From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-03-27 18:14:32
Jon Freer’s Reviews 25th March 2005.
V/A – Ibara: River Crossing (Yoruba Records)
V/A – Buzzin Fly Vol 2: Replenishing Music For The Modern Soul (Buzzin Fly)
V/A – Beyond Jazz Sampler 2 (Beyond Jazz)
Jon Kennedy – Useless Wooden Toys (Grand Central)
The Vanishing System – headComputor (Altered Vibes)
V/A – Le Pop En Duo (Le Pop Musik)
Thanks to Osunlade, Doug at Sainted PR, Jurriaan at Beyond Jazz, Sapna at Grand Central, Ben at BKS and Garo at Rooftop PR for these…
V/A – Ibara: River Crossing (Yoruba Records)
Release Date: April 2005.
The mighty Osunlade drops a new comp on his own label, which contains tracks from a wealth of fledgling artists. Organic grooves are the key here, with the breathtaking music ranging from horizontal soul and jazzed numbers to pulsating uptempo cuts. “Resolution” by Anne Wirz is a haunting track, with bold chords, bright-eyed keys and whispered vocals. Stashbox’s “Moonlight” places heavily fractured beats, heaven keys and love emitting guitars under vocals that tell a potential suitor to hurry up and show some affection. “Level 52” by Robert Strauss ascends to a higher echelon, courtesy of beats with gritted teeth, all smiling keys and a bass with a real punch. A heartfelt selection!
V/A – Buzzin Fly Vol 2: Replenishing Music For The Modern Soul (Buzzin Fly)
Available Now.
An unlikely champion of soul-touching house, Ben Watt has once again shown that he is involved in house music for all the right reasons. He may still be known to the majority of the record buying public for his EBTG work, but this album shows he is a true supporter of life changing four-four grooves. Sofian Rouge’s “El Wahrania” as remixed by Monte is a dependably beaten cut, with weeping strings, dancing keys and synths with their heads in clouds. Ben’s own “Pop A Cap In Yo’ Ass” sees Estelle drop street poetry over time-honoured synths and feel good strings. “Night Of Music” by Savannah is an outstanding synth-led dancefloor stormer. This is an album of true deep house where it is easy to get lost in the groove.
V/A – Beyond Jazz Sampler 2 (Beyond Jazz)
Cat No: BJCD002. Available Now.
The name of their imprint really sums up what this compilation is all about. The Beyond Jazz crew make future bound jazzied music, with more than a slight nod to the Goya crew. All the tracks on here are from new producers, some artists need to polish their sound, whilst others are further through the learning curve and have produced some lovely cuts. Lensco gives us “Aardig Meisje”, where a drugged sax stumbles over amenable jazz keys and a squashy bass. “Lower” by Sala is a hell raising cut, where nervous strings scream abut their insecurity over angered beats and bass that reflects sound. Don Ray’s “Have You Forgotten (The Reign)” is a smooth nu-house number, with padded beats, string apparitions and keys that are gentle on the ears. A taste of tomorrow?
Jon Kennedy – Useless Wooden Toys (Grand Central)
Cat No: GCCD136. Release Date: 4th April 2005.
Multi-instrumentalist and all round percussion lover Jon Kennedy has created an album where the beats tower over the rest of the musical content. This unfortunately means that the album sounds a little one-dimensional in places. “Cut Up” blurs the vision, as vocals are sliced with a cut-throat razor, over distorting beats, jarring guitars and tremor-inducing keys. “Pick Up Sticks” is a simple encounter, where solemn guitars, keys with a subtle beauty and stuttering drums occupy the mind. “All A Dream” is an absent-minded track, with keys to swoon for, a sax to gaze at and whispered vocals to try and understand. There’s no denying the fact that there are some pleasant enough moments here, but the over-reliance on rustic drums and gruff guitars is a bit much to take.
The Vanishing System – headComputor (Altered Vibes)
Cat No: AVBPM 002CD. Release Date: March 2005.
The Vanishing System come on like a certain horticultural soul group meeting rough Hip Hop practitioners in a far away galaxy. “headComputor” contains some wonderful sticky soul efforts that sit alongside less captivating cosmic hop. “Beat Test (I Come Around)” gives the album an explosive start, courtesy of some floor vibrating bass action, jangling keys and gold-lined synths. “Hollow Spaces” is a fascinating haunter, with smashing percussion, a gargling bass and keys set for a repetitive strain injury. “The Fantastical” sees struggling synths battle banged out drums under in awe vocals. Alien souled out hop from the next dimension.
V/A – Le Pop En Duo (Le Pop Musik)
US Release Date: 28th March 2005.
“Le Pop En Duo” is a compilation of chic French pop, where each track is sung by at least a pair of vocalists. There are some delightfully cute little ditties here, but the range of the comp is a little limited. Pascal Parisot En Duo Avec Frédérique Dastrevigne give us the positive “Tout Va Bien”, where sweet to the taste vocals sit atop slender keys, amusing synths and chirpy bird sounds. “Histoire D’Espions” by Jerome Miniere and Karine Vanasse lets a frustrated bass, light hearted and bounced drums back vocalists who are obviously enjoying themselves. Vincent Delerm teams up with Keren Ann and Dominique A on “Veruca Salt & Frank Black”, a dainty composition, with slowly turning guitars and odd key work. Stylish pop from France, nothing more, nothing less.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_wrongsteps.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
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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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