Coaster's sweet melodies swirl over quirky-yet-alluring percussion crafted from mangled bits of environmental noise, lovingly coaxed into structures appropriate for chill sets and dancefloor transitions.

TRACKLISTING:1. Braking (Hushed) {2:53}
2. It's Fizzbang {5:00}
3. Late Blazing Kinch Theme {3:00}
4. Wineglass Chopstick Clinkrush {3:56}
5. Ping Query {5:01}
6. Belmont Killa {4:03}
7. Pedwards {3:07}
8. Clue Minus You {6:02}
9. Sunken Projectile {3:17}
10. Pansy Beatmatch {1:59}
11. Vanity Knobs with Groove Grimace {5:13}
12. Stereofoam {4:43}

"Braking (Hushed)" (1) opens the album on a strong note with a pounding kick, persistant bassline, and an obliterated vocal sample combining to form a hiphop-like base for the uplifting, hopeful melody that soon steps in to take center stage. "It's Fizzbang," (2) creates a hand-drum percussive pattern out of tapping and scraping a vintage acoustic-electric guitar. The third track, "Late Blazing Kinch Theme" takes a catchy synthesized-harp melody, loops it, and adds harmonies and quivering percussive elements to create a sonically-intriguing supportive texture for the subsequent harmonic exploration within the track.

The title "Coaster" refers to the tongue-in-cheek packaging concept behind the album: the disc can serve as a beverage coaster when not needed as a music CD. The case itself is designed to mimic the packaging of a stylish electronic accessory--such as a mobile phone--complete with a cover photo of the Coaster in its (optional, not included -- see SUBV001c) carrying case and a concise "instruction booklet" outlining the process for using the disc as a beverage coaster. The disc itself is silver and black, with a guide for correct beverage placement.

REVIEWS:
"The key to any hypnotic record is the beat. Quantazelle (a.k.a. Liz McLean Knight) uses the same deep bass and stuttering synth stubs [sic] to keep you on track while she takes her static samples skating across the cosmic plains. A hot trick that could get stale in someone else's hands, but Quantazelle melds in delicate instrumentation and slowly builds the tracks into a high-paced frenzy, a playful kind of manic with toy piano tinkering out mischievous melody. Coaster's collection of spry songs is genuine experimental endearment." - Carla Costa, XLR8R

“With a pseudonym that evokes at once computer-based music (quantization) and the female gender (Mademoiselle), Chicago’s premiere lady of electronic Liz McLean-Knight presents a sumptuous, often intriguing and slightly paranoid soundtrack to city life, with elements of acoustic instrumentation, found sounds and discreet vocal inputs atomised, digested and regurgitated into an impressive first album. ”

...The music is exquisitely complex and abstract, with elements of electronic and acoustic instrumentation constantly set on a collision course with found sounds and sharp pseudo-industrial beat structures. Amazingly at ease with chaotic sonic landscapes, Quantazelle crafts subtle little melodies out of debris of techno and electro while also providing some interesting atmospheric variations. The album opens with the short but superbly effective Braking (Hushed). Built around a sharp hip-hop-influenced rhythmic structure reminiscent of Autechre circa Tri Repetae, Liz layers sounds to develop a mind-bursting melodic pattern. Swiftly moving on to the luxuriant and upbeat It’s Fizzbang, she unequivocally asserts her sonic territory, injecting some more sharp-edged cuts further along with Belmont Killa, Sunken Projectile or Stereofoam. Yet, Quantazelle also knows how to manipulate more delicate and volatile sound combinations. Whether through the light melodic circumvolutions of a harp on Late Blazing Kinch Theme, the aquatic acrobatics of Pansy Beatmatch or Vanity Knobs With Groove Grimace, Liz McLean-Knight manages to develop fully functional organic structures in a few minutes without using tired gimmicks or empty stylistic effects. Even the hidden track, found approximately ten minutes after the end of Stereofoam, is delightfully quirky.

If electronica sometimes appear to stagnate, Coaster certainly displays enough fresh ideas and impressive moments to shake up even the avant-garde. Never losing the focus on the music as she often ventures into abstract territories, Liz McLean-Knight avoids the pitfalls of contemporary music and manages to remain truly accessible, while at the same time challenging. This first Quantazelle album is superbly unique and creative, yet captivating and engaging.” –THE MILK FACTORY

“This is traditional IDM along the lines of Warp’s classic Artificial Intelligence series. Sometimes melodic, sometimes complex, the textures here are key. “It’s Fizzbang” is slow-building with layers of repetitive synth patterns and beats. “Late Blazing Kinch Theme” is simple and bass-heavy. While the title “Wineglass Chopstick Clinkrush” sounds like an IDM parody, the track is actually a pretty combination of piano sounds and thumping beats. On “Belmont Killa,” bleeps and Derrick May-era piano meld perfectly with soulful vocal samples.

… Quantazelle (aka Liz McLean Knight) crafts intricate, original compositions. She has a solid grasp of the past, and I’m certain she has some surprises in store for the future as well.” - Jacob Arnold, GRIDFACE

"…Braking (Hushed)" sets the precedent for Coaster’s well-paced track sequence with its Rota-tilled Alka-Seltzer breaks fizzling in the mix flirting with fresh improv melodies. "Late Blazing Kinch Theme" has the unusual combination of delicate plucked strings wrapped around noisy whistling straw samples not unlike having honey instead of jelly on your peanut butter sandwich – not everyone’s tried it, but you know it sounds good. "Clue Minus You" is 4/4 proof that Quantazelle isn’t afraid to admit she can hold her own in any setting. "Vanity Knobs with Groove Grimace" is a chilled head-nodding track that not only has a catchy title but it goes down smooth as well. "Stereofoam" comes full circle from "Braking (Hushed)" with more enjoyable beats and blips to make us forget the back cover of the CD mentions a mysterious bonus track sold separately.

With Coaster, Quantazelle adds another quarter to the jukebox of women producing quality electronic music, as well as adding to her growing list of projects already making impressive marks on the scene. From her online electronic music magazine Modsquare to her electronics accessories-inspired jewelry company Zelle and online shop Fractalspin to share her wares, the only thing left to chat about is what to expect next from this truly multi-talented artist.” -John Reveles, IGLOOMAG.COM

"Musically, Coaster may not be on the cutting edge, but it’s a solid, more-than-competent release. The bulk of the 12 tracks here work straight from the classic Warp playbook, with skittering rhythms indebted to Amber-era Autechre before the pair’s beats went all algorhythmic on us. Quantazelle isn’t a one-trick pony, though, as she dabbles in 4/4 pounding (“Pedwards”), retro videogame bleeps (the closing “Stereofoam”), and even an ambient piano track (“Wineglass Chopstick Clinkrush”).

In fact, Coaster’s best when things slow down a bit. “Vanity Knobs with Groove Grimace,” in particular, sounds like an Aphex Twin track from the Selected Ambient Works 85-92 era that Richard D. lost oh his hard drive. Despite encouragement from the CD’s case, fans of pure IDM probably won’t put this near their coffee table." – Sean Portnoy, GROOVES