From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-08-07 22:22:35
Jon Freer’s Reviews – 7th August 2005.
Singles selection:
Domu – Let Me Be (Archive/Dipiu Music)
Soulcreation feat. Su Su Bobien – It’s Alright (Soul Groove)
Max Cole – The Mo’ High EP (Wah Wah 45s)
Martinez – Moonglow/Morning Sun (Cartridge Music)
Dan Berkson pres. Syntho – Concept EP (Mood Music)
Mattafix – Big City Life (Solid Groove RMX) (Buddhist Punk)
Brown Brothers – Re-edits 1 & 2 (Jiscomusic)
Silicone Soul – Under A Werewolf Moon (Soma)
Bronz n Blak feat. Styles P – In Tha Ghetto (Safehouse Entertainment)
Jim Noir – A Quiet Life EP (My Dad)
Thanks to Ben at BKS, Nicky & Jo at Phuture Trax, Dom at Wah Wah 45s, Andreas at Cartridge, Martinez, All at Mood Music, Heather at Sainted, Spacey at Rude Movements, All at Jiscomusic, Jim at Soma, Angela & Natasha at Shilland and Will & David at Inhouse for these…
Domu – Let Me Be (Archive/Dipiu Music)
Cat No: DPU1891. Available Now.
This multi-monikered and extremely talented beat maker, known as Dom to his nearest and dearest, goes back to his plainest of pseudonyms for the pleading “Let Me Be”. Chronically broken percussion, lovely afro flavoured guitar work and floated keys combine behind determined vocals on the original. Domu and Volcov’s Rima revision beefs up the bass section, as peaceful guitars and well-mannered keys become detached from the rest of the track and float away. Marc De Clive Lowe bring in another drum kit for his mix, where filtrated guitars lines and a submerged key mess are penetrated by pointed vocals.
Soulcreation feat. Su Su Bobien – It’s Alright (Soul Groove)
Cat No: SGR 008. Promo.
New Jersey House hunters Soul Groove unleash Jose Burgos and Duce Martinez’s life enriching entitled “It’s Alright”. Gleeful keys, elated gospelly vocals and waves of applause work their magic on the original. Soul Groove’s in house production crew are the mighty Backroom Productions team, who are also known for outings under the Ruffneck name. Their remix outshine the original, courtesy of cheery brass and in-step percussion, which fit wonderfully with SuSu’s convinced vocals.
Max Cole – The Mo’ High EP (Wah Wah 45s)
Cat No: WAH 12007. Available Now.
Another debutant, Max Cole makes downright spellbinding soul-kissed musica. “Mo’ High” will have you singing along to Max’s almost choirboy pitched infectious vocals, which demand answers to a backing provided by unreal keys, shrieking synths and fractured beats that are finding it a little difficult to move. Natural Self’s version gives the beats extra bite, the bass a Bugz-styled power and loops up the title vocals, in order to make the track easier for the unadventurous spinner to play.
Martinez – Moonglow/Morning Sun (Cartridge Music)
Cat No: Cte 008. Available Now.
Martinez makes a rather singular brand of so-called ‘Cosmic House’, which pinches choice elements from Techy compositions, bumpy housefloor numbers and transporting prog efforts. “Moonglow” sees vacant keys stare out into the ether, backed by hurrying beats and hardline synths. “Morning Sun” rises gloriously, courtesy of impossible to stop synths, burning strings and outer-planetary keys.
Dan Berkson pres. Syntho – Concept EP (Mood Music)
Cat No: MOOD 035. Promo.
It’s easy to tell from the pseudonym Dan has adopted for this release, that the synthically based elements are rather important to him. “In Time” is the one to opt for here, courtesy of its even beats, mobile synths and blown keys. “Concept” is a more robotic offering, where straight to the point beats and a bassline in no mood for compromise back the ubiquitous synths.
Mattafix – Big City Life (Solid Groove RMX) (Buddhist Punk)
Cat No: BPV 003. Available Now.
One of the most prolific producers out there at the moment, Dave ‘Solid Groove’ Taylor gives London bboys Mattafix a taste of his filthy House medicine. Battering beats, striking strings, falling synths and vocal snippets combine on Taylor’s typically ruthless refix.
Brown Brothers – Re-edits 1 & 2 (Jiscomusic)
Cat No’s: JM 001 & 002. Release Dates: TBC.
One would have to put together all the pieces of a very logical puzzle, in order to work out the identity of the record spinning collective responsible for these House leaning disco updates. The first volume kicks off with “Thinking About The Future”, where explosive synths, shaking percussion and elating strings meet behind positive vocals. “Everybody Freak” is a wonderfully tender retooling of a hot dancefloor gem, with featherlike keys, wiggling guitar work and commanding vocals. Volume Two is also a two tracker, and the first offering is called “Something Good”, which sees bounding strings, smiling guitars and insistent vocals collide. “I’ve Found Somebody New” isn’t a retooling of Georg Levin’s beaming House ode, but instead finds a vocalist unsure how to let a partner down gently, backed by inspiring discofied guitars.
Silicone Soul – Under A Werewolf Moon (Soma)
Cat No: SOMA 179. Available Now.
A mythical beast may have inspired the title, but the track honours the US House sound of yesteryear. Keys that evoke memories of various old school house numbers (including MK’s retooling of the Nightcrawlers), link up with insistent beats and nasty synth jolts on the original. Martinez’s revision calls on a fearsome synth and an intimidating bassline to tame the moonstruck monster.
Bronz n Blak feat. Styles P – In Tha Ghetto (Safehouse Entertainment)
Release Date: 22nd August 2005.
Already making waves with Hip Hop heads on both sides of the Atlantic, Bronz n Blak drop a narrative entitled “In Tha Ghetto”. Tough rapping satisfactorily complements the sugary female vox, but it’s the music lying beneath the vocals, which is B n B’s strongest asset. This can be heard most clearly on the instrumental version, where Indian wails, smile-inducing keys, flinching strings and a growing in stature bassline combine rather impressively.
Jim Noir – A Quiet Life EP (My Dad)
Cat No: my008. Release Date: 15th August 2005.
Unlike the downcast emotion manipulators currently engaged in this singing/songwriting lark, Noir is more likely to put a smile on your face than break your heart. The title track uses drum pushiness to back barking guitars and love lost vocals, whilst the 60s pop influenced “I Me You I’m Your” bemuses at key wonderment and light-hearted guitar action. “Turbulent Weather” makes parallels between mood swings and our modern day climate, whereas “Climb A Tree” sees Jim ask touching guitars and full of energy percussion for a leg up.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
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*Freelance journalist.
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Keep On Magazine
Blues & Soul Magazine
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City Life Magazine
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littleplanet.net
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