May 20, 2001
ANDREA PARKER:
The Dark Ages
(Quatermass EP)
Andrea Parker is a DJ with a box full of sound-effects, hard trance and Brazilian rhythms, she is a singer, she plays the cello and she is one of the best producer and remixer in the business.
Andrea Parker is also a collector of sounds. She once hooked up a microphone in the front seat when she was washing her car in a car wash and recorded the rotating brushes, the sound of water dripping and the warm air fan that dries the car.
Andrea Parke is particularly interested in dramatic sounds and always has a microphone and DAT-recorder ready so she can record sounds everywhere, then she manipulates the sounds in a sequencer. She adds strings, cello, vocals and a heavy beat to create a dark and funky techno.
This five track mini album is pure electro, pure atmosphere and pure emotion. Empty Words is held together by a string melody which aligns the driving bass, timpani and industrial electronics into a warm and driving groove. The Swamp is dark and funky built on foghorns, squelching electronics and a fast drum-pattern with a huge b-line. Expedition is an off-beat tech-house monster. A sure shot for discerning floors. Invasion with a twisted beat and with filtered brass stabs are minimalist and could easily be film scores for the next Bond movie.
Andrea Parker is years ahead of her time. The unexpected is a central part of her music, she is touching the unknown, or incomprehensible and she is pushing back boundries of what we can relate to as music, but by adding a deep groove she manages to dance close to the edge without loosing the grip on the beat. Superb stuff!
SUNSHINE ANDERSON:
Your Woman
(Atlantic)
Her name is Sunshine and she looks nice on the cover. Her debut album sets off with the stunningly fresh Better Off and goes on with the sassy He Said, She Said. But the best is yet to come, first out is the single Heard It All Before and then, late in the set comes the funky Lunch Or Dinner which is nothing short of stunning with a devastating cool horn arrangement supporting the chorus.
Basically this is the same old story of love and hate that we have heard so many times before. But when an accomplished singer like Sunshine Anderson adds her strong personality and investigates these old themes it is like we hear it for the first time and it is very easy to relate to the concepts in the songs. This is a truly great album from a good singer with perfect timing and sense for subtle arrangements.
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY:
What Goes Around Comes Around Part II
(King Street 12")
Loleatta Holloway has been around for a long time. And she is still coming on strong, to say the least, on What Goes Around Comes Around Part II. New mixes by Matthias "Matty" Heilbronn and Jason "Jinx" Zambito. They have come up with some mighty deep and funky vocal house. Watch out for dance floor mayhem.
MIGUEL MIGS:
The Soul Selecta EP
(NRK 12")
Three killer tracks from Miguel Migs. Lionel's Jam with summery Rhodes and fat beats opens the set. Good music. The essential pick on this one is the second track on flip: Bump Selecta. Deep bass, multilayered echos and dub-reggae aesthetics - dancehall-house. Cool music for a hot summer day.
FRANCOIS KEVORIKAN:
Classic Mixes Volume 1
(Disco Legends - White")
The well reputed DJ Francois Kevorikan has collected eight club tracks on this double package. The set opens with Michael Wilson's Groove It To Your Body, continues with Conquest's Body Movement and includes Martin Circus' Disco Circus and closes with a killer remix of Yazoo's Situation (dub). A very good package.
PLAYIN 4 THE CITY:
Walkin' On Main Avenue EP
(Main Recordings 12")
A superb set from Playin' 4 The City. The sultry house ballad Later In The Morning is the one to go for. Sweet and dandy!
COCO DA SILVA:
Lost
(Kismet 12")
CocoDaSilva is a collaboration between Chris Coco and Rui Da Silva. The one-sided Lost is bleepy with sparse beats. The setting is over a deep groove, percussion, bass and multilayered sonic stabs. Good music.
THE OBEAH MEN:
Obeah Dance
(Junior 12")
This cut off Junior label is a bit on the dark side. The Obeah Men are Rui Da Silva and Terry Farley. All they need is thumping beats, driving bass and a monster hook to create two dark and hedonistic house stormers. Pure class.
SESSOMATO:
Moody - King Unique Remixes
(Junior 12")
E.S.G's original disco version with blasting horns and extended rhythms from 1976 gets the remix treatment by King Unique (Matthew Roberts). The remix comes with relentless drums, deep drops and loads of soul. Best mix is the Dark Dub on flipside. It is in the same league as DJ Dazia's remix of David Alvarado's Klugh. Oustanding music and then some.
ANJALI:
Nebula | Hymn To The Sun | Nebula (Qualifide! Mix)
(Wilja 12")
Producer, DJ and multi instrumentalist Anjali has created an inventive swirl of electronica and grooves on this 12" single. A strong cinematic flavor balances the intricate quirkiness. Wicked.
JOSHUA:
Watch Da Bass
(NRK 12")
Go directly to the flipside and the Inland Knight's remix. Play loud with lots of bass and feel the dub!
CIRCULATION:
Magenta
(Circulation 12")
This is a very nice outing of tech-house from the United Kingdom.
SPINCYCLE:
Due Process | Evil
(Low Pressings 12")
Groovy and percussive tech-house stormer. Loads of energy.
WIDEBOYS:
Sambucca
(Locked On 12")
UK Garage imprint Locked On rolls out another big one with the Wideboys anthem Sambucca, featuring Denis G on vocals. This is already buzzing in London and it will be huge this summer with its perfect acoustic guitars and palatable hook. Listen to it in a club near you. Don't sleep on this!
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