This is two French DJ's doing their mixing thing, taking
strands from different aspects of music and culture and
making something that still is recognisably from a place
and time.
It's instructive for Anglo's to go into a French CD
or magazine shop and see all the tons of stuff they have
available, only a little of which is recognisable. Wow!
They can actually get on without our corporate media
machines. How can this be? Of course they have their own
media machines. They are just smaller. That leads to
a somewhat saner situation where a local artist who does
well can live quite nicely but doesn't have the
ridiculously obscene amounts of money poured on them that
they might in the USA for example. Maybe that ends in
more humanity. I'm not sure.
Anyhow, this is a mixture of electro-mood with different
cultural ideas and includes Arabic influences. It's
cool sounding stuff without being abrasively politically
correct.
(thunderfinger)
The only tracks we used to see from Independiente were hip-hop
but lately I've seen a couple of things that show they are
branching out. These three tracks are a pretty good example
being pretty, lo-fi-ish, melodic, with a little funk, and maybe
settled in a time other than now -- which is quite OK unless
the thing is a straight copy, which it isn't.
There's a feel of summer here and maybe, listening, you might
think another summer of love is a nice idea. I do!
(Dr Boots)
Guitar pop that might please Britpop lovers although
it might be a little too indy for them. And it won't be
quite indy enough for indy lovers.
I've got a feeling these people might be better live
than this suggests ... not that it's bad at all. The bits
all add up and it's just that the package is somehow wanting.
More than one track might have helped get a better view.
Nice name though. Will people expect electro?
(Dr Boots)
LP, Nocturne
C'est Loud! C'est Metallique! French too ... I think.
I'm not sure whether Nightwish preceeded The Darkness or not.
There's a high-pitched singer and acres of rolling thunder
guitar and the name. Anyway, this is more Metal than The Darkness and is
of the smoothly produced arena variety, and night-oriented
names and acres of guitar are hardly uncommon in these
circles. Some people will scorn this sort of thing but
some people who don't wear black t-shirts to match lank,
long black hair will think it's kinda fun.
(thunderfinger)
New Order, Waiting for the Sirens' Call
LP, London Records
There are bass riffs straight out of Joy Division on a couple
of these tracks -- not copies but that same slightly skidding
thing that underpinned the sad beauty of JD. In a way this whole thing
is a visit to those days as well.... and the more you listen, the more there
is.
Here we have songs rather than dance moments and quite a lot of
singing. But this isn't the old days and these aren't the old songs.
The mournful deepness of Ian Curtis has been replaced by a lighter
voice altogether ... more up, and so is the music generally. In
a way it's the voice of survival and some optimism about the future
even if there are sad moments along the way.
There is some echo of electro-dance stuff here as well, as you'd expect,
but the album is well-crafted pop generally and that's what it's
mostly about. I'm sure that as a whole it's actually important in
any way, but pop doesn't have or need to be. That said, there are
a couple of nice tunes here.
(thunderfinger)
LP, Mute(UK)
This seems more reflective than the last Moby album. It
is quieter with less anthemic moments. It's the sort of album
that grabs you more the second time around as a result. And it
doesn't exactly grab you because it's not that sort of thing.
It more sneaks up on you and gives you a pleasant soft pat.
What this album is really about is the traditional pop
song -- vocals, accompaniment, melody and harmony. It does
have interesting textures but these aren't the statement.
The song as a whole is. So, that's pretty conservative isn't
it? Yes, in a way it is, and people wanting electro-persona
will be sad for it. The craft of the songs is nice though and
a lot of people will like that.
(thunderfinger)
LP, Mute
Client play serious, tuneful pop that sonically sits quite
light on the ground. There's space for notes to breathe and the
voices weave in and out in the sort of way that can be understood
by those who listen closely to lyrics. Speaking of which, we seem
to be having quite a few sad-love moments on this.
This also features Pete Doherty, Carl Barat (Libertines) and Martin
Gore (Depeche Mode). Pop for postgrads? Maybe. It's pop for the thinking person anyway.
If you don't have tickets to Glastonbury on June 26, you won't
get the tickets and you won't catch Client but they do every second
Tuesday of the month at the Notting Hill Arts Club in London.
(Dr Boots)
5 track single plus videos, CD, 7", 12", Mute
Blues in the Hendrixy fuzzy guitar line is what we have here along
with injections of electro and grooves on different tracks. It all works
better than you might think if you're just trying to imagine a Blues/Electro
fusion.
