From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-05-09 18:44:57
Jon Freer’s Reviews. 8th May 2004.
Single’s selection.
Thanks to Jonny at Livesciences, Lucy at Elemental Consulting, Cosmo, Tammy at Magnum PR, Haris at Laus, Asad Rizvi, Tom Baker for these…
Livesciences – Heroes / Keep Your Sciences Live (LVS)
Cat No: lvs 02. Available Now.
The ‘Livesciences’ crew’s musical experiments are probably best described as fine broken-jazz hop. Genuinely erasing the boundaries between nu-jazz snootiness and b-boy posturing, “Heroes” blends snazzy spirited flutes with smiling bass positive-ness. “Keep Your Sciences Live” sees distraught vocals sit comfortably over a steadfast live bass and funny keys.
Traedonya – Beloved (Prohibition Entertainment)
Promo.
A fresh vocal force to be reckoned with, Traedonya’s past may have been in Jazz, but her present is firmly in the contemporary R’n’B marketplace. “Beloved” is the tale of the power of physical, backed by atmospheric organ keys, on heat reggae-guitar licks and slick percussion. The ‘Bass Mix’ is a steppin’ raga-percussed version, with water keys and fantasising strings. The accessibly minded ‘Euro Mix’ is better than its premise, courtesy of “No Letting Go” style coy keys, but the ‘Progressive House Mix’ and ‘Latin Caribbean Mix’ should be left well alone.
Panic feat MC Chick-A-Boo – Jam (Bitches Brew)
Cat No: BITCH009. Release Date: Late June 2004.
Those Bitches return on their genre-defying label with an appetizing Caribbean flavoured broken-house outing. The original sees off-putting synths and blaring sirens back Chick-A-Boo’s ode to many a night spent shaking her posterior on the tiles, where enlightening kettledrums give the track an extra edge. The ‘Freedom Fighter Dub’ lets a blunted dubby bass come to the fore, whilst Charlie Dark provides a pair of synthtastic and lightly keyed reinterpretations.
Rhythm Plate – Straight Outta Cromford EP (DiY)
Cat No: DiY74. Available Now.
It may be a little late for a deep house reply to the surly aggression of “Straight Outta Compton” and this EP, constructed on the mean streets of Matlock, is not that! Instead, it’s a four tracker of rather tasty House with punch, from the slow working Rhythm Plate twosome. “Snood” is a pretty brutal yet satisfying outing, with banged percussion, damaging synths and decidedly lost vocals. The ‘DiY Mix’ is a smarter and less insane version, with a thickly dubbed out bass and contorted discoid keys. “Walk The Back Streets” is a sprightly synth addled cut, where analogue gooiness steals the show, whilst “Recoil” is a nasty speaker-crucifying bass led number.
Rekid – Lost Star (Classic)
Cat No: CMC16. Available Now.
Matt Edwards is more familiar to the listening and dancing public for his releases under the Radio Slave guise. Here, he slows things down to create an EP of sauntering house-not-house cuts. Whilst the majority of tracks falter, due to their cripplingly abstract style and lack of energy, “Pillows” is an outstanding spine tingler. A diet of beats reminiscent of P. Bradock’s humane assault on Iz & Diz’s “Mouth”, haunting piano lines and reachin’ strings create a beautifully minimal yet emotionally touching soundtrack.
Inland Knights – Double Check EP (Drop Music)
Cat No: Drom034. Available Now.
Their style may be a little predictable and they sometimes seem to just be going through the motions, but this little two tracker from those Nottingham Knights is one of their best for a while. “Wait A Minute” manipulates a disco leaning guitar in the way only this production duo can, as vox cuttings lay perfectly across no-nonsense beats. “Think About It” is more a soundtrack to dancing than intellectual musing, courtesy of masked key sweeps and a moaning live bass.
Jeff Bennett – Future Spell EP (Laus Records)
Cat No: LAUS017. Available Now.
An in-demand producer and rightly so, Jeff Bennett touches down with his debut outing for Haris’s Laus imprint. Head straight to “Qual” for Detroit vibes with a twist, courtesy of clean percussion and a bass groove that sucks you in and leaves you powerless. “Future Spell” is a crazy bass rumbling number, whilst “Destination” is a melodic key groover.
Marky Star Pres BT’s Hair – Why Does This Track Make my Butt Look Big? (Wrong). Cat No: WRONG 010. Available Now.
Contender for strangest track title of the year, the music here is quality teched-out house. The original sees upfront beats line up alongside a propelling bass groove and atmospheric key screams. Rob Pearson’s refit lets lifting synths and a dirty bass do the talking.
Tom Baker & Lawrence Mohammed – Twisted Sister (Wiggle)
Cat No: WIGGLE 021. Promo.
Terry Francis’s hip-shaking orientated Wiggle imprint crosses the wires between House and Techno, with this deftly produced debut from Tom Baker and Lawrence Mohammed. “Twisted Sister” is a narrated tale of a mixed-up lass, backed by eerie strings and clubbed-up beats. “System” is a mean bass stormer, with synthetic pressure and pulsating percussion.
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
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Writer for:
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Robsoul Recordings, Dust Traxx,
Spiritual Life Music and more...
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