 |
| |
 |
|
Community Service
Ultra Records / 3AM
(CD)
The Crystal Method have sent you a rare handwritten letter in "Community Service". Informal, yet focused on theme, they are trying
to catch you on a day of hooky. It's complete. It takes you from those early waking and groggy hours as you stumble towards your
coffee maker - offering nothing less than a companion as you run your errands about town - and ultimately setting you up for a
night of endless possibilities.
Community Service doesn't seem about giving you that party - it's all about the Pre-Function (which is where the good stories and
memories often come from.) The Crystal Method has already proven their ability to make you dance. Here, they want to remind you
WHY you dance.
The pacing is STELLAR. Patient with the opening "No Soul" by ILS, abstract and trust is what they ask as they meld into a BPM
increase that doesn't fail. They nail the tasty with the self-indulgent. Stir Fry and Orbital cuts get you used to hearing music
in the capable hands of capable DJs. A rounded out "Name of the Game", touching on P.O.D.'s "Boom" ( courtesy of The Crystal
Method's mix ) and Rage Against The Machine's "Renegades of Funk" gives you a carrot to actually nibble on. Garbage's "Paranoid"
lets you know that The Crystal Method has some Radio Cred - for what that's worth - but it's a passing nod.
Closing with a quad set of alternating " Vs." mixes and home brews from The Crystal Method...come on people now, smile at your
brother - even of you haven't yet picked up your dry cleaning and you are across town from your favorite fee free ATM - you have
a ticket to ride in your CD player today.
What are you doing tonight?
- chickenjuggler
Buy the CD
|
| |
|
|
Dzihan & Kamien
Six Degrees
(CD)
Jazz-infused trip hop infused Asian massive infused Arabic strings infused plain weirdness (come on! they scratch up a
freakin' string ensemble - sounds just awesome though!).
As a whole, the album teeters at the outskirts of any genre. Sure it's jazzy, it's trippy, it's funky but it's
definitely not just jazz or trip-hop or funk. It's something that provides all those genres but never allows you to
accurately guess what's coming up next. (Except of course if you listen to it a hundred times over like I did.)
This isn't Asian Massive or Asian Underground per se - sure it has South Asian (tablas), Arabic (drums, strings) elements
added but when the music begins, the ability to tell which genre the melodious woman's voice, the trumpets, the guitar
riffs belong in, quickly disappears. You are going to be left thinking "it's going to be hard having one memorable track
on this album- 'cause all of them are so great." Personal Pick: Track 5 - "Drophere" - desig007
|
| |
|
|
Losing My Edge
DFA
12" single
Not quite electro, but possibly the song of the moment, this tune neatly ties up various current musical memes
and then eviscerates them over a funky, hypnotic Liquid Liquid-ish bassline. James Murphy's "aging hipster" rant,
full of dropped names and spurious "I was there" claims, takes aim at everyone from the electroclash scene to "Hi-Fidelity"
types. It's brimming with hilarious cracks calculated to reduce the cognoscenti to knowing fits of giggles. My favourite
might be "I hear you're buying a synthesizer. And an arpeggiator. And throwing your computer out the window. Because you
want to make something 'real'. You wanna make a Yaz record." Or possibly the line about "borrowed nostalgia from the
unremembered 1980's." Ouch. But I was there. - kitty_glitter
|
|
Gymnasty
White label
12" Vinyl
This is one of my new most favourite tunes! These guys take out the clash and just give us some real oldskool 808
electro. I mean, you can mix this isht with Pumpkin! The only problem is that the vocals (from a perverted gym teacher) are
indeed so nasty, I’m not sure I’d ever want to play this out. At first the guy reminded me of Eddie Murphy’s imitation of
Mr T, but now I realize he sounds more like the coach from Beavis and Butthead. Ick. Lucky for us, there’s a nice instrumental
mix on the flip with a relatively inoffensive dubby chorus. - Minki
Buy 12" Vinyl
|
|
Dr. Shingo’s Space Odd-yssey
Forte
2x LP
One thing new electro/electroclash artists got going for them is that many actually put out real albums. (Imagine that!) Crossover’s
brilliant Fantasmo is one. Unoriginal title aside, (David Bowie called...) Shingo’s stunner is no exception. It starts off with
two of the most beautiful, earth-shaking tunes ever. Sides 2 and 3 go into more familiar house/techno/electro territory, the
highlight being Shingo’s version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Which might be as epochal and morose as Nirvana's, in a totally
different way. But then side 4 sounds like the first. Should this have been split into 2 eps? Nah, I like it the way it is.
DJs should love it and the album works great as music for listening or housecleaning. - Minki
|
|
Passion EP
Kommando 6
Vinyl EP
Often like my electro dark and sleazy. That's probably why this is one of the more interesting new releases.
