Goldie is enamored of 70's commercial soul, which comes through loud and clear.
If you hate 70's soul music (emotive vocals, lush jazz-influenced chord
progressions) then run away at top speed. B U T smoke on this: The mainstream
of this kind of music has been stuck for years at the same spot. Michael &
Janet, Mariah and Babyface, even the Purple Gnome in Lifts. The closest they
come to updating the sound is to use hip-hop loops that self respecting
hip hop producers discarded years ago.
What Goldie & a Guy Called Gerald have done is taken that style of music
into the next century. You don't have to like it, but if you understand it
in that context you can have some respect for it.
My favorite Jungle Comp (the only one that I didn't sell back in disgust)
is Jungle Tekno 4 (Jumping & Pumping' CD TOT15). It contains a track
by Area 39 (Attitude), and a bunch of stuff by people I've never heard of.
Most of the cuts might fit the oxymoron Ambient Jungle. Drums & Bass workouts
with odd bits of business floating in and out.
If 'King of the Jungle' is the Mark Gage continuous mix, then I liked that
OK (listened to the promo and didn't buy it.) I thought the Orbital 'Are We
Here' mix on it was brilliant. The 'Artcore' compilation has it's fans as
well, but I think I was buying Juan Atkins disks the month that was in the
local shop.
Luke Vibert's jungle tracks (the Plug Series) are pretty good. A few tracks
on the Omni Trio's long player (called, regrettably, 'Music for the Next
Milleneum'; damn that DJ DB!) are top drawer, but I wouldn't recommend
buying it without listening to it.
I positively love the 4Hero album "Parallel Universe" (Selector/Reinforced
SEL3). It does feature some live singing (ala Guy Called Gerald & Goldie)
but in moderation. It's an album that actually has some emotional impact
for me. Not the usual reaction I have to Jungle -- to twitch uncontrollable.
I frankly think that it would be difficult to listen to a lot of jungle without
a break. Going to a jungle party would be a recipe for a splitting headache.
Use it as a spice, not a main course!
--
kent.williams@cadsi.com
[Kent Williams/CADSI/2651 Crosspark Rd/Coralville IA 52241/(319)626-6700]
"It is a good world, generally (and especially when you totally ignore detail)."
--Darwin Grosse, who did NOT invent Eckankar.