From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-02-26 12:00:36
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 25th February 2004.
Thanks to Osunlade, Jeffrey at Joyous Shout, Amp Fiddler, Tinku and Collin at
Jointtrax, Jamie at Scuba, Aaron at Ubiquity, Jamie at Rocketsciencemedia, All
at Phuturetrax, Mario Martin at Narada & The Triplets Of Belleville for these…
The 12” Selection.
Sin Palabras – Yemeya (Yoruba Records)
Cat No: YOR – 101. Promo.
The return of the much-loved Yoruba imprint is like meeting a long lost friend
who you thought had unfortunately disappeared from your life. Obviously
influenced by label boss Osunlade’s relocation to the Caribbean, the first
offering is from traditional Afro-Cuban heads Sin Palabras. “Yemeya” sees a
demonstrative flute ride crashing waves, licking guitar strums and shaken yet
not stirred percussion. John Beltran’s remix lets you soar above the clouds,
as a wide-eyed synth takes you on a magical carpet type journey, over
smouldering keys and a melting flute.
Santos – Love Made For Two (Yoruba Records)
Cat No: YOR – 102. Promo.
Osunlade’s imprint proves that music doesn’t have to be of a certain tempo or
style to demand attention from those with ears, as this searching debut from
Arizona based Santos shows. “Love Made For Two” gets its spine-tingling
electricity from a delicious muted trumpet, that simmers alongside charmed
vocals and golden keys. “Amante” lets crystalline tear-dropped shaped keys
pour out their emotions over guitar expressions and comforting bass purrs.
Mudd. Feat Chico Hamilton – Kerry’s Caravan (CD-R).
Promo.
Nu-afro percussive don Paul Murphy locks cymbals with drumming Jazz legend
Chico Hamilton, and the result is a spirit-lifting slice of thinking-man’s
Jazz, which could do the job on many a dancefloor. The original sees jubilant
vocals sit on top of a dreamy sax and percussion that stands its ground. Smith
& Mudd’s ‘Claremont 56 Mix’ lets keys brighten up the room, as strings swoon
over a head-nodding snail-paced percussion. The ‘Benny West Orchestral
Reprise’ is all that you’d expect it to be, with its magical strings and
complementary brass.
The Long Players.
Amp Fiddler – Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly (Genuine)
Cat No: GEN015. Available Now.
Brought up on the unadulterated soul-dripping emotion of his city’s colourful
musical past and given a diet of three square meals of funk a day, it’s not
surprising Amp was a session musician for the best of them, before stepping up
to take the limelight for himself. Heading the city’s soul renaissance, Amp is
one of the most versatile and talented singers and multi-instrumentalists to
emerge from Detroit, ever. “I Believe In You” demands some commitment or at
least some meaningful communication, as sitting back percussion and crazily
morphed Nord keys wait expectantly for an answer. “Superficial”, his first
solo effort that got him noticed in a big way, laments the problems of pure
physical attraction alongside distracting keys and a funny bass. “This Is How”
shows how the truth can build bridges and triumph, while keys pacify and a bass
wobbles melancholically. Timeless.
John Beltran – In Full Color (Ubiquity)
Cat No: URCD/LP142. Available Now.
In touch with his Latin roots as well as his passion for atmospheric
electronics, this album is a vivid display of the marriage of these styles. No
tired keys or absurd Spanish vocals in sight or ear range, “In Full Color” will
brighten up many a living room and dancefloor. “Candela” has a keyed groove of
tidal wave proportions that bowls you over, yet despite feeling shell-shocked,
you rock gently to brushed percussion and gorgeous vocal harmonising. “Your
Colors” pays tribute to a lover, as inwardly looking fuzzy keys hold hands with
a trembling bass and a mind-bending jazzy guitar. “Pictures & Indian Summer”
engulfs the mind, courtesy of almost trivial sounding key tapping, affecting
synths and beautiful vocal cries. John has captured a ray of sunshine and he
has immortalised the shining glory of it by converting it to sound.
Various Artists – Life:Styles compiled by Coldcut (Harmless)
Cat No: HURTCD/LP053. Release Date: March 2004.
Their ‘Journey By DJs’ mix may have caused all and sundry in the rigidly genre-
centred dance music press to wet themselves and such flagrant disregard for
categorisation of music. In truth, whether revitalising popstrels or making
their own off-the-wall underground mash, Coldcut have never stuck to the
rules. This compilation, which shows what makes the pair tick, is
understandably a somewhat bizarre concoction. However, an eccentric stance
doesn’t have to be a problem, and there are some exceedingly good musical cakes
here. Chosen Few’s “Do Your Thing” advocates individualism, which I’m sure
the ‘Cut would agree heartily with, as a full bodied guitar bass rides
alongside sturdy brass. Otis Clay’s “The Only Way Is Up” shows how weak the
Coldcut penned Yaz version really is, because the tight brass, high-spirited
strings and buoyant vocals on this version gel wonderfully. Arthur
Russell’s “Another Thought” is incredibly passionate; it feels like the violin
is physically weeping alongside the philosophical vocals. Still challenging
the nation’s aural senses, “Life:Styles” has uncovered some superb gems, and
brought other deserving platters to a deserving larger audience!
Ben Charet – The Triplets Of Belleville Soundtrack (Higher Octane Soundtracks)
Available Now.
The animated film of the same name, with its child-like charming nature and
perplexing yet hilarious plot twists, must be seen to appreciate this
soundtrack. The silliness of the movie has unsurprisingly filtered through to
soundtrack. This is apparent on “Cabaret Hoover”, a track with newspaper
rhythmics, fridge key twangs, vacuum cleaner whirring and doctor who strings.
Actually, hold on a minute, it sounds serious like modern electronica of the
vibe of someone like Herbert, admittedly in one of his stranger moods!
The “French Mafia Theme” soundtracks the entrance of the dastardly group, as
trumpets get throttled by sinister lower brass and strings cast dark clouds
over nimble percussion. The swansong, “Belleville Rendez-vous” by M is an
eccentric sing-along piece, with a twanging guitar duet and vocals that confuse
equally in on the ‘French’, ‘English’ and ‘Demo’ versions! Who would have
thought the Tour De France, (admittedly a slightly warped version of the race)
could bring us so much excitement?
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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