DELTA HOUSE OF FUNK : No Pressure (Go Beat GODX 150)
The 2nd release after a two year wait by one of Ashley Beedle's numerous
alter egos and definitely well worth the wait. 4 mellow acid jazz tracks
with soulful male vocals all of which are in a similar style with no one
track in particular standing out but they are all great. Recommended.
TORTOISE : Galapagos (City Slang SHELL003)
After a disappointing set of remixes from Oval comes this truely
stunning drum and bass remix by Spring Hell Jack. A mixture of a light
jazzy style with dark bass overtones this appeals to people into all
styles of drum and bass (and everyone else that I know who has heard
it). The b-side contains an mix by Beduin Ascent that tries too hard to
be experimental but you'll probably never get round to hearing it unless
you put that side on before the a-side. You need to buy this record.
BETH ORTON : She Cries Your Name (Heavenly HVN6010)
10" from the one time Res Snapper vocalist with beautiful folk styled
vocals over a Grantby styled backing with acoustic guitars and cellos.
Also with a Portishead style downtempo remix of 'Tangent' by Andrew
Weatherall's Two Lone Swordsmen which is also excellent and two other
acoustic tracks on the flip.
LEWIS PARKER : Rise E.P. (Bite It! BITEE 11)
A superb jazzy hypnotic rap track with slow beats and the occasional
odd piano tinkle. Backed with a couple of more hip hop flavoured tracks
which are both good but nowhere near as excellent as the lead track.
DJ VADIM : Aural Prostitution (Ninja Tune ZEN1245)
More laid back UK hip/trip hop also featuring Lewis Parker amongst
others in a multitude of mixes including a nice DJ Cam instrumental.
Vadim's best to date and highly recommended.
ZIMBABWE LEGIT/DJ KRUSH : Shadows Legitimate Mix/Kemuri ('94 Mix Part 2)
(Mo Wax MW052)
URBAN TRIBE/LO-FI SENSIBILITIES : Covert Action/Cabin Fever
(Mo Wax MW054)
Two samplers from the forthcoming Headz 2 compilations featuring the
tune that turned James Lavelle onto DJ Shadow and you can hear why -
basically a blueprint for In/Flux in a similar style with jazzy samples
and some mad double speed scratching. The DJ Krush track however is
pretty pointless adding very little to (actuallly just seeming to take
some away from) the original. The other 12" contans two trip hop/techno
tunes which are quite good but nothing outstanding. A third 12"
featuring Peshay and Dillinja is due out soon as well. Probably best
waiting for the full release in about 3 weeks of Headz 2 as all of the
tracks are on there.
AL'S RECORDS VOLUME 2 (Al's Records 12ALS2)
3 jazzy drum and bass tracks from (some or all of) Wax Doctor, DJ Pulse,
Pim and Oscar. 1 laid back with lots of horns and the other 2 to get you
on your feet. Listen to 'Bounce' and try not to.
PROJECT 23 : Pleasure And The Pain (Dorado DOR050)
New drum and bass track from Cleveland Watkiss with a nice jazzy Peshay
remix which is overshadowed by the brilliant original with really nice
soulful vocals contrasting with a extremely bust backing track full of
twists and turns. One of the best drum and bass tracks I have heard.
Also a couple of older compilations on Moving Shadow Records both highly
recommended featuring the likes of Alex Reece/PFM/Wax Doctor/JMJ &
Richie/E-Z Rollers
The Revolutionary Generation (ASHADOW3LP)
Storm From The East (ASHADOW4LP)
Not really anything to do with acid jazz but good nontheless are:
FATBOY SLIM : Better Living Through Chemistry (Skint BRASSIC2LP)
A double album of Chemical Brothers styled big beats from Norman Cook.
A bit cheesy and nothing clever but a lot of fun with a brilliant 60's
styled guitar track 'Going Out Of My Head' which is guaranteed to make
anyone jump about. One of those tracks that you hear first time and know
that it'll go down well on any dancefloor or anywhere else.
GODFATHER OF WEIRD 'Theme from Weird/Lazy Days' (The Ruf Label RUF011)
Skip the late 80's style uptempo hip hop cut up of the theme from 'The
Professionals' (although it is a lot of fun) and go straight to the 2nd
track. A slow trip hop track with female vocals and a Tricky styled rap
based on the intro to The Animals 'House of the Rising Sun' overlaid
with some cool trumpet. Really good stuff with a very useful
instrumental.
Colin. (Who also picked up 'Bionic Booger Breaks' after a two year hunt
and is very happy)