reviews/electronic wave/nyc-orchard bar

Caron_Banez@Sonymusic.Com
Wed, 26 Feb 1997 17:32:42 -0400


sorry this is a long and yet choppy post but i've tried to combine
everything rather than sending a million short blurbs.

received some great product from instinct. got the future sound of jazz #2
(someone on the list asked last week about the future sound of jazz vol. 3
-- is a #3 out yet in the states?) anyway, i can't really describe the
eclectic arrangement of this double CD, but it includes tracks by dj
dara, cool blu, fauna flesh, pete nice trio, beanfield, and a slew of
others most of which i haven't heard of). the first CD starts off with a
touch of jungle with the first track and then by the third song, flows into
smokey trip hop and by the end of the first CD, you've got folksy chords
against drifting keyboard riffs which work together to create a trippy
ambient state. i'll have to take a second listen to the 2nd CD before
attempting a description.

also, djcam on shadow/instrinct is all dat. (btw, i just recognized the
sample in "free your turntable" -- believe it's from a young disciples
song.) his song "dieu reconnaitra les siens" is a beautiful song, kind of
along the same gorgeous vein as nightmares on wax' "stars" which i heard on
a tape from the marvelous qool marv.

think this CD was mentioned a couple of months back: c&s records harlem
drive, rhythm on my mind is a soulful and though we strive to not use the
term, i will say "acid-jazz" CD because unlike most of the stuff we're
seeing on the list these days, it falls into the original definition and is
fortified funk and soul, pure "groove" music. also have to mention my
surprise at hearing mose allison sampled on a k&d track which i heard on
another c&s release, give em enough dope #2 though the name of the track
escapes me.

saw sweetback last weekend. though i was intoxicated by the sexy music,
and captivated by the vocals of leroy osbourne, lamiel, and bahamadia i was
disappointed that it was a short set (45 minutes all in all). think i
spent more time waiting for them.

new yorkers -- i am loving the bar that opened a couple of months ago in
the lower east side (stumbling distance from home) -- the orchard bar on
orchard and houston. they just started doing a thing called abstakt lounge
on tuesday nights put on by cultural alchemy. stopped in last night and
got a listen of pure drum n' bass. the place got packed. believe the
hype. this is probably the nicest "bar" in the east village and it
features DJ's most nights. among the list of alternating dj's slated for
tuesdays is ambassador, jr., spooky, cassien, soulslinger, etc.

i am completely mystified at how much coverage the press has given in the
last month to dance music or i should say electronic music as the new wave
(billboard front page-2 articles 2/15, time 2/10, newsweek 2/10, spin
march, wall street journal 1/21, etc). though i know the sentiment of many
of this list would be a general dislike for the majors to jump on this new
bandwagon, i hope that the many electronic musicians/dj's who deserve
credit will get signed, make money and be recognized as a result of this
projected new wave. though it's very late, i'm also worried for the future
of the more jazz-oriented dance music -- that with all the attention and
focus on electronic music that the more jazz-influenced dance music will
get pushed aside in the shuffle and these musicians won't get signed, we'll
see fewer releases, etc. but i hope i'm wrong. there may be hope as
nuyorican soul's runaway is at the #1 spot on the dance chart so i suppose
at least the music buyers are indicating an appreciation for this
stuff...let's hope the industry takes note.

caron