From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-04-03 17:57:11
ANNOUNCEMENT: www.mosoul.co.uk is now up & running in a redesigned form, with reviews, interviews, photos of nights, a message board etc.
Dego at Phonetics, Po Na Na/Element, Sheffield, UK. 27th March 2004.
Dego McFarlane is a true pioneer, who has the astounding knack of virtually creating genres and heavily influencing the evolutionary course of electronic music. He played a vital role in the emergence of both D&B in the early 90’s and the more recent Broken Beat sound of West London. As one half of 4 Hero, Dego has left few musical stones untouched, remixing and producing for the cream of the musical crop. Under countless pseudonyms, he has made genre guidelines obsolete and has given journalists categorical nightmares.
A unique appeal of Phonetics is the exceptionally varied crowd, encompassing people of all creeds and colours, from every walk of life. The range of those attending was probably even more marked for the rare DJing appearance of a man who’s touched so many. Despite transport problems that delayed his arrival, Dego’s set was worth the wait. Uncompromising and energizing, his selection drew heavily on the cascading fractured beats and mind-altering basslines that characterise the West London sound. Atmospherically engaging, Dego occasionally lightened the pitch black soundscapes with brighter melodic moments. Technically breathtaking, a highlight of his set was a rugged re-rub of Neon Phusion’s exasperated “It’s Another.
Latin don and broken beat master Chris Welch provided an extended warm-up, showing the varied musical styles that make him tick. He hyped up the crowd with cuts such as Roni Size’s slick “New Forms”, B Boogie’s pushy “Tell Him” and Osunlade’s spellbinding Yoruba Soul Remix of Roy Ayers’s “Searching”. In a city dominated by nights that focus on tried and tested musical formulae, it’s refreshing to see Phonetics still championing cutting-edge music.
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 3rd April 2004.
Thanks to Rik for this.
Ernie’s Rhythm Section – The Braemar Sessions (Ernie’s Records)
Promo CD. Info from: erniesrhythmsection_at_hotmail.com
Ernie’s group show that the Blues doesn’t always have to be about the bad times. They know the importance of expressing oneself in their music, but the emotions they bestow on the listener are not always from the result of problematic times or angst. Their sound is incredibly raw, not in an abrasive and ear scorching way, but in a gutsy and unprocessed manner. The experimental edge gives their music a unique twist, which should appeal to supporters of traditional blues and those who enjoy something that bit different. “I’m gonna walk” expresses a desire for change, over a winding harmonica and rich guitar. “Jam In G” pits crazed guitars against a reverbing harmonica, whilst “Roll Up The Blues” burns fiercely, courtesy of guitar pushes and hedonistic vox. “Nine Hours” takes a true guitar, pained harmonica and tired-out vocals on an impressive emotional journey. “Midnight ‘til Morning” sees deep guitars and an energetic harmonica teach, whilst “Rag” is a battling guitar!
and harmonica duet. The final cut, “Devil Hymn”, is a touching outro, where the vocalist pours out his heart over a solemn guitar. Despite only playing together for less than 6 months, the music on this EP suggests that the band will be around for a long time to come.
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, Exposed Magazine,
pitchadjust.com,
beyondjazz.net, Store Records(Sheffield),
cratertechnology.com,
deephousenetwork.com, offitsface.com, Sandman mag,
funk-me.com,
Vanguard online, quadrastate.co.uk,
beats.to,
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
clubbity.com
audioharvest.org...
Testpress-Announce Yahoo Group
Deepness Yahoo-Group
Housemuziq Private Yahoo Group
Writer for:
Brique Rouge, Exceptional Records,
Foreplay Recordings,
Robsoul Recordings, Dust Traxx,
Spiritual Life Music and more...
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