From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2006-01-24 17:27:56
Jon Freer's Reviews 24th January 2006.
Singles:
Ramjac feat. Natalie Gardiner – Arise (Ramjac)
Various – Hot As Hel! EP (Nine 2 Five)
Rondenion – Blue Rhodes Dances (Still Music)
Timo Lassy – African Rumble / High At Noon (Ricky-Tick)
Dalindèo – Go Ahead, Float / Voodoo (Ricky-Tick)
Laurentius – Karate (Samba SciFi RMX) (Needs)
Jonny Miller – Cold Air (Phuture Lounge)
David Borsu – Move (Counterpoint)
The Politik – Money (Don't Let It Catch Ya) (Antipodean)
V/A – The Freesoul Sessions (Antipodean)
Antonio Ocasio feat. Mustafa Akbar – Higher Love (Counterpoint)
Faze Action pres. Orto feat. Vanessa Freeman – Waiting Is Over (Papa)
Sexicanz vs. MegaDank 4200 – Futuristic Funk (Deepfunk Records)
The Separatists – Audiomer (Soma)
Sons And Daughters – Dance Me In / La Lune (Optimo RMXS) (Domino)
Sean Dimitrie feat. Felicia Lee – Dr. Doo Yoo (Reverberations)
The Rurals – Tree Of Tension (Digi-Pêng)
Verb T & Harry Love – Delusion (Silent Soundz)
Kano – Brown Eyes / Signs In Life (679)
Haftor Medbøe Group – Sampler (Linn)
Choi – The Way We Are (Younglee & Jake Sax RMX) (Equatorial)
Test Icicles – What's Your Damage? (RMXS) (Domino)
Thanks to Nik Weston, Jerome at Still Music, Yannick at Needs, Jonny Miller, Jake at Counterpoint, Sarah at Favouritizm, Chris at Antipodean, Craig at Deepfunk, Jim at Soma, Amanda at Sainted, Asad at Reverberations The Rurals, Lucius at The Outpost, Ruth at Toast Press, Colin at Linn & Younglee for these…
Ramjac feat. Natalie Gardiner – Arise (Ramjac)
Cat No: RM 013. Release Date: 6th March 2006.
Ramjac has taken a production leap of faith here and by doing so has created the first broken soul masterpiece of 2006. "Arise" is coloured by synths that are so deformed, you'd assume there was a lot of dust stuck to your needle. Somehow, these disfigured synths fit perfectly under Natalie's meditative vocals, and there's even an instrumental for maximum distorted pleasure. Flip for the unkempt percussion and restrained key work of "Sweetest Child of Mine", which is thankfully a polite soulful gem, and not a cover of a heavy rock track.
Various – Hot As Hel! EP (Nine 2 Five)
Cat No: 925-HEL 002. Release Date: 20th February 2006.
Clearly a reference to the Finnish city where the artists hail from and not a reference to the immorality of their music, "Hot As Hel!" sells Helsinki pretty well to broken soul lovers. Katriina is incredulous at the loss of love on "Spared Your Kiss", where her silky vocals lie across teardrop keys and unhappy strings. J-City's "All You Give" is a brilliant persuasive number, with clear-thinking brass, repeating keys and proto-D&B percussion. Present Sense's "Nature Girl" sends awkward lurve vocals over stumbling percussion and spacey synths.
Rondenion – Blue Rhodes Dances (Still Music)
Cat No: STILLM008. Promo.
Tokyo based Hirofumi Goto aka Rondenion debuts on Still Music with a tasty four tracker of Detroit respecting out-there House cuts. The fine "Blue Rhodes Dances" is a leisurely groovester, with unhurried beats and pondering keys. "Machine Dolls" works curious keys over beats that are crooked at the start, but are straightened out by the end, whilst "Shake Dance" is a pressurising synth led excursion. "Parallel Translation" rounds off the EP with some serious Theo style percussion, contorted keys and emotion expressing vocals.
Timo Lassy – African Rumble / High At Noon (Ricky-Tick)
Cat No: RT 008. Release Date: 20th February 2006.
Sax fanatic Timo Lassy gets the chance to speak his mind on this 12", released on the new Jazz supporting Ricky Tick label. The ace "African Rumble" sees supporting percussion and a chiming piano make room for Lassy's sax exertions. An authorative sax barks orders over an in-line piano, bass and percussion display on "High At Noon".
