From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2004-10-03 19:35:56
Jon Freer’s Reviews October 3rd 2004 & dates for your disco diary.
Longplayers:
Alex Attias pres Mustang – Back Home (Compost)
V/A – UNCLASSICS (Environ)
A Man Called Adam – All My Favourite…(Southern Fried)
Vector Lovers –Vector Lovers (Soma)
Joey & Norman Jay pres Good Times #4 (Resist)
Tremble – Ballroom Blues (Different)
Thanks to Carina and all at Compost, Ben at Best Kept Secret, All at Environ, Sue at Stunt, Jane at Shellshock, All at Southern Fried, Caroline at Soma, Andrea at Freewheelin’ and Tash at Different for these…
*Dates for your disco diary (previews below)*
(Apologies to those of you who don’t live near enough to attend any of these nights!).
To get your event listed – please email me!
Sat Oct 9th – Eyes Down Birthday Part 1 w/ Domu at Band On The Wall, Mcr.
Sat Oct 9th - Rough Disko, The Grapes, Sheffield.
Sat Oct 16th/Sun Oct 17th – Electric Souls Weekender, Nr Mcr.
Fri Oct 22nd - Eyes Down Birthday Part 2 w/ Recloose at the Roadhouse, Mcr.
Sat Oct 23rd – Alice Russell LIVE at Friends & Family at the Roadhouse, Mcr.
Sat Oct 23rd – Level 10, secret venue, Sheffield.
Sat Oct 30th – The Electric Chair w/ Quantic & Jimpster, Music Box, Mcr.
Throughout Oct & Nov – Mr. Scruff ‘Keep It Solid Steel’ tour!
Alex Attias pres Mustang – Back Home (Compost)
Cat No: CPT 174-1/2. Release Date: October/November 2004.
The incredibly talented Alex Attias drops his first unashamedly broken-beat styled album on Germany’s Compost imprint. Carving out a cosy musical niche for himself, the longplayer is best described as moody cinematic jazz-breaks, complete with an orchestra-sized string department and percussion section. The title track sees angry tympanic percussion link up with Gregory-style militaristic synths, theatrical strings and a menacing bass. “Everchanging Times” has guest appearances from vocal duo Colonel Red and Bémbé Ségué, who both wax lyrical regarding the problematics of relationships, over cool keys, tight strings and hopped tympani laced beats. “Finding Out Who We Are” idealises over the future, as fractured percussion, a chunky bass and irresistible guitars back the Colonel’s vocals. This is an excellent album of violently minded classically orchestrated future jazz from Alex!
V/A – UNCLASSICS (Environ)
Cat No: ENVCD003. Release Date: 26th October 2004.
The tracks on this CD have their origins in a period that stretched from the late 70’s to the mid 80’s, when Disco was not the force it had once been. Plucked from obscurity and spliced together by future-disco revolutionary Morgan Geist, many of the tracks on this CD have a definite post-disco feel and take their strength from simple space-age melodies and clean keyed grooves. Discotheque’s “Disco Special” is a guitar-laced cut, with sassy strings and fizzing cosmic synths. Plastic Mode’s “Baja Imperial” induces vertigo in a pleasant manner (if that’s possible), as circling synths and a melodically similar bass spend the entirety of the track chasing their tails. Purple Flash’s “We Can Make It” is a lovely instrumental number, where romantic keys dominate proceedings. Whilst not all of the tracks here are awe-inspiring, some of them do have an incredible beguiling quality and sound fresher today than many recent retro outings.
A Man Called Adam – All My Favourite…(Southern Fried)
Available Now.
“All My Favourite…” is a ‘Best Of’ type of collection from the duo with the incredibly misleading name. At times beautifully chilled, sometimes rousingly upbeat and occasionally unpalatably clichéd, this album represents the whole musical sphere of AMCA. “Barefoot Acoustic” is an honest guitar-led organic number, whilst “No Distance” is incredibly tender, with thinking strings and laidback guitars. “Que Tal America” is a fun housed-up offering with a blasting trumpet and a plump bass. The gorgeous “Estelle” is included, and its beautiful flute, smiling keys and vocals focussing on the difficulties associated with suppressing emotions make it the standout track on the album. This album is a worthy purchase, for devotees and newcomers to AMCA’s sound alike.
Vector Lovers –Vector Lovers (Soma)
Cat No: SOMACD/LP37. Available Now.
