From: Velanche Stewart (vstewart@calpoly.edu)
Date: Fri Oct 04 2002 - 10:31:12 CEST
U R B A N L A N D S C A P E S
Global Club Culture...
Made Fresh Weekly.
Urban Landscapes hits the airwaves tonight and every Friday evening from
8-11pm PST on KCPR 91.3 FM.
Don't forget that if you miss the live show, you can hear it anytime via
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most recent show will also be posted a day or two after the broadcast on
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"Playlists" section of the web site.
Be sure to tell your friends about the show!
---- ADDRESS FOR MUSICAL SUBMISSIONS To jump right to the mailing address for musical submissions, please scroll toward the bottom of this circular for more information. ---- VELANCHE'S TALE OF WOE Last weekend, I've attempted to tame my home computer that has all the goods I use to cook up the weekly circular. The previous weekend after returning my trip to L.A., I've found my computer without power (I always leave my computer running). A power supply replacement didn't help, so last Saturday I went down to a computer shop to get to the bottom of things. Though I've received some assistance, it was mostly DIY (which I preferred in order to learn about such things as well as saving on labor cost). In the end, the problem lied with a blown-up motherboard that also crippled the processor chip. Not only did I had to purchase replacements for both items, but I also had to buy a new video card (the old motherboard had video built-in) and a new RAM chip (the old chips did not fit within the banks on the new motherboard). In the end, I've ended up spending nearly $400...ouch! In any event, there's your explanation for why you haven't seen the circular in your inboxes last week. ---- LOADS OF STUFF There's quite a bit of info in this week's issue. Think of it as sort of a "double-issue" that's jam-packed since I wasn't able to put out last week. If you're able to digest all of this in one sitting, you're a much braver soul than me. At the least, take it easy on your health and feel free to take this issue in bite-sized morsels. ---- NEWS So let me just say that the September 21st Jazzanova and Koop gig in Los Angeles at the Fais Do Do (moved from the El Rey due to structural damage during a commercial shoot) turned out very well. I was able to get a late-night interview with Magnus from Koop, which you'll hear a profile of them soon on Urban Landscapes. Some communications mix-up prevented me from interviewing Jazzanova, but we're working on making up for that one. The Recloose adventure the following night in Santa Monica was a stormer, with Matt putting on great music that kept the floor full throughout his set. He's back home now, getting ready to tour again soon and working on several new projects that we'll all be hearing in the coming year. ---- THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS Llorca (with Lady Bird)--My Precious Thing 12" (F Communications/France) Here comes the last 12" single from Llorca's excellent "New Comer" album from F Communications. Llorca takes the original and reworks it into a soulful house number that gives new life to the wonderful original. The B-side sees Rollercone also in house mode, doing it with their own mixes that includes both a vocal and a dub version. The mixes are some good house flavor, but I'm more partial to Llorca's mix. His oneupsmanship on the original elevates his own tune to another level in the right ways. Seek it out...coming in November. Dzihan & Kamien--Gran Riserva (Six Degrees/Couch) Two years ago, a duo from Austria called Dzihan and Kamien released an excellent album called "Freaks & Icons." Following that were several remixes from the duo, along with an album chockful of remixes from the debut called "Refreaked." Now after the tease that was the "Stiff Jazz" 12" single, we now get the proper follow-up to "Freaks." A lot more happening on this one in comparison with "Freaks," and yet it shows a maturation of both sounds and influences that the duo has interwoven throughout. There's plenty of more live instruments in this one, and also some full vocal tracks. You'll hear a smorgasboard of styles blended together on this one...uptempo, downtempo, and even some more mellower jazz sounds thrown