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last ten shows will always be posted for your listening pleasure
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News
---- it was fun playing for you some of the best music that came out during the last 10 weeks. We've done it in two parts just because there's so much quality music that's been put forth to us. If you missed either show, visit http://urbanlandscapesshow.com to check out the playlists (and opt to listen to each show, if you like).Don't forget that starting Friday June 21, we'll take a look back at some of the best music that's graced us during the first six months of 2002. The Half Way Rewind will play out on two consecutive Fridays.
But tonight, we're back to giving you the most recent, the newest, and just plain great music from around the world.
High Contrast has been well talked-about of late. Now one of the artists on the extremely selective Hospital roster, we'll hear music from his debut long-player called "True Colors." It's the best soulful drum n' bass I've heard in a long time. Kudos to Breakbeat Science for pushing the album stateside, which also includes a separate mix CD of most of the tunes plus one. Also on tap is a cut or two from the forthcoming CD-only compilation from Ubiquity showcasing Zero dB's massive little UK-based label Fluid Ounce. "Fluid Ounce: Unmeasured" will feature cuts from all of the 12" singles released from the label so far, and will hit the streets on August 6.
The Peace Orchestra, Peter Kruder's solo project from 1999, gets the remix biz this time around. I've been playing the "Reset" long-player for about two weeks, and rarely has it left my CD player. It's chockful of excellent remixes all over it and worth picking up when it lands in stores on June 18.
Other newbies that I'll get to tonght includes several Codek titles, including the new 12" from artist Freddie Mas, Super Collider's great new full-length, Capitol K getting a dope mix from µ-Ziq, Recloose's first single off his "Cardiology" album mixed up by Planet E label head Carl Craig, and so much more. Reviews of all of the above next week.
Reviews ---- To keep you in stitches for next week's set of new reviews, here are most of the previous reviews compiled for your convenience. Lots of goodies that might have flown by your radar that you should definitely check out.
V/A--Verve Remixed (Verve) It's always dangerous to tinker with an original and tweak it. It's even more dangerous when the tunes in question are classic jazz tunes from the vault of famed jazz label Verve Recordings. But the DJs/producers involved on this project do the music justice in the best way. I've played the great mixes from MAW and Mr. Dorfmeister and friends, and now others such as Mark de Clive-Lowe, Rae & Christian, and Dhizan & Kamien have added their respective skills to create unquestionably one of the must-have albums of the year.
Joseph Malik--Diverse (Compost) To say that Joesph Malik is a very good soul singer is an understatement. He embodies the path for what "future soul" really is. Along with producer David Donnelly (and a few others), "Diverse" lives up to its name and then some. This really shows that the Scots have a trick or two up their sleeves. A lot of soul, a bit of bossa, some ballads, and other sounds make this one another winner from Compost.
Nuspirit Helsinki--S/T (Guidance) Chicago-based Guidance Recordings has earned a solid reputation for finding creative artists. Finnish group Nuspirit Helsinki has laid out a great album that has a mixture of jazz and dance sensibilities. There are some fine vocals, including that of Nicole Willis. But it's surely the music that does the listener in. 100 promos of the album were well sought-after, and when you hear this album you will understand why. Nice!
V/A--Motion 2 (Six Degrees) This album is the follow-up to the first collection "Motion" that was released about this time last year. San Francisco-based Six Degrees Records has released a new batch of remixed tunes of current artists on the label. Tunes from Sylk 130 and Bob Holroyd are those that have gotten some nice mixes, but overall it's a good one to pick up.
Zero 7--In The Waiting Line Remixes (Giant Step) One of the best tunes on Zero 7's "Simple Things" long-player gets some great remixes. Aquanote does a lush, funked-up mix, while Osunlade gives the tune a slower feel with some hip-hop sensibilities. Meanwhile, Mr. Dorfmeister and Madrid de los Austrias do their own mix that sounds quite funky and nice. The album version of the tune is also included.
