From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2003-08-07 21:20:06
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 7th August 2003.
Thanks to Nik Weston, All at Different Drummer and Sri at Tru Thoughts for these...
LONESOME ECHO PRODUCTIONS – SILVER OCEAN
Disorient/UK/CD
Japanese musical master Yashudi Ide touches down on the musically diverse Disorient imprint with a magical collection of spiritually aware grooves. Bringing in a wealth of talent, Yashudi adds his own angle to timeless cuts, as well as serving up choice platters of his own. “Ain’t No Sunshine” featuring Ken Boothe and U-Roy sees the pair laments the loss of a loved one, alongside powerful reggae infused horns and fractured hit percussion. “Soul Galactic” calls on the talents of Puerto Rico’s Osunlade, who dreams of paradise, as gorgeous tender keys, vivid synths and convincing chords meet. Sara Divine guests on “Wishing On A Star”, a utopian apologetic vocal escapade, with dreamy keys, lively afrocentric percussion and stirring live bass action. “Silver Ocean” is a dive into a cleansing deep sea of musical discovery.
NOISESHAPER – THE SIGNAL
Different Drummer/UK/CD
This release from Noiseshaper shows that German residents Axel Hirn and Flo Feischmann can dub it with the best of them. This LP contains cuts that will shake speakers within inches of lives, while others show the music isn’t just about the vibration of the bassbins. “Jah Dub” sees Kwasi Asanti give praise over friendly horns, spacey content strings, solemn chords and heavy bass rumbles. “Sunstorm” is a gorgeous slice of blissed out dubbiness, with pulsing breaks that are punctuated by echoey drum cuts, a close melodic bass and brass pushes. “You Take Control” uses a slippery bass, proto-house beats, backwards key touches and guitar echoes to create a perfect springboard for Jackie Dean’s awestruck vocals. Music from deep within.
SHAPES ONE
Tru Thoughts/UK/CD
This collection of wide-ranging masterpieces from Tru Thoughts once again illustrates their flair for signing unfamiliar musical genii. Alongside cuts from well-established talent in the world of lazy grooves and restless beats, this compilation showcases future stars. Zico’s “Orfeu 21” sees an incoherent rastas attempt to converse over gracious keys, muscular cymbal based percussion and smiling guitars. Kuzu’s “Restless” uses soft footstep type percussion, ghostly keys and questioning strings to create an air of indecision, which doesn’t aid vocalist Rachel Potter who struggles to understand her feelings. Dubble D contributes “Slo”, a contemplative cut, with deep thinking strings, brooding brass, absorbing distressed vocals and a bass that lives in the past. “Shapes One” conforms to the Tru Thoughts ideal of releasing music defined by its quality, not by its tempo or style.
Edited versions of these reviews are scheduled to appear in XLR8R #71.
Jon Freer(jon-freer_at_excite.com)
reviewer and writer for the following
websites and magazines:
littleplanet.net, City Life Magazine, XLR8R Magazine,
Keep On Magazine, pitchadjust.com, beyondjazz.net
Store Records(Sheffield), cratertechnology.com,
vybemuzik.com, Steel Press, deephousenetwork.com,
offitsface.com, Sandman mag, breakevencrew.com,
overloadmedia.co.uk, funk-me.com, Vanguard online,
quadrastate.co.uk, spaced.co.uk, hotwatermusic.co.uk,
beats.to, housecollective.org, capitolvibes.com,
www.selekta.com, djriri.com, universalsource.co.uk,
Inner Loop Magazine, housemuziq.com, undergroundhouse.net, worlddj.com,
mosoul.co.uk, discotribe.net, flygarictracks.com,
skansen.no,
planetsoulnetwork.com
mundovibes.com
nwdnb.co.uk
allaboutdj.com...
Writer for:
Brique Rouge, Foreplay Recordings,
Robsoul Recordings, Dust Traxx,
Spiritual Life Music and more...
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