Jon Freer’s Reviews – 4th March 2006.
Albums & Compilations:
V/A – Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits (Wah Wah 45s)
Joe Bataan – Call My Name (ESL Digital)
Maxence Cyrin – Modern Rhapsodies (F Communications)
Spank Rock – YoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada)
Freddie Cruger Pres. The 3 Foot High People – 3 Foot High & Rising (Homegrown)
Aqua Bassino – Rue De Paris (F Communications)
Jafrosax – New Standard Of The Future (Pantone)
Tosca – Souvenirs (G-Stone)
Thanks to the nice labels and PR people that sent me these…
V/A – Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits (Wah Wah 45s)
Cat No: WAHCD001. Release Date: Late March 2006.
London’s Wah Wah has been blessing our ears with high-class broken jazz, fractured soul and neo-funkin’ for a good long while, so it was about time they put out a compilation. In a bloated market, where everyone and their gran thinks it’s a good idea to start a label, Simn Goss and Dom Servini release the same sort of records on Wah Wah as many of their compatriots. However, what sets the Wah Wah crew apart from the rest is their superior hearing and A&R nous, which results in releases with that extra sparkle. The keys advance, unkempt drums do their thing and a fed up vocalist shows her frustration on Belleruche’s “Bird Mess”. Alison Crockett strives to get more out of life in order to feel truly “Alive”, but will roaming keys and swinging broken-step beats help her? Capstone’s “I Don’t Know (Aaron Jerome Remix)” seems a little confused to begin with, but those nimble beats, inquisitive brass and close keys work out a solution in the end. Wah Wah don’t feel the need t!
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release a 12” every week, but quantity isn’t an issue, as they put out records of such high quality.
Joe Bataan – Call My Name (ESL Digital)
Digital release. Promo.
True, this album of honeycombed Latin from the distinguished Joe Bataan came out in a physical format a while ago on Vampisoul, but here ESL give it a digital release for web fiends. They’ve taped a handful of unnecessary funked up breaksy remixes on the end, but this album is certainly worth picking up for Bataan’s rockily guitarred and sweetly souled original compositions. Cosmic keys and true guitars reassure on the friendly “Call My Name”. Bataan is transfixed by love for a wondrous female on “Cycles Of You”, where dutiful guitars, trustworthy organ keys and devotional drums attempt to break the spell. “Ernestine” shows the shattering power of losing someone close, as sweet-talking guitars and anxious keys attempt to soothe the pain. Outstanding.
Maxence Cyrin – Modern Rhapsodies (F Communications)
Cat No: F 236 CD. Available Now.
Now this is quite an odd release, even for maverick French label F Comm. Here, they’ve let Maxence Cyrin cover a number of classic electronic tracks using only a piano. Sure, these versions sound a little bare when compared to the all-singing all-dancing originals, but they do show the melodic qualities of a number of peaktime dancefloor monsters. Some translate better than others to an acoustic setting, but it’s difficult not to be charmed by some of Maxence’s rearrangements. Felix’s “Don’t You Want Me” is turned from a glitzy House thumper into a purring easy listening beauty, where keys twinkle melodiously. The understated beauty of Moby’s “Go” comes to the fore on Cyrin’s overhaul, whilst “Smokenbelch II” feels somewhat purer in this form. This is a ‘concept’ album that somehow manages not to fall on its face.
Spank Rock – YoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada)
Cat No: BDCD091. Release Date: 10th April 2006.
The high frequency of telephony squeals and rather rude dialogue of this release on Big Dada suggests that Mr. S. Rock spends a lot of time on the phone to a mistress that gets turned on by his dirty talk. As suggested by the recent malfunctioning key driven “Rick Rubin” single, Spank’s album is full of rabid electronic hop, which is set to blow your socks off. “Touch Me” is as vulgar as you’d expect it to be, with artificial keys, scowlin’ beats and a foghorn bass backing those foulmouthed vocals. Strangely shaped smackin’ percussion, inconsolable keys and fallin’ down strings grind suggestively on the Darwinian “Competition”. Downright filthy stuff!
Freddie Cruger Pres. The 3 Foot High People – 3 Foot High & Rising (Homegrown). Release Date: 20th March 2006.
No, this is not a musical project from a murderous film character that got his kicks wreaking terror on a tree named street. In fact, it is an enticing album of stoned hoppy Soul grooves from Red ‘Follow Me’ Astaire. The highlight is “Kant Hold Us Back”, where squinting keys and in-awe harp play accompany cynical spoken vocals that ring true in a frightening manner. Permissive keys act as the glue on the cut and paste “Zodiac”. Cruger’s own kid Elijah supplies the laughing on “Childsplay”, as beats wobble on their feet and a bass holds firm through gritted teeth. For those mellow moments…
Aqua Bassino – Rue De Paris (F Communications)
Cat No: F241. Available Now.
It’s possible to pass off the heartfelt display of emotions as dwelling on feelings unnecessarily, but this does a disservice to artists like Aqua Bassino, who turn negative experiences into an expressions of artistic beauty. On the surface, this album is a positively toned jazzed-up effort, but underneath, many compositions are weighed down by a deep emotionality that could only come from heartbreak and loss. “We Could Be Friends” offers companionship but yearns for much more, backed by free feeling keys, satisfied guitars and nimble-footed percussion. The besotted “Sweetest Thing” twirls fragile guitar strands over unsettled keys and deep in thought percussion. Strings flourish as ailing keys try and get to their feet on “The Way I Love You”. Emotionally draining, but worth it!
Jafrosax – New Standard Of The Future (Pantone)
Cat No: Pancd003. Release Date: 11th March 2006.
With a pseudonym like ‘Jafrosax’, you’d expect Kaz Katuta’s debut album on Pantone to be full of free wheeling sax based compositions. Produced by Yukihiro Fukitomi and Ryota Nozaki (aka Jazztronik), “New Standard Of The Future” is the jazzed out longplayer you’d expect, with Kaz’s sax sitting over various housey and fractured beat productions. Unfortunately some of the instrumental arrangements are a little cluttered and getting guest vocalists to sing on nearly every track only adds to the untidiness. “In The Morning” feat. Vikter Duplaix is one of the successes, where guitar pleasantries and unwavering percussion back his fun-loving vocals. A rare instrumental track is the playful sax and fiddling key laden “Free”. Studio Apartment tweak “Drawn 2 U” impressively, placing Yukimi Nagano’s attraction touched vocals over flashing synths and keys that have romance in their eyes. How about a few more instrumental tracks next time?
Tosca – Souvenirs (G-Stone)
Cat No: GSCD/LP 024. Release Date: March 2006.
Tosca are woken up here by an all-star remix cast, who’ve set about reinventing tracks from their recent “J.A.C.” album. Ranging from dub-beat snoozers to angular House bangers, this remix set features some fine interpretations. Plantlife’s ‘Love Philosophy Mix’ of “Heidi Bruehl” is a gorgeous revision, with space-gazing synths, dreamlike guitars and lovin’ vox. Guitars in a relaxed state smile at forward inching percussion and a logical bass on Lindstrom & Prins Thomas’ ‘Nordic Flavour Remix’ of “Zueri”. “Superrob” gets an evocative harmonica driven re-rub from Henrik Schwarz. This is a cool collection of musical mementos!
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
***Freelaunce Journalist***
Website = www.mosoul.co.uk.
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Received on 2006-03-05 19:20:30