It is difficult to tell if Martin Wheeler, the Vector enthusiast, is being totally serious on this album, or just taking the piss. The title’s of his tracks sound like they are straight from the page of a mag written by Japanese robot obsessives, and the music he makes has a definite fun-tinged cosmic dreaminess. “Tokyo Glitterati” is a flowing shiny number, with popping percussion depressed guitars and a synthetic bass. “Electrosuite” sounds like the robots have short-circuited and rebelled, as an incomprehensible vocoder spits over a slurping bass and odd synths. “Kissed You By The Fountain” attempts to show the humanity of the non-human civilisation, as shining keys meet a moving bass and electric percussion. Regardless of Martin’s passions, this is quirky and at times humorous Eastern-looking post-techno electroid grooviness for man and machines.
Joey & Norman Jay pres Good Times #4 (Resist)
Cat No: Resist CD/LP2. Available Now.
Here is more carnival-inspired goodness from the Queen’s favourite spinner (maybe it’s got something to do with his hat?) and his older brother on a compilation released by a new label that sounds like it could be the offspring of a now sadly defunct London-based musical daddy. As expected, “Good Times 4” is a VERY mixed bag. There are some sublime soulful and jazzy touched selections from recent times and yesteryear here, whilst most of the house based material is weak. Matthew Herbert’s ‘Big Band Mix’ of Oi Va Voi’s “Refugee” asks how can the plight of those without voices go on being ignored, over a traditionally styled brass backing. Jakki’s “You Are The Star” is a desire-fuelled number, with a strong acoustic guitar and a flute that could charm most potential suitors. James Mason’s “Sweet Power Your Embrace” is an outstanding final track, courtesy of its affecting bass, tense strings and heartfelt vocals. Music to soundtrack ‘Good Times’.
Tremble – Ballroom Blues (Different)
Cat No: difflpcd0401. Available Now.
Tremble make decidedly odd downbeat compositions. One part indie, one part leftfield grooves and one part experimental madness, “Ballroom Blues” will touch you emotionally, even if you don’t feel particularly drawn to every track. “40%” sees keys battle unhappy strings and complaining vocals. The lyrics on “Inanimate” will un-nerve, whilst the nasty bass scares and guitars act menacingly. “Deep South” is a subdued outro, with peaceful guitars, quilt-like covering strings and the outline of a dark bass. Not an album to listen to if you’re feeling depressed!
Disco diary brief previews.
Sat Oct 9th – Eyes Down Birthday Part 1 w/ Domu at Band On The Wall, Mcr.
What is it about broken beat producers and pseudonyms? Excellent producer and DJ, Dominic Stanton aka Domu, Umod etc makes the trip oop north to help Kelvin & Jon cut the cake.
Contact: info_at_eyesdown.net.
Sat Oct 9th - Rough Disko, The Grapes, Sheffield.
This is bound to be incredibly messy, but great fun, w/ the likes of Jimpotent and Bob Funkhouse DJing alongside sets from two live bands!
Contact: roughdisko_at_hotmail.com.
Sat Oct 16th/Sun Oct 17th – Electric Souls Weekender, Nr Mcr.
Set to be the party of the year, w/ Osunlade, Gilles P, Joey Negro, the Unabombers and more.
Visit www.electriks.co.uk for full line-up, tickets etc.
Fri Oct 22nd - Eyes Down Birthday Part 2 w/ Recloose at the Roadhouse, Mcr.
Now residing in New Zealand, Recloose makes fine tracks & also spins tasty records.
www.eyesdown.net
Sat Oct 23rd – Alice Russell LIVE at Friends & Family at the Roadhouse, Mcr.
Voice of many a Quantic release, Tru Thought in-house breathtaking vocalist takes to the road w/ her band in order to showcase her lovely “Under The Munka Moon LP”. http://www.fatcity.co.uk/fatcity/friends_and_family/
Sat Oct 23rd – Level 10, secret venue, Sheffield.
Info on this party soon!!!
Sat Oct 30th – The Electric Chair w/ Quantic & Jimpster, Music Box, Mcr.
Will ‘Quantic’ Holland follows Alice north for a detonation w/ the ‘Bombers, as Jimpster takes on Kelvin in the back. www.electriks.co.uk
Throughout Oct & Nov – Mr. Scruff ‘Keep It Solid Steel’ tour!
See www.mrscruff.com to track the bearded cartoon-drawing record lover down!
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
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