April 2001March came in like the proverbial lion, there were fierce winter storms and a deluge of great music to match. The underground music scene doesn't hold back their releases to give out as souvenirs during their Florida vacations. DUST TRAXX, INC. has become more than a record label out of Chicago. This power house conglomerate dominates the USA underground progressive music scene with an amazing number of quality releases every month, created by brilliant artists from sixteen outstanding labels. Just by reading the list of labels and the people behind them you can get a good idea what they are about: Apple Jaxx Recordings (Peter Presta), A Squared Muzik (Angel Alanis), Body Music (Ron Carroll), Catalyst Recordings (Terry Mullen), Clashbackk Recordings (Felix Da Housecat), Dust Traxx & Nocturnal Interludes (Paul Johnson), Eclectik Music (E-Smoove), High Octane (DJ Rush), Kid Dynamite (Jermane Britton), Metamorphic (Dan Curtain), Nite Life Collective (Glenn Underground), Simple Soul (Mazi), STX Records (Joey Beltram), Undaground Therapy Muzik (Roy Davis Jr. & Odell Braziel) and Xylophone Jones (Tommie Sunshine). This amazing array of talent and music is all coordinated, promoted, and processed by Tommie and label head Radek. If you ever get complaints of "too much work" from a major "fat cat" tell 'em about these guys' workload. Quite frankly I am usually overwhelmed by this team's output. There are a number of other conglomerates that send out multiple release packages containing only one or two worthy titles. In the last couple of months Dust Traxx, Inc has sent out sixteen or more crucial releases. If my column inches were not closely monitored, all their projects would find a place in this column. An overview of the "best of the best" will have to satisfy. DAN CURTIN "Time Undefined" (Calling You EP) on Metamorphic Recordings presents a fresh take on techno via house or is it a hybrid of tech-house and garage? This offering brings together all these elements with great success. "Calling You" is the pick from this great three-track EP and will not only satisfy any peak hour dance floor but will facilitate those bumpy transitions from techno to house to tech-house. Dan Curtin also presents another "fine" PURVEYORS OF FINE FUNK "The Juice" on Catalyst. This is a twisted bit of funky clockwork that will command your crowd to dance with its shuffled beats and infectious bass line. The incomparable DAJAE needs no introduction and her new song "Everyday My Life" on Kid Dynamite will blow up big time. Just read these credentials and weep, produced by E-Smoove, remixed by Felix Da Housecat and Junior Jack on one side and L.A. Williams on the flip. Be prepared to hear this one way through summer. GANT GARRARD "Hot Momma" on Dust Traxx is a driven disco rouser bitch track that will rally all at peak time. PAUL JOHNSON featuring JESSICA "Finger F**k" on Nocturnal Interludes is aimed straight at the groin of all those nasty sweaty dancefloor fanatics. This is a straight-up jackin' party track with a nice dose of "acid" that will again give your club's strobe lights meaning. BROTHER TO BROTHER "I Need House" on Dust Traxx brings Garrard and Johnson together again with all their club cards on the table. This is an instant classic. THE ORB releases their tenth album "Cydonia" on Island UK and the SILENT POETS release their third "To Come (Another Version)" on Yellow/Atlantic. This is the Silent Poets first release in the USA, at this point there has been no scheduled release for The Orb's "Cydonia" here in the states. Both albums are simply beautiful listening. The other element they have in common is the cooperative collective approach to making music. The Orb is an established entity guided by ALEX PATERSON. The Orb releases always give the listener a vast and diverse array of aural experiences held together by Paterson's own brand of cosmic goo. "Cydonia" (named for the location of that "mysterious" face on Mars) was actually completed over two years ago, but the sale of Island to Universal put holds on the artists that weren't dumped by the mega-music monster. Paterson actually looked at that time optimistically and took the opportunity to re-work and finely tune this project. The lineup of contributors changed throughout production. Andy Hughes split because of the long term of limbo. This brought Paterson back to longtime collaborator Thomas Fehlmann who "has been constant from day one with The Orb." Paterson further comments that "the beauty of the album ... (is) there's not just one engineer making one sound for the whole album, it reminds me of 'Ultraworld.'" There were originally only two vocal tracks on the album; this grew to four by the time of release. The first single is vocal lead track "Once More." AKI AMORI provides appropriate ethereal warbling that accentuates the sampling of some music from Vietnam. The single has an uptempo progressive remix from Bedrock's John Digweed & Rick Muir and ex-Jedi Knight Mark Pritchard complements the track with two excellent breakbeat versions. Paterson has plans for "Centuries," vocals also by Aki, to be the next single. The mixes that he's completed are "very Pole-type techno" that sounds promising. The other two vocal tracks are "Ghostdancing" and "Plum Island" with vocals and guitar work provided by ex-Sabrettes Nina Walsh. The other ten tracks are a lush cornucopia of sounds from the most lilting pretty dubs to down right grating techno. The outcome is one practically perfect album. Essential. The Silent Poet (aka Michiharu Shimoda and Takahiro Haruno) "To Come" on Atlantic is yet "another version" from the import releases on France's Yellow Records. The original release of "To Come" was mostly an ambient project from these Japanese newcomers, although this is their third album. Yellow then released "Another Version" which was remixes from the original. Now we have "To Come" in the USA with the best of both, plus mixes exclusive to this release. The lead track "I Will Miss This Holy Garden" features the outstanding voice of Virginia Astley who many will remember from her many efforts during the 80s and is remixed by Taxi. "Someday" featuring the Anomolies is remixed by Extended Spirit and is a complex breaky house affair. "Save The Day" has a soulful jazzy house remix by the fantastic Restless Soul and features the vocal styling of Roba from Attica Blues. Both are out now as import singles, hopefully, we will see Atlantic getting on it promptly. Kirsty Hawkshaw (Orbital, BT) glides through the lyrics on "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and King Britt brings his ethereal post production talents to this house remix. This album remix version is hot and ready to go. Kid Loco reinterprets the lusciously moody "Sugar Man" featuring the long missed vocal talent of Terry Hall (Fun Boy Three, Colourfield). The tastefully sample strings and piano chords frame this standout track beautifully. "Come Raising" remixed by Tom & Joyce, "The Corner," and "To Come" are all equally engaging. Ursula Rucker (The Roots) delivers a poignant spoken word piece on the progressive-hop "Get Ready" remixed by Freeform Arkestra and Anomolies go head to head with Ursula on the new beat poetry featured on "Prisons" remixed by Two Banks Of Four. "To Come (Another Version)" represents the future of urban and club music. This album will not be ignored, don't be left behind. Sam LaBelle's current top ten: 1. MEPHISTO ODYSSEY "Killah" Warner Bros. Send review material to: |