From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-09-28 00:11:45
Event Review: Eyes Down Pres. Fat Freddys Drop Live at the Roadhouse, Manchester. 17th September 2005.
Fat Freddys Drop’s music originally floated over to these shores in the shape of a few singles over the last few years, but it has taken the release of their “Based On A True Story” album for influential tastemakers to champion their cause loudly and the listening public to really take notice. Essentially a soul leaning reggae band with freeform jamming at the core of their work, this New Zealand based seven piece woo audiences with their mesmerising performances.
A sell-out Saturday night show as part of Eyes Down’s 5th Birthday celebrations, this gig proved that many have caught the FFD bug. Weighing in at close to two hours, a slow burning set of elongated smoothies had the crowd responding to the peaks and troughs of tracks such as the jovial “Wandering Eye” and harrowing “This Room”. A powerful three-piece brass section, soothing guitar work, sweet keys from powerhouse Mu aka Fitchie and eyes closed singing from Dallas aka Joe Dukie saw the group combine sublimely. It was as if there was only a single individual producing the heart-warming music.
It was perhaps impossible for FFD to hold their audience’s attention for whole of their show, given the peaceful nature of their music and the late timing of their set. However, the hypnotic nature of their sound and inclusion of the occasional upbeat number helped the Drop to hold their listeners attention for extended periods. Post performance saw Mr. Scruff lay down an energising selection of heavy digitally toned reggae, before the unkempt one and resident Kelvin Brown rounded off the night with broken beats and mad jazz jams.
Jon Freer’s Reviews – 26th September 2005.
Singles:
RSL – The Magic of Spain (Players)
Home And Garden – 1984 (Icon)
Home And Garden – Broken (Icon)
Jake Childs – Can You Feel (Icon)
Bob Sinclar feat. Gary Pine – Love Generation (Kenny Dope Remix) (Defected)
TradeMarq – Broken Wagon (Bananza)
DJ Ali & Tim Fuller – Bass In Da Back (Bananza)
Demarkus Lewis – Roller Boy (Bananza)
Kings Have Long Arms – All Hail Satan (Heart & Soul)
V/A – Reverberations Series X – Part 1 (Reverberations)
Tom Baker & Lawrence Mohammed – La Diablada (Wrong)
Man In The Cupboard – I Don’t Care (Slave)
Missy Elliot – Lose Control (Hani RMX) (Atlantic)
Little Barrie – Greener Pastures (Genuine)
Mono Taxi – Kind Of Better (Play It Again 7”)
Thanks to Lisa at Players, Luke at Icon, Toni T and Matt at Defected, All at Bananza, Will at In House, Asad at Reverberations, All at Slave and Isabel at Pias for these…
RSL – The Magic of Spain (Players)
Cat No: Stubs 005. Available Now.
This wonderful release from the ever-positive RSL will brighten up even the greyest Manchester skies. Bright keys, pots and pans style percussion, a stormy organ and brilliant brass attempt to describe “The Magic of Spain”. Wobbling on its feet percussion, lonesome trumpeting and an almost laughable string and woodwind section come together on “The Godfather Waltz”.
Home And Garden – 1984 (Icon)
Cat No: ICON 024. Available Now.
Whether this record was inspired by George Orwell’s book is neither here nor there, as “1984” the record is a sweet little housey number from the talented Home And Garden twosome. Innate drums, fidgeting keys, pristine horns and an elasticised bassline meet on the original. Brennan Green’s recolouring places sprightly synths and keys that leave question marks over tireless drums and displeased bass slaps.
Home And Garden – Broken (Icon)
Cat No: ICON 025. Promo.
At it again, Home And Garden eclipse the work of their last outing on this label with the surprisingly well functioning “Broken”. The duo’s own version slips in a half-whispered spoken vocal alongside harpsichordish synths, wired keys and a confusing bass. The Persion Fog mix reverses the bass and straightens the beats, as worried keys get manhandled by maniacal synths. Brennan Green provides a decidedly strange Reprise, where unbalanced keys wobble over synths that sound like they’ve got caught up in the rotor blades of a helicopter.
Jake Childs – Can You Feel (Icon)
Cat No: ICON 026. Promo.
Jake Childs drops a smooth House effort for Icon in the form of “Can You Feel”. The vocalist tries to get the listener to share his experiences with the help of immaculate chords and pretty acoustic guitar work. JT Donaldson toughens the track up courtesy of lucid beats, delusory keys and an effervescing bassline.
Bob Sinclar feat. Gary Pine – Love Generation (Kenny Dope Remix) (Defected)
Cat No: DFTD 111. Release Date: 10th October 2005.