Dalindèo – Go Ahead, Float / Voodoo (Ricky-Tick)
Cat No: RT 009. Release Date: 27th February 2006.
With a passion for Brazilian percussion and an obvious heartfelt love of expressive Jazz, Dalindèo create a powerful musical fusion. "Go Ahead, Float" lets a tight-lipped trumpet battle it out with an overexcited flute over reliable guitar work and rugged percussion. The haunting "Voodoo" puts the flute in the spotlight, as regimented percussion, enjoying life guitars and a complimentary trumpet work wonders behind the scenes.
Laurentius – Karate (Samba SciFi RMX) (Needs)
Lars Bartkuhn of Frankfurt's super-deep Needs crew displays his musical martial arts on this fine single track release. Digitised violin type strings put up a considerable fight, battling satisfying chords, pleasing keys and energetic beats.
Jonny Miller – Cold Air (Phuture Lounge)
Cat No: PL 004. Available Now.
Manc broke beat don and all round nice guy Mr. Miller debuts on Phuture Lounge with a three tracker of typically rhythmically elaborate compositions. "Rise" is a considerately keyed number, where malfunctioning computer fx spew their juices over active beats and a bad-tempered bassline. "Cold Air" is subtle as the title suggests, with slight keys and bass questions providing the chill, whilst "9-8-0" winds dizzy synths and unruly keys over a delightfully messy drum track.
David Borsu – Move (Counterpoint)
Cat No: CRS 030. Release Date: 6th February 2006.
To be honest, this standard broken House outing from talented Belgian producer David Borsu isn't in the same league as his astonishing "Monster EP". Sure "Move" features nu-soul goddess Navasha Daya of Fertile Ground fame, but in spiritually unconscious party mode and lacing a standard bass and beats combo, even the angelic Daya fails to dazzle. It's not all doom and gloom though, because broken remix master of the moment Mark de Clive-Lowe supplies a couple of super remixes, where inquisitive keys, oddball synths and crunchy beats work their magic.
The Politik – Money (Don't Let It Catch Ya) (Antipodean)
Cat No: ANT 1202. Available Now.
Fractured soul vocal Queen Bémbé Ségué hooks up with the super talented Mark De Clive-Lowe, this time to mark the dawn of their Politik partnership. The vocal version sees Bémbé's wise words coat a gruff bass guitar, falling keys and sparkling beats. The instrumental lets deft guitars, gooey keys and unapologetic percussion shine.
V/A – The Freesoul Sessions (Antipodean)
Cat No: ANT 1203. Available Now.
Born out of a freestylin' live extravaganza with a wealth of talented musicians, Mark De Clive-Lowe's Freesoul Sessions makes its vinyl debut. Fluidous keys and crazy synths take centre stage on an energetic broken stormer, which is logically titled 'Part 1'. A fun-loving bass guides blind keys in the right direction on 'Part 2', as the tempo is slowed right down for 'Part 3', where keys smile at sluggish beats and a post-funk bass.
Antonio Ocasio feat. Mustafa Akbar – Higher Love (Counterpoint)
Cat No: CRS 029. Release Date: 30th January 2006.
Tribal Winds head Antonio Ocasio comes correct with an expertly orchestrated super-deep escapade. Afrocentric percussion, active keys and a magical fute sit behind Mustafa Akbar's craving on the vocal version. Shakin' beats, loveable keys and sweet sax groovings colour the heated 'Calor Mix'.
Faze Action pres. Orto feat. Vanessa Freeman – Waiting Is Over (Papa)
Cat No: PAPA 026. Release Date: 27th February 2006.
Funked up disco reshapers Faze Action have opted for a name change to 'Orto', in order to put out some broken jazz tunes. "Waiting Is Over" is a cleanly made fractured jazzer, with spot hitting keys, ear catching strings and rousing vocals. 83 West supply a couple of tasty House interpretations, where the synths push further and strings reach higher.
Sexicanz vs. MegaDank 4200 – Futuristic Funk (Deepfunk Records)
Cat No: DFR09. Promo.
The mysterious Sexicanz open their account on Deepfunk, bringing the inimitable MegaDank with them. The sassy Sexicanz track on this EP is "More Bass", where messy synth lines and imposing vocals bow down to a commanding bassline. The Dankster gives us a tightly rapped bass groover entitled "Futuristic Funk", which becomes a jingling live bass effort when rejigged by Sprayfonk.