in. Have a listen for yourself and find out. It's out now for you to immerse yourself and enjoy. The Thievery Corporation--The Richest Man In Babylon (Eighteenth Street Lounge Music) Eric & Rob are back on the case with a new full-length long player from their own label, the ever-fresh Eighteenth Street Lounge Music out of the DC area. This album is quite a shift from their previous works...more vocals, shorter tracks, and more of an emphasis on blending different musical styles. A rather ambitious task at that, but one that they seem to handle oh-so-capably. The CD comes in a rather thick package that includes a booklet filled with some striking nblack-and-white photographs that really puts the meaning of the album title in perspective. So find it, listen to it, and feel richer for it. Radio Zumbido--Los Ultimos Dias del FM (Palm Pictures) What a surprisingly solid release! New from Palm Pictures by way of Mil Records comes Guatemalan artist Juan Carlos Barrio, going under the project known as Radio Zumbido. The album is a fresh mixture of live music and sampadelic auras to create a world that is full of color and worldly delights. Keeping things urban, and yet keeping things Latin, Radio Zumbido succeeds with one of the more original-sounding albums of the year so far. Explore for yourself, and prepared to be surprised. Various Artists--2000 Black: The Good Good 2 (2000 Black/UK) Yes, yes! Another sick compilation from Dego's 2000 Black label, following up on the excellent (and highly recommended) original from two years ago. Both on vinyl and on wax, most of the tracks are new. Mark De Clive-Lowe starts off rather nicely with groovy broken number "Relax...Unwind." Other new tracks include Domu's wonderful "Music Of The Earth," as well as Dego and I.G. Culture doing Da One Away biz on "To Tomorrow" with strong vocal work from Bembe Segue. Let's hope that it will go domestic just like the first, because "The Good Good 2" shows that West London is still thriving and expanding. Quantic--Apricot Morning (Tru Thoughts/UK) 21 year-old Will Holland is Quantic, and this album has been receiving quite a bit of praise since its release a few months ago. And it deserves all the praise it has been receiving, because "Apricot Morning" shows such great promise for such a young artist whose complexities surprised many. Much has already been said about "Apricot Morning," so let me just say that it is fast becoming a contender for one of the great albums of 2002. Musically adept in his visions, Quantic seems destined for a long career of delivering fresh sounds that will keep getting better with age. Realside--High Noon 12" (Sirkus/UK) The latest 12" from UK-based Sirkus Recordings (home of 2 Banks of 4, among others) finds a rather dope collaboration between artists Mark Russell and Dominic Stanton...the latter being multitalented Domu to you. The original is rather tasty and soulful that way...very groovy. Then Zed Bias puts on his Maddslinky hat and tweaks the original with his trademark dark 2-step biz. Sirkus knows how to keep the quality on the up-and-up, and does so once more. Ghost--Buck & Bury 12" (Ghost/UK) One of my favorite 2-step outfits is the multilayered works of the Ghost crew. And they show just how adept the crew really is at its craft with this new 12" from their own label. "Buck & Bury" is a ragga-influence number that bounces with Ghost written all over the tune, as the Juice-Man toasts rather nicely. The other side of the vinyl finds "Back2Me," a tune that could have easily been pulled from an R&B tune in its soulfulness. Antoinette does a respectable job of doing the song justice with her vocal work. There's also a dub mix of the tune done by Roxy, as well. Check this one out. If you are a fan of the Ghost crew like me, then you won't be disappointed as they continue to prove that 2-step doesn't have to sound cheesy to sound good. Jazzanova--Days To Come Remixes 12" (JCR-Compost/Germany) I can't quite remember if I reviewed this one or not, but here you go. This is the latest in a string of remixes from Jazzanova's excellent "In Between" album. The single features some rather impressive mixes on wax. Detroit-based Ayro from the fledging Omoa label from that city delivers a solid broken-up mix that also features soulful vocal work to