Suba--Tributo (Ziriguiboom/Six Degrees) A nice tribute album to this musical great who passed away much too early. Remixes, remakes, and even a couple of original Suba tunes are here.
Block 16--Morning Sun featuring Jon Lucien: Pepe Braddock's Brad Deep Mix (Nuphonic) I love the percussive beats on this tune. The Frenchman Braddock tunes the song into a 10+ minute uptempo stormer.
V/A--Music & Movement Vol. 1 (Climate) It's been said by other DJs and reviewers, and I'll have to agree that this well-crafted compilation jumps out as easily the best compilation of the year so far. Compiled by UK-based DJ Nik Weston, this is an absolutely gem of a collection. There are tunes on this compilation that I have heard before (from Tortured Soul and Nathan Haines, among others) but have never been able to track down the titles and/or the artists. There are still others that are already in my crate (Da One Away, Fertile Ground (with the Kaidi remix), Agent K, and Eli Goulart), but many of them aren't. I have the double-CD (which are, thankfully, unmixed), and soon I hope to get the vinyl because...well, this is essential biz. Three unreleased tracks are also on this collection, including the well sought-after tune "Going Down" by Jol. You will love it, love it, love it! It will get stuck in your CD player, and you will make liberal use of the repeat button on your remote. Get this...and be happy!
V/A=-Chateau Flight: Remixent (Versatile) I'm pleasantly surprised with how versatile (pardon the pun) Chateau Flight are. Label head Gil'R and his good friend I:Cube really do know how to make their remixes shine. They remix many French (Air, Pierre Henry, Serge Gainsbourg) and non-French luminaries (Atjazz, Pavel Koustik aka Dego, Psyco On Da Bus), spanning over a five-year period. Put this puppy on your wish list to grab come early June.
Atjazz--LabResults (Mantis) As if the Chateau Flight remix project wasn't enough, another great new remix album has surfaced. Big thanks to Nick from Mantis for passing on a copy stateside, which features tunes from Atjazz's "Labfunk" long-player from last year (or January if you're in the U.S.). The remixers are doing them well, too--from Little Big Bee to King Britt. Also for your troubles, you'll be blessed with four new Atjazz tunes. Wonderful!
The Herbaliser--Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ninja Tune) It's been a long wait for some new stuff from The Herbaliser, who have moved forward into more of a hip-hop direction. And yet, "Something Wicked" is very much The Herbaliser keep things real and fresh. Some fresh tunes includes "Good Girl Gone Bad" featuring UK hip-hop diva Wildflower, a possible ode to GP entitled "Worldwide Connected," and the excellent "Mr Holmes." This is another winner from the reliable Ninja posse, and it's great to find The Herbaliser in just as fine a form as ever.
Cinematic Orchestra--All That You Give (Ninja Tune) This is a beautiful tune filled with melancholic tones and lush sounds. Jason Swinscoe and his band have given a compelling teaser for the forthcoming album "Everyday". I'm really looking forward to hearing it all, but I'm fine with this for now. Remixes by Herbert and Doctor Rockit (say, that Herbert guy moves around!) also are on this release, as well as a live version of "Kalima." This should keep listeners at bay until we see the new full-length "Everyday" from Ninja on May 20 (21 for the U.S.).
Ayro--Drink/Let This (Omoa) This has been out for a little while, but I've just received a copy from the up-and-coming label Omoa Music. It's nice to know that the U.S. contingent can put out quality music, and this really delivers big-time. I'm rather partial to "Let This Love," which combines a smorgasboard of funk, hip-hop, broken beats, nu-soul, and other elements (not to mention Ayro's vocals). "Drink" is on the flip. Both tunes feature acapella versions. Omoa is a label that I surely will watch out for in 2002.