Bob Sinclar gets a rude awakening from Kenny Dope, who turns a passable guitar-driven House number into a deft foot stomper. Spitting beats, stoned chords and detached vocal edges are the main ingredients of Dope’s tough refix.
TradeMarq – Broken Wagon (Bananza)
Cat No: BZA-005. Available Now.
TradeMarq attempt to fix their wagon, but in the end, only No Assembly can manage to get the vehicle up and running again with a remix of a different tune. No Assembly give “Leave Work For Me” a sax fuelled reinvention, as high-spirited keys and an out of sorts sax glide over filed down beats. The original is a wobbly synth mission, whilst “Broken Wagon” itself sees a floundering sax take centre stage.
DJ Ali & Tim Fuller – Bass In Da Back (Bananza)
Cat No: BZA-006. Release Date: 10th October 2005.
Simple body moving House is on the menu at Ali and Fuller’s musical restaurant. Fxed singing and gurgling synths dominate the vocal version, whilst brass snippets add colour to the heftily beaten dub.
Demarkus Lewis – Roller Boy (Bananza)
Cat No: 10th November 2005.
Talented House guru Demarkus Lewis delivers the goods once more on this tidy two tracker, which really is a musical bonanza. “Roller Boy” glides along nicely, courtesy of forward moving beats, a spongy bassline and resonating keys. “Lime St” places shattered vocals over a reassuringly comforting key groove.
Kings Have Long Arms – All Hail Satan (Heart & Soul)
Cat No: H&S CD-666/EP. Release Date: 10th October 2005.
Set up by Martin ‘ACR’ Moscrop and A&R’d by Manchester DJing stalwort Rob Bright, the gutsy Heart & Soul open their account with a demented slice of electronic poppyness from Adrian ‘Kings Have Long Arms’ Flanagan. Produced by Fat Trucker Ross Orton, “All Hail Satan” is a crazy Sheffield bass crusher, with shrieking synths and piss-taking vocals. Orton has also put together “Crackermatic”, where keys sway over reverbing beats and exuberant analogue bass action. “Redneck In A Loop”, which Orton didn’t produce is far too musically polite for Flanagan’s gruff vocals.
V/A – Reverberations Series X – Part 1 (Reverberations)
Cat No: RVNSLTD003. Available Now.
Reverberations celebrate 10 years in the bizz by re-cutting their classiest teched up House pieces. Label boss Asad Rizvi’s “Dual” as re-touched by Bushwacka is an enthralling groover, with ferocious synths, waving keys and chords that don’t mess around. “Quick Call The King” from Rizvi and Tom Gillieron sees regal keys have their say over punishing beats and a smooth bassline.
Tom Baker & Lawrence Mohammed – La Diablada (Wrong)
Cat No: WRONG 015. Available Now.
Baker and Mohammed come back to Reverberations’ sister label for another instalment of wrong yet so right technical House music. The original sees a bass stumble all over show, whilst focused beats and sprightly keys attempt to hold it in place. Paul Soul & Chris Harry’s impressive retouch lets that bass expres itself a little more, under moving keys and upfront beats.
Man In The Cupboard – I Don’t Care (Slave)
Cat No: Slave 008. Promo.
Why anybody would want to make music in a cupboard is beyond me, but this guy has managed to do quite a good job, even if he has had to move the pots and pans out the way. Measured beats with b-boy bell extensions, queasy keys and electrified synth fire do the damage on the original. 8-Bit Kid’s superior remix, as edited by D.Ramirez, is an intense breakish version, with reversed synths, a snarling bassline and keys with a far off look in their eyes.
Missy Elliot – Lose Control (Hani RMX) (Atlantic)
Promo.
Missy’s latest effort gets taken to the cleaners courtesy of dark NY House Lord Hani. True there’s nothing original about his ‘In Control Mix’, but those dipped in acid synth lines and frowning bass touches are bound to get tougher dancefloors moving.
Little Barrie – Greener Pastures (Genuine)
Cat No: GEN 039. Available Now.
The rather endearing Little Barrie return with a cut from their album. Jolly guitars, reflective vocals and a bass that packs a punch meet on the simply lovely “Greener Pastures”. Nu-Mark exposes towering drums and a pondering live bassline on his refit of “Burned Out”, whilst the live version of “Greener Pastures” provides extra guitar fun and more animated vocals.
Mono Taxi – Kind Of Better (Play It Again 7”)
Cat No: SEVEN 001. Release Date: 10th October 2005.
Belgium based Sam goes back to basics by launching this Indie favouring label, whose first offering is this pleasant two tracker from Mono Taxi. “King Of Better” reassures, as mellow guitars run over a rich bass and level drumming. “Hardy Smile” grins and bears it, with help from running guitars, hop skip jump drums and a dark bass.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
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