From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-02-13 23:13:37
Jon Freer’s Reviews 13th February 2005.
Single Action:
Fertile Ground – Yellow Daisies (Nicola Conte Remixes) (Counterpoint)
RightKindaWrong – Why U? (Rainy City Music)
V/A – Balanço (Club Sounds of Brazil EP) (Musica Balanço)
V/A – Colour Series: Blue 02 Sampler (Freerange Records)
The Vanishing System – Fantastical (Altered Vibes)
Martin Brew – Galactico (Fat City)
Trevor Loveys – Back To Front EP (Front Room)
El Clon – Telepath (Skor Records)
Polycubist – EP (Skor Records)
Hystero – Gonna Love You (Soma Records)
V/A – Soma Dubs Vol 3: The Slam Dubs (Soma Records)
Thanks to Jake at Counterpoint, Irfan at Rainy City, Ben at Best Kept Secret, Tim at Piccadilly, Graeme at Cause & Effect, All at Headinghome and Caroline at Soma for these…
Fertile Ground – Yellow Daisies (Nicola Conte Remixes) (Counterpoint)
Cat No: CRS024. Release Date: 7th March 2005.
Counterpoint have released some wonderful dancefloor overhauls of Fertile Ground in the past, and Conte has made a valiant effort with his a pair of exhilarating re-rubs. His ‘Ptah El Daoud Rework’ places a feel good live bass and tingling brass under Navasha’s peaceful vocals. The instrumental gives a voice to an eloquent flute and casual piano keys.
RightKindaWrong – Why U? (Rainy City Music)
Cat No: RCM0020. Release Date: 28th February 2005.
It is time to say welcome back to the wonderfully open minded Rainy City imprint and open the door for new signing RightKindaWrong, the work of former Simply Red guitarist Myke Wilson and vocalist Yvonne Ellis. “Why U?” bears no resemblance to the work of the weak soul popstrels, it is an arresting mid tempo cut with tapping percussion, a walking bass and compressed synthetics. The ‘Alternative Ride’ steps into broken house territory, courtesy of some insecure chords, knocking beats and a melting bass.
V/A – Balanço (Club Sounds of Brazil EP) (Musica Balanço)
Cat No: BALA 001. Release Date: 28th February 2004.
Rainy City branch out with the launch of Musica Balanço, a label inspired by Balanço, Irfan and Franco Ze’s successful Brazilian minded danceathon. The EP contains three tracks from the Lino Crizz outfit. The relaxed hop of “Guarde Minha Voz” and “Segura A Bronca” will sound instantly familiar due to their sample sources, whilst “Paz” is a merry guitar driven cut. Motiro give us “Senhorita”, a jolly keyed number with almost K Dope styled percussion and Rappin’ Hood present “Sou Negrao”, where mazy banjo-type cavaquinho lines weave over lively drumming and pleased sounding vocals. FLG’s “Meu Garda Chuva” finishes off this excellent EP, as ever so smooth vocals coat lovely brass and laidback beats.
V/A – Colour Series: Blue 02 Sampler (Freerange Records)
Cat No: FR050. Release Date: 21st February 2005.
Freerange get to their half centaury and celebrate by unleashing a vinyl taster for their rather fine ‘Blue’ CD. Jimpster’s ‘House Dub’ of Random Factor’s “Move On” is certainly one his finest remixes to date, as un-nerving mouth music, jagged synths and trotting percussion collide. Kirk DeGiorgio’s “Cosmic Peasent” is a brilliant synth laced otherworldly wanderer, whilst King Kooba’s “San Salvador” is a brassed up floor hitter. Hipp-E completes the line up with “Fresh Air”, a surprisingly organic synth led jazzer, recorded under his Sold On Sound moniker.
The Vanishing System – Fantastical (Altered Vibes)
Cat No: AV013. Release Date: February 2005.
The Vanishing System appear again with a cosmic soul jam to please many. “The Fantastical” sees J Todd’s funny vocals inhabit a world where intense synths and rough assed beats run riot. “Step-Gruv” is a little disappointing by comparison, with its commanding vocals, slow stepping beats and unpredictable musical accompaniment.
Martin Brew – Galactico (Fat City)
Cat No: FC12016. Available Now.
Fat City stalwart Mr. Brew goes into cosmic future disco mode on the fine “Galactico”. Lazy Walker’s beguiling guitar work does the damage on this track, over cool beats and a dancing live bassline. The flip contains a standard Hip Hop head nodder, which goes by the name of “Drop The Beat”.
Trevor Loveys – Back To Front EP (Front Room)
Cat No: FRM009. Release Date: Late February 2005.
Trevor goes for the rough jacked up sound on this not particularly exciting floor pleasing EP of twisted House. “Say What?” questions, courtesy of jigsaw puzzle type slice vocals that just about fit together, a forceful bass and matter of fact beats. Jesse Rose’s ‘Front Room Edit’ will be at home on dark dancefloors, courtesy of its streamlined bassline, synth squelches and weird vocals. “Yummy” is a sick synther that will probably make you lose your appetite, whilst “After Dark” is a fearsome bass heavy affair.
El Clon – Telepath (Skor Records)
Cat No: SKOR 008. Release Date: 15th March 2005.
Not for the straight thinking ‘chill out’ aficionados, “Telepath” is freaky horizontal listening material. “My Very Own Platypus” invites the odd creature for a post-dub keyed up party, whilst “Mariopsa” sounds like Hip Hop made in a blender. “Is She Smoking” wraps gazing keys in plumes of potent smoke and “Crinoline Flowers” is an ambient dream.
Polycubist – EP (Skor Records)
Cat No: SKOR 006. Release Date: 1st April 2005.
The Polycubist is ready to take you on a psychotropic nu-dub mission. “Frightened Like A Puppy” sees beats stride through a dubby haze, whilst “Him” is a d&b styled dubber. “Bloody Dub” watches an obese bass work out, whilst the “Newer Rasta Mix” pits sharp keyed elements against eye opening guitars.
Hystero – Gonna Love You (Soma Records)
Cat No: SOMA 160. Release Date: 28th February 2005.
Filtrated discoid house is back with vengeance on this retro number from Hystero. The title track is a simple cut whose main elements are garish cut up synths, vocal smithereens and driving beats. Automatik and Silk pull apart the vocals and synths on their revision and the bonus cut is “I.P.O”, a vibrant synth fuelled track. Hystero unfortunately don’t have the gallic charm of those disco thieves who released music on Soma many moons ago.
V/A – Soma Dubs Vol 3: The Slam Dubs (Soma Records)
Cat No: SOMA 164. Available Now.
Slam’s retro “This World” is the track in question, which has been dubbed by Wighnomy & Ruhme and Slam themselves. W&R’s version sees the mashed up vocals sit atop wiry beats, a whispering bass and angelic strings. Slam’s own fancy keyed instrumental really couldn’t be the work of anyone else!
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
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