From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-07-31 21:44:00
Jon Freer’s Reviews 30th July 2005.
Singles selection:
Solu Music feat. Kai Martin – It Ain’t Love (Solu Music)
Bah Samba feat. Isabel Fructoso – Calma (BKO Productions)
Sam & Gigi – Bau Au (Still Music)
David Borsu – Reminiscent EP (Counterpoint)
Hiem – Friendz (Atlantis Audio)
Jonathan Krisp – Tangible Gains (Flevans RMX) (Cookshop)
Daníel – If You Leave Me Now (One Little Indian)
Ying Yang Twins – Wait (The Whisper Song) (TVT)
Jazzy Eyewear – Doin’ Wrong (Nordic Trax)
Hystereo – Validity Revision / Resistance (Soma)
Thanks to Sarah at Favouritizm, Howie & Dano at Solu Music, Jerome at Still Music, Jake at Counterpoint, Bozz from Hiem, Ben at BKS, Dan at Scruffy Bird, Lucius & David at Outpost Media, Luke at Nordic Trax and Jim at Soma for these…
Solu Music feat. Kai Martin – It Ain’t Love (Solu Music)
Cat No: SOLU 011. Release Date: August 2005.
Quentin Harris has had the NY House faithful dribbling over their decks and mixers for the past few months, courtesy of a string of dancefloor arresting remixes and original productions. Here, he sends Solu’s ode to being spurned to new heights, with the help of some aggrieved keys, sulking strings and a flying sax. Joey Youngman’s mix is held aloft by some strong-armed synths, whilst the original is a jubilant saxer, with grinning keys and sedated guitars.
Bah Samba feat. Isabel Fructoso – Calma (BKO Productions)
Cat No: 12BK03. Release Date: 22nd August 2005.
One of the prettiest numbers from Bah Samba’s recent album gets housed up by a couple of NY master mixers. Louie Vega’s version watches beats slosh around under sun-lighted strings, loveable keys and Isabel’s vocals that have relaxing properties to them. Nu school hero Quentin ‘Keys & Strings’ Harris provides an expected intense revision, as piercing string stabs, abrupt beats and pointed chords join Isabel’s friendly vocals. Bah Samba’s percussively fluttered album version is joined by a ‘Beach Mix’, where the blissful guitars will make listeners fall in love with this track once more.
Sam & Gigi – Bau Au (Still Music)
Cat No: Stillm 006. Promo.
Shock horror! This release from Still Music has no Detroit connection! However, a sigh of relief can be breathed, because these Finish cats with an eye on Jori Hulkkonen’s throne have produced a gorgeous cut for Still Music. The original of “Bau Au” sees a sturdy bass, reaching ever-higher keys and beaming scatted vocals meet for a secret rendezvous. Patchworks swim into uncharted deeper waters on their mix, with the help of a delving bass, lonesome drums and lost strings. Sam & Gigi have also supplied a affable key led revision, whilst Markus Enochson has plummed for fizzing synths, strings that make you catch your breath and a cute bass on his retooling.
David Borsu – Reminiscent EP (Counterpoint)
Cat No: CRS 028. Available Now.
Jazz fanatic David Borsu follows up his near perfect “Monster EP” with a slightly less fiendishly titled, but impressive EP of hard-hitting floor directed Jazzed up grooves. “Late Nite Swing” will make most shake a leg or two, courtesy of true jazzual keys, a lounging sax and romanticizing vocals that urge a Mr. ‘Right’ to enter the singer’s life. “Reminiscent” uses luminous keys, shuffling drum percussion and a trumpeting tirade to create that sense of déjà vu. “East Beaumont” takes a gargling rotund bass, vitalising brass crescendos and bongocentric percussion on a funked out journey. “Coltrance” sees a sax with two sides expose both slimness, and paradoxically, a full figure, over cymbadelic beats and a fuzzied bass.
Hiem – Friendz (Atlantis Audio)
Cat No: AA 003. Release Date: 15th August 2005.
Bozz and Nick pay tribute to their mates on this outing for Atlantis Audio. Down to earth drums, a woozy bass and gazing in wonder synths hook up behind vocals that put you at ease in a way similar to being in the company of a good friend. “Radio Radio” places happy-go-lucky vocals over angerful synths and a scowling bass.
Jonathan Krisp – Tangible Gains (Flevans RMX) (Cookshop)
Available Now.
Tru Thoughts artist Flevans gives model car-racing fan Jonathan Krisp’s philosophising “Tangible Gains” a forceful shove in the right direction. Shakers, destructive cymbal smashes, a distressed flute and a hard as nails bass guitar combine on this first-rate revision.
Daníel – If You Leave Me Now (One Little Indian)
Release Date: 29th August 2005.
This release from former GusGus guy Daníel contains two tracks that are the musical equivalent of glass, which are somehow fragile yet sturdy at the same time. “If You Leave Me Now” is a fed up number, with a muddied bassline, courteous strings and sketchy percussion. “Someone Who Swallowed A Star” is suspended in water, as elegant strings swim gracefully alongside genteel vocals.
Ying Yang Twins – Wait (The Whisper Song) (TVT)
Release Date: 1st August 2005.
Rude murmured chat up lines are the order of the day on this release from Atlanta based rapsters, the Ying Yang Twins. The finest version of “Wait (The Whisper Song)” sees Lil Scrappy, Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliot join the dirty south twosome for some filthy flirted fun, backed by an inverted bass and the occasional moan and groan. The similarly smutty original version is also featured, alongside the brutal bass driven “What’s Happnin’”.
Jazzy Eyewear – Doin’ Wrong (Nordic Trax)
Cat No: NT 042. Release Date: Summer 2005.
Jumpy House guy DJ Mood brings Canada’s fine Nordic Trax imprint a double helping of intricate dancefloor pleasing musica. “Doin’ Wrong” features a rubbery bassline, pinprick keys and violent synth stabs, which sit under throaty vox snippets. “Take Control” sees headbangin’ beats, backwards keys and petit acid bass slurps do just that.
Hystereo – Validity Revision / Resistance (Soma)
Cat No: SOMA 175. Release Date: 8th August 2005.
Hystereo sound like the spawn of Daft Punk, if the Robotic duo had offspring in the 90s, at the time they couldn’t make up their mind if they wanted to make full-on Technoid bangers or filtered House groovers. “Validity Revision” is a hard-hitting cut, where possessed strings and jumping keys dance over a confusing bassline and hitting beats. Clasped closed to chest guitars, slammed beats and distinctly French-sounding synth loop work meet on “Resistance”, which really sounds like it was a product of the mid 90s Parisian House scene!
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
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