From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-10-30 20:48:16
Jon Freer's Reviews 30th October 2005.
Albums & Comps:
V/A Scratch Massive: N.A.K.E.D (Nocturne)
Who Made Who Who Made Who (Gomma)
V/A A Slice Of Paradise: Vol 1 (Fusionova 021 Recs)
V/A This Is Skateboard Music (Diggler)
Marathon Men Blessings (Chillifunk)
V/A Finger Lickin' Pres. Freshtraxxx (Finger Lickin')
V/A Milk & Honey: B&b Tunes Vol 5. (Brillianttree)
M1 Robopop (Reinvent Music)
Thanks to Lucius at Outpost, Garo at Rooftop, Ben BKS, Doug at Sainted, Lofty at Chillifunk, Anton & Chris at Trailer and all at Reinvent Music for these
V/A Scratch Massive: N.A.K.E.D (Nocturne)
Cat No: NTCD727.
Inspired by their weekly de-robed nocturnal escapades of the same name, Parisian spinners and promoters Scratch Massive give us the sound of 'NAKED'. Energetically mixing between hardline techy grooves and punked up trashy electronic chic, this comp throws up some pretty hot cuts alongside some less appealing numbers. Pixeltan's "Get Up/Say What" as revisited by the DFA sees chilling vocals ride cold-hearted synths and open-close cymbalic percussion. "101.3" from Steve Bug is a synth based, assertive teched House outing. Out Hud's "Put It Away, Put it Away, Put It Away, Dad" stumbles along in a keyed-up drugged haze, with startling synths providing the extra energy. Exciting stuff.
Who Made Who Who Made Who (Gomma)
US Release Date: End Of October 2005.
Digitising their guitars and linking them up to all type of electronic mumbo jumbo, Denmark's Who Made Who produce notable rockin' grooves. Perhaps surprisingly, in general, the group's instrumental compositions have more impact than their vocal efforts. "Johnny Lucky" floats dead cool guitar work over probing synths and simple drum percussion. All-powerful guitars emerge through the thick smoke on "Cigar". Virtuous guitar work and confused synths provide the power on "Green Dogs". A fine debut.
V/A A Slice Of Paradise: Vol 1 (Fusionova 021 Recs)
Cat No: F021CD001. Available Now.
"A Slice Of Paradise: Vol 1" is dedicated to a beach based bar in Spain called Xiringuito, located on St. Joan's Beach, Alicante. This five CD set has called upon resident record selector Enrique Domench and friends to choose their favourite musical fruits associated with the venue. Domench takes listeners on a slow broken jazz ride, taking in Dynamic Syncopation's clinging key refit of Break Refrom's "Medusa" and Casbah 73's dizzifying "Carbo Verde Strut". BiggaBush brings some deep dubby flavours, which includes Fitchie's warm digital mix of Bush's own "Deep Eastwood" and Dolphin Boy's fragile "On The Ceiling". Nick Matthew's mix is on the neo House and Broke beat vibe, with highlights in the shape of Alison Crockett's devoted "UR" (Yam Who Remix) and David Borsu's hypnotic "Nocturne". Belladonna's fuzzy guitar dominated "Ebatule" and SUMO's robust revision of Lonesome Echo's "Spirit Of The Drums" feature on Gav Smith's energetic mix. Ben Mono winds up proceedings wit!
h
a set of weird cosmic downbeat and fracturedly percussed numbers, where Afronaught's heavenward giving mix of Season's "Juice" and Amphibian's unhappy "Empty", as remixed by Marlow, feature. A mouth watering summery outing.
V/A This Is Skateboard Music (Diggler)
Cat No: DIG016CD. Available Now.
Jump on that board and hurtle along the street to the hedonistic poppy sound of "This Is Skateboard Music". The comp digs up an array of dusty guitarry-toned odes to a teen based pastime, and fun Skateboard influenced tracks sit alongside slightly duller outings. The Carvell's gives us both "Skateboard Racer" and "Skateboard Queen". The former skips along at quite a pace, excitedly extolling the virtues of boarding, whilst the latter is a string-lifted admiring number. Lightning speed guitars and fast drums meet on Zack Ferguson's exuberant "Skateboard Dancin'". What's next "This Is Snowboarding"?
Marathon Men Blessings (Chillifunk)
Cat No: CFCD019. Release Date: 31st October 2005.
Marathon Men Freddie McQuinn and Simbad follow up single releases on Chillifunk with this CD album that dishes out techy floor bound and classic NY inspired House, and a range of other grooves. The title track sees Alex the Kid's hopeful vocals ride ear-catching synths and plodding drums. "Party Track" featuring Bunzi B is a moody broken step number, with breath-quickening keys and darkly elegant strings. "Breakin' My Heart" lets out all the hurt over fluid keys and an unfriendly bass. Once more moving away from Chilli's relaxed and more overtly full of soul sound, "Blessings" should still win the label a few more fans.
V/A Finger Lickin' Pres. Freshtraxxx (Finger Lickin')
Cat No: FLRCD013. Available Now.
Hipped hoppety and funked up breaks is the remit of this comp from Finger Lickin'. Ranging from happy-go-lucky party grooves to darker nu school vibes, there are some pretty tasty cuts here. Slyde's "Slippery Slide" places hip hoppery vocal excerpts over brass snippets, hot keys and a clean yet fuzzy bass. A. Skillz & Krafty Kuts draft in Kurtis Blow for a remake of "The Breaks" entitled "Gimmie The Breaks", where his vocals groove happily alongside flowing synths, cheerful guitars and a brill bass. "Mind The Gap" from the Drumattic Twins takes strength from a murky bass, which submerges mad guitars and tense strings. A fine Breaks based comp.
V/A Milk & Honey: B&b Tunes Vol 5. (Brillianttree)
Cat No: BT 0002. Available Now.
Berlin's Dr. Atmo brings us this gorgeously packaged double CD, which focuses on life's most relaxing sounds. The first disc is comprised of eerie electronically driven downbeat, whilst the second is still chilled, but the percussion plays a more obvious role. CD one contains Miss Silencio's "Life Is Nothing Without Love", where strings seep over melodious keyed percussion and Aod's "Shadow", a touching string and bitingly percussed outing. The second disc features the unsure key led "Easy" from Lost Kids and Animater's synthified "Real Candy". Luxurious on the ears, but unfortunately a little vapid in places.
M1 Robopop (Reinvent Music)
Cat No: RECD9508. Available Now.
M1 ditched his Jinxx imprint in order to Reinvent his music and focus on electroey flavours. This means that "Robopop" is full of banging electro-technoid hitters, sweet tooth poppy cuts and ambientish flavours. However, the killer cut on this album is a straightforward organically toned House number entitled "Wake Up", where gorgeous guitars, ever so beautiful strings and true keys meet. Strong heavy hitting Teched up numbers include the mentally keyed "Acid The Phenomenon" and the robotically percussed "Earth Beatz". Any chance of a few more tracks in the style of "Wake Up" next time?
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
_______________________________________________
Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com
The most personalized portal on the Web!