From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-02-02 12:36:12
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 1st February 2004.
Thanks to Herbie at Quadrastate, Sony Botox, Nik Weston, Michael and Sean at Coco Machete, David Duriez, Jonas at Kickin Music and Tammy at Magnum PR for these…
Singles selection
Unknown – Untitled (Sony Botox)
Cat No: SOB0001. Available Now.
Sounding like it should have been conceived on the streets of Kingston, this little 7” from the UK misappropriates the vocals of a certain crossover superstar and roughens him up. Jagged beats and a speaker tearing bassline do the damage on the vocal side. The full power of the nasty bass is felt alongside cold percussion and sliced vocals on the Dub.
The Fiver Corners Quintet – The Devil Kicks (Ricky Tick)
Cat No: RT 002. Release Date: 23rd February 2004.
Causing somewhat of a storm with their debut outing, the pentagonal group return, with this arguably superior slice of Jazzfloor musicality. Head straight for the triangular “3 Corners”, with its melting sax, icy sophisticated vibraphone and keeping up percussion. “The Devil Kicks” is still worthy of a listen, courtesy of its jolly sax, soft tap beats, smiling vibraphone and swinging bass.
Handicraft Sol feat Kemdi – You’ve Got It (Coco Soul)
Cat No: CCS 001. Promo.
Those pirates of confrontational House grooves expose their mellower side, with this stunning outing from Handicraft Sol. A kind-hearted flute, enchanted vocals and helping keys combine wonderfully on the vocal version. The Dub pits organic synths against a cultured flute and stepping percussion. No doubt heavily influenced by the timeless grooves of Osunlade, this thankfully comes across as a fresh variation on that sound and not just a carbon copy.
Sexophone – Fade Portrait (Music Conception)
Cat No: MUCO 12013. Available Now.
Calm’s dependable Music Conception imprint comes up with the goods again, as this distinctive three tracker from the equally reliable Sexophone exhibits. “Fade Portrait” may disappear from your memory quite quickly, due to its run of the mill destructive cosmic synths, jabbing percussion and fizzing synths. However “Message From Another While”, a beautiful and intelligent questioning groove will restore the faith, with its haunting yet abrupt keys, strummed bass ponderances and contented strings. “Simulacrum” is a lively oriental jazzified dance, where keys hammer away, vibraphones wobble and live percussion sways.
Slow Didi – Real Praya (Music Conception)
Cat No: MUCO 12 014. Available Now.
Knowing that to stick to one style would stunt his musical growth, Slow Didi returns with another EP more varied than a Radio show from Gilles Peterson. “Real Praya” is a dazzling, if a tad over indulgent slow burner, with lavish keys, spiritually enlightened strings and vocal encouragement. “Pulse Through The Mouth Pies” would probably make more sense if “Pies” was “Piece”, as the buzzing keys and inside-out siren-sax sound more like the musical tones obtained from blowing air through the mouthpiece of a brass instrument than an altercation with a savoury delicacy from the UK. “Jubilee” offers a beautifully serene vibe, courtesy of crackling percussion, floating strings and synth washes.
Rubba J – Kind Of People (Brique Rouge Traxx)
Cat No: BRT 010. Available Now.
It is difficult to keep up with all the releases on their conglomerate of imprints, as the clubbier label of this Parisian stable beefs up a couple of cuts from the criminally under rated Rubba J. The ‘Treasure Mix’ of “Kind Of People” loses a little of the emotive quality of the original, as fast-paced keys, a statement making bass and a pushy synth collide. “Hot Griddle” will heat things up nicely in ‘Duriez Lunar Disco’ remixed form, whilst the infinitely cooler original warms the heart with the help of day brightening keys.
Blak Beat Niks – The Sun Will Shine (Slip’n’Slide)
Cat No: SLIP144. Available Now.
Perhaps the wrong time of year to release this in Europe, “The Sun Will Shine” is a buoyant slice of summery fun. The Simon Grey Remix does few favours, as its bumping percussion, carried away Latin keys and levitating synths are a little too brutal for their own good. Thankfully the gorgeous original is also included, where pleased strings, encouraging vocals and sax stretches combine brilliantly.
Roy Davis Jr – About Love (Parts 1 & 2) (Classic)
Cat No’s: CMC21 & RMX. Available Now.
Roy’s healing ode to achieving racial harmony and desegregation is as relevant today as it was at the time of Martin Luther King and Marcus Garvey, whose faces adorn the covers of this release. Part One offers Roy’s pedestrian broken-hit percussive original and Solid Groove’s jacked out and sent through the blender dysfunctional House re-groove. Part 2, released a few weeks later sees Jon Marsh’s airy tripped out keyed version paired with Isolee’s superior twisted vocal and orchestral cut string epic.
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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