I have never liked much "drum and bass" stylistically (I cringed when I put
on the Kruder & Dorfmeister Session of U/F/O's "L.O.V.E" and heard the
"drum and bass" influence--the idea of K&D remixing the song probably gave
me too high an expectation). But it is possible for talented people to make
any genre interesting. The K&D mix while disappointing isn't that much drum
& bass and isn't that bad.
Second, I got to see Caroline Lavelle on her recent U.S. promotional
appearance. I have actually never gone to see a performer in a record store
before. Even though the atmosphere of a large record store is horrible and
listening to a "band" that is 1/3 sequencer can be "unfunky"; she managed to
come off quite beat friendly (in a down tempo way) in the short set. Her
music is being marketed as more ambient and (cringe) new age but her best
stuff has pretty solid beats (thanks to William Orbit on her album). She
will be on a real musical tour in the U. S. in a few months. Well she
autographed my Massive Attack EP excitedly and said she would love to work
with them again (beats her doing songs with Vangelis or just playing cello
for 4AD bands).
It's hard to do reviews when your records/CDs are at home and you're killing
time elsewhere but I can offer these vague impressions.
Skunkhour's "Feed" (Acid Jazz, UK) is probably not as good as the first and
certainly no great change. They are a good band (especially if you like
funky muscular drumming and that slap bass bar band funk). I love Aya
Larkin's voice and the raps are not bad either. I also think their lyrics
are quite intelligent and usually interesting ("Up To Our Necks In It" is my
favorite on Feed so far). The drawback is they are not very innovative and
they don't have much stylistic range.
This is old news but I have posted in a while but I would like to add how
much I was disappointed with Funki Porcini's 2-cd US debut of "Hed Phone
Sex." Well, it says right on the CD what do if disappointed and I am.
Little vitality and little creativity; just get into a rut and milk it for
every penny. I am not criticizing NinjaTune generally because they have
great bands (I still listen to 9 Lazy 9 a lot). Isn't a Coldcut release
coming out soon? I could use some good new vocal music.
The Grid's mixes of Gavin Friday's "You and Me and WWIII" pretty much stink.
Tim Simenon's are better but the song itself is nothing great. Anyway Tim
gives the song a very Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music feel with his usual astute
percussive sense.
I would be interested in other's comments on U/F/O's 10"s. I have not heard
the one with two mixes of "Loud Minority" but have the other one. I am
also interested in comments on the new Red Snapper.
Peace,
Jim // J Wes // Jim Westrich
"Cyberspace produces a culture where people are segregated more than ever
before, and where the broad pluralistic society suffers increasing neglect.
The world burns and cybernauts expect me to protest whether they can fiddle
in front of their computer."
--Stephen J. Raphael =20
Copyright =A9 1996 by Calm Cool Collective. All rights reserved for other
plagiarists.