From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-08-23 22:50:51
Jon Freer’s Reviews – 22nd August 2005.
Albums, compilations and DVDs…
Albums & comps:
V/A – HVW8 Presents Music Is My Art (Ubiquity)
V/A – baR suSU Ibiza/Manhattan (suSU)
Robert Strauss – Quasars and Phasars (Freerange)
Kid606 – Resilience (Wichita)
V/A – Wipeout Pure…The Official Soundtrack (Distinctive)
DVDs:
Keepintime: A Live Recording (Ninja Tune)
Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme (Palm Pictures)
Thanks to Aaron at Ubiquity, Sarah at Favouritizm, Matt at Freerange, Robert Strauss, Osunlade, David & Will at In House, Anton at Trailer Media, Laura at Ninja Tune and Gerry Lyseight for these…
Albums & comps:
V/A – HVW8 Presents Music Is My Art (Ubiquity)
Cat No: URCD/LP 179. Release Date: 27th September 2005.
The Montreal founded HVW8 group is not your average drawing collective. Now based in both LA and the city where they started out, the focus of HVW8’s work is arresting human imagery, backed by hard-hitting graphics. Rejecting the notion that art has to be made solely in the studio or on someone’s outside wall, HVW8 do a lot of painting inside clubs, where they take inspiration from the aural tapestries woven by the music makers, and the energy of the crowd. This compilation, which takes in soulful hop, fighting broken beat and sweet house cuts, shows the calibre of record selectors and producers that HVW8 have worked alongside. Many of these producers have given the Heavyweight crew an exclusive number, and there are some rather special tracks on show here. Seiji’s “Bruqwah” smashes hard-hitting percussion against brutal synths and a hurtful bassline. DJ Language teams up with Lindsay Caldwell on “Blue Miles”, where Lindsay’s mesmerising vocals groove across whirring
synths and defenceless keys. Osunlade supplies “Tambores te llaman”, which roughly translates as ‘drums call to you’. Here, jumping percussion makes itself heard, despite the hullabaloo made by shimmering guitars, optimistic trumpets and spoken vocals. Coming complete with artwork from the HVW8 guys and support by a club tour, “Music Is My Art” is a treat for the eyes as well as the ears.
V/A – baR suSU Ibiza/Manhattan (suSU)
Cat No: SUALBCD12. Available Now.
“bar suSU Ibiza/Manhattan” is a world away from most compilations linked to the infamous white isle, either capturing a sleepy chill out session or a pumping club danceathon. Put together with a Balearic beach in mind, this comp from NY House dons Blaze focuses on sumptuous House moments. Joi’s “No One Like You” sees the Japanese singer’s adoring vocals fly over relaxed guitars and demonstrative keys. Eloquent guitars and vibraphones work wonders on “Carib’s Leap” from Ian Friday. Blaze present us with “Gloria’s Muse (The Yoga Song)” as remixed (not re-edited for once) by Danny Krivit, where heavenward gazing synths and an energising bassline provide the listener with piece of mind. This compilation is a rather syrupy House offering, which is perhaps a little too sugary for its own health in places.
Robert Strauss – Quasars and Phasars (Freerange)
Cat No: FRCD15. Release Date: 19th September 2005.
Originally scheduled for a pre-summer release, Strauss’ LP of fresh souly grooves, Housey hitters and broken beat slammers finally sees the light of day in autumn. Choice interludes litter “Quasars & Phasars”, and it’s a shame that some of them haven’t been made into full tracks. “Miracles” sees vocalist Saidah Baba Talibah philosophise over circling guitars and pretty keys. “Giving Me Something” calls on a low reaching bass and transporting synths to do just that. “Doomed To Your Love” accepts that it’s impossible to choose one’s emotional attachments, as synths lose control over smacking beats and a fattened bass. This album is a confident debut from Robert Strauss, where the most inspiring tracks are located in the second half.
Kid606 – Resilience (Wichita)
Cat No: WEBB086. Available Now.
There’s a melodic calmness to this album from Kid606, which is a world away from the psychotic electronix that has coloured some of his previous output. Familiar production ideals from various musical schools have been corrupted on this album, which is encased in a captivating fragile beauty. “Sugarcoated” sees keyed silliness and loopy bass touches sit behind an all-powerful synth section. “I Miss You” is a harrowing depiction of what it feels like to be separated from a loved one, where abandoned keys are backed by vacant percussion. “King Of Arm” supplies dancehall syncopated percussion and a reliable bass to back touching keys. Occasionally, the collages Kid606 creates are just a little too twisted for their own good, but on the whole, “Resilience” is easy on the mind and ears.