Q-Burns Abstract Message--Innocent (King Britt's Scuba Mix) I wasn't crazy about Q-Burn's "Invisible Airlines" full-length from last year. Yet sometimes, remixes can really beef up a tune. And the King from Philly drops a mix that's part-atmospheric and part-house. Naked Music's resident vocalist Lisa Shaw does the biz, and King Britt keeps her vocals in place. You can't miss with a Scuba mix on a tune, that's for sure. There's also three other remixes, including a tasty one of "Differently" by Neon Heights. Watch for the "Re-Routed" remix album coming this summer with more remixes galore.
V/A--SoleBeatsOne (Solemusic) >From the Solemusic label over in Glasgow, Scotland comes this excellent compilation. More in a slow-down feel.
Chris Brann--So In Love EP 12" (Bombay) Atlanta-based Chris Brann (aka P'Taah and of both the Wamdue Project & the Ananda Project) flexes his muscles with a new 12" on Canadian-based Bombay Records. The production on this one, a bit funky and jazzy and housey, makes this cut one worth seeking and checking out.
Richard Les Crees--Dengon: Special Edition double-12" (I!) So I listened to a compilation from Nicolas Matar called "Tropicalism" (nice mix CD from the Razor & Tie label), and I kept hitting the repeat button for this deep-house groover of a house tune. It's so perfect for late night--it surely has that late-night feel. Tropicalism has the RLC Deep Energy Mix of Dengon, but the double-12" of Dengon from I! Records feature seven other remixes of the tune--all with a different feel and all great. Larry Heard has a couple, including an "Underground Mix." Most of the mixes features some tasty Japanese spoken vocals by a woman known as Mai. It was tough to find, but was worth the bounty and well worth seeking.
Aqua Bassino--Baby C'Mon Remixes (F Communications) >From last year's "Beats N Bobs" full-length comes the newest tune for the album to get the remix treatment. Soul Designer takes the otherwise-mellow original to a thumping tech-house level, while Ron Trent gives it a funked-up edge inna Atjazz style. Great!
Player One--Into The Darkness (Unreal) I saw this title at the local record store for awhile, and took several visits before I've given it a try. I was very hooked when I heard the original version--tuff, breakstep biz with a seductive rolling bassline. There's a Rennie Pilgrim remix also that gives a different flavor, yet keeping the tuffness intact.
V/A--Les Chansons des Perverts (Crippled Dick) I walked into Boo Boo Records, one of the two local indie record stores in town. Malik, the guy in charge of the hip-hop and dance vinyl (what's up, Malik??) hands me a double-vinyl. I've heard one song, then another, then another...what a treasure trove! That was a few months ago. He was going to try and order another copy, but realized that the vinyl was collecting dust. This gem is a compilation that spans through over 30 years of this Berlin-based label. Now I have heard of the name, but to be honest I know not much about the label itself. What I do know is that this is one to have in your collection...or your crate! It's very eclectic all-around. Whimsical, fun, and very entertaining.
Chris Bowden--Slightly Askew (Ninja Tune) After performing with Herbaliser's live band in recent years, Chris Bowden throws down some great sounds inna Henry Threadgill-style, though more on the straight-ahead side than experimental. The music really shines on this four-track epic jazzy soundscape, with most of the tracks spanning a good long time to build, morph, and shape shift into different directions. It makes for very nice listening for the late-night jazz connoseur. With releases so far this year from The Herbaliser, The Cinematic Orchestra, and now Chris Bowden, London-based Ninja Tune shows no signs of heading into mediocracy anytime soon.
Organic Groove 4--Organic Grooves 4 (AUM Fidelity) A bit of downtempo, jazz, bossa and dub are the orders of the day on the new album from the New York-based collective. Done live in New York, one song fades into another throughout the entire album. Quite a bit of mid-tempo delights and downtempo sensibilities, this is perfect for evening listening or a late-night drive.
