experimental for experimental sake. Yet, in hindsight, as it flows directly into System Breakdown 2009, you understand its greater context. K.I.M is the master of the bait-and switch—giving you a wave of electronic mess for a couple of seconds before descending into classic early ‘00s floor filling madness of System Breakdown 2009. It’s not the only time we hear the artist take over with his bass-heavy, four-to-the-floor method. The impressive No Imagination stands the test of time and you might still hear it played at clubs nation-wide.

The well-known single, Wet ‘n’ Wild, and other album track, Mr History still hold up incredibly well today. In today’s electronic market, these two tracks would pair together perfectly in a Boiler Room set. As I mentioned before, the album takes some liberty in its sonic adventures—case in point, Mr Adventure. A 2-minute playful keyboard masher that acts as a great intermission between the electricity. It doesn’t stay complacent for too long as Fistogram comes in to shred things up. This track is a hyper extension to some of K.I.M’s more wild production efforts. While it stills a drop—and amazing one at that—it doesn’t play to really any other structural formalities. It’s overbearing synth triggers and flaying electronic flourishes somehow bleed together to make a coherent and adventurous techno piece.

K.I.M still knows how to throw an even curver curve ball into the mix, however. Although the technical perfections of Fistogram enlighten the album, it’s the more delicate moments which also shine bright. Out Here In The Stratosphere is a calm slow burner and, from what we can tell, features K.I.M singing, also—something unheard of in The Presets. Gold Rush is another disco funk treat which sits nicely alongside the album’s closers Be Home Soon and Tired Of Waiting. These tracks show a more human side to K.I.M’s often alien approach to production. There’s patience in these tracks—something The Presets seldom touch on beside a few hushed moments on ‘Pacifica’.

The two-CD compilation also includes remixes and edits from some of the early ‘00s greats such as Midnight Juggernauts, Tomboy, Riot In Belgium, Bag Raiders and more. Collectively, the album is a masterclass in dance music and an integral piece in Australian music culture. K.I.M is so much more than The Presets—‘Selected Jerks 2001-2009’, and his odd, one-off DJ appearances, proves his achievements far extend past his already accomplished band.

K.I.M (The Presets) is playing AAA Backstage’s Birthday Bash—Friday 27 April at The Flying Cock, Brisbane alongside Nocturnal TapesWHARVES, Eliza & The Delusionals and more. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Written by Jake Wilton