From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2003-12-01 14:40:48
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 30th November 2003.
Thanks to all involved w/ the Southport Weekender, Sarah Foote, Nik Weston, Andreas at DNM, Luke at Icon, Steve at Timewarp, Mark at Keep On and all at!K7 for these...
Various Artists – Southport Weekender Album (suSU)
Cat No: SUALBCD5. Release Date: 8th December 2003. Triple CD compilation.
SuSU must be commended for capturing the soul-drenched aural spirit of the Weekender and making it available to the general public. It does not capture the spine-tingling uniqueness of the atmosphere and the feelings that the live performances induce, but it does give a snapshot of the musical delights on offer. Joe Negro’s Mix is a wonderful journey through the sort of feelgood House and irresistible Disco flavours that work so beautifully in the main ‘Powerhouse’ arena. Eclipsing his recent performance at Southport, a highlight of the CD include his own re-edit of The Dell’s amusing study-minded “All About The Paper”, with its heartfelt Broadway type ostentatious strings and certain keys. Hardsoul feat Ron Carroll’s apologetic “Back Together”, an emotion drenched string led theatrical number that feels like it was produced with Southport in mind is fittingly also included on his mix. Gilles Peterson shows how important history and musical open-mindedness are to Southp!
ort, with a CD of raw emotive and organic delights. The William Parker Quartet’s “Song of Hope” wishes for a better future for as all, as Leena Conquest aggressively half sings and half shouts her dynamic vocals over a penetrating uncontrollable sax and committed live drumming. Whilst Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson’s “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” charts the struggle of life with the help of some shuffling sharp edged percussion, pensive piano keys and a hot-headed sax. Miguel Migs contributes the final Mix CD, a slightly deeper gazing affair, which doesn’t quite match the emotional qualities of the other pair. However, there are still a few choice moments, which include Mood II Swing’s classic key and stressed synth ode to falling for someone, and Danny Marquez feat Natasha Mc Beam’s “Vibrations”, an uplifting synth-addled groover. This compilation is not a substitute for actually attending the weekender. It shows music lovers who’ve never been how the organisers u!
nderstand the past, present and future of music that speaks to the hea
rt.
Various Artists – Nordic Lounge vol. 2 (DNM)
Cat No: DNMCD003. Available Now. CD compilation.
If there was ever any doubt about the production abilities of upcoming Scandinavian beat technicians, fears should be allayed by the release of this magnificent compilation. The environmental conditions of northern Europe may exist at the colder end of the spectrum, but the music of these nations exhibits a glowing warmth. Gonky Business feat Bless’s “Change” sees Andreas Saag & engineering supreme Jonas Quant hook up for an empowering love song, as draped keys and bass shadows provide a perfect backdrop. Ben Horn’s “Straight From The Hideout” takes subzero synths, high reaching trumpeted caressings, magic keys and rhythmic percussion to create a Housey leaning instrumental gem. “Lone” finds Bugge Wesseltoft with only his thoughts for company, as mournful piano tears, bass ponderances and stripped back percussion yearn for company. Hird’s “Getting Closer” sees nagging keys cajole the listener into action, whilst bewitching vocals demand that dreams are fulfilled and lov!
e is shown. Real musicianship, songwriting and programming skills are the key to the success of the artists featured here.
Derrick L Cater pres Tone Theory Vs Oneiro – Poverty De Luxe (Icon)
Available Now. CD & Double Vinyl album.
After the success of his album on Classic, Derrick treats his home market with another dancefloor vibed LP in the shape of “Poverty De Luxe”. Petite Texan imprint Icon has pulled off somewhat of a coup with this release, and fans of Carter’s sound will not be disappointed. “People” sees heavily filtered slammed beats complement some crazy backspin action, whilst familiar compressed keys fight it out with teased synth overlays and crazed stabs. “The Warrior” is a call to arms, with digitised synth dances, sharp clean percussion and back in the day chords. “Sh!!!” remixed by T.T. exposes an element of calm often absent from Derrick’s material, as chilling beats combine with fragmented synths, vocals assessing solitude and string additions. Another long-playing instalment from Carter that will have no problems moving the hips, but sadly won’t move the soul.
Da Lata – Serious (Palm Beats)
Available Now. 12” single.
This track is the highlight of their recent multi-culturally orientated album project of the same name. “Serious” finally gets unleashed on vinyl, with a rather tasty re-rub from Seiji. The original exudes a dancefloor friendly bounciness and overt yet respectful Afro dance feel, as a growing guitar sits under commanding vocals and woodwind and brass blasts join in the fun. The ‘Extended ‘Instrumental’ sees steady beats underpin a variety of wonderfully varied solos and counter melodies from an assortment of instruments. Seiji roughens up the dance, courtesy of some stop-start heated drum percussion, frustrated vocals and an analogue bass that vents its anger at the situation.
Perry Hemus – Rhodesmode (Woodland)
Available Now. 12” single.
Rhodes & vibes expert Perry Hemus ropes in vocalist Lizzy Parks for some heartfelt and expertly arranged free jazz action. The ‘Freefall Mix’ is the choice version, with its luxurious keys, slowly picking up the pace beats, righteous angelic vocals and confused bass groove. The ‘Broken ReMix’ by ‘db’ is cluttered refit, where backwards keys, trashed percussion and mad synths attempt to decipher the chaos. The bare ‘Closer Mix’ lets adlib vocals and keys display their full glory over quick running beats and synth squiggles.
Various Artists - !K7 150 (!K7)
Cat No: !K7 150. Double CD compilation.
An impressive multi-national and musically open-minded label, !K7 round up some their biggest hits on this compilation, which celebrates a century and a half of releases. The 1st CD is the superior of the two, offering some beautifully moving and emotional compositions, while the 2nd focuses on fashion-conscious and trendy end of the label’s output. Nick Holder’s “Sometimes I’m Blue” shows the power love has to induce mood swings, as vocals ponder the happiness and sadness of the emotions associated with attraction, over insistent keys, bass rumbles and neat percussion. “Humanity” by A Guy Called Gerald featuring Lamb’s Louise Rhodes uses energy breathing D&B type percussion to great effect, whilst calling out keys and crying strings link up alongside Louise’s questioning vocals. Recloose’s “I Can’t Take It” launched a career for both him and superb vocalist Dwele, and it is included here in its full crossing genres hybrid percussive glory and accompanying scratch action!
. Worth checking for the inclusion of these three cuts alone.
Various Artists – In-House Perspectives 01 (Inspirit)
Focussing on the housier side of their remit, this compilation mixed by Max (not Black) Beard, shows the smoothness of their grooves and the influence that the early output of Naked Music and similar imprints have had on their sound. Not every track instantly grabs the attention, but that is perhaps the beauty of much of the label’s output. The Kaskade mix of Andy Caldwell’s “I Can’t Wait” is an excited display of anticipation, with flowing synths, strong breaks and keyed niceness. Amma’s “Was It Real” sees reality and dreams blur, as her lovely vocals sit atop asking guitars, wondering keys and pleasant strings. Soul Khula’s “Deep ‘n’ Low” is a simple yet effective minimally minded dancefloor groover, with sweet vocals, guitar additions and precise beats. A solid showcase, but I can’t wait for one that displays the imprint’s arguably finer broken jazz type material.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
reviewer and writer for the following
websites and magazines: Blues & Soul Magazine,
FACT Magazine,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,
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, nwdnb.co.uk
planetsoulnetwork.com
allaboutdj.com
mundovibes.com...
Writer for:
Brique Rouge, Exceptional Records,
Foreplay Recordings,
Robsoul Recordings, Dust Traxx,
Spiritual Life Music and more...
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