Nicola Conte--Jet Sounds Revisted (Schema) Impressive reworking of tunes from the man who fronts the Italy-based Schema label. "Revisted" picks five tunes from Conte's "Jet Sounds" (or "Bossa Per Due" in the U.S.) and has them tweaked over two 10-inch vinyls. It's a challenge to pick a favorite because all the mixes are so very real and true to the essence of Conte's bossa-inspired sounds.
Germany's Micatone does a very capable job on the tweaked version of "Arabesque," featuring Lisa Bessenge of the band vocalling quite handedly. There are delicious intepretations from Les Gammas, Freeform Arkestra, and the Dining Room are also featured on this collection. My personal fave, however, is a full-on jazzy retake of "Dossier Omega" by Espen Horne (the main perpetrator behind the Bobby Hughes Combination) and friends. Overall, this collection is essential for the bossa/jazz lovers.
Super Collider--Raw Digits (Rise Robot Rise) A bit of Herbert, a bit of Aphex, with whole lot of soul. That's as best as I can describe this album from Christian Vogel and Jamie Lidell. This is Super Collider's second full-length. Even if you haven't heard the first album (I haven't), this should really knock your socks off. The soundscapes can get very complex, but Lidell's vocals and the funk-based elements should make this great for listening or for strutting around. Speaking of Herbert, he happens to appear on one of the track "Gravity Rearranging." Very dope all the way!
It's extremely difficult for me to describe the sounds off the top of my head. You just really need to listen to it for yourself. All I can say is that it was truly satisfied listening all the way.
Grupo Batuque--Rhythmix: Reluque Batuque (Far Out) There has been some great remix albums that have already came out this year, and this is yet another. The Brazillian musical collective Grupo Batuque (counting famed percussionist Dom Um Romao amongst the personnel) has spanned work over three albums. My introduction was from the group's "Africa Brazil" release from a couple of years back.
Now Far Out has taken some tunes from all three albums, compiling them all into one must-have compilation. Most are probably seeking the very tantalizing Zero dB remix of "E Ruim." But don't sleep on all of the other solid remixes. Kenny Dope and Little Louie do it to it on "Keyzer," while the Viper Squad lays it thick and strong on "Brazileiros E Ingleses" with some strong bassline action.
But many will still seek it for the dB track, arguably one of the strongest mixes on the album--and one of the best remixes that they've done so far. You'll definitely want to keep this with you when you for the summer tropical moods.
V/A--Rewind! (Ubiquity) Orange County-based Ubiquity (originally from San Francisco) is one of those rare independent labels (in California, or anywhere for that matter) that defy categorization. But somehow, it manages to stay consistent and fresh through its many world-class releases. Their compilations are generally well laid-out, and "Rewind" is no exception. The album features cover versions of classic tunes that, as the subtitle says, are "re-worked, remixed, re-edited, and rewound."
As with some of the best Ubiquity compilations, this album is quite eclectic. Some sought-after tasters such as the surprising solid mix of "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Ella by way of Rockers Hi=Fi, and "Round About Midnight' by Chet Baker remixed by the French trio the Gotan Project, are some of the many gems that you will find here. Even Shinehead gets to throw down a cover of MJ's "Billie Jean" for good measure.
Coppé--Mercury(Mango And Sweet Rice) Coppé--Papa My Buddha (Mango And Sweet Rice) Coppé--Peppermint (Mango And Sweet Rice) Earlier this week, I received a thick package from a label based in Honolulu called Mango And Sweet Rice. The contents included not one, but three digipacked full-length CDs from an artist called Coppe. So I found out that Coppé (pronounced co-PAY) is an artist from Japan, now currently based in Hawaii. As it turns out, Mango And Sweet Rice is her own label. She apparently tooled it together out of frustration of lack of promotion for one of her most recent albums.
I must say that her work, overall, impresses. A wide variety of styles...electronic, drum n' bass, downtempo, and many other variants...are well represented by this talented, creative woman. "Peppermint," originally a 2000 release in Europe, has just been re-released stateside and elsewhere through Mango. "Peppermint" features some great production not only from Coppé, but also some assistance from Vadim, Plaid, and DJ Swamp.
