October 1998The summertime doldrums in music have hit much later in the season than we're all used to and we can't even blame el niño. Most people, when they're able, take vacations during these warmer months. However there are still a number of worthwhile releases, among them U.N.C.L.E.'s "Psyence Fiction" (MoWax-UK) which has at long last hit the streets. The men from U.N.C.L.E., James LaVelle (Mo Wax label head), and San Francisco's own Josh Davis (aka DJ Shadow) are its current base. Shadow, who always keeps what he's involved with fresh, was brought in to revive U.N.C.L.E two years ago, at a time when we all stopped using the phrase "trip hop." LaVelle doing his part as director has pulled together what has amounted to a "supergroup." The most notable participants are Richard Ashcroft, frontman for The Verve, who does the heartfelt vocals on "Lonely Soul," and Radiohead vocalist Thom Yorke, who does a most effective job on the closing track, the lament-like "Rabbit in Your Headlights." Beastie Boy Mike D is the featured vocalist on "The Knock" -- the adoration respectably shows through. The Beastie Boys are one of LaVelle's heroes and inspired him to form the MoWax label. Jason Newstead, bassist with heavy metal head-bangers Metallica also contributes his talents to "The Knock." Two tracks bare our nerves to better absorb the whole of this album; one is the opening track "Guns Blazing" with Kool G Rap's all-too American rap and the other is Badly Drawn Boy's yowling vocals over a bunch of catchy cut-n-paste old punk tracks called "Nursery Rhyme." Then there is"Chaos," a curious pairing of Atlantique Khanh (wife of Source label head in Paris) on wispy vocals and Mark Hollis, ex-frontman of Talk Talk on piano. It's very sweet and a fitting contrast to most of the rest of this set. "Celestial Annihilation" is another example of contrast; it's a beautifully lush piece with Wil Malone, of Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy" fame, doing the honors on the string arrangements. Alice Temple of the obscure folk duo Eg writes and sings the lyrics for "Bloodstain," certainly the darkest and most melancholy track on the album with the timeless metaphor of love and drug addiction. "Unreal" is a beautiful, guitar-edged psychedelic bridge between "Bloodstain" and Ashcroft's "Lonely Soul" and really illustrates the potent emotional link between all the songs on this epic and their bond with each of the artists involved with the project. In many cases bringing together such powerfully individual and diverse contemporary artists might need a crutch to guarantee financial success, but U.N.C.L.E.'s group of power hitters neatly integrate to make a whole that makes perfect sense. And the more you listen to this album the more sense it makes. The package is finished off with the great art work of label mainstay Futura, the legendary American graffiti artist. Both CD and vinyl are also offered in the very beautiful limited editions that Mo Wax is so famous for. THE STARSEEDS first released "Parallel Life" on Millennium UK about a year ago. The Never Group has joined forces with Millennium to release The Starseeds here in the States on October 20th. Culled from the album this title track will be the first single. The Starseeds have beautiful lilting lullaby vocals that entice the listener to ask for more. The original mix has just the right level of breaky mid-tempo percussion to keep the listener involved with this eight and a half minute excursion. There is a luscious drum & bass mix that frames the original with well-structured, complex rhythms. The Nova Nova Mix styles the track into a down tempo techno-light version. This exquisite first release is only a tease for what The Starseeds have to offer from their album, which will be available here on January 12th. Also from the lovely Never Group/Derailed is KRUST. As the antithesis of Roni Size, Krust has always lurked in the drum & bass dark side with full sensibilities to the distressed urban soundscape. This double "A" single will be vinyl only as it precedes his solo album to be released in early 1999 on Talkin Loud here in the US. "True Stories" is based on beautifully eerie orchestrations that create an almost sci-fi soundtrack, as all the while savage beats and perverted basslines move your body. "Cold War" is aptly titled with its unflinching industrial assault on your rhythm senses. MATRON 3000 is Si Bradd of Salt City Orchestra and Keith Williams their "Matron 3000" track on Pleasure Records UK has FILA BRAZILIA'S newest single release "The Speedwah/Feathery