From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-11-09 00:06:30
Jon Freer's Reviews 8th November 2005.
Albums & Comps:
V/A DJ Spinna Pres. Lifestyles (Harmless)
V/A Strange Funky Games & Things (BBE)
RSL Every Preston Guild (Players)
V/A Soulfields (Peng)
Vector Lovers Time Capsule For One (Soma)
V/A Life Before 40 (Low Life Records)
QNC Duo Dynamic (Grand Central)
V/A Sparo Worlds (Scenario)
Thanks to Nicky & Jo at Phuture Trax, Lee at BBE, Lisa at Sparkle St, Andy at Peng, Jim & Caroline at Soma, Lucius at Outpost and All at Grand Central for these
V/A DJ Spinna Pres. Lifestyles (Harmless)
Cat No: HURT 063. Available Now.
After spending time hunting down Stevie related gems for Harmless, the musically ambidextrous Spinna gets the chance to dig deep into his own dusty crates and pull out the records that have shaped his life. His natural selection takes in firing funky stuff, blemishless soul, electroid numbers and jazzed out favourites. "When She Made A Promise" from Beginning Of The End, sees authoritative guitars take the lead over earnest organ type keys and a charred bassline. The Supremes put out a plea on "Come Into My Life", where drums flow freely alongside raised keys and elevating strings. Mesmerised strings and beaming brass play import roles on Aquarian Dream's forgiving "It Aint Watcha Say". Another timeless selection.
V/A Strange Funky Games & Things (BBE)
Cat No: BBECD061. Available Now.
There are quite a lot of dreamy numbers on this comp of life enriching soul and gorgeous funky stuff. Many of the cuts on here date back to the 70s, but they sound just as fresh as the newer rare groovin' material. "She's My Summer Breeze" from The Reflections is demonstrative love ode, where adoring vocals, frayed strings and smoochy brass meet. The graceful vocals on "LA Night" from Yasuko Agawa transport the listener to a higher place, where gorgeous vibraphone keys and fancy guitars live. Slender strings provide the "Reflections" on Bill Conti's beautiful wavy keyed track. I want to be a part of these games!
RSL Every Preston Guild (Players)
Available Now.
"Every Preston Guild" shows that RSL are no one trick pony, but doesn't enthral from start to finish. There are fun Latin feeling and Jazzy grooveballs here, however every track doesn't contain the effortless magic that touched their biggest selling single and put this Preston based troupe on the musical map. Understandably, the track in question, "Wesley Music", does shine the brightest, with reliable organs and breezy guitars backing those crazy jazzed up keys and euphoric brass. "The Plunge" dives to great depths, where unsure keys and searing strings blow the bubbles. "The Magic Of Spain" is still a rather uplifting affair, courtesy of those good-as-gold piano keys, lifting brass and exposed guitars. Bastante bien.
V/A Soulfields (Peng)
Cat No: PENGCD10. Available Now.
Those countryside living Peng people are back with another quality compilation. As ever focussing on lovely deep'n'jazzi House and careful slower stuff, "Soufields" is another tiptop ear sweetener compiled by The Rurals. "Days Gone By" takes a content look at the ageing process, backed by low-down keys and a mind-blowing sax. The Rurals themselves also bring us the state of mind questioning "Happy (In Dub)". Confusing guitars are out in force on "What We Have Loved" from Moe Hairlines. Loveable as ever!
Vector Lovers Time Capsule For One (Soma)
Cat No: SOMACD042. Available Now.
You are bowled over by a tremendous feeling of loneliness when listening to this album from Martin Vector Lover. Martin's at his best here when he lets keys with a human touch cover his electronic grooves, thus the heartless roboticsm of certain tracks can leave you feeling cold. "City Lights From A Train" places those enchanting keys over a complaining bassline and beaming synths. Inverted beats with Aphex Twin styled crackles, poignant keys and a sullen bass meet on "Empty Buildings, Falling Rain". "Boulevard" is another keyed lovely, where an impossible to stop bass and otherworldly synths provide backing. It's as if "Time Capsule For One" was written on a solo voyage to an outer-galaxy.
V/A Life Before 40 (Low Life Records)
Cat No: LOW40CD. Available Now.
They say life starts at 40, but that's clearly bollocks, as this collection from Low Life's first thirteen years on the UK Hip Hop scene will testify. By the time a record label reaches this number of releases, their way of life is pretty much set, and for these Lowlives, it means putting out tracks with real deal lyrics backed by inventive production stylings. Rodney P brings us "Big Tings We Inna", where he chats about life over unwieldy beats and trusty Reggae keys. Verb T & Harry Love show their exasperation on the weightless keyed "Showbitchness". Mystro gets incensed on "Tellin' You", as a squeezed bass and laying low beats back him up. Great stuff.
QNC Duo Dynamic (Grand Central)
Cat No: GCCD142. Available Now.
QNC's style might not have changed much over the last few years, but they can still deliver a mean rhyme or two, backed by well cut production workouts. This album includes a heap of guest appearances, but its QNC who are forces to be reckoned with here. "For Da' Love" explains why this twosome are still making music and expressing themselves live, over relentless keys and cleanly shaven beats. "I Wish" gets Kate Rogers to provide a catchy refrain on a jerky number, where a high-class flute and excitable harp combine. Hypnotic keys, wandering strings and frustrated vocals are joined by Dubble D's reliable bass on "Would You?". Safe yet satisfying.
V/A Sparo Worlds (Scenario)
Available Now.
Sparo shows what side his bread is buttered on with this sixty-minute plus mix of warbling Funk, giddy Rock, fat Hippety Hoppity favourites and flashy own productions. Mixed at a breath-taking speed and using all manner of scratchaphonics, spoken samples, FX and tune snatches, "Sparo Worlds" is thrill a minute stuff. "The Falling" from Sparo marries dizzy strings with off-colour flutes and a building bass. Spinning beats, a reliable bass and ecstatic brass do the work on The Incredible Bong Band's "Bongo Rock". Qburse and KRS-1 do the questioning on the murky bassed "What You Know About". Exhilarating musical madness!
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
*Freelance journalist.
Publications include -
Keep On Magazine
Blues & Soul Magazine
City Life Magazine
Blowback Magazine
Rant Magazine
cratertech.com
pitchadjust.com
manchesterunderground.com
beyondjazz.net
mundovibes.net
deephousenetwork.com
skansen.no
radiozerogravity.net
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