ARTIST: Saint Germain
TITLE: Boulevard - The Complete Series
LABEL: F Communications
FORMAT: 8 track DLP
What can I say? This is a truly classy album - blending the deepest of house
with cool improvised jazz. The tracks ooze soul and emotion, and the production
is top-notch. 'Deep In It' kicks off the collection in fine style, electric
piano chords and improvised jazz solos building into an infectious deep housey
groove. 'Thank U Mum' is a long building track based around a cool bassline,
while snatches of vocals and solos come in and out. 'Street Scene' is a
downtempo funky affair, 'Easy To Remember' overlays the smoky feel with an
American funeral speech. 'Sentimental Mood' ups the pace slightly with a cool
piano riff which forms the basis of the track, 'What's New?' features a list of
respected influential musicians, clubs and labels read out on top of an
addictive hypnotic underground house track. 'Dub Experience II' and 'Forget It'
close the album in fine downtempo style. If you appreciate jazz at all, or if
you like mellow underground house, then this is an essential purchase if you
don't already own the three 12"s.
ARTIST: Spooky
TITLE: Clank
LABEL: Generic
FORMAT: 4 track EP
The long-awaited return from the progressive house pioneers is a very
different release. Metallic percussive sounds are the order of the day - 'Clank'
is a very apt title. Slightly reminiscent of LFO's 'Tied Up', but not as harsh,
melodies, well, clank away on top of the beats. Of the remaining tracks, one is
a remix of 'Clank', the other two are slightly more conventional intelligent
techno that would easily be at home on Warp.
ARTIST: Leftfield
TITLE: Afro-Left
LABEL: Hard Hands
Format: 3 track 12"
This is a limited release of one of the top tracks from 'Leftism'. The 12"
features 3 brand new mixes: 'Afro Ride' is a banging techno version with a lot
less of the vocals and a building frantic acid/techno feel - very energetic. The
main breakdown cuts to a drone while the chanting vocals fade up before a kick
drum roll and snare drum roll fade up, launching back into the track as
effectively as Hardfloor's epic breakdowns. 'Afro Sol' is a more laid-back
ambient version with little percussion, and 'Afro Central' is another techno
version, but more sparse and percussive, with less of the frantic pumping vibe
of the first mix. Get it while you can!
IN BRIEF:
Picked up Gentle People's 'Journey' which I've heard so much about. I think
it's very good indeed. Also Tone Theory - 'Limbo of Vanished Possibilities' on
Plink Plonk is pretty good, as are the Alex Reece, DJ Krust and Roni Size
remixes of DJ Krush on Mo'Wax...
See ya
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| Tom Churchill EMail tom@chrchfam.demon.co.uk |
|
| Techno/electronic DJ and musician |
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