Part of the secret is that Blues Explosion is a powerhouse band for
partying rather than any sort of dry academic appreciation society.
Another part of the secret is that the electro infusions have been done
well.
(Dr Boots)
A tip of the stylistic hat here to the Flying Lizards in the
tone of a couple of tracks. There are synth washs and bleep grooves
with the S girl intoning over the top. It's actually quite cool.
(Dr Boots)
Prefuse73, Surrounded by Silence
Four Tet, Smile Around the Face
Mstation Pop etc Commentary, Reviews
pre Dec 04 reviews are here
Fri, 29 Apr 2005
The Shortwave Set
3 track single, Independiente
Road Leads Where It's Led
single, Reprise
www.mobyhotel.com
www.client_online.net
blues-explosion.com
Wed, 06 Apr 2005
LP, (CD or Double vinyl), Warp
Out 18 April '05
Oops, it seems like we weren't the only ones to call this
"Untitled" instead of "Untilted".
Intelligent listenable electronica is not all that easy to find.
Like much else in this world, every jewel has to be sorted from
a landscape of pale imitations, banal non-statements, and self-
important twaddle of interest only to the maker. In the last case,
of course, we are too stupid and culturally-conditioned to see
the great art that has been unfolded before us.
And some of those might have a point. Never mind, after you're dead
mate ... after you're dead.
So what is it that makes "good"? Aha! People keep trying to sneak
up and define absolute good don't they? Annoying, isn't it? Never
mind. Here are some ideas anyway. First is that if the thing is
presented to a mass audience, it should contain some possible points
of connection. These might include recognisable tonal values and
rythms. They might include dynamic change so that we don't go to
sleep. The changes might be recognisably related so we're not
constantly saying "WTF?". In electronica the timbres might be the
kind that have us wondering a little what they are or how they
tweaked a sound we know, and the timbres must suit the story.
Yeah, yeah, the Autechre stuff is good stuff.
(thunderfinger)
Fri, 01 Apr 2005
4 track EP, Novamute
This is four tracks of Novamute's specialty: pacey dance with
innovative techno sounds and a hardcore edge.
Woody McBride aka DJ ESP is famous for running arena-sized, drug-free,
events around his native Minneapolis with 1 megawatt PA's.
While these four tracks aren't "out there" they are good dance
fodder and will get some feet moving. Where's my darn glow stick?!
www.woodymcbride.com
(gravenfeatures)
various, Twisted Disco
2 CD's, www.hedkandi.com
"A twisted journey into the darker side of house" is what it
says on the cover. Twisted might also mean more creative or more
interesting even, and such is the case here with interesting
breaks and textures .. but of course this is still disco, so
there won't be much in the way of 5/8 time or whatever.
There are 24 tracks on 2 CD's from the likes of Terranova, Eric
Kupper presents, Lamb, Penny Foster, Deep Dish, Kush, Tall Paul,
and many more.
It's an up collection of dance tunes with a little social
edginess.
If you're in London on 23 April you can catch a Hed Kandi
Party, The Back to Love Party at Pacha 10pm - 6AM
tickets at www.ticketweb.co.uk
(Dr Boots)
Tom Baker's Chart and Mix Mp3 at bottom
Chart:
1. Demarkus Lewis - The House Guest EP - Guest House Music
2. Grant Dell - Acid Bubble - Stupendous
3. Demar Vs Janet Jackson - Unkown Title - Roxy3
4. Switch - This is sick - Front Room
5. Tom Baker + Lawrence Mohammed - La Diablada - Wrong
6. Mastik Soul - Zencisk - Moxi
7. Martin Venetjoki Ft Derek Conver - Really Dont Stop - Dust Traxx
8. Nick Chacona - X, Y and sometimes Z - Grayhound
9. Colin Brown - Just a feeling - Chapter
10. Asad and Tangun - Fear and Loathing by the Bosphorus - Wrong
Record reviews for TTR Magazine, PitchAdjust.com, Radar Magazine,
Mstation.org, Dancecommunity.be and many more..
