From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-02-04 16:50:26
Jon Freer’s extended 12” reviews round-up. February 3rd 2004.
Sorry to bombard you with reviews this week, but I've got a few days break between exams and uni re-starting, so I thought it was about time I caught up! I will be sending fewer reviews again, from next week.
Thanks to Sarah at Favouritizm, Tim at Missile, Glyne & Dana at Rude Awakening, Nic Conef, Ben at Flat&Round, Mehdispoz, David Duriez, Robin Porter, Vlad B at B 92, Tammy at Magnum PR, Ian at Bosh, Haris at Laus, Nick at Altered Vibes, Simon S of Break Reform, all at Temposphere, Thunderball at Fort Knox and Johnny ‘De’ Mairo for these…
All records are available now!
Solitaire – I Like Love (I Love Love) (suSU)
Cat No: suSU21.
Slip’n’Slide A&R head, Radio 1 don and journo Lewis Dene knows a thing or two about producing successful glamorous housified cuts, as this well-produced, if undeniably soul devoid cut shows. Combining a French sounding guitar groove, disposable silly vocals and throw-away brass, Lewis can laugh all the way to the bank. The Alliance DC club mix is a slight improvement, courtesy of fizzing percussion, a forwards-backwards synth and fashion conscious keys. Graeme Park & Birch’s remix offers another floor filing commercially minded version, with FX squeals, smooth compressed bass and guitar twiddles.
Morris T & Firmo feat Barbara Tucker – Let Me Be (suSU)
Cat No: suSU22.
Now this is a bit more like it, Italian discoid house fixed up by Problem Kid Mark Wilkinson. Not quite up there with the material he produced alongside Rocky for Paper a few years back, this still does the job, courtesy of messed up synth pushes, a smile-inducing guitar groove and breezy keys. Their Dub is also commendable, thanks to its driving bass, FX blurs and reassuring vocal touches. The ‘7th District Club Mix’ is a smoother version, with fattened synths, key strokes and string additions.
Tim Taylor /Andy Slate – Nite Daddy / Jungle People (Missile)
Cat No: MISSILE 56.
This double A side from Missile sees the imprint hit the target. Tim Taylor’s “Nite Daddy” delivers the killer blow, courtesy of unstoppable tribally beats, mashed up opulent disco strings and a bumbling bass whirl. Andy Slate’s “Jungle People” is slightly off the mark, as animal noises, tension raising keys and laughable vocals do the damage.
DJ Kaya feat Mo – U Make Me New / 1000 Days (Room Control)
Cat No: RM1201.
Based on the South coast of the England, DJ Kaya’s productions suffer from the weak vocals of Mo. “U Make Me New” starts out well with some serene wrap-around keys and bass smiles, but the vocals that profess love just don’t cut it. “1000 Days” is a bad-tempered vocal affair, where an all-conquering guitar and affable keys meet.
Ebb – Be A Man (Mettle Trax)
Cat No: MT002.
Not even a triplet of re-rubs from Chris Lum can save this from being an altogether disappointing follow-up to the engaging premier release from Malena. The original is a condensed and slightly claustrophobic filter disco cut, with mad loops and sax pressure. Lum’s ‘Califunk Dub’ offers business-like beats, FX swirls and agreeable keys, whilst his ‘Lumupindaclubdub’ sees a circular guitar groove partner rising sirens. His ‘Lumified Vox’ is a dizzifiying key mission, where siren incredulity and brass blasts do little to improve the track.
Shawn Ward – Forward Motions EP (Flat & Round)
Cat No: FAR004.
Seriously under-rated Vancouver native Shawn Ward shows his flair for producing well-made House, on this cut for the first-rate Flat & Round imprint. “Back To The Future” is probably not a tribute to the time travelling film trilogy, it is a tidy little groover, with cool jazzual keys, star-gazing synths and an energising guitar-led bass. “Holiday” is unfortunately not a Madonna cover, but a cheeky wobbled synth leader, where chords thrust and telephone keys dial. “Night Vibes” is the pick of the bunch, courtesy of its organ-type enriching chords, grooved-up keys and string risings.
Mehdispoz – Project 03 (S-Sens Records)
Cat No: Project 03.
A label to watch and an artist with an unpronounceable name, the highly-rated S-Sens imprint is back, with another chapter from Mehdispoz. “Another Dream” sees a mind-boggling trippy bass, early 90’s keys and bass rummaging combine for a retro-fuelled slice of dancefloor mayhem. The Lucas Konk West revision of “Underground Vibe” takes slick percussion, bizarre robotic vocals and a plump acid bass on an uneventful ride.
John Dalhback – Street Talk EP (SHVA Muzik)
Cat No: SHVA 07.
The Immigrant Industries sub-label returns with a simple but effective 2-track EP (?) from Jesper’s little brother. “Face Down” is the cut to go for, thanks to its awe-inspiring acid tinged bass, stretched chords and powering beats. “New Jack Hustle” is a less appealing ride, with cushioned beats, risen synths and pointless vocals.
Various – Stereo Freeze Sampler #1 (Stereo Freeze)
Cat No: SF1201.
