September 1998"SUCK IT AND SEE" is the newest compilation from Pussyfoot Records in the UK. If you have been keeping up with this fine label's offerings you will already know that this is the continuation of a theme-based series. "FISH SMELLS LIKE CAT" was weird "sushi loungecore" and "PUSSY GALORE" dealt with various secret agent/spy themes. This new one delves into the unabashed realm of S.E.X., ranging from sensual romantic grooves, sampled from the best of 50s and 60s loungecore, to the sexploitation of the 70s and the out and out pornography of the 80s and 90s. The "fab" sexy artwork is by Toshio Nakanishi, who also did the other albums in the series. The Pussyfoot stable of artists were asked to do their "thing" with sex; a few were obviously repressed but most wear their "hard-on" their sleeves. This double disc of degenerate euphony is a skillfully concocted collection that has practically created its own genre. LOVE TKO begins this set with "Love Thong," an appropriately mellow take on The Love Unlimited Orchestra vibe "sans" Barry White. THE FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE "Green Door" has a groovy, 60s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls approach. TIFF MCGINNIS "Live from Clermont Lounge" is a new-beat spoken word thing that works quite well. LEGO produced a very interesting, breaky sitar/Barbarella piece called "Contemplation." "In Pursuit of the Pimp Mobile" is done in a crazy Farfisa organ soundtrack style that will have you feelin' like Superfly. TIM "LOVE" LEE's "Twitchin" is actually the only full vocal track on the album and is classically naughty. One of the best pieces is CHARI CHARI's "Strictly Porn" with its clever bite into Henry Mancini's classic "The Stripper." This great set ends up, appropriately, with NAKED FUNK's "Jenny Come Lately," a nearly twelve minute aural and very funky extravaganza. It starts with the panting of expectation, then midway Naked Funk's Jony Rock Star places a call with one of those phone sex services. Well, let's just say this number is the climax. If "Suck It And See" gets a rise out of you, you'll be more than pleased with the new album from NAKED FUNK, "EVOLUTION ENDING," also on the Pussyfoot imprint. This release is jam packed with everything from astronomy to a little more of the ol' porno-inspired productions. DA MOOCH offer an excellent new release in "That's What It Is" on Muggsy. Mike "Da Mooch" Mucci puts to use Janis Joplin's classic blues-style introduction to one of her most famous torchy ballads. Janis has been used before but never to such precise and beautifully constructed ends as these. There is a harder drum version, the "Swingshift Mix," but stick to the original. TONY HUMPHRIES' Yelloworange Label is reinforcing its high standards with their latest release, "CAN'T GET ENOUGH" by AJ. Produced by Jovonn Armstrong with full vocals by AJ, this release should jump from the underground to just about any DJ that gives it a listen. "Can't Get Enough" has been designed with a late night vibe, and AJ's "velvety swagger" is the perfect complement. Even the staunchest dub-tech-house DJs play occasional perfect vocal records, so add this one to your list. It seems that many releases successfully walk the fine line enabling them to crossover to the underground and back to more popular territory. Velocity Records' offerings have all been able to accomplish this trick. Their two new ones, "JOY" by SOUL JUSTICE and "KALAHARI SUNRISE" by NYLOSPHERE, are not exceptions. Even the full original vocal version of "Joy" would not be out of place with the tech crowd, although many will probably go to the "Deep Swing Dub." Tanya Montgomery's beautiful, soulful voice will take you back to a youthful Aretha and the groove will pump any floor. "Kalahari Sunrise" is fully for the underground. Produced by Jaymz Nylon and Mike Rogers, this is extra fine funky house with jazzy synths and "oh, so cool" Eartha Kitt samples. As we all wait with anticipation for that first HARDKISS release on Columbia, Gavin Hardkiss remains busy with his Hawke projects. "ERECTIONS FROM NAMAQAUDISCO VOLUME 3" is the third installment of singles released from his critically acclaimed album "Namaquadisco" on the Hardkiss-owned Sunburn Records here in San Francisco. "Stationary Tornado" gets three remixes here by Sunburn labelmate Reza. The standout is the "Glass & Lawn Furniture Mix" which is in a breakbeat tech-disco style with more than a few nods to Kraftwerk's electro flavors. Also from one of my neighbors is the newest from DUBTRIBE, "EL REGALO DE AMOR," on Guidance. What a brilliant marriage; Guidance and our own Dubtribe. Sunshine and Moonbeam Jones turn out an amazing jam with a heavy dose of jazzy, pecante latin rhythms and deep groovy basslines held together with their unsurpassed hooky percussion. Moonbeam also turns in a dreamy Spanish vocal on one of the mixes. From San Jose CJ (Chris Jackson) and Jaz team up again and release "SELECTED SESSIONS VOLUME 2" on their own Jump Records. As with "Selected Sessions Volume 1," CJ takes one side with three tracks and Jaz the other with two. Chris' side gets a little more techy than "Volume 1" and reflects more of his metallic techno side than the last EP. This is more housey than his solo work with more disco basslines and one track is even what I would call "speed garage techno." Jaz's side is stripped down from his previous efforts and one track is a full-on wobbly, percussive workout. The other is funked up with spaced out synths and spiced with some soul female vocal bites. GENE FARRIS "THE SLICKSTER EP" is his highly anticipated new release on 83 West Records. The three tracks on this EP are all "A" sides. "Heavenly Chorus" is a slow builder that features female chants and very bent, JBs-styled horn sections. "Show Your Feeling" does just that with an emotional swing-styled horn solo throughout. "The Slickster" is a percussive workout with subtle, funky guitar licks. Also through 83 West Records is METHOD MEN with their "SLAM EP" on Camouflage. The Method Men are Mario J. and Kenny Glasgow. This EP features three tracks of sublime tech-house, "TO THE BEAT" probably being the