From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2003-10-30 18:55:34
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 29th October 2003.
Thanks to Jamie at Freerange, Mr Scruff, David & Gareth at Zzonked, Matt at Potential Development, Nik Weston & Rithma for these...
Stateless – Leave Me Now (Remixes) (Freerange)
Cat No: FR037. Available Now. 12” Single.
Here Scandinavian genius Andreas Saag is found wishing to be alone, as “Leave Me Now” gets the timely remix treatment from Brooks and Andreas himself. The Brooks ‘Fair & Light mix’ is a decidedly odd but effective affair, it’s the music equivalent of iced tea, on paper it shouldn’t work, but for many it does. The mad rhythmic percussive hops and queasy synth skip together, as minor keys show their awareness that there’s something wrong, and vocals decide it’s time to move on. The Swell Session ‘VIP Mix’ is a solid housey re-shape, with workman-like chunky beats, beautiful yet superficial keys, dependable bass and pleading vocals.
Mr. Scruff – Giffin (Ninja Tune)
Cat No: ZEN 146. Available Now. 12”/CD Single,
This track wasn’t made in Stockport, Stretford or wherever the artistic charity shop aficionado now happens to live, it was conceived somewhere high above the clouds. How else could the lost strings, lifted bass and hyperactive jumping key action of the original be explained? Come to think of it, Speechless must have concocted their re-fit somewhere similar, with its away with the fairies keys, detached guitar and Nke’s vocals that have been granted a temporary escape from life’s trials and tribulations. The Amalgamation of Soundz version is grounded with a feeling of reality that the other interpretations lack, courtesy of kettle drumming, curious keys, rounded double bass and chords that have had their wings clipped.
Incognito – Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (Dome)
Cat No: 12DOME183. Available Now. 12” Single.
Unfortunately not a cover version of a track by an ample buttocked pint-sized 30 something year old, this is a love-bitten highlight from Incognito’s latest LP. The Latin Project Remix adds a degree of opulence foreign to the all-inviting feel of original, courtesy of snooty cinematic strings, refined keys and a winding bass. Venom, Bluey’s son and ex D&B ace offers urban street soul in the form of his ‘Ghetto Soul Remix’, which marries stretched unforgiving claps with organic keys, nervous strings and vocals smitten by the memory of a love spurned.
Rithma – Love & Music (Mixes) (Om)
CD-R Promo for 12” Single.
After Etienne’s album was picked up on by every man and his dog who’d previously ignored his 12” output, Om keeps the fires burning by roping in a few choice names to overhaul a cut supportive of the things that many of us live by. The Kaskade Mix is a brash standard dancefloor overhaul, with yawn inducing forcing breaks, bright manipulated keys and an exuberant bass. M. Tello goes heavy on the jazzual vibes, as the precise refreshing trumpet jazz dances its way over striding beats, drifting guitars and enchanting vocals! Joshua certainly knows the score, and his digitised brand of house-soul lifts the track to uncharted heights, courtesy of understanding keys, synth sways and effective trumpetings.
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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