boot. Then we get to hear a rather deep mix from Ian O'Brien, taking the tune up several notches with a rolling, bass-heavy mix that's fresh. Grab this one come October 14. King Kooba--Indian Summer (Om) From SF-based Om Records comes the second full-length from SF-based duo King Kooba. There are many diverse styles represented here, but the album keeps the soulful feeling flowing throughout. Be prepared, because this one is going to sneak up on you and grab you. To me, it far surpasses their debut album by many leaps. "Indian Summer" surely smolders with music that keeps the pace moving rather nicely. It'll become robust listening for some time to come in my player, so pluck this one for your listening and enjoy! Look for it on Tuesday October 8. Blue States--Man Mountain (Eighteenth Street Lounge Music) A different take on downtempo bliss, but I'm really down with this new release from the duo Blue States. This is the follow-up to their debut release from last year, and I really like this one better. It's really part downtempo, part lounge, part indie rock (sort of), but the blend feels just so right from start to finish. Originally released through Memphis Industries in the UK, it's now available in the U.S. thnaks to ESL. Buy this and have fun listening. You'll be in a much mellower mood before it's over and done with. REVIEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 2002 Rima--Try To Understand 12" (Papa/UK) This is dope broken house bizniz from West London's Domu from the Bugz In The Attic crew and Volcov from the excellent Archive label out of Italy (which he runs). The 12" from the fledging Papa Records shows that the label is on top of things rather nicely. Vocals on each side differ slightly, but I'm down with the Pressure Mix with a nice blend of broken percussion and funky, soulful basslines. We also get the original mix with about the slightly different sparse lyrical vocal as the flip. It's another quality single from Papa. Various Artists--The Chromatic Universe sampler 12" (Visions/UK) Delicious musical biz from Alex Attias's Visions label, which can't seem to do any wrong with any of its releases. And so it is that we are blessed with this 12" from the forthcoming Visions compilation. The tune, Give A Little Love (with the capable vocals of Vanessa Freeman), was a favorite in the broken beat scene...now reworked into a Freedom Soundz Remix that's quite seductive and deeper than the original. On the flip, Attias goes under his Mustang guise for the tasty Freedom Soundz tweaking of "Twilight," while Domu (does this guy ever *not* show up??) does the biz on "Unique." Visions continues to live up to its name. Various Artists--The New Season sampler 12" (Archive/UK) Fresh new 12" from Archive finds the infamous track from Volcov & Paradox, "No Europe," getting worked up into a dance-friendly stormer by Domu (isn't there a mix that this guy *can't* do wrong??). Meanwhile, Paul Dolby works under his Opaque guise for the tune "Sonic" with hard beats, bassolicious grooves, and just the sort of tune that gets the body working nicely. Pick this one up! Various Artists--Fashion Beat (Scenario/Italy) Don't let the album cover put you off. This could have easily been just another compilation that stays in the CD bin to collect dust. Well if you find this one, take it out of the bin and give this one a listen. Italy-based label Scenario Music releases this long-player compilation of nu-jazz and deep house concotions that are cuts above many of its contemporaries. From the bossa beats of Mono Deluxe's "Looking At My Shoes," this album knows deep and soulful music very well. And if the names of the artists doesn't ring the bell, don't let that stop you from at least finding out for yourself what a well put-together compilation of its kind it really is. Salvo Lorusso, the man who runs Scenario, has a wonderful ear for picking good-sounding tunes and putting them in all the right places to make this compilation fresh listening from beginning to end. Many thanks to Salvo for sending this out stateside. What's to come in the future is anyone's guess, but let's hope it's just as good as this one....and let's hope they don't stay on them shelves! Boom Bip--Seed To Sun (Lex) I've received the 12" sampler to the long-player by Boom Bip, and