most effective with its tranced-out rhythms and mantra-like chants of "to the beat." I wouldn't feel right doing a column without a little visit to Sweden. JESPER DAHLBACK releases "JD'S POWER TOOLS VOLUME 1" on Blank Records UK. This four-track EP will be well-worn by everyone who procures it. All of the tracks are the tools we look for, easily plugged into any set from the most progressive to the ultimate pop. Jesper finely forges these minimal tracks to be functional but not without interesting rhythm patterns and loopy-groovy hooks, "phat" basslines, rocked metallics, and infectious phasing. THE PERSUADER & STEPHAN GREIDER's "PLEASURE EP" on SVEK from Sweden is probably the strongest release for the label thus far. This is a prime fusion of the tech-house and funk that this label and these artists are known for. This could be closely filed with Jesper, it's just as accessible and could easily bridge those awkward segues between techno and house or "80s Old Skool" and tech-funk. "NAKED WOMEN" stands out with a fine crisp use of funky guitar riffs and basslines coupled with precise "afro" rhythms. WAVE MUSIC can do no wrong and FRANCOISE K will continue to see to that with his new installment to the label's roster of releases, "TIME & SPACE." This funky space jam has a retro feel without being the slightest bit retro. There are far-out keyboards and gurgling synth fills over precise rhythm patterns structured by Joe Claussell that will just send you to that cosmic disco we all strive to reach. This is in Francoise's own epic style, which means that it has a lot of great builds and interesting breaks that swell to a rousing climax that will have the whole dance floor in the right "space & time." FREESTYLE ORCHESTRA "ODYSSEY" on MAW Records is another case of reinforcing legends. "Odyssey" can be nicely put into that epic house category, especially as it clocks in at 9:30. As you may already know MAW pride themselves on always featuring live instrumentation on all the tracks they produce. This of course is one of the reasons that their productions are so full and dynamic. Freestyle Orchestra have always had chart-topping dance music. "Odyssey" is a peak record without any obvious "hook" or pop vocal, just lots of energy. Thick basslines and strings continue to build till the climax, as all the while pretty chords and chanting "heys" (courtesy of Art of Noise "Closer to the Edit") chime through. RHYTHM SECTION "FEEL THE MAGIC," also new on MAW Records, is in association with new up and coming producer, Henry Maldonado. The "Original Ride" is a serious groove that would work well in your techno or straight-up house set. There are heavy organ stabs and looped vocals, all played over bubbly sequenced sounds and driven basslines. The "Magic Disco Vibe" does what the name implies, it takes the same elements, strips them down, and accentuates the disco bassline. The new MAW Records actually came in a group of three which included the new KENNY BOBIEN "RISE ABOVE THE STORM" I mention this great track because it is destined to be a club classic and every DJ worth his/her salt, as I referred to earlier in this column, needs to add that special vocal record no matter what the bulk of their set entails. This release has Kenny's vocals shining like they have never shined before. We are treated to a new range I never knew he had, taking his legendary falsetto into scatting and even wailing territory. The lyrics have what it takes to become classic and the music behind it has a powerful punch I don't remember in any of his previous efforts. Those too timid to play this class act as a vocal can flip it over for its equally powerful "storm" of beats and rhythm instrumental. John 'Roc' MATEO and Eddie 'E-Z' MATOS offer their newest effort, "FINAL CUT EP," on the new label United Underground House. This four-track EP is as skillfully accomplished as we've come to expect from these underground house stalwarts. There are their standard understated house grooves coupled with big bass , jazzy accents, and some retro funk for good measure. The stand out here is "Everybody's" with its persistent chant of "everybody's freakin.'" STICKMAN come through again with the reliable efforts of VINCE AILEY on his new release "LOVE BITES." The "A" side is a deep, spacey disco jam with a great retro flavor while the "B" side is very jumpin' with Earth, Wind & Fire samples that take it over the top. Speaking of reliable Mr. KEVIN YOST's latest on I records, "ONE STARRY NIGHT" remixes, does everything to reinforce his credibility. The best remixes are by Kevin and Peter Funk, both featuring pumping jazz house and lovely acoustic guitar, together with classic tribal drums and whistles that kick in to give the whole package a festive party feel. Staying with the tribal feeling is the new JEFF MILLS' "VANISHING HOT EP" on his own PURPOSE MAKER imprint. Jeff has definitely been going in the right direction to cross his efforts over. Oh I know that he is constructing his art, but the only way he can know it's appreciated is by large sales and this one should certainly let him know people like it. There are four tracks: "Hocus Pokus," "The Lovely Assistant," "Where Is My Rabbit?" and "Encore." As in his last effort he is going even further into the tribal/minimal techno territory. Every track is enchanting, hooking the listener with his infectious rhythms. The TUMMY TOUCH label in the UK releases "TUMMY RE-TOUCH," a long awaited collection of previously unavailable mixes of some of the labels funkiest and best as well as back catalog of their Peace Feast imprint. This album contains sought-after alternative versions of tracks from Groove Armada, Tim "Love" Lee, Bud Bongo, and Organic Audio Plus. This is available on vinyl and CD for those who want to work and play with their big beatz music. BNX MONDO GLOBO's "TOP TIMING" on Fantomas (Belgium) is a sublime mix of vibes going from acid funk to jazzy trip hop and back again. This would actually be a nice complement to "SUCK IT AND SEE," perhaps when you only want the martini-fueled jazz and blaxploitation-styled music and you and a friend will add the vocals impromptu. Send review material to: |