Grant Dell ‰ÛÒ Acid Bubble
Artist: Grant Dell
Title: Acid Bubble
Label: Stupendous
Cat no: STLP014
House
12"
Grants returns to NYC's Stupendous recordings with this fine piece of
underground party funk. "Acid Bubble" is built up from an insatiable
rhythm pattern, multi layered FX and acid stabs. It's one of those
tunes that just rolls on and on effortlessly. "Inspire me" is a
deeper, techier work out, with shuffling percussion, pitched up vocal
FX and more cheeky acid tinges. 5/5
Jackie Johnson ‰ÛÒ Boobs and Biatch
Artist: Jackie Johnson
Title: Boobs and Biatch
Label: RZ
Cat no: RZ12
House
12"
David Duriez's RZ maintains the "Blast from the past" ethos with this
4 track Chicago influenced EP. "Disco Boobs" is pure Chicago to the
core, with a cymbal based drum pattern and repetitive FX. "Return of
the wild bitch" takes on a DJ Pierre vibe, where an Akai piano riff
sits under a one-note string and lively drums. "Old Skool Biatch" is a
classic jazzy, jacking party work out and "The big track" is a
stripped back chi-town drum work out. 4/5
Solid Groove ‰ÛÒ This is Sick
Artist: Solid Groove
Title: This is Sick
Label: Front Room
Cat no: FRM010
House
12"
Dave Taylor's "Switch" project continues with ultra loud, cut and
paste style, boundary-pushing house. "This is sick" is a one-sided
single-track release that certainly does what it says in the tin. The
bass line is like something from mars and a lovely female vocal sample
declaring the track title. The track then darts back and forth from
the main drum loop to a string-led breakdown and various other drum
loops patterns, ensuring the listener always gets what was least
expected! 5/5
Tony Thomas ‰ÛÒ Growth EP
Artist: Tony Thomas
Title: Growth EP
Label: Cubic
Cat no: Cubic002
House
12"
The second release on Tony Thomas' new label see the man bringing a
slightly more electronic angle on his tried and tested percussive
productions. "Growth" is an infectious acid house number for those
peak time moments. "Serious" sees Tony use bring his musical skills to
the fore, with twangy guitar, trumpets a Hammond organ and a big room
peak time feel. "Remember" is a contemplative, chilled, deep house
roller, for much later in the night. A very useful EP. 4/5
Leigh Morgan vs. Harold Heath ‰ÛÒ House the weather
Artist: Leigh Morgan vs. Harold Heath
Title: House the weather
Label: Boxa
Cat no: Boxa 003
12"
House
This collaboration results in two lively and intoxicating tracks.
"House the weather" is a funky, drum work out, with a rolling bass
line and some dizzy, uplifting vocal cuts and FX. The track for me
however is "Willy Wonka" with bundles of energy and more use of
intoxicating vocals and FX. Halfway through its breaks into just the
kick, and a sick reversed bass line which is going to shake people's
drinks off the table when played out on a system. 4/5
Rob-in ‰ÛÒ Hysteria EP
Artist: Rob-in
Title: Hysteria EP
Label: Brique Rouge Traxx
Cat no: BRT017
12"
House
Rob-in, usually associated with musically composed jazzy house
presents a huge, big room, tribal monster in "Hysteria". Loud FX and
solid, rolling beats are pretty much all to be found here, but if this
was designed just to rip up dance floors then this will effortlessly
succeed. "Spirit" is jacking, electronic and emotive, with
multi-layered 80's synths and soft, spoken word. "Peace" lies in
Rob-in's more usual territory of jazz tinged, deep house. All 3 tracks
are excellently produced. 4/5
Flash Atkins vs. Monsieur Manton - Photoshoot
Artist: Flash Atkins vs. Monsieur Manton
Title: Photoshoot
Label: 3am
Cat no:
12"
House
Flash Atkins aka Ben Davis lends a techy big room flavour to 3am's
house label in "Photoshoot". Pitched down vocals hover over a bright
acid line and bursting bass line. "Wishpole" fits with 3am's
traditional, ligher sound, where jazz licks and double bass stabs sit
amongst a laid back, shuffling drum pattern and light vocals give a
summery feel. 4/5
Trevor Rockcliffe Ft Blake Baxter ‰ÛÒ Relax EP
Artist: Trevor Rockcliffe Ft Blake Baxter
Title: Relax EP
Label: Mentor
Cat no: Mentor010
12"
Techno
Trevor Rockliffe and Blake Baxter re-kindle their relationship after a
long hiatus. And as you'd expect from two techno heavyweights as this
is a solid release of soul lifting techno. The main mix focuses on a
clean, punchy, drum arrangement, with Baxter's distinguished vocals
soothing your ears. The acapella unfortunately keeps the synth line,
which makes it almost unusable for any production heads wishing to
dabble with the vocals. The "Layback" mix is slightly deeper and
housier, the "Kickback" mix takes things firmly into techno territory,
with a marching drum arrangement. 4/5
Mastic Soul and Tony Thomas ‰ÛÒ Moxi 002
Mastic Soul and Tony Thomas
Title: Moxi 002
Label: Moxi
Cat no: Moxi 002
12"
House
Second in the series from the tribal head honchos, this two tracker
sees one track from each producer. Mastik does the business with
"Zencisk", a simple, yet extremely effective percussive work out that
is aimed squarely at the dance floor. It consists of little more than
then the drums, bass and a scattering of effects, but when the rhythms
as good as this you don't need much else. Tony Thomas' aptly titled
"Bend your senses" is a deeper, drugier affair, built of the usual
tribal rhythms and a mirage of intoxicating samples, stabs and FX. 4/5
Download a twisted underground house mix - tracklisting upon request:
http://www.kickinside.com/mixes/techhouse/mp3/djtombaker_offthepeg.mp3
--
Tom Baker
www.djtombaker.com
single, City Pavement
Good rocking, pacey, indy guitar stuff that deserves to grow into
an album and more. Nice phrasing from the vocalist that reminds me
a teeny bit of Violent Femmes.
