From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-04-07 00:19:11
Jon Freer’s Reviews 6th April 2005.
Album & comp action:
Silhouette Brown – Silhouette Brown (Ether Records)
V/A - DJ Deep Presents City To City: A Retrospective Journey Through Detroit, Chicago & New York Underground House Sounds (BBE)
V/A – Future Sound Of Jazz 10 (Compost)
V/A – DJ Mark Farina: Mushroom Jazz 5 (Om)
Verna Francis – Down To Earth (Chillifunk)
V/A - Inland Knights: Family Duels (NRK)
Thanks to Paul at Ether, Neil at BBE, Carina & Sandra at Compost, Duncan and Gareth at Zzonked, Sarah at Favouritizm, Lofty at Chillifunk and Nick at NRK for these…
Silhouette Brown – Silhouette Brown (Ether Records)
Cat No: ETHCD04. Available Now.
Dego and Kaidi come up with the nu-skool goods on this comforting album, which is the musical equivalent of snuggling up under a warming blanket on a cold night. The gooey sweetness is a world away from the destructive, dancefloor bashing records, which Dego has put out in the past. “Whose In Charge” is grammatically incorrect but musically spot-on, courtesy of a mean bass, a slippery synth and chord twosome, and tiptoeing beats. “Looking Back” uses cross-sounding angular percussion and watered keys to back vocalists who seem unable to take no for an answer. “Just A Little More” pleads for affection, as keys slither along in the background. A broken soul dream.
V/A - DJ Deep Presents City To City: A Retrospective Journey Through Detroit, Chicago & New York Underground House Sounds (BBE)
Cat No: BBE 052. Promo.
Parisian house head monsieur Deep has chosen his storytelling tools well on this occasion. This long-titled compilation is a great album of long in the tooth House and Techno records, which still sound great today. “Keep Movin’” by Mike Perras does just that, as ensnaring percussion and reachin’ up strings put on a wonderful display. Plez’s “Can’t Stop” captures the listener’s ear, courtesy of some worked up vocals, keys that are dripping goodness and out of control chords. “Jupiter Jazz” from the militant World 2 World (aka UR) is a ravadelic number, with sedative needing chords, solid gold keys and a heavenly vocal mirage. Emotional House and Techno from way back when!
V/A – Future Sound Of Jazz 10 (Compost)
Cat No: CPT-181. Available Now.
The gardener’s choice label has always had a knack for cultivating nu-age jazz music. Volume 10 of their trailblazing series is perhaps not as full on jazzy as the name of the series implies, but instead is collection of sleepy teched up pieces, broken soul lovelies and other odds and sods. Povo’s “Uam Uam” as remixed by Moonstarr is a mighty broken tech opus, with percussion that trips over its toes, crying horns and blazing keys. “Los Bandidos” by Carl Tjader becomes a dreamy grooveathon when remixed by Michael Reinboth, courtesy of some beautiful vibraphone tinkering, cute piano keys and gutsy bass action. Sebastien Tellier’s sublime “La Ritournelle” sees full-bodied strings and mournful pianos combine in an enchanting manner. A tasty comp.
V/A – DJ Mark Farina: Mushroom Jazz 5 (Om)
Release Date: 2nd May 2005.
When not jacking up his beats and boompty bumping it with the rest of them, Mark puts on his fungus hop hat on and kicks back. “Mushroom Jazz 5” is a first-rate collection of jazzy bites, blunted instrumentals and summery Hippety hopping numbers. DJ Dez gives us “Hollywood”, a bass minded groover, with expertly manipulated vocal touches. Presto feat. Lowd’s “Back In ’92 (Instrumental)” pits inside out funk keys against forceful beats and ‘special’ keys. The Instrumental of Pete Rock’s “It’s A Love Thing” is a laboured, affectionate number, with encircling keys, neat beats and a caring strings and brass combo. It’s good to see that Mark hasn’t neglected this side of his DJ persona.
Verna Francis – Down To Earth (Chillifunk)
Cat No: CFCD016. Out Now.
Verna’s first longplayer, produced by Felix Hopkins and Scott Baylis, is an organic soul effort, which is spellbinding in places, and weak in others. The album shows that she shouldn’t just be acknowledged for her vocals on one track produced by the mighty Phil Asher and Nathan Haines. “Earth Is The Place” still empowers, courtesy of Verna’s strength giving vocals, frosted percussion and jazz club keys. “Pause” takes time to assess life, as lazy sounding keys and odd keys stand behind questioning vocals. “Look” is a confused romantic number, with off the cuff percussion, ever so sweet guitars and telling keys. This lady certainly has potential and hopefully this release will help her achieve more...
V/A - Inland Knights: Family Duels (NRK)
Cat No: NRKCD019. Release Date: 2nd May 2005 (31st May 2005 – US).
“Family Duels” shows that the Knights excel when it comes to making their own tracks and remixing their peers. Disc 2, which contains both remixes and original productions from the pair is a great CD of inventive, animated clubfloor House, whereas the mixed disc from the duo isn’t particularly inspiring. Their own “Boy” is a dancefloor propelling number, with unapologetic beats, deformed synths and misshaped vocals. Their re-rub of The Littlemen’s “Stoned” sees absent-minded keys, g-funk synths and a trustworthy bass back a hounding vox loop. Joshua’s “Watch The Bass” becomes a punk-dub house banger, courtesy of enthusiastic synths, buoyant dubby cuts and bass swirls. Check out CD 2 – inventive and stylish floor-bothering house.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
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