Re: A Guy Called Gerald 'Essence'

From: Michael Yim (Mike@studio-k7.com)
Date: Thu May 18 2000 - 19:00:31 MET DST

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    todd,

    I'm obviously biased, but I think the album is a lot more subtle then
    you would first expect. The drum and bass output has been pretty weak
    lately, I think this would be a breath of fresh air for those looking
    for quality

    -mike

    Todd Nickolas wrote:
    >
    > I don't know....I listened to the 'Essence' 4 track
    > album sampler and it was pretty straightforward for A
    > Guy Called Gerald. Defintely nothing mindblowing or
    > innovative like I'd expect, especially compared with
    > the impact 'Black Secret Technology' held at the time
    > it came out (and still does). It's not that it's
    > badly written or poorly produced, just kind of quickly
    > forgettable (again unlike 'BST' which I still remember
    > exactly where I was when I first heard it and what my
    > immediate thoughts were). I'd like to hear the whole
    > album before giving a definite opinion, but I'm not
    > getting my hopes up.
    >
    > Todd
    >
    > --- Michael Yim <Mike@Studio-K7.com> wrote:
    > > Here's the press release on a guy called gerald,
    > > hopefully it would give
    > > you all an idea of what to expect
    > >
    > > Pioneering Drum & Bass Producer A GUY CALLED GERALD
    > > to Release Long
    > > Awaited Album "ESSENCE" on August 28th, 2000
    > >
    > > Since the 80's, Manchester, UK native now NYC
    > > resident A Guy Called
    > > Gerald, born Gerald Simpson, has proven to be among
    > > the most innovative
    > > modern music figures. His influence is
    > > international, and through his
    > > versatility he has spawned genres and generations of
    > > music culture.
    > > Since his early experimentation with techno and acid
    > > house into his
    > > groundbreaking contributions to drum & bass music,
    > > GCG's art and craft
    > > has perpetually evolved regardless of his individual
    > > successes in each
    > > of those genres.
    > >
    > > A Guy Called Gerald's long awaited album "Essence"
    > > will proudly be
    > > released through Studio K7 Records on August 28th,
    > > 2000 worldwide. This
    > > will be his first project since 1995's
    > > groundbreaking "Black Secret
    > > Technology." Featuring sleek and sexy production,
    > > "Essence" features
    > > the songwriting and vocals from guest artists such
    > > as David Simpson,
    > > Lady Miss Kier, Lamb's Louise Rhodes, and successful
    > > UK songwriter Wendy
    > > Page. Merging subtly ambitious elements of drum &
    > > bass and dub over
    > > immaculate melodies and tones, "Essence" hopes to
    > > vitalize the stale
    > > nature of drum & bass expanding the songwriting and
    > > composition
    > > potential of breakbeat music with sleek and soulful
    > > production.
    > >
    > > In the early 70's in Manchester, UK a young Gerald
    > > Simpson was found
    > > alongside his mother at church listening to the
    > > organist through which
    > > he found inspiration to pursue music. Gospel
    > > melodies evolved into an
    > > affinity for the Jackson 5, the soul turned into
    > > funk, and funk spawned
    > > hip hop. Music's steady mutations and newfound
    > > brilliance kept Gerald's
    > > interests keen, and no later could one find Gerald
    > > experimenting on an
    > > Amstrad twin cassette deck, stripping apart and
    > > re-orchestrating pieces
    > > of Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" into minimal, twisted
    > > forms. His early
    > > forays in production embodied the raw brilliance
    > > that would later
    > > reflect the ethic of his music.
    > >
    > > Gerald Simpson then a member of local band
    > > Scratchbeat Masters moved on
    > > teaming up with The Hit Squad, who later became the
    > > ubiquitous 808
    > > State. As an original member of the proto-techno
    > > legends, Gerald was
    > > responsible, but not credited until much later, for
    > > the production and
    > > composition of their groundbreaking first album
    > > "Newbuild" which
    > > featured the UK techno anthem "Pacific State".
    > > While "Pacific State"
    > > topped UK charts and 808 State's profile
    > > skyrocketed, Gerald pursued
    > > further music mobility working on his solo projects
    > > as A Guy Called
    > > Gerald. Finding a modern influence through Detroit
    > > techno and Chicago
    > > house, A Guy Called Gerald produced "Voodoo Ray"
    > > storming the UK and
    > > worldwide dance charts at the same time his 808
    > > State "Pacific State"
    > > track was still in the charts. With two tracks in
    > > the charts (only
    > > recognized for one), A Guy Called Gerald became an
    > > international star
    > > and "Voodoo Ray" became the anthem that many
    > > identify for launching UK's
    > > acid house movement.
    > >
    > > The success of "Voodoo Ray" landed Gerald a solo
    > > record deal with
    > > Sony/Columbia in 1990 quickly followed by the
    > > release of his first LP
    > > "Automanik". With success came tension. As
    > > Gerald's success as a pop
    > > artist grew, Gerald's need for artistic license
    > > expanded. His label
    > > could not keep up with Gerald's forward thinking
    > > music and never
    > > released his second album. Relegated back into the
    > > underground, Gerald
    > > found solace and further explored the emerging
    > > breakbeat influenced
    > > sounds. In 1993 Gerald, the master, released "28
    > > Gun Bad Boy", a
    > > pioneering album that harnessed the brutal dynamics
    > > of drum & bass. As
    > > jungle rose in popularity so did Gerald, once again.
    > >
    > > In 1995, A Guy Called Gerald released the classic
    > > "Black Secret
    > > Technology" LP becoming the leading pioneering of
    > > UK's urban sound.
    > > "Black Secret Technology" featured vocals from a
    > > then unknown Finley
    > > Quaye on "Finley's Rainbow" thus launching Finley's
    > > successful solo
    > > career. Gerald's forward thinking music led to
    > > invitations from other
    > > artists such as Tricky, The Stone Roses, Goldie, and
    > > most notably David
    > > Bowie on collaborations and remixes.
    > >
    > > Prominence has never inspired Gerald. Already a
    > > legend in each of his
    > > various forays, A Guy Called Gerald spent the
    > > greater part of the last
    > > six years producing his latest album (the last two
    > > years in NYC)
    > > "Essence," featuring vocal contributions from Lamb's
    > > Louise Rhodes, MC
    > > Krusta, singer/songwriter Wendy Page, and Lady Miss
    > > Kier. To be
    > > released on Studio K7 August 2000, the album
    > > "Essence" will also feature
    > > singles with remixes from Ian Simmonds, Funkstorung,
    > > Ashley Beedle, and
    > > others to be confirmed. Starting with cassette
    > > decks, Gerald, by
    > > choice, has taken the long but well journeyed
    > > direction towards musical
    > > calm.
    > >
    >
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