at the time I wasn't really feeling it. I must have had a bad day or something, because listening to this trippy full-length made better sense to me. I've felt all the more fulfilled for it. It's a little bit of indie rock without the vocals, but mainly a great deal of hip-hop and enough electronic atmospheric flavor to give this album bite...courtesy of Warp Records 's Lex imprint. It's very much in the downbeat vein, but not to say that it's your typical downtempo sound by any means. Check out this release and delve into the musical world that is Boom Bip. Goes up there with the best alternative hip-hop goodies of the year such as Prefuse 73 and Dabyre. Various Artists--The Only Blip Hop Record You Will Ever Need: Vol 1 (Luaka Bop) I'm not quite sure if I like the term "blip-hop" any more than I like the term "nu-jazz," but I suppose we have to seek ways of attempting to easily identify genres of music that differs so radically from the mainstream. In any event, this new compilation from the well-respected world music label Luaka Bop represents a who's who of electronic artists. Put together by labelhead and former Talking Loud leadman David Byrne, you'll find tunes from the likes of Mouse On Mars, To Rococo Rot, Schneider TM (who has a new long-player of his own), Pole, Tarwater (also with a new album), and even madman Doctor Rockit (that's Matthew Herbert to you). It's definitely an acquired taste to explore such sounds, but fans of the aformentioned artists will eat this compilation out to lunch. If you aren't familiar with their works, you should allow yourself at least a willingness to expand on your thoughts of what electronic msuic is and dig in. It's very good stuff that at least warrants some exploration. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it works well for me. Coffy Is The Color--Everytime We Say Goodbye EP 7" (Downtempo promo/UK) This is forthcoming music from Dublin, Ireland. A 7" single comes through my mailbox (perhaps the first one I've ever received), and it turns out to hold potential for both the artist and the label. Three tracks make up this EP. "Everytime We Say Goodbye" starts off with a sampled voice over a looping harp that sounds curiously like that of Andreas Vollenweider, then layered with some broken percussive beats. "More Blues & The Abstract Truth" slows things to a definitive downtempo pace with a bluesy bassline and a looping Hammond. "Remember," a vocal track that features Afia & D.C., is another downtempo song that features vocals from Alia while rapper D.C. does the biz. For a first release, Downtempo shows promise indeed. It will be interesting what the Irish have next up its sleeves. Release date is scheduled for October 14 in Europe. Looking forward to future music from this label. Bugz In The Attic Presents the Family Factory EP 12" (Tronicsole/UK) West London's Bugz In The Attic has been, and continues to be, perhaps one of the most creative and inventive forces in the underground scene today. It seems that collectively, individually, and through various forms of collaborations both within and outside the nine-member core, everything they touch turns one's conventions of music upside-down. So after all of the great remixes that they've done over the last few years, we get a rarity: original music from the Bugz themselves. And so it is that they're releasing this wonderful EP out on Stevie Sole's Tronicsole label (an imprint of Sole's Solemusic label out of Glasglow). All of the tunes are dope, but especially check out "Old Skool Jamz" with a wicked solo courtesy of maestro Kaidi Tatham. Wonderful music to groove to, and delicious solos to listen to. It's the Bugz, and nothing but the Bugz! Various Artists--Blue Light One sampler 12" (Nettwerk/Upstairs promo) Canada's excellent downtempo label Upstairs Recordings are about to go wide, dropping its newest compilation "Blue Light One" in October thanks, in part, from Nettwerk Records. Here, we get the wax sampler from the forthcoming compilation. E.D. Swankz gives up a mellow, midtempo chill out in "Gamefazed", while Ancient Astronauts from Germany's Switchstance label gives Swankz's tune a remix job. The flip, Florida downtempo artist Greg Long's tune "Nostalgia Lament gets a very nice rerub from Baby Mammoth, while Isla de la