June 2001Summer is indeed upon us. I seldom welcome the warm weather, but for some reason this year I do. Perhaps an ever-growing accumulation of fine summertime music guides my usual curmudgeonly attitude about this season to a rosier realm. No, please help me! Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle, aka SLAM, are renowned producers of fine club music. They are also skillful DJs/club promoters and in the UK, Glasgow specifically, their Club Slam achieved a legendary status. These various components of Slam, as stellar as they are, could not prepare one for their new album "Alien Radio" on Soma (UK). Over the last ten years this Scottish duo (as Slam and Pressure Funk) have generated over 100 releases, beginning with their debut "Eterna" on the fledgling Soma imprint, the label they helped get off the ground. This fab duo has also executed some fine post-production work with the likes of Death In Vegas, Daft Punk, Luke Slater, and Underworld, just to name a few. "Alien Radio," Slam's third full-length of original material, is a fully mature take on their music and a knowledgeable approach to the concept of an album. "This Is" kicks off this nine track set with a beat-less overture to what is about to be unveiled. Beautiful synth washes induce the listener to relax and absorb what is to come. Slam, being savvy producers, did not go into this new endeavor alone. Chicago's TYRONE PALMER (Felix Da Housecat's vocalist on "My Life Is Music") offers his dreamy vocal styling to "Lifetimes," an epic eight minute late-nighter solidly in the Knuckles/Owen school of classic house. Slam's demanding signature basslines drive this one over the top and ensure that it's a definite dance floor stormer. "Alien Radio" is, for lack of a better description, techno-goth. The power-driven dark-side bass is accented by various spooky alien disco effects, otherworldly whispered vocals and very live sounding drums. "Narco Tourists" is an "unrelenting club groover" that's the result of their collaboration (the first since "Close Encounters" on UFOrb) with James Lavelle's UNKLE. This power-house 12" is still in the front of many DJs' crates. "Narco Tourists" slips right into the beautiful "Visions" with Dot Allison's gorgeous and ethereal vocals dominating. "If you want them to listen, whisper" -- this advice has rarely been demonstrated better. With its enticing break-y quality it would only take a slight twist to hear this played by the top circuit boys. Beautiful yet extremely powerful. If you had the fabulous Mr. Palmer in the studio would you stop at one song? "Eyes Of Your Soul" features Tyrone's emotional vocals again and is much darker than "Lifetimes." This song will have your dancefloor seeing God with the "eyes of (their) soul." Slam's seminal 1995 release "Positive Education" is in this set. After many incarnations in the past six years these guys present the ultimate version that remains crucial for the 21st century. All the original themes, raucous bass, acid galore and that vocal bit of the title, are firmly in place and in balance with new production values that will make you try to remember any other version. Batten down your bass bins for the aptly titled "Bass Addiction." This little romp is perfect in its simplicity; thick rubbery bass is framed by a tricky rhythm enhanced by vocal bits and hook-y sound effects. "Virtuoso" rounds out this satisfying set with a slightly less serious approach, applying a more restrained house sensibility to the production and style. This album plays through beautifully in its entirety. Absolutely essential. It seems like JEFF MILLS was propelled in a new direction with his album "Metropolis" from several months ago. "Time Machine" also out on Mill's Axis Records finds his growth in this concept genre blooming beautifully. There are thirteen un-named tracks that are inspired by the H.G. Wells classic sci-fi novel of the same name. This 43-minute "journey into time travel explores the outer limits and stretches the boundaries of your mind." The compositions that clock in at three minutes or under seem to garner the most interesting structures and soundscapes and the few tracks over five minutes do lean towards the dancefloor. Overall this offering is a wonderful collection that should define what we hear as a more apropos soundtrack for future sci-fi films. KAVITA "All" on Flipside UK represents the recent crop of deep house producers and performers enamored with the sweet sound of our city by the sea, San Francisco. This release would sound equally at home at Om or Naked Music. Kavitas' vocal style embraces the simple but effective love song lyrics without challenging her singing range. The real highlight is the warm acoustic guitar work that trades off with an equally engaging jazzy violin. The outcome is perfect summer club fare mixed by those darlings of deepness BOUGIE SOLITERRE. Mark Wilkinson & Rocky (of the PROBLEM KIDS) add their special touch of funky progressive deepness to "Everybody" by SPANK debuting on the new UK label Kidsound. It's easy to see why this was a big track for Danny Tenglia at WMC with its tough tech'd up bassline. Catchy vocal drops of the title will entrance any dance floor. "Don't Stop" on the flip is a bass driven monster that is a perfect coupling with "Everybody." Although funky as hell this offering is punched up for the peak crowd with encouraging vocal snips of "keep going" and "don't stop" that should have hands in the air and screams from the floor. The new album from FAITHLESS due out soon should have some welcome surprises if "We Come 1" on Cheeky (UK) is any indicator. All the most familiar elements we have come to expect from this group seemed to have been shed, most of all the epic grandness. Replacing the epic is some extremely choice progressive house sounds that should appeal to a much broader audience than past efforts. ROLLO & SISTER BLISS present their usual high standard of production values and the dark, sensual vocals by Maxi Jazz are a delight. There are two mixes. ROCKET (aka DJ Garth) from San Francisco offers a stripped-down, tribal power mix that showcases the throbbing bass. The IBI mix is a straight-up house affair that keeps all the infectious vocal rhymes in place. Making a most welcome and overdue comeback are the extraordinary STEREO MCS with "Deep, Down & Dirty," the title track from their new album on Island Records. It's amazing that the original band remains intact, with front man Rob Birch, Nick Hallam, Owen If, and Cath Coffey. The group has actually been working the whole time for the last nine years, with over 400 tracks under their collective belts. It just took all those years to choose the 12 or 13 songs to make up this new album. "Deep, Down & Dirty" seems to begin just where the Stereo MCs left us nine years ago. The Stereo MCs came together to become one of those truly unique pop groups with a sound that has been often imitated but never successfully copied. The original album track represents the spirit of the group with a combination of equal parts hip hop, funk, soul, and good ol' rock & roll. "Deep, Down & Dirty" is a down-tempo, epic piece with many grungy old school elements and classic poignant lyrics worthy of the Stereo MCs we remember. Offered on the 12" single is a fierce and inspiring house remix by Different Gear. Essential for everybody. CAROLINE LAVELLE's 1995 release "Spirit" produced by William Orbit was a masterpiece that was years ahead of its time. Lavelle also had memorable collaborations with Radiohead and Massive Attack. The first single from her new album, "Brilliant Midnight" is "All I Have" on Teldec/Atlantic. The French DJ Kid Loco provides the "Crazy Love Remix" that is 9:28 of down-tempo epic bliss. With the success being garnered by singer/songwriters like Sarah Mclachlan, Dido, Tracy Thorn, etc., the time seems right for Caroline. Send review material to: |