January-February 2001What made the year 2000 go by so quickly? There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. Anyone totally immersed in the music scene could have been kept distracted enough with the nonstop onslaught of notable titles to miss the passing months. There was no letup during the summer and as of this writing the winter holidays give no respite. Usually in writing a column for this period I reflect on the year with "top picks" or nostalgic overview, but that approach now would neglect too many worthy releases. We need to dig deep for the underground music scene, as many of yesterday's underground sounds and artists eke their way towards the mainstream. Yet some artists will always remain underground by their own design. BRYN JONES aka MUSLIMGAUZE has been a beacon for the underground since his first release in 1982. His ninety full albums released to date range from blissfully ambient to the most difficult possible listening. Their themes have centered on the Middle East and political opinions are reflected throughout even without lyrics. January 15th will mark the one year anniversary of the passing of this potent and prolific artist at thirty-seven. Muslimgauze has an incomparable, fanatical following and mere death will not stop their hunger for more from the master. "Abu-Dis" is a new double-CD compilation of remixes commissioned for the UK labels Law & Auder, Better, and D.O.R. (the label that actually released this project). Some of the seventeen tracks were remixes that Bryn Jones "just did on his own." In every case the original music has been so severely deconstructed that Jones submitted each with a new name -- that's what I call remixing. Jones' work on this project displays a newly forceful, beat-laden direction that unfortunately will never be fully realized. Four more albums are slated for release in 2001, culled from material recorded prior to "Abu-Dis." The artists re-interpreted on "Abu-Dis" are Luke Vibert, Talvin Singh, ex-Westworld duo Moondog, Pearl, Apollon, Faye Rochelles Spooncurve, Oyster, Doppler 20:20, Force of Angels, V-Neck, and Makio. Many of these artists are probably unfamiliar but are in sync with abstract progressives like Luke Vibert and Talvin Singh. Elvis never died and neither will Bryn "Muslimgauze" Jones. KRAFTWERK's new album seems to be in a permanent holding pattern, and until that most anticipated release we will have to make due with "Expo 2000" remixes on Kling Klang / EMI (GM). "Expo" was a piece from early last year, commissioned for the Expo2000 in Hannover. This is a deluxe double-pack with mixes from DJ Rolando, Underground Resistance, Orbital, and Françoise K with Rob Rives. DJ Rolando mix is a minimal tribal-tech affair adding a vocal loop that repeats "Detroit, Germany electric" over and over. A very similar loop is utilized in the three Underground Resistance efforts. The UR approach takes a techno direction with most elements coming from Detroit. The results are satisfying, but these mixes sound like authorized sampling rather than a true remix. Françoise K with Rob Rives' mix stays true to Kraftwerk's original themes; this seven-and-one-half minute journey walks a fine line between trance and progressive house. All the original vocalizations and ambient bits that made the original are found here. Françoise K has remixed RINOCEROSE "Mes Vacances A Rio" on V2 with his usual high standards. This epic 12:37 minute track gives a us a distinct old school space jam with funky keyboard noodling. Barbara Mendes' extra fine scat-y vocals are a highlight. All these quality sounds are wrapped up in extremely mad rhythm and wicked percussion. The ANANDA PROJECT featuring TERRANCE DOWNS "Glory Glory - Second Coming!" on Nite Grooves has new mixes that give this stunning, soulful single additional life. This Chris Brann- and Terrance Downs-penned instant classic gets the progressive, "hard and soul" treatment from Konrad Carelli and Anton Bass for Karmedelic Productions. The feature here is the new TIMEWRITER version which is "remixed, resensed, and recorded" by this well-respected artist. The "Saints and Sinners Mix" is a straight-up vocal mix with as much punch as you can take, delicately embracing the original vocal and melody. The "Sexy Ways Dub" displays Timewriter's finely honed tech-house talent and sounds comparable to his releases on Plastic City. The "Deep and Reprised Excursion" should have used his JFC moniker; it has all the lush atmospherics up front with the groove insidiously lurking below. Gorgeous. Also from the King Street stable is "You Are The One," written by ELISHA LA'VERNE and remixed and produced by SATOSHI TOMIIE. The main track and instrumental could stand up and probably surpass most of the current reigning pop club divas. This is not something normally found in this column but Tomiie offers a very different side of the coin with the "Flipped Dub" and "Da Dub." With its squelching metallic basslines and overall obscure industrial chunky sound these two versions could nestle into any progressive crate. SOUL'AMOUR "Alegria" on Soy Malo Music is a very interesting type hybrid that has been gaining a great deal of momentum. This latin-tech outing has many edges but is nicely balanced with very up-front, fiercely played horns. The initial impression this track gives is pure tribal, but as the layers are added the distinct sound and energy of batucada come through. Blow those whistles! TERRY LEE BROWN JR. Adds his unique touch to three