May 2001Since I did not attend the Winter Music Confer-mess again this year, there is no way for me to know which were the coveted "key" tracks played for the throngs of "professionals" attending. The following songs should have been in every DJ's box spinning in SoBe FLA during spring break. We haven't heard from the brothers Hartnoll, Phil and Paul aka ORBITAL, for some time. "Funny Break (One Is Enough)" on London (UK) is the first single pulled from their 6th album "The Altogether," recorded in 5.1 and available on DVD as well as the more familiar formats on the first of June. Orbital are right on the mark employing the "nu-school breaks" talents of Layo & Bushwacka. Their "Up" mix utilizes an up-front house approach with some break-y elements setting it apart from the norm. Their "Down" mix is a full-on nu-school breaks affair, beautifully chopped, diced, and grated with all the original Orbital noodling and vocals in place. The Plump DJs jump on board for one mix, pulling in the slack on a 4/4 version with some of the original break elements intact. The sexy vocals are courtesy of Naomi Bedford, and the lyrics were composed by Bedford and cohort Andrew Bramley. Both are members of newly-formed outfit JONAH HEX. Also employing the post-production talents of Bushwacka and not to be overlooked is "Dream On," the first single pulled from "Exciter," the upcoming DEPECHE MODE album on Reprise. Dave Clarke, Kid 606, and Pink Noise round out this double-pack comeback produced by Mark Bell. FREQ NASTY releases "Under Glass" b/w "SE15" on one of the best "breaks" labels out there, Botchit & Scarper (UK). This is Freq Nasty at their best. "Under Glass" is a "nu-school" pumper that demands attention and will no doubt get it with massive bass, a complex beat, and alluring vocal snippets. Sometimes that's all you need. "SE15" is a down-tempo electro stormer with bass that will have your bins screaming. It is really refreshing when the best "break beat" producers take a turn in other genres, here Dylan Rhymes turns it out in 4/4s. Dylan Rhymes as just DYLAN releases "Muji" b/w "llinois" on his UK imprint Blueblack. "Muji" is prime time and ready to rip the floor a new hole with pulsating rhythm courtesy of extremely crisp toms and a driving tempo. There is a vocal snip of "perfect, pur-fect" that almost sums it up. "Illinois" opts for a more precise tech-house excursion with very pleasing deep results. This one will play out very well later in the evening with an overall pleasing smooth vibe. C++ presents the I/o EP with "Sure" b/w "Angie's F**cked" on Music For Freaks (UK). M.F.F. keep the ball bouncing by tapping into San Francisco's own Joshua and his bag of tricks. On a casual listen "Sure" may seem a straight-up tech-house affair, but it has an abundance of very dusted west-coast effects and is a prime example of the trippy complexities we expect from our home boys. However, in your face is "Angie's F**cked," an example of a label telling an artist to make a record at 4:20 -- it sounds as if it was fun knocking off. One would have to call this new millennium funk with serious electro jam over-lays and it's only for the certified demented. MEAT KATIE has released a couple of samplers from their highly anticipated first album "Long to Belong" on Kingsize (UK). "Dirty South" is an apt title for this filthy 4/4 funky banger. Major beats are coupled with very phat & dirty bass squeezing itself around a lazy, soulful vocal snipe of the title. Flip this baby over for "Work Ya Body." These boys have been doing their "P-Funk" homework overtime and giving it back in the school of Flat Eric. This mid-tempo track isn't just dirty it's down-n-dirty. Definitely keep your eye out for this upcoming album. IFFY are freshmen bringing their own flavor of old school-inspired music to the table with "Can O Cope" on the Foodchain label. Iffy is a three-way collaboration between Kirk aka KjustinJ (vocals), Dave Pederson (guitar, keyboards, programming), and Tom Merki (bass/programmer). There's no need to point out that this trio are Minneapolis natives after one listen to this song. The one-sheet exclaims "(Iffy) were shaped by the local scene that spawned Husker Dü, Soul Asylum, and the Replacements." There was a major omission from this list, PAISLEY PARK and the purple Prince. Iffy, if nothing else, come off like Prince's kid brothers, taking his sound on a warp drive trip through the L.S.D. nebula. The album version mixed by Tom Rothrock is the "10 Forward" funked-up space lounge song, with all complexities intact including an extremely engaging lyric. The super powers of Q-BURNS ABSTRACT MESSAGE and FREDDY FRESH are brought out on the main mixes. Both geared to blow you minds! Gee-whiz I like being able to say that about music again. Q-Burns shifts down to "impulse power," stripping down the piece just enough to highlight all the psychedelic elements. The vocal effects seem to have four dimensions; the guitar is guided through some kind of wormhole leaving the bass line to anchor everything to terra firma. The Q-Burns mix is also offered in the "dub" form for maximum pleasure. Mr. Fresh's (also a notable Minneapolis native) mix goes nuts, not to put too fine a point on it. The tempo is slowed way down to "docking speed" and analog effects dominate with multiple overlays and mega scratching. This is the most intriguing record of the year. Essential. MADAM "Penetration" is Saw Recordings' second release and is brought to you by the production/remix team of Madam and label head Satoshi Tomiie. This is destined to be a progressive peak hour anthem. More straightforward than the Bipath previously released by the label, Madam will appeal to a wide audience. San Francisco's MIQUEL MIGS releases "The Soul Selecta EP" on the UK's NRK label and these three punchy, deep west-coast tracks will be nicely placed in all DJs' bags. The tracks are "Lionel Jam," Do It Again" and "Bump Selecta." TONGUE & GROOVE has two gems out now, both produced by STACY BURKET. First up is "Rice Gods" with vocals by Manang Butchay and recorded in the Philippines. This is an ethereal tribal journey and a useful tool. Using his GROOVAHOLIC moniker Burket releases "Bigi Mantra." I believe the title reveals the intentions, and it is another tribal victory. Oh yes, here's one more I can say will "blow your mind" RE-CHARGED "Cried." "Flowing Mix" by Thomas Fehlmann & "Cornered" and "Dubcornered Remix" by Pole are both pulled from "Charged" by Toshinori Kondo, Eraldo Bernocchi, and Bill Laswell on Apollo (BL) Send review material to: |