V/A – Wipeout Pure…The Official Soundtrack (Distinctive)
Cat No: DISN 155. Release Date: 5th September 2005.
Complementing the futuristic style and thrilling nature of the Wipeout games comes this breaks driven musical extra. The tracks have all been designed with this hot new game in mind, but will be equally at home on the dancefloor. Elite Force oversteps the mark on “Cross The Line”, as a meaty bass, apocalyptic synths and crazed keys hit home. LFO’s “Flu Shot” is an energising jab, courtesy of possessed keys, bad-tempered synths and ragged beats. Photek’s “C-Note (Instrumental)” derives its power from a punishing bassline and bounding beats. Exhilarating
DVDs:
Keepintime: A Live Recording (Ninja Tune)
Cat No: ZEN111. Available Now.
The concept behind “Keepintime” was to get a range of original breaks disciples together. “Keepintime” brought those who originally bashed out the rhythms on their drums in the first place together with the guys who spend their lives digging for these beats to use in scratchadelic sessions and the Hip Hoppery tracks pressed onto vinyl. Old school drummers like Earl Palmer, Paul Humphrey and James Gadson hooked up with DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and others, to see what musical storms they could whip up using kits and decks. “Talking Drums Whispering Vinyl” brings the beat generators and manipulators together in a studio based set up, where the old fellas get to reminisce about the past, alongside hot turntable work and drumming. The main chunk of the DVD is devoted to a club-based recording of the action, where Madlib, Babu, Cut Chemist and others man the electronic equipment, as the crowd responds exuberantly to the DJ and drummer set up. The CD has an experimental musical
focus to it and is a product of the “Keepintime” live recording being sent to producers around the world, with them being asked to reinterpret portions of the show in a way they felt fit. King Britt’s “Kings On The Mix” is a chaotic yet fascinating ten-minute session, with bass fizziness, life changing chords and tuneful keys, backed by the ubiquitous energetic drumming. The “Paulista Remix” from Eric Coleman places soaked flutes and bearing down synths over the journeying percussion. Daedelus gives us “All Lights On Stage That Night”, where loving woodwind, breath catching strings and affecting pianos come up against a barrage of scratches and incredibly tall drums. Showing both the power of the drums and the versatility of the turntable as an instrument, “Keepintime” brings together both the old and new in a remarkable fashion.
Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme (Palm Pictures)
Cat No: PALMDV3107. Available Now.
“Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme” is a lovingly put together Hippety Hopumentary from Kevin Fitzgerald aka DJ Organic. The history of Hip Hop is briefly addressed, with references to guys such as Kool Herc and The Last Poets, and various components to the Hip Hop situation are covered in a few words. In essence, “Freestyle” is a heart-racing look at the art of unrehearsed verbal combat. It showcases battles in a variety of scenarios, with a huge number of lyrical spitters, both outstanding and less gifted, getting the opportunity to wax over rhythms and beatboxing, in parks, clubs and on street corners. A montage of show excerpts, interview soundbites, footage of important spots and camera induced rapping makes freestylin’ come alive and the energy of this unarmed combat is plain to see. Filming has been carried out in close proximity to the battling rappers and therefore the footage gives the audience a true understanding of how these confrontations unfold. A huge number
of underground cats, and a few who’ve achieved mainstream success display their verbal prowess on this DVD, with the likes of Lord Finesse, Bahamadia, Mos Def and Pharoahe Monche featuring. Footage from Notorious B.I.G’s early days show the power of Biggie’s spoken displays as a teenager, whilst lesser known figures such as Chicago’s quick-thinking Juice and Supernatural dazzle in clashes and when firing lyrical missiles at the documentary maker. “Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme” poses various questions, asking where freestyle has come from, and whether rapping on the spot is more or less valid than working out rhymes and committing them to wax alongside other thought provoking queries. However the strength to this documentary lies when the questions are laid to rest and the lyricists display their quick wits and verbal prowess.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
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Keep On Magazine
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XLR8R Magazine
City Life Magazine
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littleplanet.net
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beyondjazz.net
deephousenetwork.com
skansen.no
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