Piedra's "Earball" starts off dreamy and mellow and adds layers with downtempo beats, guitar riffs, and a vocal sample that nicely rounds out the EP. Soon, we will get more of the bizniz when the full album is unleashed. Various Artists--Basic Laws Vol. 2 (Neroli) From Neroli, the house imprint of Italy's Archive, comes the follow-up to the wonderful first volume of last year's Basic Laws EP. This time though, we get a tune on each side of the wax. Alex Attias's Freedom Soundz is as solid as ever with "Sync," while one of my favorite remixers Nubian Mindz does "Be Alrite" to a great buildup--never letting go until the end. The 12" is quite solid, and shows that Neroli is coming on strong and can only grow stronger. Check it out! Jazzanova--Hanazono EP (Rope-A-Dope promo/JCR-Compost) The newest EP from the six-member German collective, now currently touring the U.S., finds this CD single to contain not only a edited version of "Hanazono" from the dope "In Between" long player, but also some newly-released remixes of tunes from the album. Stereolab gives "Another New Day" a swinging sort of feel as only they can do it. "L.O.V.E. and You & I" gets tuned up inna crazy, cut-up style from Madlib. And Doctor Rockit (Matthew Herbert to you) throws down "Another Fine Day," a take of "Another New Day" with soulful vocal work from Philly's Ovasoul7. I'm not yet sure if this EP will get a release, or if 12" singles are soon to follow. So if you find this promo, then more power to you....hang onto it! Various Artists--Afro Tech (Quango) Bruno Guez's Quango label has been a tad busy of late with various compilations, as well as making possible domestic releases from Zero 7 and Koop. "Afro Tech," the newest Quango compilation of both classic and recent releases, focuses the spotlight on African rhythms set to dance beats. It's well rounded per usual, finding tracks from Osunlade and Frederic Galliano, as well as remixes done by Phil Asher's Restless Soul, Jeff Sharel, Joe Claussel, and Ashley Beedle among others. It's freshly compiled by Guez, so it goes well whether you're familiar with many of these classic underground Afro-centric goodies or they are new to your ears. Another tasty compilation from Quango! James Hardway--Speak Softly: Block 16 Remix (Hydrogen Dukebox promo/UK) This is one infectious groove. From the first few notes of the beginning, I've felt something primal coming over me. This is such a mix that really tugs the emotions, making me want to take a woman in my arms and samba with her in a rather smooth fashion. Its a little bossa, a little Latin, a little groove, and a whole lotta soul that moves so rightly. The vocal work from Ghetto Priest gives the tune life and beauty. The UK's Block 16 (check out their full-length "Morning Sun" on Nuphonic) has done a tremendous job of bringing what's already a great original track to a higher level of grooviness. Both a 12" and a CD single are available with this mix, along with the original and a new Hardway tune "People Getting High." A very sunny, romantic tune that will have you feeling fine. ---- VELANCHE'S SOUNDSCAPES FOR SEPTEMBER 2002 (in no particular order) Note: Labels with country names are imports to the U.S. 1. Coffy Is The Color--Everytime We Say Goodbye EP 7" (Downtempo promo/Ireland) 2. Bugz In The Attic Presents Family Factory EP 12" (Tronicsole/UK) 3. Rima--Try To Understand 12" (Papa/UK) 4. Various Artists--The Chromatic Universe sampler EP 12" (Visions/UK) 5. Various Artists--The New Season sampler 12" (Archive/UK) 6. Jazzanova--Days To Come: Ayro/Ian O'Brien Remixes 12" (JCR-Compost/Germany) 7. Szymanski--Lover's Quarrel EP 12" (Omoa) 8. Various Artists--King Britt Presents The Philadelphia Experiment Remixed (Rope-A-Dope) 9. Various Artists--Fluid Ounce Unmeasured (Ubiquity) 10. Nuspirit Helsinki--Trying 12" (Guidance) 11. Plankton Man vs. Terrestre--S/T (Run) 12. Uschi Classen--Soul Magic (Earthproject/UK) 13. Frederic Galliano & The African Divas--S/T (PIAS America/F Communications) 14. Nightmares On Wax--Mind Elevation (Warp) 15. Various Artists--Fashion Beat (Scenario/Italy) 16. Black Renaissance--Mind, Body & Spirit (Luv N'Haight) 17. Minus 8--Minuit (Compost) 18. Llorca--New Comer (PIAS America/F Communications) 19. Los Ladrones--Montana Rusa (Earthproject/UK) 20. Stereotyp--My