From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-05-17 12:03:15
Jon Freer’s Reviews 16th May 2005.
Singles:
KB – El’ Musica (Yoruba Records)
Netsayi – Tatters (Militant Prince)
Jamie Finlay – Little Trumpet (CD-R)
Ivana Santilli – Breathe In (Do Right)
DJ Technic – Gabryelle (Defected)
V/A – Ready Or Not EP (Do Right)
Marcus Intalex – Afrikaa (Revolve:R)
Visionary / JuJu – No. 9 Dub / Burning (Revolve:R)
K Klass feat. Rosie Gaines – Dance With Me (suSU)
Kaskade – Everything (OM)
Thanks to Osunlade, Angela at Shilland, Jamie Finlay, John at Do Right Music, Nicky at Phuturetrax, Toni T and Matt at Defected, Aaron at Soul:R, Marcus Intalex, Srah at Favouritizm, Gunnar at OM and all at Zzonked for these…
KB – El’ Musica (Yoruba Records)
Promo.
Yoruba returns to housier territory with this magnificent ode to nights spent grooving along to choice musical platters with a special someone. Sprightly moving guitars, firmly slapped percussion and an exuberant sax meet under appeal making vocals on the joyful “El’ Musica”. Essential uplifting music for spiritually tuned House lovers.
Netsayi – Tatters (Militant Prince)
Cat No: MP 001. Release Date: 23rd May 2005.
The talented Netsayi chooses to tackle difficult issues on “Tatters”, the first outing on her own Militant Prince imprint. In original form “Tatters”, which focuses on the issue of colonial rule, is an upbeat keyed number, with tickling guitars, a rusty sounding flute and on toes percussion. Charlie Dark supplies an outstanding remix, where falling keys and a smoky flute meet under scarring vocals. “Hondo” charts the distress caused by war, as fervently hit percussion links up with thoughtful electric guitars. The instrumental version drops most of the vocals in order to concentrate on the vivid picture painted by lonely pianos, solemn guitars and a wind blowing flute.
Jamie Finlay – Little Trumpet (CD-R)
Release Date: TBC. Contact: Jamie_finlay_at_mac.com
Jamie Finlay shows he can kick it with the established forward-thinking jazz fraternity on “Little Trumpet”, a track that desperately needs to be picked up and released to the masses. A chorus of beautiful trumpeting is the key here, but fattened beats, an easy going bass and bearing down strings also play a vital role. A name to watch…
Ivana Santilli – Breathe In (Do Right)
Cat No: DR 008. Available Now.
Now here is really an impressive meeting of musical minds; West London dons Dego and Kaidi have produced the delectable Ivana’s “Breathe In”, whilst the remix action comes courtesy of broken tech master Moonstarr. Moon’s vocal version places Ivana’s lovely singing over his trademark arrangement of deeply staring chords, cracked percussion and uplifting keys. His instrumental is a serious number, with sweet-toothed keys, stern chords and happy synths. Dego and Kaidi’s ‘Album Version’ sees them in Silhouette Brown mood, placing gooey synths alongside a gradually moving bass and slow walking percussion.
DJ Technic – Gabryelle (Defected)
Release Date: 6th June 2005.
After being snapped up by big fish Defected and making an appearance on a number of comps, “Gabryelle” has become a dominant dancefloor force. Floor appealing beats, straight-talking strings and cushioning synths are all there is to it, but frankly they’re all that’s needed on this sure-fire crowd puller.
V/A – Ready Or Not EP (Do Right)
Cat No: DR 010EP. Available Now.
Do Right have been digging in the archives of CBC Radio Canada, and the fruits of their labour is this 12” and a CD of exhilarating Jazz cuts. “Ready Or Not” by Kathryn Moss sees supple vocals rule supreme over cymbadelic percussion, blasted flutes and jazzy guitar work. The Maynard Ferguson Sextet’s character study entitled “My Sister”, is based round beaming sax action, clunky beats and mournful pianos. The Emile Normand Sextet say hello with “Morning”, where naked stringed pluckings sit by innocent flutes and stomach-warming vibraphone keys. The EP finishes with “Soya” by Pierre Leduc, given that the subject matter is a little odd, it’s relieving to hear the jolly pianos, a ‘deep’ sax and dependable percussion make this track a pleasurable end to the EP.
Marcus Intalex – Afrikaa (Revolve:R)
Cat No: 004. Available Now.
North West D&B master Marcus Intalex goes it alone on this tasty two tracker, released on his own Revolve:R imprint. “Afrikaa” is a murky bass driven number, with innocent keys and sprinting beats. “Bridge The Gap” sees a subby bass partner propelling synths and anxious keys.
Visionary / JuJu – No. 9 Dub / Burning (Revolve:R)
Cat No: 005. Available Now.
US production outfits Visionary and JuJu soak up the reggae laced D&B vibes on this doubler header from Soul:r’s sister imprint. Visionary’s towering “No. 9 Dub” pits twisted synthetics against a shadowy bass, floating keys and rootsy vocals. The deliciously “Burning” sits fiery vox touches on a bed of watery keys, sax sweetness and pungent bass moves.
K Klass feat. Rosie Gaines – Dance With Me (suSU)
Cat No: 12SUSU33. Release Date: 6th June 2005.
To be perfectly honest, the K Klass and Mauve versions of this track fail to do justice to the beautiful vocals of Rosie Gaines. Thankfully, DJ Spen and cohorts have rescued the release with their ‘Main 12” DJ Spen and The Muthafunkaz Mix’. Lively beats, friendly vocals, writhing synths and cocktail jazz piano keys do the damage on Spen’s smoothly garagious mix.
Kaskade – Everything (OM)
Release Date: 13th June 2005.
Once again, Kaskade bangs out another couple of tracks that sound they were made using a ‘vocal house’ colouring book. There’s not anything particularly ‘wrong’ with Kaskade’s versions of “Everything” or “I Like The Way”, but they’re unlikely to be committed to memory. Troydon provides the highlight of the release with his remix of “I Like The Way”, where an ever so groovacious bass, pretty keys and splurting fx hook up behind Collete’s positive vocals.
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
_______________________________________________
Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com
The most personalized portal on the Web!