From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-05-03 18:13:10
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 2nd May 2004.
Thanks to Traci at Mahogani Music, Steve Conry, Sarah at Favouritizm, Carly Miller, Mehdispoz at S-Sens and Mark & Nigel at Store Records
Randolph – About Last Night (Mahogani Music)
Cat No: Mahogani.M-9. Avaialble Now.
Bass player and vocalist extraordinaire, Paul Randolph is known for his appearances alongside Detroit’s finest such as Carl Craig and Amp Fiddler. Dropping on the astoundingly consistent and secretive Mahogani imprint, “About Last Night” is an inspirational debut. The ‘Vocal’ version sees clubby yet understanding beats line up alongside keys that ooze soul, under Randolph’s apprehensive yet eloquent vocal musings. The ‘Instrumental’ takes power from a fiercely hypnotic bass groove, which underpins detached vocal phrases and intense keys. The ’Dub’ is a melancholic declaration of emotions, with an agonising guitar, mournful sax sweeps and a solemn spoken vocal.
Community Housin’ – Brundretts Road (Loaf Recordings)
Cat No: LOAF 003. Promo.
One of the few production outfits still making music that deserves the title ‘deep’ house, Community Housin’ debut for the fledgling Loaf imprint. “Brundretts Road” is the pick of the two here, with its emotion showing chords, ever so smooth bass and high-reaching strings. “Washboard” sees a blurred bass offer vaguely acid styled touches alongside beautiful guitar touches and clapped down-angled percussion.
Verna Francis – Sunshine (Chillifunk Records)
Cat No: 12CF067. Release Date: June 7th 2004.
She may have a lower profile than many of the other vocalists who appear on this imprint, but Verna has an effortlessly gorgeous voice, which is up there with the likes of Vanessa Freeman et al. The ‘Extended Vocal’ version sees close-cropped percussion, slinky minor keys and a swinging trumpet line up alongside Verna’s spirit-lifting vocals. The ‘Restless Soul Mix’ sticks a mute in the trumpet, as trotting percussion moves alongside key niceness and intricate guitar additions. The ‘Vocal Mix’ is the most jazzified version, where a trilling trumpet and cheerful keys take centre stage.
Josh One – Midnight Samba (Rhythm Recordings)
Cat No: RR-02. Available Now.
Surprisingly, Josh turns out to be more of a downtempo and broken jazz head than a House fan. His propulsion into the mainstream in 2002 with “Contemplation” was down to the handiwork of a Philly based ruler, King Britt. “Midnight Samba” is an afro-influenced fractured hop outing, with splurging synths, ice-cool flutes and red-hot guitar bounces. Up, Bustle & Out’s ‘Main mix’ fattens up the cut, courtesy of dubbed out chords, natural party keys and stuttered beats. Their ‘Instrumental’ offers more heavy bass stabs, as keys dance and messy percussion confuses, whilst their dub is crazily scratched affair.
Mehdispoz – Acid Life (S-Sens Records)
Cat No: S-Sens Project 05. Available Now.
This is another slice of dancefloor orientated retro-inspired house action from Mehdispoz. “Acid Life” pits a booming dubbed up bass against conga heavy percussion, groovy organ keys and wurbling acid. Johnny Fiasco’s Remix lifts the cut, courtesy of spacey synths and spot hitting chords.
Below Reviews for Store Records: www.storerecords.co.uk
Panash – Unicorn / Cheval (Atavisme)
Cat No: ATA 005. Available Now.
A Parisian genius with a taste for the unusual, Mr. Bradock returns with a decidedly odd 10” on his own Atavisme label. Holding onto the darkness that gave strength to his “4” release, “Unicorn” is dominated by an apocalyptic bass and scary keys. “Cheval” is similarly challenging on the ears, due to its splayed strings, sprightly percussion and bumping bass.
No Comply / Los Cabrones – 4th Floor Fiesta / Hola Que Tal (Equatorial)
Cat No: ER 003. Available Now.
Dancefloor Jazz at its rump shaking finest is the order of the day here, on this outing from the Oceania based Equatorial imprint. “4th Floor Fiesta” by No Comply featuring Mark Fitzgibbon sees a buoyant sax and energetic keys duel over percussive layers and a groovesome bass. The No Comply revision of the friendly “Hola Que Tal” by Los Cabrones is another exciting musically minded journey, with broken percussion, a rolling sax and ear-catching keys.
DJ Genesis / Omar S – Tribute To Betty / U (Subgroundz)
Available Now.
This split single release from Genesis & Omar has a dynamic versatility, courtesy of a striking sing-along vocal ode and a moody spoken outing. DJ Genesis feat Elveria’s “Tribute To Betty” takes plodding percussion, a Latino steeped bass and reggae-meets-house understanding keys as a backing for Elveria’s anxious yet anticipating vocals. “U” praises courtesy of spoken vocals that lie over stable Detroit type beats and a heaving watery bass.
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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