(snerdling)
various, Stereo Sushi Teriyaki
2 CD's, www.hedkandi.com
One of the sometime joys of reviewing compiliations is figuring
out just what substance the record company was on when they
gathered their tracks under an idea. Stereo Sushi Teriyaki?!
It's possible the substance might have been sushi as there is
talk of the warm feeling that sushi gives to its lovers. We'll
accept that one. But what about teriyaki? The answer is that
Stereo Sushi is a series and Teriyaki is the title of this
one in the series.
Anyway, this is two CD's worth of warm, soul-based grooves and
walkabouts featuring the likes of Jay-J, Colette, Gordon Edge,
Marillo, Leah McCrae and The Astrophunkers.
It's good for late night dancing, sipping cocktails, or reading
urban stories.
(Dr Boots)
LP, Warp
out 21 March 05
Prefuse73 is Guillermo Scott Herren plus, on this release, quite a
few guests who include a range of rappers -- Beans, Aesop Rock,
Masta Killa, Ghostface, and other vocalists and sound people.
This set does have hip-hop content but it's a lot broader than
that, being what GSH calls "the radio station of my mind"... a
station which plays trippy electronica with breaks and soulful
voices with wandering grooves behind them. It's all held
together by rounded qualities of the timbres used and a certain
understatement on the vocal front.
(thunderfinger)
4 track single plus video, London
Bouncy new track from New Order is a straight pop
offering that's sure to be danced to a lot over the coming
months. It's fun and absolutely undemanding.
The four tracks are by The Glimmers, Phones Reality, Andy Green
and New Order itself. As always, it's interesting to see what
different people make of a track and what they choose to play
with.
Sometimes I can't quite get used to the fact that a journey that
started with Joy Division has come to this place. Not that
fun is bad ...
(Dr Boots)
LP, www.hoodmusic.net
With a name like Hood we at first expected that these tracks might
have to do with inner-urban angst with certain stacato qualities
but then there are all those flowers on the cover .. even if they are
fuzzy flowers.
So no, it aint no hip-hop. Instead it's an ethereal thing with
instrumental grooves overlaid with harmonic soft voices -- rounded
tones and slow moving sadness and even a little angst.
It's a smoothly produced number with enough quirks to make it interesting --
touches like an electric guitar surfacing in the mix of Still Raining
make it more than New Age babble.
(thunderfinger)
single, Domino
Four Tet is Keiren Hebden, guitarist with indy group Fridge.
Here, the instrument is the computer, and the whole of the
forthcoming album was produced by him, at home, with his
computer and hifi.
The sounds used come from samples and the things that happen
around us but this isn't an electro-accoustic meandering. It's
a carefully crafted tune with pop sensibilities and eclectic
influences.
(thunderfinger)
EP, Warp
re-release 2 May 05
The story of Gael Baillier involves a one gig band, an homicidal
ex business partner, Paris by night, and mutant electronica.
There seems to be a French tradition of funky, inventive electronica
that doesn't attempt to squeeze itself into some existing genre in
order to get radio play or whatever. This isn't all electronica
though which just goes to illustrate the point further. The last
track on this EP is actually a mixture of soft balladic singing
and a melodic discourse.
It's all pretty nice.
(thunderfinger)
