From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-01-26 23:26:48
Jon Freer’s Reviews 26th January 2005.
Album & comp selection:
LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem (EMI/DFA)
V/A – My Twilight Blues (Pêng)
V/A – Phil K Presents Y4K (Distinctive Breaks)
V/A – Klubb House (Slip ‘n’ Slide)
Thanks to James at Pomona, Andy at Peng, Anton at Trailer Media and Jonas at Kickin Music for these…
LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem (EMI/DFA)
Available Now.
In a world where hype and coolness rule over actual musical content for many tastemakers and press, it would be easy to be swept up by the LCD furore just because of the NY troupe’s hippness and credibility. However, despite their music being more of a pastiche of influences as opposed to a new musical dream, there’s something goddamn exciting about the way they combine punked up ideals, a rockish swagger, dance slickness and a willingness to experiment. “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” is probably not a reality for LCD yet, but maybe the masked gallic duo will ask if it can be once they’ve heard the growling synths, excited rhythm section and passionate drumming of this track. “Too Much Love” warns against emotional involvement, as sobbing synths and softly running percussion link up behind saddened vocals. “Tribulations” is a clear-thinking vocal based track, with chipped percussion, a bass that burns brightly and cute keys. Those purchasing the double CD version ge!
t the added bonus of a second disc containing cuts such as the cosmic ‘Pretentious’ version of “Yeah”.
V/A – My Twilight Blues (Pêng)
Cat No: pengcd8. Release Date: 14th February 2005.
Put together by label head and production maestro Andy Compton, “My Twilight Blues” is easily the best compilation Pêng has released in a good long while. Using music from new recruits and old hands, this ten tracker of deep jazzed out house is something to savour. The Rurals own “Feel My Cry” lets you do just that, as splayed beats and ice cool synths back emotional vocals. New boy Rodriguez Sanchez presents “River Is Deep”, a snorkling mission into the pacific, where barking flute swim with graceful strings and kaleidoscopic keys. “Pearls” from Pete Mo is a shiny number with a blowy sax, teasing keys and a bumped out bassline. Deep House can mean emotionless grooves and banged out tracky cuts to some people, but the Rurals make tracks with a palpable ‘deepness’.
V/A – Phil K Presents Y4K (Distinctive Breaks)
Cat No: Y4K010. Release Date: 7th March 2005.
Stoned leftfield numbers, gritty breaks and heavy housers are the order of the day on this comp from Phil K. There are a few pretty yucky vocal-laced tracks, but on the whole, the selection is pretty tasty. Habersham’s “Song of the lizard” places tripped out trumpeting over measured beats, grey synths and FX dribbles. Agoria gives us “Kofea”, where nightmarish synths, a reversed bass and squealing keys combine to produce a seriously scary concoction. “The Devil’s Logic” by Son Of The Electric Ghost feeds probing synths over an argumentative bass and slammed percussion. A satisfying breakfeast.
V/A – Klubb House (Slip ‘n’ Slide)
Cat No: SLIPCD186. Release Date: 14th February 2005.
A little tougher than the Jazz and Latino outings in the series, “Klubb House” focuses on disco-napping House numbers. There are a lot of faceless floor fillers here, but there are a few really sweet cuts. The ‘Jocie In My Room’ version of Jask’s “Beautiful” is an attractive enough number, with trotting percussion, keys that will stick in your head and a softly spoken vocal workout. Solu Music’s “Fade” as remixed by Eric Kupper is likely to be lost from the memory a little quicker than the timeless original, but it still holds appeal due to the inclusion of those arresting keys and vocals that are crying out for love. “It’ll Be Alright” is a smile-inducing track with frenzied key work, appeasing vocals and a groovin’ live bass. A mixed bag.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
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Keep On Magazine
Blues & Soul Magazine
XLR8R Magazine
City Life Magazine
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skansen.no
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