Sound (G-Stone/Austria) 21. Les Hommes--S/T (ESL Music) 22. Various Artists--Blue Light One sampler EP 12" (Nettwerk/Upstairs promo) 23. Various Artists--Select Cuts From Blood & Fire: Chapter Three (Blood & Fire) 24. Cousin Cockroach--This Ain't Tom N' Jerry 12" (Bitasweet/UK) 25. Inverse Cinematics--Slow Swing 12" EP (Pulver/Germany) 26. Focus--Having Your Fun 12" (Versatile/France) 27. Dzihan & Kamien--Stiff Jazz 12" (Couch/Austria) 28. Dubarchanoid Trim--S/T (Ultima/Portugal) 29. Various Artists--Co-Operation Session 2 (Goya Music/UK) 30. Various Artists--The Only Blip Hop Record You Will Ever Need: Vol 1 (Luaka Bop) ---- LAST WEEK'S PLAYLIST Listen to the show now with the RealPlayer 8 and higher at http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/shows/27Sept02.ram. 1. E. D. Swankz--Gamefazed Blue Light One sampler 12" (Nettwerk/Upstairs promo) 2. Coffy Is The Color--Every Time We Say Goodbye EP 7" (Downtempo/UK) 3. P'Taah--Hold You Close Carte Blanche Vol. 3 compilation (Naked Music/Astralwerks) 4. Nightmares On Wax--Thoughts Mind Elevation (Warp) 5. Llorca--Lalo Caught Me Dancin' New Comer (PIAS America/F Communications) 6. Grand Central--The Way You Love Me Fashion Beat compilation (Scenario/Italy) 7. Gigi--Gudfella (Restless Soul Off-Centre Mix) Afro Tech compilation (Quango) 8. Frederic Galliano--Koutium Frederic Galliano And The African Divas (PIAS America/F Communications) 9. Frederic Galliano--Alla Cassi Magni Frederic Galliano And The African Divas (PIAS America/F Communications) 10. Terrestre--California 70 (Extended Version) Plankton Man vs. Terrestre (Provider/Run) 11. Quantic--Off The Beaten Track Apricot Morning (Tru Thoughts/UK) 12. Realside--High Noon 12" (Sirkus/UK) 13. Da One Away featuring Alma Horton--Co-Op Thing Cooperation Session 2 compilation (Goya Music/UK) 14. Da One Away featuring Bembe Segue--To Tomorrow 2000 Black: The Good Good 2 compilation (2000 Black/UK) 15. Mustang featuring Vanessa Freeman--Give A Little Love (Freedom Soundz Special Edit) The Chromatic Universe sampler EP 12" (Visions/UK) 16. Bugz In The Attic--Hi Era Family Factory EP 12" (Tronicsole/UK) 17. El-B--untitled 12" (white/UK) 18. Ghost--Buck & Bury (featuring Juice-Man) 12" (Ghost/UK) 19. Stereotyp--All Di Girls Com (featuring Collage) My Sound (G-Stone/Austria) 20. James Hardway--Speak Softly featuring Ghetto Priest (Block 16 Mix) Hydrogen Dukebox Music Sampler (Hydrogen Dukebox) 21. The Bobby Hughes Combination--Karin's Kerma (featuring Karin Krogh) Kerma Elastica 12" (Stereo Deluxe/Germany) 22. Jazzanova--Another Fine Day (Doctor Rockit Mix featuring Ovasoul7) Hanazono EP (Rope-A-Dope/JCR) 23. Recloose--Kapiti Dream Cardiology (!K7) 24. The Thievery Corporation--Facing East The Richest Man In Babylon (Eighteenth Street Lounge Music) 25. Assassino Daninha--Smile 2000 Black: The Good Good 2 compilation (2000 Black/UK) 26. Fantastic Plastic Machine--Todos Os Desejos King Britt Presents Scuba: Hidden Treasures compilation (Om) 27. The Philadelphia Experiment--(Re)Moved (Oba Funke Far Re-Moved Dub) The Philadelphia Experiment Remixed (Rope-A-Dope) 28. Doctor Rockit--Male James Bonding The Only Blip-Hop Record You Will Every Need Vol. 1 compilation (Luaka Bop) ---- Urban Landscapes proudly supports quality independent music from around the world. Respect to all the independent labels, radio promotion folks, and related entities for sharing the wonderful musical goods. The show has been keeping it real for over four years, as the movement continues to expand its influence. Please feel free to send promos/musical submissions (CD/CDR, vinyl, and minidisc) for airplay and/or review consideration and t-shirts (large, if you please) to: Velanche Stewart, Urban Landscapes c/o KCPR 91.3 FM Graphic Communications Bldg. Room 201 Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 USA If you're available for interviews, we welcome them as well. Just send me an e-mail message to mail@urbanlandscapesshow.com. This newsletter is sent to DJs, record labels, promotion companies, and like-minded music lovers from around the world. If you wish to be removed from the list, please let me know. To be added to the weekly mailing list, please email me and I'll add you. Have a great weekend!
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