She/he/they/it eschew the more common new wave pop and Moroderisms for a groove. I wonder what this will do to
people's butts on the dance floor. Five tracks, I like "Black Rubber." Here's a secret: it also makes great
scratch noises. It comes on nice thick vinyl and there's a picture of a woman's foot in one of those high spiked
platforms on the flip, so it looks nice. - Minki
Buy Vinyl EP
|
|
Misery Loves Company
Ersatz Audio
Double LP
Aren't Adult the best? Almost as much name recognition as Miss Kittin, yet they've earned enough credibility to
survive any electroclash backlash. They are also cute and stylish and fetchingly nerdy. Here they've compiled "Misery Loves
Company" full of neurotic, morose robot muzik, dark and often twisted. Favorites include Adult, Kitbuilders, Charles
Manier, and Tamion 12 Inch ("Thin Boys Murdered" probably the song title of the year). Tommie Sunshine sings "Runway Runaway"
which sounds exactly like Joy Division. And Gold Chains with Zeek Sheck bring us "Could Care Less", a track I find rather
frightening. "Misery" may not be as accessible an introduction as that "Ministry of Pound" comp but it more accurately captures
the breadth, depth and mood of the electro underground. - Minki
Buy Double LP
|
|
"Emerge" (Dexter RMX)
white label
12" Single (2002)
I admit to liking Fischerspooner's visual style more than their music. (And they're almost as well known for that pile
of money they got from Ministry of Sound, but I won't go there.) The original version of "Emerge" wasn't that great, although
it sure was fun to dance to. But this remix owns with its funkier electroid beat and cut-up dubby vocals. It's also great
fun to mix with, totally gives you that Larry Levan sound for a moment. (I know.) Got this in June or July, but you can
probably get it as a regular Ministry release @ Virgin Megastore by now. Big tune,
but worth it. Uh huh., that's right. - Minki
Buy 12"Single
|
| |
|
|
The Politics of Dancing
Ministry of Sound
Mixed CD (2002)
A dance music producer and a DJ, Paul Van Dyk literally embodies what most people call "beautiful" in electronica.
Van Dyk virtually has paved the way for the progressive house and trance genres to follow with such hits as "For an
Angel" and "Another Way." With "Politics of Dancing" Van Dyk apparently hoped to make a mix that would motivate the
listener on a variety of levels. And at the very least, he reminds clubbers that there are some elements of dance music culture
that are worth fighting for.
For fans of pretty, vocal-laden trance material, it's best to go with CD 1, where Van Dyk chooses to place most of his
ballads. A few of these tracks, such as iio's "Rapture" and Van Dyk's remix of U2's "Elevation," are exclusives as well, and
in keeping with his perfectionist technique, it builds inexorably into the final cut, which leads to the harder stuff on
the second CD. Throughout, Van Dyk manages to balance the melodic with the propulsive. - Psikick
Buy the CD
|
|
Intensify
Distinctive
Mixed CD (2001)
Only one release in the year 2001 captured my imagination and it perhaps is The Best release of the year...Intensify by Way
Out West is a journey of a soul from its rise to its fall. The album is the best I have heard in many years and because it
is not overtly commercial it instantly becomes unique. You don't have to produce a hit dancefloor track to sell albums;
you only need originality. Way Out West do that here with some style. "Activity" is perhaps the closest they come to making
a dance floor hit, but it's much better than that. "Stealth" & "Mindcircus" are absolutely stunning with beautiful relaxing vocals
while "Hypnotise" is an instant classic. With this kind of music you need to turn off all the lights, light a candle or two, turn
the music to a reasonable volume and pour yourself and the people present in your company the best
available wine. Drink, listen & enjoy... - Psikick
|
| |
|
|
Pure Analog
Moon Spirits Records
CD
While most recent French psytrance releases sound more like progressive trance than psytrance, Johannes Regniers has given us a masterpiece here that is actually both.
All the "healthy" ingredients of a psytrance album are here, yet the cliché's have been cleverly avoided or elegantly reshaped, making it a constant adrenalin rush journey that doesn't make you think about touching that "skip" button once.
When an album starts with a killer track ("Nexus 6 rmx") it usually means that it's downhill from here, but "Pure Analog" just is an amazingly structured masterpiece, well balanced with pumping rhythms, hard basslines and clever melody layers.
If you don't want to choose between "hard" and "dreamy," this is the album to buy this year. - psychurch
Buy the CD
|
| |
|
|
Phutures and Options
Spiral Traxx
CD
Danish goa-/psytrance veterans Frank E and Ian Ion known as Koxbox decided in 2000 to change their name to "Saiko Pod" and produce
more club-oriented material. A trend that is notable on many other new psytrance releases and they are starting to get filed
under "tek-trance." Personally, I would just call it "deep innovative space trance with a bite."
"Phutures and Options" is Saiko Pod's first full-length CD and up to now I still don't have a favourite track (which is a good
thing!) and it's rich production continues to amaze me. It sets a milestone for a new generation of trance, just like
Koxbox did in 1990. I wonder what these guys have in store for 2010... - psychurch
Buy the CD
|
| |
|
|
All In My Head
Moksha/BMG
CD/12" Vinyl
Straight outta the jungle but not outta the woods, returns Kosheen. Ditch the samplers and grab the guitars, mates -
we're gonna have a campfire. This time out Kosheen resists the drum & bass sound and trade in their gear for something more laid back,
like guitar and drums. All In My Head has an acoustic guitar feel to it brought together with a rousing, powerful and catchy chorus.
