**Hannibal Selecta's Top 5**
1. Lamb "Cotton Wool" (Fontana)
I've had this now for a month or so and it still amazes me. The a-side
starts with the Original version, torchy female vocals over sparse drum
n' bass. Sort of Portishead meets 4-Hero. Second on that side is the
Sacred Space Mix, sort of mellow dubby techno with just a hint of
junglism floating in the back. B-side: first up is a remix from Fila
Brazilla. Now, The Sheriff is up at the top of my all time greates songs,
but this remix...Oh My!!! It sounds like lush, dreamy drum n' bass, but
there's a catch.. its only about 135 bpm.... sounds like jungle but mixes
with house...absolutely amazing. A Guy Called Gerald finishes out the
side with a decent jungle mix, not a floor filler, but with some
intersting vocal processing.
2. Fatback Slim (?) (Skint #6 test)
I bought this the same day as Cotton Wool (it was a good day). One
side is "Everybody loves a 303". Starts of really funky a la Hustlers of
Culture. Then the 303 comes in innocently enough, leading to the vocal of
"Everybody needs Love!" and then all hell breaks loose. Buildup of the
year. Acid jazz for ravers or vice versa. B side starts with a mellow
jazzy piece called Lincoln Memorial and ends with We Want To See Those
Fingers, another 303 stomper. Starts with a gritty disco-esque loop
(which DJ ICEE used on one his tracks), builds with that pesky 303, and
somehow incorporates what sounds like a Cantina Band covering Louie Louie.
This is purely wicked.
3. Hidden Agenda (Metalheadz 17)
One side is Pressin on, slow funky jungle alternates between slow beats
and the faster cut up jungle drums without ever sounding hurried. Other
side, Get Carter, is a little less laid back initially but then mellow
out with a slow r&b feel. Overall, a good intro to the jazzy style that
has been very evident in the world of drum n' bass lately
4. Ills & Solo (LGR 04)
LTJ Bukem's new label drops yet another mellow jazzy drum n' bass winner.
Sweet Sunshine has all the feel of a summer vibe. Makes you want to lay
down and feel the suns warmth- mellow rhodes samples, a hint of vocals, a
ggrrrreat bassline and lots of vibe. Probably my favorite jungle track at
the moment. The flipside In The Area does not disappoint either. Sorry to
talk so much about jungle but this stuff is good.
5. Party Platter EP #1 (New Breed)
I wanted to finish this out with another jungle record but I have enough
already. But since I've been craving crazy beats, DJ Smash delivers on
this one with the track Jumping Ritmo. As you would expect, a crazy latin
Ritmo that is most definately Jumping. Not as impressive as Snowboy, but
easier to mix. This should get any crowd shaking. Also on the same side
is Daktari, also fast witha sort of exatic breakbeat. Flipside has Jazz
Revolution, a typical Fat Jazzy Grooves-type track with an old, gritty
jazz feel, and Dread Vs. The Alien, which is basically the beat from Pass
The Chalice (on FJG #5) slowed down to dubbier speeds with some rambling
Moog squiggles courtesy of Hal (from the Hustletron EP on NB). This track
should interest the abstract beat types.
And to finsh things off, the most interesting record I have found lately:
Def Jam Recordings SLP 1 : HOSE
Rick Rubin and friends playing bad garage rock. Amusing cover of "Super
Freak". Anybody know anything about this? I know about Rick Rubin and Def
Jam, but not in this context....
marc
aka hannibal selecta