From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-05-01 23:46:31
Jon Freer’s Reviews, 1st May 2005.
Singles:
Jazztronik – Madrugada (Especial Distribution)
Capstone/The Uptown Felaz – I Don’t Know / Brainstorm (Remixes)
(Wah Wah 45s)
Talc – Modern Sleep Over (Wah Wah 45s)
Border Crossing – Searching For Mr. Manuva (Remixes) (Sound Recordings)
Martinez – Antares EP (Deeplay Soultec)
Copyright feat. Imaani – Time (Defected)
Robert Hayes – Groovejuice EP (Infamous Light)
Infinity Plus One – The Edge Of Dread (Drenched)
V/A – Inner City Experience Vol 3 (Deepfunk Music)
Flow Dynamics – Live In The Mix (Freestyle)
Thanks to Nik Weston, Dom Servini, Anton at Trailer Media, Martin at Deeplay, Colin at Whitenoise, Toni T and Matt at Defected, All at Infamous Light, James at Drenched, Craig at Deepfunk and Flow Dynamics and Freestyle for these…
Jazztronik – Madrugada (Especial Distribution)
Cat No: ESPD-010. Release Date: 6th June 2005.
Especial show they’re one step of the game by unleashing another cut from the Jazztronik vaults, this time it is the turn of the relaxed hypnotic stylings of “Madrugada”. The ‘Club Mix’ sees dysfunctional percussion sit behind spellbinding Brazilian styled guitars and content keys. Ryota Nozaki aka Jazztronik’s ‘Main Mix’ is a version for slightly more chilled moments, courtesy of the waves based intro, emotionally open guitars and masked vocals. Louie Vega’s ‘Roots Version’ is so polished one could see their own reflection in the track’s stumbling watery chords, impressive piano keys and pillow soft synths. Louie’s superior ‘Reprise” places those exposed piano keys and unhappiness tinged strings over sitting percussion. Definitely not a “Samurai” mark two, “Madrugada” is a fine track, nonetheless.
Capstone/The Uptown Felaz – I Don’t Know / Brainstorm (Remixes)
(Wah Wah 45s)
Cat No: WAH12005. Available Now.
The consistent Wah Wah crew return with a top-notch remix focussing two-tracker. Aaron Jerome’s re-rub of Capstone’s “I Don’t Know” begs for an answer, as beats to trip over, rolling pin flattened muted brass and piercing strings collide. Hint’s ‘Futureboogie’ version of “Brainstorm” by the Uptown Felaz is an energetic guitar-laced mission.
Talc – Modern Sleep Over (Wah Wah 45s)
Cat No: WAH 10001. Available Now.
Talc are modern souled up funky-assed piss takers who make tracks with vocal content that precariously teeters between on the one hand being side-splittingly funny and on the other being just plain ridiculous. “Modern Sleep Over” vocalises a computer boffin’s wet dream over barely moving guitars and slowly walking beats. “Dad’s Tired” tries to liven the old feller with a cocktail of tapping beats, lazy guitars and picture perfect Rhodes chords.
Border Crossing – Searching For Mr. Manuva (Remixes) (Sound Recordings)
Cat No: 12SOUND01. Release Date: 30th May 2005.
The Border Crossing’s track that was inspired by a weed loving London heavyweight rapster gets the rub down from eclectic gentleman Mr. Scruff and Redstar. The Scruffster supplies a neat version, where wind-up percussion gets a disorientating stoned bass and string flares going at it. Redstar’s mix lets Ricky Ranking chat over an almost see-through dubby bass and digitised keys. The original squishy basslined version is also present and correct for those interested to hear what Scruff and Redstar were presented with in the first place.
Martinez – Antares EP (Deeplay Soultec)
Cat No: D-Tec 2. Available Now.
Martinez serves up a teched out EP of supreme deeper than the seabed grooves on the recently established Deeplay Soultec outlet. “Antares Pt 1” pits lush synths against poky digital keys and pace keeping beats. “Cosmic Transmission” attempts to communicate with beings in a far off galaxy by means of sending them messages encoded in spacey synths, analogue loveliness and ear pleasing strings. ‘Pt 2’ of “Antares” goes even further into the abyss, with intense keys, plucked guitar-type sounds and synth movement.
Copyright feat. Imaani – Time (Defected)
Cat No: DFTD101. Promo.
Glossy House operatives Copyright finally put out a single on the imprint that is undoubtedly their spiritual home, the mighty Defected. Their ‘Main Mix’ of “Time” is an uncomplicated slice of goodtime vocal House, with keys to get those toes tapping, blindingly glitzy synths and magic strings. Jon Cutler’s revision paradoxically places encouraging vocals and lovely keys over frowning synths. Copyright supply a pair of Dubs and the more attractive of the two is their ‘Back In Time Dub’, which contains a neat percussive line, a bass not to mess with and stabbing synths that border on being painful.
Robert Hayes – Groovejuice EP (Infamous Light)
Cat No: ILR 005. Promo.
This EP from Robert Hayes is a pleasant affair, but one that is perhaps a little too nice in places and lacks any obvious distinguishing marks. “The Chant” floats a looped vocal over rushing synths, pensive strings and a cool bass with a disturbing edge. “Makes Me Wonder” is thudding guitar funker, whilst “Sabor De La Sol” lets a laughing sax do all the donkey work. “Stand Up” is kept in a vertical position by smiley-faced guitars, synths that have been browned by the sun and an acrobatically inclined flute.
Infinity Plus One – The Edge Of Dread (Drenched)
Cat No: Drenched 017. Promo.
This tiny Manchester based label is back with a wonderfully two sided release entitled “The Edge Of Dread”. The title track is a techy battering ram, with odd-shaped percussion, deranged vocals and a bass that enjoys playing mind games. “Do You Read Me” is a pleasure to study, courtesy of some inverted chords, energised synths and popping beats.
V/A – Inner City Experience Vol 3 (Deepfunk Music)
Cat No: DFR06. Available Now.
Deepfunk have enlisted an allstar cast for the third volume of their “Inner City Experience” series, which contains six solid, if not life-changing tracks. The first vinyl contains Rithma’s glazed-eyed guitar based “Nice, Geese”, PC Synergy’s spaced out brass mission entitled “Primetime” and an impatient synther by Alland Byallo called “La Brea”. Vinyl two kicks off with Olivier Desmet and Chuck Diesel’s sax ripping “Gary’s Groove”, before moving on to the talented Morgan Page’s keyed up “Swing” and a removed from reality slouching hopper from Presto & The Wayward Saints known as “Midnight Blue”.
Flow Dynamics – Live In The Mix (Freestyle)
Cat No: FSR 018. Available Now.
Australian bboy hoppers Flow Dynamics grace the drearily sleeved Freestyle imprint with a pair of funked-out movers. It’s best to stay clear of the James Brown inspired title cut and head straight to “Better on Stage”, a drunken guitar-leaning journey, where sliding brass and stupid scratches provide the accompaniment.
Disco Diary for this week:
Fri 6th May: Eyes Down at the Roadhouse, Mcr, w/ Recloose and Kid Sublime guesting.
Sat 7th May: Keep It Unreal at the Music Box, Mcr, w/ Mr. Scruff.
Sat 7th May: Scuba at the Room, Sheffield, w/ Recloose and Chris Lowlife.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
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