new ones. CLUB FIESTA "La Fiesta" Rulin (UK) keeps in step with the new sound of latin-tech; Brown turns it out, and there's Knee Deep and Soulsearcher mixes for the pop crowd. In ANIMA SOUND SYSTEM "Mariguana Cha-Cha-Cha" on Listening Pearls (GM), TLB's version becomes his own and is a very powerful tech-trance track. SIPPING SOMA "Superconscious (So Alive)" on Plastik finds Brown treading into that chunky trance territory usually reserved for that "circuit" thang. Don't let the "C" word put you off, this is beautiful track with an almost Delerium/Sarah McLachlan approach and should not be dismissed. SAMUEL L. "Let's Get Lost" on Cosmic (UK) finds the man dropping the "Sessions" for this particular outing. This release definitely represents the artist at his finest, with four tracks of essential tribal-tech attack. Another favorite is FUNK D'VOID "To Ya Waistline" on Soma (UK), which returns to true form with an infectious tech-house workout. "Move ya waistline to the baseline," how can you resist? SPACEJUNK "Rock The Deep/ Yellow Blue Bus" on Low Pressings is yet another notch on the "L.P." big gun. A trippy late-night jam that is more down-tempo than the typical Low Pressing outing, but is no less powerful. All their releases are timeless. There are two new essential releases from our neighbors at Om Records. The highly anticipated new one from SOULSTICE "Lovely" is that and more. This group continues crafting classic grooves with pristine lyrics delivered by class act vocalists. Here band member Gabe Rene's sister Gene is showcased. After your first listen you will clamor for more from this soulful Sade-esque chanteuse. The band, which also includes Andy Caldwell and Mei-Lwun Yee, represents the epitome of the new west coast sound. DERRICK CARTER is at his best with his remixes of the new KING KOOBA "Fooling Myself" also on Om. Both mixes feature Melissa Heathcote's smooth as silk refined vocals and work equally well, but the "Scene 2 - Take 3" mix is the one that ends up on my table. Here are some quickie recommendations. DJD presents THE HYDRAULIC DOGS "Shake It For Me" Influence (UK), you can't go wrong with this label or artist. NEON HEIGHTS "16 Again" Glasgow Underground (UK) is more pleasantly aggressive than what we have come to expect from these guys. Nigel Hayes' label Twilight (UK) does not drop the ball with CALIGULA "I Want You," featuring a full and sensuous female vocal. SPARKLING PRESENTS "Sparkling Experience" Basenotic (FR), SYMETRIQUE "Swinging Rabble" Gentleman's Haircut (UK), DAVE CLARKE "Before I Was So Rudely Interrupted" Vital (UK), MECANIC GROOVE "Hawking Mat" Combustible (UK), BANCO DE GAIA "Obsidian Remixes" Six Degrees, SKI OAKENFULL "Fifths" INCtraxx (UK), FUTURESHOCK "Sparc" Fuju (UK), SOUL DOUBT "That 64 Sound" Freaked (UK), MAW featuring WUNMI b/w LITTLE LOUIE VEGA featuring BLAZE "Elements Of Life" MAW, and how could anyone live without remixes of TUXEDOMOON "No Tears" Gigolo Records (GM)? All prominent businesses have spokespeople, frontmen, figureheads, shills or some kind of mascot to represent what it is they want to sell. KFC has the Colonel, RCA Records has "Nipper," and TINOCORP has Tino, so-called Cuban-born drummer and percussionist extraordinaire. "Tino resides in his native Cuba, but has made some rare appearances on U.S. soil to record material for the series of 'Tino's Breaks,' scheduled to be released on the label." In actuality Tinocorp is the brainchild of co-founders Ben Stokes (D.H.S. and H-Gun Labs, video production), Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto and mad post-production professor), and Mike Powell (who performs with Meat Beat Manifesto). This new San Francisco-based label is "dedicated to curating unique beats and sounds that are not available from any other source." New from the label is "Tino's Breaks Volume 5." "Tino's Breaks Volume 3 - Christmas Breaks (re-issue)" and "Tino's Breaks Volume 4 Mambo" seem to be the only others that managed to make it out of Cuba. "Volume 5" is a double-pack of dub delight. Although billed as a "breaks and instructional albums," these fifteen tracks with tempos from 66 bpm to 136 bpm have a multitude of sounds that could easily keep your interest if played straight through. With tongue firmly embedded in cheek the "thank-you's" go out to such luminaries as Katherine Hempburn, Buddy Green, Harry Budds, Crystal Topps, Arefer Franklin... you can see where their heads are. Smokin' mon! Ben Stokes presents D.H.S. (Dimensional Holofonic Sound) "House Of God," the official 10 year anniversary remixes, also out on Tinocorp. Although we have all seen many remixes and out and out thefts of this classic since its first release in 1989, this is the only sanctioned remix. Remix honors are finely executed by Kookie Scientist, Jack Dangers, Bo Square / Bass Kittens, and D.H.S. All remixes pay respectful homage to the original with individual twists. Mike Powells' Bo Square project releases "Outer Space Suite" on Tinocorp. This experimental breakbeat tracks feature comes in the form of the rare appearance of Marshall Allen, the current frontman for the SUN RA ARKESTRA. Allen's cosmic alto sax work seems to have been a strong influence on the overall piece with many complementary details in instrumentation and sound effects. This is a complex and well-thought-out piece of drum & bass. It will take many listens to pick up on all the intricacies involved. For more information call Cathy Cohn @ 415 564-7404. Send review material to: |