The Separatists – Audiomer (Soma)
Cat No: SOMA 191. Release Date: 20th February 2006.
It's been a while, but the scarily named Percy X is back and here he hooks up with Marco Bernardi for a serious Techno onslaught. The winner on this EP is the title track, where stinging synths battle seriously ill keys for supremacy.
Sons And Daughters – Dance Me In / La Lune (Optimo RMXS) (Domino)
Cat No: RUG 196. Available Now.
Adored by the style press and trend-centred muso's, Optimo prove their worth on this 12", where they split up to remix a couple of tracks by Sons And Daughters. The 'Naum Gabo' remix of "La Lune" by JG Wilkes and his production partner James is a fine reinterep, where raspy guitars, a fuzzy bass and courteous beats meet. JD Twitch & The Truffle Club's mix of "Dance Me In" will get heavy rotation, courtesy of its stern guitar work, radiant beats and figure hugging bass.
Sean Dimitrie feat. Felicia Lee – Dr. Doo Yoo (Reverberations)
Cat No: RVNS 019. Release Date: Late January 2006.
This cheeky little record sees vocalist Felicia Lee recount an encounter with a rather too attentive Doctor. In original form, her rude rap coasts over sitting back keys, diva wails and a bad bass. Fred Everything's Remix adds a heavier bass and jagged synths, whilst Asad Rizvi's darker version invites a scowling bass to join the party.
The Rurals – Tree Of Tension (Digi-Pêng)
Cat No: 005. DOWNLOAD ONLY (www.traxsource.com)
It sounds like these forgotten Rurals tracks were made some time ago, but there's nothing wrong with well-produced past embracing House. The highlight is the ridiculously minimal yet on point "Space", where wistful keys are backed by cymbal heavy percussion. "Tree Of Tension" is a nervy keyed thumper, whilst "Jimmy Le Funk" marries demanding brass with live bass delving.
Verb T & Harry Love – Delusion (Silent Soundz)
Cat No: SSPR0004. Release Date: 6th February 2006.
UK Hoppers Verb T & Mr. Love launch a three pronged attack with this EP on the Silent Soundz imprint. "Delusion" coaches the listener over agile strings and simple beats, whilst "Make It Hott (Please)" is an exhibition of bravado and "Hypnotizm" fascinates.
Kano – Brown Eyes / Signs In Life (679)
Cat No: 679L119. Release Date: 27th February 2006.
Rising star Kano has culled these couple of hot cuts from his unit shifting first LP. "Brown Eyes" is a startlingly honest declaration of love, backed by kind keys, a Kanye style sped up vox lick and cut beats. "Signs In Life" cautions those living fast lives, with Kano's street tales moving over strained strings and a negative bass. The bonus track is a remix of "Sometimes" featuring Klashnekoff, where crying woodwind and a bass barely in motion do the damage.
Haftor Medbøe Group – Sampler (Linn)
Release Date: March 2006.
Liberating jazz with classical curtseys and subtle electronic poking is perhaps the most accurate way to describe the music of the Edinburgh based Haftor Medbøe Group. A sugary sax weaves a syrupy trail over well-mannered strings and close to ground percussion on "Little Auk". The pretty "Spor" receives a pulse from its percussion, which sits contently under flexing guitars and flourishing strings. "In Perpetuity" stretches out, as guitar notes are plucked over a bed of level brass, shining strings and melodica kisses.
Choi – The Way We Are (Younglee & Jake Sax RMX) (Equatorial)
Taken from The 'Climate Shift Album Sampler'. Available Now.
Ok_Ma get on the remix tip, brushing up a cut by Choi for Melbourne's Equatorial imprint. Charming keys and fizzing synths work their magic under some rather pleased vocals on their re-rub of "The Way We Are".
Test Icicles – What's Your Damage? (RMXS) (Domino)
Cat No: RUG 217. Available Now.
French House darlings Alan Braze and Digitalism give those Punked-up screamers a good seeing too. Braxe and Fred Falke's remix is rather too polite, as a sea of courteous synths and civil percussion submerges those irate vocals. Digitalism give Test Icicles a deserved kick in the balls and thus their deliciously fierce remix comes complete with sandpaper guitars, whipped beats and smeared vocals.
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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