From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2003-12-31 01:09:42
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 30th December 2003.
Hope everyone enjoys their last night out of 2003…
Thanks to Dana & Glyne at Rude Awakening, Kerri Chandler, John at Do Right!, Nicky at Phuture Trax, Louise at Quite Great and Mario at Narada…
Long Players…
Kerri Chandler – Trionisphere Live: Mixed Live @ Space Lab Yellow, Tokyo (Nite Grooves). Cat No: KCD 236. Release Date: 27th Jan 2003.
This CD captures the spine tingling excitement and the emotion of a live set by an artist who understands the power of music. Whether it is gospel toned verses of praise or intense floor chugging bassline-heavy groovers, Kerri knows exactly how to make tracks which his audience can relate to wholeheartedly. “What Is 6:23” sees heads down percussion, contemplating chords and deep penetrating organ keys reveal exactly what the numbers embody. “It’s You” brings in Dee Dee Brave and Freddy Turner for a jubilant vocal number, with circling synths, twisted sax blasts and precise chords. “Faithful” is an ecstatic ‘thank-you’, as empowered vocals lay across sweet keys and a levitating bass. Legendary stuff.
V/A – Required Listening (Do Right!)
Cat No: DR 006. Available Now.
Mettle Music’s “Destination Manchester” was an important document of the city’s house scene, but it unfortunately left much of Manchester’s underground electronic scene out it the cold. Instead of merely showcasing a sound or a flavour of the Toronto music scene, “Required Listening” is a much fuller aural report on the city’s diverse musical melting pot. Basic Soul Unit’s “Whateva” defies it’s decidedly passive title, as a committed amusing bass vies for attention with a spacified sliding synth. Rightly or wrongly, Nick Holder’s impressive House-orientated back catalogue has been spurned in favour of the equally inspiring “On My Mind”, an untidy percussed acoustic guitar led cut, where vocalist Sacha displays her spellbound emotions. The BAW Collective’s “Don’t Stop” politely asks for things to keep going, courtesy of shaken dysfunctional afro-laced beats, steady keys and crazed synth pulses. The stance taken by label head John Kong (who compiled this) has produced an !
album, which may test the patience of even the most eclectic music fan. However, this is a necessary evil, and on the whole, John has selected musical pearls.
V/A – Marshall Jefferson: Move Your Body = The Evolution of Chicago House (Unisex). Cat No: UNISEXCD004. Available Now.
It could be said that Marshall Jefferson’s role in the development of House is understated. This compilation, which paints him more as a demi-god who moulded the course of ‘dance’ music from putty with his bare hands, probably goes a little far. It is refreshing to hear the much sampled “Let No Man Put Asunder” in original form, as those understanding keys and uplifting strings combine wonderfully under those incredulous vocals. No Chicago compilation or record collection would be complete without Mr Fingers’s “Can U Feel It”, with its impossibly beautiful synth action and wandering keys. Marshall’s own “Someday” penned for Ce Ce Rogers is still relevant today, courtesy of its emotionally charged keys, spine-tingling bass and politically significant vocals. There is no doubt he was an important producer, music writer and multi-instrumentalist to early House music. From the selection and mixing here, it is easy to see he is a fine DJ, too. Whether we needed to be remin!
ded of the fact he’s seen as ‘godfather’ by a robotic voice over every other track or so is debatable!
V/A – Disco Jazz vol 1 (Mumo/Jazz FM).
Cat No: mumocd03. Available Now.
Not as forward thinking as the Nik Weston & Mike Chadwick penned titles in the “Music & Movement” series, “Disco Jazz 1” plays things much safer. Whether all the tracks evoke a Discoey or Jazzed up vibe is debatable, but they all at least understand the basics of melody. Nu Yorican Soul and George Benson’s “You Can Do It (Baby)” sees a spun out synth and calming bass hook up with lovely keys and brightening acoustics alongside George’s empowering vocals. The ‘FK Ruff Mix’ of Atmosfear’s “Dancing In Outerspace” captures a hedonistic yet distinctly musical meeting of House and Disco, under the guidance of controlled percussed, fuzzy keys, a dazzling sax and all powerful synths. Home & Garden’s “An Invitation” is revisited by remix king Osunlade, who uses Nkedmi’s angelic vocals, sweetened synths and sugary keys to create a musical chat-up line to seduce anyone. There are some choice cuts here, but anyone with more than a casual interest in Jazz tinged House should own the!
pick of them on vinyl already.
Kotaro Oshiro – Dramatic (Narada/EMI)
Available Now.
In a world filled with compositions based on a myriad of instruments and studio technical trickery, it can be refreshing to go back to basics. Kotaro Oshiro’s musical creations use only a single guitar and his tracks are impressively engaging. “Wind Song” captures the expressive nature of a powerful natural force. “Bolero” is an impressive reinterpretation of a classical builder, as one guitar manages to capture the emotion and engaging qualities of a whole orchestra. “Chaser” tries to catch a beautiful melody, which is agonisingly just out of reach. Occasionally one guitar can sound a little lonely, but this album is on the whole rewarding, and Kotaro is truly a master of solitary music.
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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