After the cosmopolitan grooves of their Café series, Stereo Freeze return with their debut 12”, an impressive varied outing. Nylon Room’s “Bump!” is a teched out monster, with a synth intro that lulls you into a false sense of security, before battering chords and a vicious bass go in for the kill. Lo-Tek Grooves provide “Plazma”, an afro percussed acidic synth stormer, whilst “Mistique” by Planet Doc Vs Eyedal is a fast paced jazzied House dance.
The Beard feat Amma – Keep Hoping (InSpirit Music)
Easily the finest vocal House offering from this imprint to date, The Beard hooks up with Amma once more, for an appetizing optimistic outing. Andy Caldwell’s mix does the gorgeous vocal justice as hard-hitting drum-led percussion, energising analogue bass, and likeable guitar strums provide the backing. Jay-J’s Dub is cool enough but hardly earth shattering, with its tight percussion, vocal wishings, keys that hit the nail on the head and bass purring. The original is also included, with pride giving keys, FX ripples and a golden guitar-led bassline.
DJ Loctgruv – EP (Bosh)
Cat No: Bosh1229
This debut from Philly based Loctgruv is probably the most beautiful thing Bosh has released, but what happened to the track titles? The ‘A1’ track sees good as gold keys stretch over some quirky live guitar action, whilst the ‘A2’ cut is a sharper beaten number, with more gorgeous keys. Flip over for ‘B1’, a faraway synthified journey, with cosmic keys and a numb bass.
Haris – Fashionist (Ekstreme)
Cat No: EKS 02.
Not your average release from Haris, “Fashionist” is a terrorising slice of floor hogging techno tackle. The ‘Turbo Hoover Mix’ is probably meant for the dancefloor, not as a musical accompaniment to housework, with its humorous melodic keys, crazed FX blasts and vox hits. The speedy bass addled ‘Headbangers Mix’ is not worth the time of day.
Ivan Komlinovic – Spread The News (Laus Records)
Cat No: LAUS 015.
Zagreb based Ivan brings us a broadcast of his own personal brand of cold-hearted Tech vibed House. “Spread The News” combines jumpy percussion, fuzzed synths and siren screams, as “Darkside Personality” relies on effective bass drops for its strength. “Heartbrake Baby” is a rattling percussive cut, with weirdly affected Detroit style keys and dangerous synth stabs.
8:35 – Mingle With A Sound (Altered Vibes/Battersea Park Music)
Cat No: AV008.
I guess 8:35 must have been an important time for this boundary challenging crew. The original is a lulling keyed proclamation of the power of music, but it’s the remixes here, which demand the attention. DJ Phantom’s mixes focus on crunched up beats and funkified basslines, whilst Daz-IQ of Bugz fame goes for some G-funk flavoured synth action. DJ Stix revisits “All Your Questions”, as they are answered over bright-eyed keys and brass highs.
Low Budget Soul Feat Nanar from Break Reform – Fills My Heart (Abstract Blue)
Cat No: ABR 06.
Break Reform’s vocal queen Nanar gives Low Budget Soul a helping hand, on their premier release for the Reformer’s label. “Fills My Heart” sees dueting vocalists salute the power of love, over clean-shaven keys, patterned percussion and a drunken unsteady vibraphone. “Mystery Rose/Waves” takes unsurprisingly seafaring keys, odd guitars and pained vocals on a ride debating the inevitable.
D’Nell – Time 2 Say (Furious Styles)
Cat No: FUST 002.
A twosome in the same mould as the awesome Break Reform, D’Nell return with their second EP, which fittingly contains revisions from BR. “Time 2 Say” in original form sees vocalist Ellie vent her frustration on injustices of the world, alongside worried keys, a slightly lost sax and a pouncing bass. The Break Reform remix is a classic melancholic keyed and dejected string-addled version. “That’s How I Know” trusts instinct over logic, as a windy bass does battle with right there beats and bare melodious keys.
I Maniaci Dei Dischi – Smiling Faces EP (Temposphere)
Cat No: TSPH 1502 12”.
This madcap collective of Italian instrumentalists and producers have a healthy appreciation of various musical flavours. “Smiling Faces” is a funked up outing, with low riding beats, a bass with its stomach to the ground and a flavoursome sax. “Ganjaben” takes jumping beats, brushed drums and all over guitar grooves on a fun floor-orientated outing. “Tracklisten” slows the tempo down a touch, for some silly guitar strumming, parping trumpeting and lazing percussive action. There are also some eccentric extra’s on this release, in the form of single elements from the tracks and a host of weird and wonderful vocal cuts, beats and sound FX.
The Fort Knox Five – The Big Score (Fort Knox)
Cat No: FKX002.
Fort Knox returns with an appetizing dose of funk fuelled mayhem. The ‘Dropped Mix’ of “The Big Score” is a sparse version with drummed swipes and a split flute, whilst the original is a crazed guitar and blasting sax heavy cut. “Learning It The Hard Way” is a cross between an orchestral concert and a 70’s funk-touched film car-chase soundtrack, with violin cross plays, delayed brass shouts and a committed bass.
Junior Senior – Shake Your Coconuts (DFA Remixes) (Atlantic)
Cat No: STA 88281.
Quite why we have to be inflicted by more pain from this tiresome twosome, is not clear. However, despite the nasty food type references to moving body parts, the DFA have managed to somehow achieve something with their reinterpretations. Head straight to their instrumental, for an extra-strength dose of pinging percussion, shrieking experimental rhythmics and barmy vocal shouts.
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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