"Papa My Buddha" is a more personal album. It is dedicated to her father, who passed away during its creation. Like "Papa," "Mercury" is a new release for 2002. It's less experimental in sound and vocals than the other two, yet it's strong on the downtempo tip.
All of them are worth listening to, but I'd check out "Peppermint" for sort of a primer...beginnings, if you will, in order to appreciate the next two pieces of work. Watch out...I promise that you'll hear more from her. To listen to her is to appreciate her stunning versatility. Indulge, and be spellbound.
Last Week's Playlsit Spring Quarter Rewind Part Two: The Singles (& Some Albums) (Hear the broadcast at http://www.urbanlandscapesshow.com/shows/07Jun02.ram)
1. Tosca--Honey (Biggabush Dub) Different Tastes Of Honey compilation (G-Stone/!K7)
2. Fingaflag--A Tang Of Shady Orange Vitamin C EP 12" (Citrona)
3. Jazzanova--L.O.V.E. & You And I In Between (JCR/Compost)
4. The Funky Lowlives--Bellaluna (Boozoo Bajou's Switchblade Mix) 12" (Stereo Deluxe)
5. Quant--Pyjamas Funkster EP 12" (Hellow)
6. Stateless featuring Ernesto--Falling Into You (Swell Sessions Boy Wonder Remix) EP 12" (Freerange)
7. Nicola Conte--Dossier Omega (Espen Horne Remix) Jet Sounds Revisited 2x10" compilation (Schema)
8. Bobby Hughes Combination--Karma Elastica Coming Home 2 compilatino (Stereo Deluxe)
9. John Kong & Moonstarr--Future Vision (Zero dB Remix) 12" (Fluid Ounce)
10. Ayro--Let This 12" (Omoa)
11. Quango--Make It Happen 12" (Main Squeeze)
12. Partial Arts--Canopy 12" (Out Of The Loop)
13. Aqua Bassino--Baby C'mon (Ron Trent's Remix) 12" (F Communications)
14. Neon Phusion--It's Another It's Another EP 12" (Laws Of Motion)
15. Scuba--Give It All (Domu Re-Rub) 12" (Archive)
16. Frederic Galliano--Woualai The African Divas sampler EP 12" (F Communications white)
17. Grupo Batuque--Read Between The Lines (Big Bang Remix) Rhythmix: Reluque Batuque compilation (Far Out)
18. Block 16 featuring Jon Lucien--Morning Sun (Pepe Braddock's Deep Mix) 12" (Nuphonic)
19. Paradox--A Black Sun Paragon Of Virtue 12" (Archive)
20. Player One--Into The Darkness 12" (Unreal)
21. Bassnectar & Sayr--Float (Subhouse Revenge Mix) 12" (Colourforms/Om white)
22. Aquasky vs. Masterblaser--Loko (featuring Ragga Twins) 12" (Botchit & Scarper white)
23. Microfish--Keen (Stereotyp Remix) 12" (Earthproject)
24. Focus--Spaceship Rocket 12" (Versatile white)
25. Carmel--Harikiri Blues 12" (Fluid Ounce)
26. Zero 7--In The Waiting Line (Osunlade's Diaspora Instrumental) 12" (Giant Step)
27. Phil Ranelin--For The Children (Kirk Degiorgio's Offworld Mix) Phil Ranelin Remixes compilation (Hefty)
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Please feel free to send your musical submissions (CD, vinyl, and minidisc) for airplay and/or review consideration to the following location:
Velanche Stewart, Urban Landscapes c/o KCPR 91.3 FM Graphic Communications Bldg. Room 201 Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 PERSONAL
If you have an mp3 submission, please let me know and we'll make the appropriate arrangements.
If you're available for interviews, we welcome them as well. Just e-mail me at velanche@kcpr.org.
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Have a great weekend!
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jun 14 2002 - 09:22:34 CEST