From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-12-28 17:36:02
Jon Freer’s Reviews 28th December 2004.
Singles Selection:
Bah Samba – Portuguese Love / Calma (BKO Productions)
Pascal Rioux feat Mr. Day – Don’t Outstay Outside 2 Night (Rotax Disques)
Daniel Verez / Planetary Group – EP (Cute Records)
Butch Cassidy Sound System – Rockers Galore (Fenetik)
Tetris – Two Hours (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remixes) (Eighth Dimension)
Raw Artistic Soul – Kana EP (Gogo Music)
J Views – Your Country (Deeplay Music)
Thanks to Phil Asher, Sarah at Favouritizm, Vincent at Brick Music Promotion, Nik Weston, Caroline at Soma, Q-Burns and all at White Noise for these…
Bah Samba – Portuguese Love / Calma (BKO Productions)
Release Date: 7th February 2005.
Bah Samba create jazz admiring and Latin flexing compositions that have enough bite for many a dancefloor. After a short self-imposed exile, the first fruits of Phil Asher’s return to the studio is an epic revision of “Portuguese Love”, which stands head and shoulders over the subtle album version and Seamus Haji’s innocuous remix. Phil makes the most of the original elements of the track on his version, which clocks in at over ten minutes long. Rousing percussion, glittering strings and engaging guitars provide an ideal backing for Alice Russell’s lovestruck vocals. “Calma” features Isabel Fructuoso, and her lovely vocals are draped over emotive acoustic guitars, an easy flowing live bass and caring strings.
Pascal Rioux feat Mr. Day – Don’t Outstay Outside 2 Night (Rotax Disques)
Cat No: R019. Release Date: January 2005.
The title might not make any sense and the original version is pretty run-of-the-mill, but the Patchwork remixes are special, to say the least. The ‘Patchworks Deep Mix’ sees touching keys, strange shaped pulsing beats and faithful guitars link up for on a deeper than thou journey. The ‘Evergreen Mix’ from Patchwork is essentially a live version, with proper kit percussion, a vexed bass and unhappy vocals.
Daniel Verez / Planetary Group – EP (Cute Records)
Cat No: CUTE 1201. Release Date: 14th February 2005.
With a background in sound engineering, Daniel Veres was ideally placed to take that step into production. It’s certainly a good thing that he’s made the move with “Sane reD eVil” being an awesome slice of cosmic broken techness, where shouting keys, earnest percussion and a wonderfully groovy analogue-leaning bass link up. “Some Boogie” in ‘Instrumental’ format is an intergalactic synthoid number, with banging drums and an energetic bass. Daniel also gives us “64 To The Step”, a hot stepping percussive outing whose bass has a kick as forceful as anything by the Bugz. Planetary Group step up with the ‘Anti Vocal Version’ of “Always The Same”, where crying keys kick it with distressed strings and muffled vocals.
Butch Cassidy Sound System – Rockers Galore (Fenetik)
Cat No: Tik021. Release Date: 24th January 2005.
Fenetik start the year with a wee 7” outing that contains a couple of cuts that featured on Michael Hunter’s incredibly well received “Butches Brew” LP. “Rockers Galore” contains a maze-like bass that is so easy to get lost in, whilst a mystical flute and heart-warming brass add to the vibe wonderfully. The exclusive ‘Early Version’ of “Butches Brew” has a bassline that will smother all, whilst its quick-moving guitars will get hips shaking.
Tetris – Two Hours (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remixes) (Eighth Dimension)
Cat No: 8th 018. CD-R.
Q-Burns originally remixed this track for the Russian based Tetris group two years ago, but it has taken a little while for the track to get a proper release. The wait was worth it, as the intricate key patterns, spaced out strings and swishing bassline shows. The original is a slightly more subdued affair, with gorgeous keys, whispering synths and otherworldly strings. Q has also supplied a ‘Remix Beats’ version, where a rolling bass backs a tidy percussive arrangement.
Raw Artistic Soul – Kana EP (Gogo Music)
Cat No: GOGO 012. Release Date: 21st February 2005.
The “Kana EP” brings us more technically proficient but hardly life-changing afro-kissed housey goodness from the German based Raw Artistic Soul collective. “Kana” sees closely cropped beats, thin synths and a spiritual flute lie under spirit-raising melodious vocals. “Flores Para Ti” as remixed by Sugar Beat is a relaxed affair, with lazing percussion, swaying brass and vigorous guitar playing. Can 7 offer teched-out synthetics on their revision of “Bathanga Vibes” whilst the EP is rounded off with a noisy bass led dub of “Kana”.
J Views – Your Country (Deeplay Music)
Cat No: DPLAY020. Release Date: January 2005.
Chilled out Israeli J Views makes the sort of downtempo styled grooves that are reminiscent of Plej, Royksopp and other Scandinavian artists. “Your Country” is a pleasant enough vocal number, with artificial synths, deep in thought strings and hop, skip and jump beats. Hakan Lidbo’s ‘Spectre Mix’ sees a powerful bass and high reaching keys dominate, whilst Dalminjo’s ‘Ostkerkake mix’ contains firework type bass hits and colour changing keys.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
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