From: Wesley (wesleyhongkong@earthlink.net)
Date: Thu Nov 14 2002 - 02:11:29 CET
-------- Original Message --------
Acid Jazz in Japan
[Sound :: Lounge] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoundLounge
Album Reviews :: Smokey and Miho, Neil & Iraiza, Valvola & DJ Spectra,
Gilles Peterson, Nicola Conte
source: Other Music
SMOKEY AND MIHO "Tempo de Amor" (Afro Sambas) CD $7.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/tempodea.rm
Since their formation two years ago, Smokey Hormel and Miho Hatori
(from Cibo Matto) have been more than outspoken for their love of
Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell and poet Vinicius Moraes (best
known for penning the lyrics to "The Girl from Ipanema"). Particularly
inspired by the classic and now impossible to find LP "Os Afro
Sambas," the duo cite a common love for this record as one of their
uniting factors. In 1966, Powell had returned from a trip in Bahia
where he was inspired by the musical tradition coming from the
ancient rituals of candomble and umbanda. In the liner notes
guitarist Smokey (who has also backed Beck and Tom Waits)
writes, "The music is neither bossa nova, straight samba, nor
tropicalia. The songs are cantos (chants) for the orixas (gods.)
Their rhythms and melodies are based on the folksongs of Bahia."
This style was soon dubbed "Afro-sambas," a name which
Smokey and Miho adopted for their record label. Their new EP,
"Temo de Amor" features five gorgeous renditions of Baden Powell
and Vinicius Moraes' songs, and the duo's love for the music shows.
In the upbeat title track, the small ensemble's performance is light
and restrained supporting Miho's wispy yet soulful voice. Each song
is wonderfully intimate; the overall feeling that the group is playing
right in front of you only cements this music's timeless beauty. [GH]
http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=61689251592&refer_url=email
VALVOLA & DJ SPECTRA "Venus 69" (S.H.A.D.O.) CD $14.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/pluginci.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/warpwarp.rm
Italy's S.H.A.D.O. Records is quickly joining the ranks of labels like
Emperor Norton, Siesta and Crippled Dick for their quality releases
of "international pop." They're also the label behind the excellent
"Prospettiva 21" series. (These two volumes, "Harpsichord 2000"
and the recently released "Men from Organ," compile an A-list of
performers from the High Llamas to Louis Philippe to Gonzales &
Peaches utilizing the installment's featured instrument.) S.H.A.D.O.
is run by the band Valvola whose brand of retro-future pop which
includes Kraftwerk-synth minimalism, Morricone inspired
arrangements and '70s soul is far from cookie-cutter. More than just a
band, this team of designers, DJs, and musicians are receiving high
praise for their conceptual vision of popular music, last year being
named one of Italy's best groups in the NME. For Valvola's latest
release,
"Venus 69," the collective (along with DJ Spectra) get a re-working by
an assorted group of contemporary Japanese artists, the result being
a fresh blend of J-pop and Euro-pop. Tracks like "Flashback to the
Future" (featuring vocals by Michi) and "Warp Warp" (with Mac
Donald Duck Eclair) are an unlikely combination of detached robotic
electro production and innocent feel-good melodies; strangely it works
and infectiously so. For "Plug in City," Cubismo Grafico sprinkles
lounge-y textures over house beats and, along with Tech Squeeze
Box's kitschy sci-fi treatment to "Spray Plastic Muzik" (which is as
playful as anything off of Cornelius' "Fantasma" LP), are among
many highlights. Classic European pop culture obviously plays a
heavy influence in Shibuya-Kei, but here Valvola have turned the
tables recognizing and respecting the importance of Japan's
ever-growing role in pop music's future. The result is a super fun
compilation and every track's a winner. [GH]
http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=803192800002&refer_url=email
NEIL & IRAIZA "New School" (Escalator) CD $25.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/thisisno.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/ourhousi.rm
Speaking of Shibuya, Other Music just received a shipment of new
titles from Tokyo's Escalator label including Neil and Iraiza's
latest LP, "New School." Comprised of Hiorhisa Horie (who has
also worked with Cornelius and Kahimi Karie) and Gakuj Matsuda,
the duo run through an entire spectrum of pop music that, unlike
Matsuda's other project Cubismo Grafico, is more straightforward --
save for some occasional weird electronics. This traditional and
often Bacharach-ian take on pop is definitely their charm. At times
delicate vocals are reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian, especially
"This is Not a Love Song," but there's an even more playful side to
the group. "Wasted Time" is upbeat with sugary hooks pushed
along by bouncy piano and organ melodies while the hyper-tempo
stomp beats and harpsichord melody in the instrumental track "Fez"
could have appeared on Fantastic Plastic Machine's "Luxury"
album. "Our Housing" features a very recognizable piano/horn
refrain lifted from the Madness hit "Our House," but the sample is
reconstructed in a way so that aside from the title, the
song quickly floats past parody. For the still curious and uninitiated,
"New School" is a wonderful introduction into the whimsical pop
world of Neil and Iraiza as well as the Escalator label. [GH]
http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=454107020020&refer_url=email
NICOLA CONTE "Jet Sounds Revisited" (ESL) CD $14.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/jetsound.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/arabesqu.rm
Schema A&R Nicola Conte has mastered the classic sound of late-'60s
Italian soundtracks, supplying bossa nova, jazz and psychedelic
sketches with club culture appeal. This latest release, "Jet Sounds
Revisited" is interpretations of the "Jet Sounds" album, released in
2000
by Thievery Corporation, Koop, and Kyoto Jazz Massive, to name a few.
>From the smooth vocal rework of "Arabesque" by Micatone, to the
broken-beat title track by Nuspirit Helsinki, this album is cooooool.
The collaborations between Conte and Gianluca, previously only
available on vinyl, offer the most traditional sound on the album, yet
still tend to deviate from the norm. A nice addition to anyone's
collection. [JD]
http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=79510300592&refer_url=email
GILLES PETERSON "Desert Island Mix" (Journeys By DJ)
CD $15.99
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/yveseaux.rm
RealAudio: http://64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/disorien.rm
Another Season, another Gilles Peterson mix CD collecting his favorite
tracks. The usual suspects appear: Rotary Connection, Roni Size,
Letta Mbutu, Mark Murphy, Blaze, Jazzanova. This set taken from '97
for "Journeys by DJ" shows Peterson at his eclectic best. From spoken
word to '60s soul, jazz, hip hop, salsa, house and drum 'n' bass, all
things
grooving and always in good taste. Standout tracks from Peven Everett
and
Roy Davis, Priest of Antipop Consortium, Ballistic Brothers, and Kevin
Yost.
Seventy-five minutes in all. [DG]
http://www.othermusic.com/perl-bin/OM/CD_Add_To_Cart.cgi?sku=80866500062&refer_url=email
-- Acid Jazz in Japan [Sound :: Lounge] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoundLounge
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