Kosheen has also managed to supply club-friendly mixes from in-house remix team Decoder & Substance. My pick hit for the summer
the "Planet Funk Mix." - Ldbig
Buy CD
Buy 12" Vinyl
|
|
Funk Phenomenon 2003
(Da Hool / Santos Remixes)
ZYX
CD
The year 2003 what happend to the funk? Thankfully Armand has given the go ahead for some killa new mixes of his classic
Phunk Penomenon to come our way.
Da Hool and Santos bring this already killa track into the year 2003 right. Both mixes are very dark twisted and raw with a
undeniable groove and funk factor that will have you coming back for more. Perfect for peak time. Also included are the Mo-Ryn's
Electrobreaker mix and the Original Mix. -ldbig
Buy CD
|
|
Squaredancing in a Round House
Classic
CD
Chicago House
As house producers and DJs go, Derrick L Carter is truly a GOD. Hailing from the windy city of house, Chicago, Carter is so
prolific and his disco so cosmic that you can't help jumping aboard his spaceship for the ride. Carter's long awaited album
takes off instantly and from the very bouncy sounds of "Boompty Boomp Theme" to the chill-out vibes of "The Hollow Clash of
Marionettes," Carter takes a beautiful and absorbing journey all over the goddamn galaxy. The beauty and magic of Carter's
work is the diversity of his sound from the ragtime jazz of the 20's-inspired "Do You Believe?" (and oh Lordy, yes we do!) to
the future funk of "Where Ya At, Now?". At some places this album might sound disturbingly weird but its undeniably a wonderful
work of a genius. Hail Carter! - Psikick
Buy CD
|
|
Fabric 06
Fabric
Deep House
Tyler Stadius says that he's spent lot of his childhood travelling! But by the sound of this it was mainly by the London
Underground. From bongo buskers to echoing male vocals, all the sounds of a tube journey are featured on Stadius' 12-tune
stop-off on the deep house line. It picks up groovers and drivers along the way alighting with Cornell Campbell's "King In My
Empire". Think more Nick Warren Street that St Paul's Oakenfold. If deep house is your thing, you'll never want
to get off. - Psikick
Buy CD
|
|
Do You Remember House?
Slip N Slide
12" Vinyl
This latest offering from the new album Spiritually Speaking is this year’s gem. This one has been buzzing around the Europe
scene since about summer and is just emerging from the underground states side. "Do You Remember House?" brings you back to
days when house music was simple but was driving and powerful thus you remember to this day. Remixes honours come at us from
Bob Sinclar bringing us a pumping groovy disco feel to the song, but keeping at the same time keeping us grounded to the
orginal down-to-basics feel of the orginal. Second up is The Azzido Da Bass Deep Acid Remix brings the cut down .....way down
to the underground. Turning the vibe into nice dark, deep and delicious feel luring you deeper and deeper into the underground
but do you which will have you asking yourself "Do I remember house?" - Ldbig
Buy 12" Vinyl
|
|
Roger Sanchez Presents: "Release Yourself"
Distinctive
Ibiza 2002
(Stealth)
When Mr Roger Sanchez puts on his Kangol, lights his incense and gets busy on the 1210s, you know it is going to be
something special. The man has been around longer than most DJs are prepared to admit. But thank Defected he is
still rocking Pacha like a fiesty 14-year old while the rest of his generation dive further and further into the
prog/tribal abyss.
Sanchez pays as much attention to the ladies as he does the A-List jocks peering over his shoulders so there is enough
basslines, squelchy bits, druggy vocals and all the right touches to make his night in Pacha put the dance back in
dance music. Respect! - Psikick
|
| |
|
|
4AD/ 4th & Broadway
Kind of obvious, but quite curious: Big track of the acid house era without being acid. Early sign that the British love
for US hip-hop would bear fruit. Mixes well with electro. Released on 4AD! Made by indie wierdos AR Kane and Colourbox.
And they weren't heard from again, were they? Killer samples and the greatest bassline. Elements were recycled by Coldcut for
Eric B & Rakim's "Paid in Full", one of the greatest hip-hop tracks ever. Period. The back cover is a picture of a bizarre
cheeky Elvis shrine with The King standing on a hamburger and raiding the fridge, surrounded by pistols, guitars, booze and
pills. Curioser and curioser. - Minki
|
|
"Blue Monday" (Hardfloor Remix)
The original is one of New Order's best songs, but it actually wasn't a big hit. To compensate, New Order have offered up a
million remixes of it over the years. Most of them weren't very interesting or improved on the original. This one is the
exception. Most of it sounds just like what you'd expect - Hardfloor's burbling acid underneath Bernard's vocals. But you
get to the staggering breakdown - a fill and a crash, those lovely New Order strings swell, the 303s ramp up and the whole thing
reaches a fever pitch with a massive percussive fill. Dancefloor heaven. Yeah, Electroset's better. Mine comes
on an "Electro Kinetic" DJ promo sampler with worthy tracks from Sugar Bear, Kraftwerk, and
Mantronik. - minki
|
Check the Submission Guidelines (free, registration required)
|
|
|
|
