From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-04-19 23:27:51
Jon Freer’s Reviews 19th April 2005.
Singles:
Lühning – All Over (Needs)
Doctor M – Park Jam (Needs/Dancers’ Delight)
Nadirah Shakoor – Just A Breath Away (Yoruba Records)
Sir Piers & Los Amigos Invisibles feat Shaun Escoffery – She’s Gone Away
(Part 1) (Curious)
Kosma – Heliocentric (INFRACom!)
[re:jazz] – Push Push (INFRACom!)
Motorcitysoul – Written In The Stars (INFRACom!)
Etienne De Crecy Pres Super Discount 2 feat Camille – Someone Like You (Different/Pias)
V/A – Latin Vibes part one (Mettle Music)
Vitalic – My Friend Dario (Different/Pias)
Thanks to Yannick at Needs, Osunlade, Sarah at Favouritizm, Petra at INFRACom!, Isabel at Pias and Nic at Mettle Music for these…
Lühning – All Over (Needs)
Cat No: NE 018. Available Now.
Deeply minded as expected, this offering from Needs is a rare, yet nonetheless welcome, full vocal effort from Lars Bartkuhn in conjunction with singing ace Inga Lühning and Helmuth Fass, who props up the outfit on double bass. The ‘vocal version’ sees Inga’s poetic-rhyming sit atop an attention grabbing bass and sweet keys. Lars has created a trademark touching ‘Dub’, with spaced-out synthetics, circular keys and groovy guitars.
Doctor M – Park Jam (Needs/Dancers’ Delight)
Cat No: NE 015. Available Now.
Lars’ brother, Marek Bartkuhn pulls out all the deep disco-house stops for “Park Jam”, a record that will appeal to those who love to lose their thoughts in a gorgeous instrumental opus. Reliable beats, flyaway keys, heartfelt strings and a digitised bass guitar combine on this lovely, one-sided record.
Nadirah Shakoor – Just A Breath Away (Yoruba Records)
Cat No: YOR 108. Available Now.
After another break from the business of releasing records on his own outstanding label, Osunlade returns with a gorgeous call to arms he penned for the angelic Nadirah, who lent her voice to his awesome “Pride” track. Here, Nadirah is once more in an empowering mood, crying for peace over clompy beats and jolly keys. There are also synth-heavy revisions from Franck Roger and Osunlade himself.
Sir Piers & Los Amigos Invisibles feat Shaun Escoffery – She’s Gone Away
(Part 1) (Curious)
Cat No: CUR 016. Release Date: 9th May 2005.
Shuan Escoffery is a vocalist to be reckoned with and here he shares the stage with the feisty Los Amigos Invisibles and powerful House don Sir Piers on this solid dancefloor mover. The ‘Curious Main Mix’ from Piers contains devastated vocals, clipped drums and well-to-do strings. His Dub yearns for the said lady to return, as FX bitten vocals, floaty keys and deflated strings do the pleading.
Kosma – Heliocentric (INFRACom!)
Cat No: IC 114-1. Available Now.
Somewhat surprisingly, London based tracky house head Jesse Rose turns up on INFRACom!, and gives “Heliocentric” a good kick up the behind. Measured percussion, a woozy digital bass, engrossed synths and dramatic strings link up on Jesse’s ‘Re:puzzled’ version. “Small Swinging Istanbul” contains live percussion that shakes so much, one could be forgiven for feeling that their speakers were about to topple over!
[re:jazz] – Push Push (INFRACom!)
Cat No: IC 116-1. Available Now.
A track from the second volume of the ear pleasing jazzy covers comp gets the remix treatment from Motorcitysoul and Soulpatrol. The Motor’s version is a little flat, as those graceful vocals are worked over champagne-fizzy synths and an obese bass. Soulpatrol’s ‘Pushin’ It Mix’ has a bit more of a sparkle to it, courtesy of dub-thinking broken beat percussion, breathtakingly energetic pianos and admiration filled vocals.
Motorcitysoul – Written In The Stars (INFRACom!)
Cat No: IC 117-1.
This effort from Motorcitysoul is much more dynamic than their revision of “Push Push” from the [re:jazz] project, but their card is trumped on this occasion by Martin ‘At Jazz’ Iverson. His ‘At Jazz Astro Dub’ is a mind-blowing stuttered broken soul effort, with a heavy yet musical Bugz type bass, apologetic vocal hits and strings that have tears streaming down their face. Martin’s vocal version watches lost in love vocals attempt to make sense of their feelings to a soaring string led backing. The original is a keyed up dreamy affair, whilst the Inverse Cinematics mix takes its strength from unflinching synths and crazy bass delvings.
Etienne De Crecy Pres Super Discount 2 feat Camille – Someone Like You (Different/Pias). Cat No: DIFB 1039 CDM/T. Available Now.
Camille of Nouvelle Vague fame ditches her kitsch bossa backers in favour of guitar based groovement from Etienne, who played his part in the mid 90s French House invasion. The original sees fast-moving beats, dedicated guitars and a nasty riffing bassline back Camille’s effortlessly sexy vocals. Benny Bennasi’s remix is a disgusting screwed up guitar and strobe key addled revision, whilst Munk’s is a rather tasty cut glass guitar-synth effort.
V/A – Latin Vibes part one (Mettle Music)
Cat No: MM05. Promo.
With their album “Moodswings” firmly out of the way, the Mettle crew go all Latin on us, signing up an impressive array of tracks. Rio Orchestra’s “Salsa del Rios” in ‘Sunlight mix’ form is a broken gem, with melt in mouth chords, blankly staring beats and breezy keys. The ‘Club Mix’ from Mettle Music is a housier vision, which utilises body moving organs, bright keys and fun brass. “Coconut Lounge” from Shawn Ward is a wonderful acrobatic flute based number, which is focussed on the dancefloor. Marcus Tavia gives us the relaxed “Hombre”, where magic keys and careful drumming are the main elements.
Vitalic – My Friend Dario (Different/Pias)
Cat No: DIFB 1042 CDM/T. Available Now.
Techno terrorist Vitalic makes some ear pummelling music. Listeners of a sensitive disposition should stay well away from his output, and on this release, only “Warm Leatherette” is really worth the time of day. Smashing drums, an in pain bass and throwaway vocal remarks hold the key on this scary track.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
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