From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-06-09 12:29:13
Jon Freer's Reviews 8th June 2005.
Singles:
Sir Piers feat. Monique Bingham Fools Got Nothin'
(Reel People Remixes) (Curious)
Basement Jaxx feat. Lisa Kekaula U Don't Know Me
(XL)
Magic (Soulmotion) AKA CERAMIC Inside Out
(Broadcite)
Silicone Soul The Poisoner's Diary (Viva Stereo
Remixes) (Soma)
V/A Revolutions 3 (Cyclo)
Jake Childs feat. Ayana Mack Someone Else
(Housetown)
Ken from ECB Jamz From The Junkyard EP (Deepfunk)
Funk D'Void & Phil Kieran Lost In Belfast (Soma)
Blend Crafters feat. MF Doom Melody (Remix)
(Genuine)
The Hacker Radiation (Remixes) (Different/PIAS)
Thanks to Sarah at Favouritizm, Ruth at Toast Press,
Ben at BKS, Caroline & Jim at Soma, Colin at
Whitenoise, Isabelle at Cyclo, All at Housetown, Craig
at Deepfunk and Isabelle at Pias for these
Sir Piers feat. Monique Bingham Fools Got Nothin'
(Reel People Remixes) (Curious)
Cat No: CUR017. Release Date: 20th June 2005.
Yes, it is she of Abstract Truth and Blue Six fame,
who blesses the fine "Fools Got Nothin'", a track that
has been substantially improved by a couple of
retoolings from the fabulous Reel People. RP's 'Main
Mix' places Monique's scarily honest vocal over
glittery synths, a cold bass and clap happy broken
beats. The People's Dub slices up Bingham's tuneful
warbles, and puts them between graceful keys and
gazing strings.
Basement Jaxx feat. Lisa Kekaula U Don't Know Me
(XL)
Cat No: XLT215. Release Date: 13th June 2005.
Not a cover of Van Helden's disco sampling monstrosity
from a while back, the Jaxx's "U Don't Know Me" is a
punked up floor stomper, which gets cremated by Dave
'Solid Groove' Taylor. Simon and Felix's own
'JaxxHouz Klub Mix' marries hammered drums with
wrathful guitars under Lisa's fed-up vocals, in an
energetic manner. Solid Groove's superior revision
takes the piss out of the original, as mocking
laughter gives way to neck-snapping percussion and a
spiteful bass, with Lisa's vocals sounding truly
distressed.
Magic (Soulmotion) AKA Ceramic Inside Out
(Broadcite)
Cat No: BROAD_002. Available Now.
Magic used to make gleeful jumpin' tracks, but tired
of D&B like so many others and slowed down his untidy
beats. The 'Ceramic Mix' of "Inside Out" sees crash
bang wallop percussion, a juggernaut driven bass and
sparkling keys link up under circling vocals. Magic's
'Soulmotion Peaktime Mix' houses the track up,
courtesy of a rolling forward bass, marching beats and
Osunlade-type synths. "The Swerth" is a shaky number,
with an under the weather bassline, pretty keys and
shocked synth exclamations. It's good to see that
Magic has matured since his D&B making days.
Silicone Soul The Poisoner's Diary (Viva Stereo
Remixes) (Soma)
Cat No: SOMA 173. Available Now.
It must be a sign of the times, when the choice
versions of this record released by this pioneering
Techno label are Viva Stereo's guitar-addled, 'rock'
revisions. It's unfortunate, but Ewan Pearson, Slam
and even Silicone Soul's dancey versions don't use the
vocals from Viva Stereo's frontman Stuart Gray or
backing synths, to their full potential. Nevermind,
Viva Stereo's 'Sonic Soul Mix' does the business, as
fierce synths, black guitars and cinematic strings
back those macabre vocals rather splendidly. Their
instrumental is a similarly sinister affair, courtesy
of impatient drums, gruesome guitars and threatening
synths.
V/A Revolutions 3 (Cyclo)
Cat No: Cyc 0043. Available Now.
Thankfully, the choice moments from Cyclo's
"Revolutions 3" comp are included on this nifty 12"
sampler, except for Nathan Drew Larsen's wonderfully
cutting revision of Right Side Reverse's "Invisible".
Vinyl aficionado's should be pleased that Gemini's
fine "UHF" is here, in all its shattered key and
heavyweight bass glory. Simon DK's "Gingo de Mayo" is
also pretty special, courtesy of its catchy percussive
rhythmics, single-minded keys and watered vocals. Dr.
Drak's alluringly vocalized "Avec les Nuages" and BRS'
camp "Ms. Honey" also make it onto the EP.
Jake Childs feat. Ayana Mack Someone Else
(Housetown)
Cat No: HTR-002. Available Now.
There's always "Someone Else", isn't there? Well,
this straightforward houser isn't about there being
another special someone, it's about one feeling that
they've become "Someone Else"! The original uses
reliable beats, a menacing bass and matter of fact
keys to back Ayana's breaking vocals. As per usual
Matthew Bandy comes up with a fine remix, where
cleansing keys and a kind sounding bass evoke a lovely
deep vibe. Chris Lum toughens the track up, with the
help of forward beats, sub-heavy bassline and irriated
keys.
Ken from ECB Jamz From The Junkyard EP (Deepfunk)
Cat No: DFR 07. Available Now.
No these aren't tracks Deepfunk rescued from a scrap
heap, Ken's studio is actually called the 'Junkyard'.
It's a good thing "Dance Samba" wasn't sent out with
the rubbish, as it's an engaging dancefloor puller,
with falling synths, subdued guitars and an overweight
bass. "Be Who You Wanna Be" tells you to pull
yourself together and live out your dreams, courtesy
of odd angled percussion, bass energetics and flat
sounding synths.
Funk D'Void & Phil Kieran Lost In Belfast (Soma)
Cat No: SOMA 169. Release Date: 20th June 2005.
Funk D'Void and Phil Kieran go down the Technoey route
on this impressively bangin' two-tracker. "Lost In
Belfast" takes non-stop beats, dizzyfying synths and
sprightly keys on a violent speaker-shaking mission.
"Black Worm" takes its power from an ill sounding
bass, which vomits over hi-pitched computer error keys
and relentless percussion.
Blend Crafters feat. MF Doom Melody (Remix)
(Genuine)
Cat No: GEN036T. Available Now.
Doom is on form right now, and effortlessly he adds
another feather to his cap. The masked rapster gets
it on with the Blend Crafters, delivering a stylish
narrative over the bittersweetly keyed "Melody". The
instrumental version shows how bare the cutting beats,
ringing vox and sour keys sound, without Doom helping
out. This EP also contains the Blend Crafter's remix
of Eddie Harris' "Bold & Black", where a sexed up sax
sprawls over patting drums and a fun(k) loving guitar.
The Hacker Radiation (Remixes) (Different/PIAS)
Cat No: DIFF 1046T. Available Now.
"Radiation" gets the treatment from both David Caretta
and The Hacker himself. Caretta's version is a nasty
piece of work, with robotic beats, bleeped keys and a
drony bassline. The Hacker's 'More Radiation Mix' is
a tripped out synthetic laced version, where
mechanical beats and a bass in a bad mood meet. "A
New Angle" watches a foul-mouthed bass scream
obscenities alongside beaten percussion and firing
synths.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
*Mo'soul Publicity: Variety of services offered:
contact for further details.
*Freelance journalist.
Publications include -
Keep On Magazine
Blues & Soul Magazine
XLR8R Magazine
City Life Magazine
Inner Loop Magazine
littleplanet.net
pitchadjust.com
beyondjazz.net
deephousenetwork.com
skansen.no
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