Legs" on Pork UK was pulled from their latest full length POWER CLOWN. As with their other five full-length releases on the label this one is meant to be listened to at home (preferably horizontal) or in the car. However the single is one of those rare danceable Fila moments, especially "Feathery Legs." Fusing their main fare of jazz, funk and electro with equal doses of infectious, house grooves and acoustic sounds you will be converted. The album POWER CLOWN has other songs that will have you sitting up but Fila Brazilia are firmly ensconced in the funky lounge. SLACKER "Psyche Out" on Jukebox in the Sky UK is destined to be bigger than their previous efforts. This release is a progression from "Scared," just as intense but with a definite twisted connotation. There are several nice tech-house builds with spoken word breaks from a slightly deranged fellow. Simon Rogers who is half of Slacker also joins forces with an Ex-Fall member to release "The Bechstein Affair" as LEUROJ on Loaded UK. With its tight, bass-heavy, breakbeat groove, this track is as intense as "Psyche Out," but with a more enthralling, ethereal stringy approach. The GOLDEN GIRLS "Kinetic" was a staple in most crates in the early 90s, now Distinctive in the UK gives it a whole new life with some very tasty remixes. Speaking of those busy Slacker boys, their treatment is the standout with a more current, ethereal trance-y feel highlighting the vocals at hallmark Slacker-style breakdowns. The Rhythm Masters pay homage to the original and give us a "bugger off, sounds good enough as it is" mix. This release also includes the very much sought after original Orbital workout mix. The BASEMENT JAXX are back with a monster after a much needed hiatus, they certainly "got busy" there for a while. "Automatic" on Banana UK offers up one of their classic cut-n-paste, shake and filter affairs all built around the classic Pointer Sisters chestnut. The track builds and drops to very dramatic effect. Flip this one over for the real deal, "Same Old Show." This track is a pairing up of an old Selector track that melds the classic ska flavor with some catchy samples of Raze's "Break for Love." FUZED UP "Impressions" on Catch UK will be one for you to track down if you are on to the Nu Yorican tip. It is really refreshing to find a song, written by jazz god John Coltrane, of this type that has been covered with new live instrumentation and not just sampled. There is also a surprise appearance from Lady "Miss Thing" Kir on swing/scat-style vocals. This has Body & Soul written all over it. T-TOTAL seem to always come through and "Do It All Night/Don'tchoowanna" on 96 Degrees UK is no exception. The sound of this one is going away from the UK hardbag and more to the NY hard house sound. "Do It All Night" is a very Danny Teneglia-inspired track, think "Elements" with a little more edge and a lot more eroticism. "Don'tchoowanna" delves into the often-used Loleatta Holloway sample larder (where would house music be without her?) with tasteful and not overworked "Don't You Wanna Dance" snippets. This all over a pumping bassline and a groove that is sort of Latin. Also new from the label is TALLULAH "Gimme Your Lovestick." The "Dirty Lovestick Mix" has a very funky underground groove with an infectious building bassline and many filtered effects built around some Moroder-style disco elements. T-Total work one of their late-night, tribal-induced dubs with thunderous bassline and kickin' percussion. "The Future of the Future" remixes by Deep Dish and Everything But The Girl on DeConstruction UK have been served up by David Morales and Deep Dish themselves. Both remixes have, appropriately, "deconstructed" the song into two very different treatments. David Morales has taken the Ben Watt vocal melody, Tracey Thorn's vocals and little else from the original. He then adds his own drums, percussion and new keyboards from Satoshi Tomeii. The end result is what you might expect, a very well-crafted club tune sure to be a huge smash. There is still the ready-to-go album version for those of us who want the "Stay Gold" elements, because those are absent from the Deep Dish mix as well. Their "Stay Dark" remix is another epic, well-after-midnight journey. This is a definite contrast to the Morales mix with an almost trance quality and very little of Tracey or Ben left. This is not necessarily a bad thing and is an excellent Deep Dish track. The double pack remixes from Arista should be available by the time this is out and they will certainly have the album version. Send review material to: |