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The Big One CD
Universal Language Productions
EVO 043 CD
5:59 124 the Jedi Knights: Catch The Beat
5:42 121 the Jedi Knights: Big Knockers
10:16 132 Moroccan Jack: the Modwheel
12:17 120 the Return: Circulation
4:38 128 The Horn: In To My Thru
On their latest appetizer sampler platter, the Universal
Language boys serve up a barrellful of tasty beats and add yet more
monikers to their label stable. The two Jedi Knights tracks are the real
deal, true clock-cockin' beats, tuff enough to kick any chemically-wizened
brother straight back into dust. The three teasers from the new Evolution
sub-sub-label, Heard Records, each stand on their own and nicely showcase
the broad range of styles that ULP will be representing in 1997.
Catch The Break opens with a brief discourse on the
history and theory of groove elongation, and then proceeds to kick it in.
Industrial strength funk, that hits hard, but grooves playfully. Bongos,
Bass and Claps define the ping-ponging frame of this groove. The Jedi's
serve numerous user-friendly hooks for the turntablists inclined to "catch
the break" and spice up the mix with frequent frantic love boat rewinds.
The force is with you and the beats will guide the way.
The second Jedi track, Big Knockers, is a simple, minimal
locked groove stepper. This is fat-tire funk fueled by 808 cymbals and
snares that climbs up, around and all over itself like a horny humvee on a
syncopated sex romp. No melody here, but you don't miss it. You may think
the buggy's gonna get bogged down in some filter-sweepin' modulated mud
near the midpoint- but no way, jose - she takes a lickin' and keeps on
kickin' it.
Tom Middleton goes it alone on as Morrocan Jack on the
Modwheel with a track which carries a middle-eastern essence true to his
new Heard records moniker. The skunky fragrance of indica wafts over you as
you bow to the east; then an ominous sawing sound and the gallop of horses'
hooves work this one up to full locomotion. Minimal, Kabul krush-groove --
not unlike Maurizio does Marakesh. Once fully engorged, the beats here are
punishing, and they call for penance throughout the duration of this
track. This is one fervent groove of devotion, one that climaxes in a
highly charged and chaotic frenzy for the last three minutes.
Joshua's track, Circulation, again opens up in a Islamic
temple setting. Come along on Joshua's magic carpet ride. The Return does a
masterful job of stitching together old recycled disco and funk carpet
remnants into a intricately funky tapestry more potent than Curtis Mayfield
or ASCAP could have ever imagined. The cut and paste technique of
Nightmares On Wax with the purple velour attitude of Don Cornelius gives
Circulation a unique sensibility and playability.
Stephen Horne finishes it off with In To My Thru, a track
exemplifying why the squeaky wheel gets the funk. Over a foundation of
spot-on electro beats, an uncentered, off-balance squirty rhythm strives to
find a stable center of gravity. Complex enough to warrant deeper, enhanced
armchair listening -- yet basic enough to move the peeps on the floor. A
tuff job, but consider it done.
After listening to these 5 tracks at least 10 times, and
laying "The Big One" out beside "Pentamerous Metamorphosis", it's amazing
to think how far, and in how many directions, the globcomm collective has
splintered. They push the subleties hard, along many exciting vectors,
while still remaining true to some basic old skool structural guidelines.
Cutting edge genre-genetic engineering with a heartfelt respect for the
design ethic of those that paved the way.....
April 1997. all rights reserved, all wrongs reversed.
Jeff Davis <pHlow> ____--~~~~~~vvvv~~~~ oooo812.831.7846
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