From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2003-06-13 16:32:35
Jon Freer’s Reviews 13th June 2003.
Thanks to David at Hi-Top, Matthieu at Q-Tape, Nik Weston, Sarah at Velocity PR & Lofty at Chillifunk for these...
Axel Krygier – Echale Semilla (Hi-Top)
Cat No: HITOP 002. Available Now.
Argentinean based Axel shows he’s as comfortable with making challenging experimental tuneage, as he is making straight up jazzified cuts. Most of the tracks here are painfully short, yet still rewarding. “Silbad De Calipso” sees charming whistling take precedence over chiming keys and an anxious guitar. “Yuelan Las Hojas” is a heart-wrenching string laden cut, with cooling percussion, dinky keys and spoken vocals. “Tanto Tiempo” is easily one of the most disturbing outings on the album, with its myriad of proto D&B crashing breaks, un-nerving vocals and varied rainforest influenced bird chirruping. Axel shows there’s more to Argentinean music than accordions and Tango.
Top Rocking – Dataswitchbox (Q-Tape)
Cat No: QT 004. Available Now.
Top Rocking make their Q-Tape debut which shows flexing lyrical broken jazz hop doesn’t just have to be the domain of illegitimate bootlegs, honey-toned sweet divas or confrontational angry MCs. “Love 4 This” sees TY profess his love for music over a storming bass, prodding beats, lilting guitar and sweet trumpet. April King joins Top Rocking on “The Real World”, a half rapped and half sung empowering vocal ride, with faultless golden keys and a placating sax.
Crusho – Frontline EP (Q-Tape)
Cat No: QT 003. Available Now.
Sebastien Rosat shows he can cut it in an upbeat and downbeat style, with this three-tracker on the excellent Parisian Q-Tape imprint. “Frontline” is a jazz-dance battler, with excited disorganized beats, keys with an icy cool exterior yet a tender interior, wavering synthed wobbles and a sax that hits the spot. “Bermeo” relaxes by the bar, courtesy of understanding keys, sticky soft breaks, loving bass and contemplative guitar.
Madzoo Presents Technozoide – Bad Innosense (SambaLoco)
Cat No: T 004. Release Date: Mid June 2003.
Known primarily for his samba infected D&B output, the crazed one shows he’s just as comfortable when he takes the tempo down a notch. Offering slower versions of cuts that have previously found fame as D&B vocal escapades alongside fresh material, “Bad Innosense” shows his versatility. “Miracle” calls on Patricia Marx, who waits anxiously, alongside firing electrified keys, summery guitar and pained strings. “Alone (On Universe)” is a solitary number, where a smiling bass, strolling percussion, submerged vocals and floating sax collide. Twinkling keys, a loving guitar and laidback percussion combines with Rosy Aragao’s passionate vocals on a relaxed version of “Esfera”. A welcome surprise!
Blu Mar Ten – Sky EP Series No. 6 ((Exceptional)
Cat No: EXEC 30. Release Date: 16th June 2003.
BMT have always been a talented outfit, and this release for the diverse Exceptional imprint will only strengthen their reputation as a quality production duo. The original takes pointed jerking breaks, a silky bass, flashing keys and magic carpet synth to create a mesmeric groove. Terry Lee Brown Jnr emphasize the techified House leanings of the original, focussing on the apocalyptic strings, moving keys and frightened vocal edges.
T.Kolai – Teak All Eye (Chillifunk)
Cat No: CFCD011. Release Date: 16th June 2003.
Taha Elroubi & Nicolas Laget present their debut longplayer, a creation that shows their support for live instruments and real melody. This is an organic album, which also celebrates the rhythms of Africa, the pairs homeland before their relocation to Washington DC. “N’Kosi Sikelei Afrika” sees a confrontational string laden bass, romanticized keys, soul-touching vocals and flute outpourings combine wonderfully. “Andalu” sees Merimaid’s saddened desire filled vocals sit atop unspoiled piano keys, afrocentric percussion and a grooving bass. “Une Affaire” takes bulky percussion, swaying vocals, a celestial organ and blissed strings on a voyage of intrigue. Perhaps a tad indulgent, but wonderfully pleasing to the ears.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_housemuzak.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, allaboutdj.com...
Writer for:
Brique Rouge, Foreplay Recordings,
Robsoul Recordings, Dust Traxx,
Spiritual Life Music and more...
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