From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-03-17 16:58:49
Jon Freer’s Reviews 17th March 2005.
Singles:
The Plant Life – When She Smiles She Lights The Sky (4 Hero Remixes) (Gut)
280 West feat Diamond Temple – Fly (Remixes) (Phuture Sole)
Patchworks Pres Mr. Day – Deep Ocean (Still Music)
Belladonna – Brazilian Beat (Irma On Canvas)
Rare Unit – Before I Can Love Again (Kwaito)
DJ Format feat Abdominal & D-sisive – 3 Feet Deep (Genuine)
Asad & Tangun – Fear & Loathing By The Bosphorus (Wrong)
Swiss T – Naughty / Startrak (Cartridge)
Loose Canon – Cruising On The 86 (akoustik Anarkhy)
Vanessa Williams – You Are Everything (Junior Vasquez Remixes) (Atlantic)
Thanks to Irfan, Paul Farris, Jerome at Still Music, Frank at Irma, Jafar at Kwaito, Isabel at Pias, Asad at Wrong, Anders and Cartridge, Will at aA and Johnny at Atlantic for these…
The Plant Life – When She Smiles She Lights The Sky (4 Hero Remixes) (Gut). Available Now.
LA’s Tree loving nu-soul sensation get their leaves trimmed by 4 Hero, who replant the group in an exposed nu-jazz pot, complete with the right amount of compost and nutrients. 4 Hero’s Vocal sees light legged percussion and a shining string and guitar combo team up under those blissed out vocals. Their instrumental mix is of a similar vibe, with purring guitars and buoyant strings providing the sunshine.
280 West feat Diamond Temple – Fly (Remixes) (Phuture Sole)
Cat No: PS 006. Release Date: 18th March 2005.
The original should have made you want to escape the trappings of everyday life, and these versions will make you want to rise that bit further. Committed spiritualists and soulful house ‘godfathers’ Blaze provide a couple of soaring revisions, where rigid chords, dreamy keys and angelic strings take the fantasy to another level. The ‘Temple Dynasty Mix’ is a beatless beauty, with lonely piano keys, tortured vocals and an animated cello.
Patchworks Pres Mr. Day – Deep Ocean (Still Music)
Cat No: stillm 003. Available Now.
French deepster Patchworks has knitted another astonishing aural tapestry for his listeners, this one a bluesy piece entitled “Deep Ocean”. The original housey version borrows the vibes and vocals from fellow countryman St. Germain’s “Alabama Blues”, with Mr. Day’s suffering vocals placed upon a carpet of ever so sweet keys, retro house percussion and a raw live bass. Ron Trent’s ‘Africa Hi Fi Remix’ sees knocking percussion, water-sodden keys and a groovesome bass combine sweetly. The ‘Southern Mix’ inhabits completely different waters, as seagulls shout at a rollin’ acoustic guitar and sadness tinged harmonicas. “Happiness For All” lifts the mood, courtesy of some happy guitars, a poxy key melody and vocals in a dream state.
Belladonna – Brazilian Beat (Irma On Canvas)
Cat No: IC 219. Promo.
Not to be confused with a cut by a pair of Masterful Nu Yorican’s from a few years ago, this “Brazilian Beat” by the poisonously sounding Belladonna is a perfunctory brokenly-beaten escapade. Frantic percussion and mean sounding brass take part in a battle for superiority on the ‘Percussion Mix’, whilst the ‘Break Mix’ unsurprisingly brings the business meaning drums to the fore. The original is a tirade of blaring brass crescendos, flowing water, annoying crickets and wind-up beats. Ennio Styles’ ‘Samba Funk Remix’ of “Ebatulé” is the choice cut on the record, as flash flamenco guitars writhe alongside a love-inducing flute and cutesy vocals.
Rare Unit – Before I Can Love Again (Kwaito)
Cat No: KWAITO003. Release Date: 4th April 2005.
The Jaffster’s ‘Rare Unit’ collective have penned another minimal house-soul outing in the form of the tearful “Before I Can Love Again”. The ‘4 The Headz Mix’ is a little too plain for its own good, but the ‘Broken Soul Mix’ is an incredible half stepping jazzy keyed goo-er, with vocals from a girl who’s had her heart shattered. The bonus cut “Rhode Runner” is a synthed up bass bumper, which could do with a bit more life
DJ Format feat Abdominal & D-sisive – 3 Feet Deep (Genuine)
Cat No: GEN035CD/T. Available Now.
This release from Format is one part funk and one part Hip Hop. The Hip Hop track is a bragging yawnathon, and you can’t help wondering why Format even bothered putting “3 Feet Deep” together. “You Hear That” packs much more of a punch, courtesy of its quick steppin’ beats and bass combo, funk daddy vocals and brass that has a degree in pleasuring the ears.
Asad & Tangun – Fear & Loathing By The Bosphorus (Wrong)
Cat No: WRONG 014. Available Now.
Stuck in Turkey after an altogether scary post-gig session and transport troubles, Asad laid down this worrying tech houser with Tangun. The original is a really eerie piece of music, with a bounding bassline, lost vocal exclamations and silver synths. Mazi’s version is a harder vision, where a bass with a wicked sense of humour rules.
Swiss T – Naughty / Startrak (Cartridge)
Cat No: CTE 007. Release Date: March 2005.
Tony Senghore’s demented alter ego gets to cause mayhem on Stockholm’s top quality Cartridge imprint. “Naughty” will be a handful on any dancefloor, courtesy of some stumbling beats, very ill sounding acid and chunky synths. “Startrak” is a multifaceted bass stormer, with heavily fxed guitar riffs and mind losing keys.
Loose Canon – Cruising On The 86 (akoustik Anarkhy)
Release Date: 28th March 2005.
Named after one of Manchester’s wonderful bus routes, this new 7” from Loose Canon gives a peak into the aA’s world and ideas about life. “Cruising…” places well-fitting vocals over a naïve melodic guitar and bass dirtiness. “Test 165” is a dark little cut with ready for action drums, cut down to a point guitars and black vocals.
Vanessa Williams – You Are Everything (Junior Vasquez Remixes) (Atlantic)
Promo.
Pressed on see-through blood red vinyl, the King of tuff NY House’s remixes have turned Vanessa’s frankly weak “You Are Everything” into an emotionless tribadelic banger. His ‘Mirrorball Club Mix’ sees Vanessa’s way too sugary vocals placed over hard-edged beats and a reflective bass. His ‘Tribapella’ sets her glossy singing to a backing of mercilessly fxed beats, whilst ‘Junior’s Beat Thing’ is a stomping DJ tool with all manner of fills and tricks.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
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