July 2001The STEREO MCS last album "Connected" (1992) was a pivotal release that ushered in the 90s with phat beats and socially relevant messages that hold up to today's even more complex mores. The wait for their new album "Deep Down & Dirty" on Island was too long but well worth it. Rob Birch, Nick Hallam, Owen If, and Cath Coffey from the original band's lineup have stayed as a unit since that last release. The hallmark elements that originally composed the band are still evident in this new work. Of course, Rob Birch's English sing-song rap styling has to be the most distinct element, his vocals are still the perfect instrument for the band's affecting lyrics. Add to this harmonizing back-up girls, fully funky instrumentation, complex state-of-the-art production values and the Stereo MCs prove their sound to be unique and timeless. The import CD release of the album has one added track, "Deliverance," and the import-only vinyl offers seven of the tracks as instrumentals on the third of a three disc set. The album kicks off with the title track "Deep, Down & Dirty," which was fully reviewed last issue as the first single pulled. "We Belong In This World Together" is beat, bass, and piano based with many layers of effects, samples, and a variety of nicely distorted elements. Lazy scratching and easy beats highlight "Breeze"; there is also a pleasing drone from the brass section that complements a slightly vocodered vocal. "Running" is one of the few up-tempo tracks. Angst, plodding beat, ethereal chorus, and grating horns converge, making for one of the strongest songs. "Graffiti Part One" and "Graffiti Part Two" have a strong ska-like horn section and tricky rhythm. "Sofisticated" is my pick for the next single, with powerful piano chords and well-turned lyrics. A metallic kick structures "Traffic" as Birch goes off to the new school with "where you are is where I've been ... can't stop the traffic in my mind." "The Right Effect" is a testament to keeping up a front or "right effect" and falling apart around an out-of-control drug dependency. This message is framed by an addicting up-tempo break beat. "Stop At Nothing" complements "Deep, Down & Dirty"; both songs have a sordid bon vivant message and why not? "Unconscious," "Shameless" and import-only "Deliverance" wind things down and up beautifully. This album is a perfect, positive affirmation for those of us with debauched lifestyles. It was last November that DJ Courtney's Contrast Music released NIGEL HAYES "Fonkymuzak" b/w the now infamous "Que Pasa" that was a damn good record first time around. Now this fledgling label has gotten very enterprising releasing "Que Pasa -the Remixes" as an astounding double-pack powerhouse. All five remixes are phat reinterpretations of the original with Nigel leading off with his remix highlighting the mysterious, dark male vocal. Boston's DKMA delivers a dark tech house version. Morgan Page, also from Boston does a tribal groove thang. Giving this project a fully bi-coastal vibe are the great mixes from Halo Varga and our own Jeno. There is already much deserved hype on this project, don't snooze. The UK label ALOLA must be selling a lot of underground records because over the last couple of months it doesn't seem that a week goes by without at least one release from them. TIME DESIGN "The Dragon," POP OUT AND PLAY "Can You Hear Shapes" and "The Blanford Superfly" by HOUSE OF 909 are three of the recent crop that are of the high quality, deep tech house we expect and get from this predictably fantastic label. The Moody label has been equally reliable, and WOLF N FLOW "I'm Feeling Moody" and worthy Italians BOTELLA & BERNARDI "Free Soul" both carve deep notches in the label's big tech house gun. HOOVERPHONIC "Mad About You" on Epic Belgium is admittedly on the commercial tip, however, maestro Francoise K manages to offer a mix that justifies spins on any turntable. Jazzy-sounding piano, gritty female vocals, and Francoise's hallmark tribal drums lift this to "lofty" heights. ITAAL SHUR (Groove Collective, Big Muff, Santana) presents MILK & HONEY "Touch Parts 1 & 2" on Wave. This release is a power hitter from the git-go. The original mix, by Hiroyuki Sanada, is a funky mid-tempo scorcher that could begin or end any evening with classic quality. The BOYD JARVIS/FRANCOISE K mix will have this track played at everybody's peak time. These guys know how to turn a great track into 10:10 of absolute perfection. Featured is searing guitar, solid bass lines, and ethereal choruses of "touch, touch the sky." Part two brings out two big guns, Matty Heilbornn and ATTABOY. Heilbornn's mix is uncharacteristically down-tempo; I mean really down-tempo. Attaboy turns in a very characteristic stripped-down ready-for-action dub. Essential. French DJ LITH DE LANKA's "Fairy Tale" is her second release for Deep Touch and is a likely segue from "Touch"; both feature punched-up guitar and deep funky bass. CHARLES WEBSTER provides the powerful keyboards that the track is based on and the simple vocal samples keep the track on the upbeat. The Subliminal stable has begotten yet another imprint offspring, Subliminal Soul, to join the recently launched tech-flavored Bambossa Records. Unlike so many other independent dance labels Subliminal has wisely chosen to diversify their label into sub-labels to accommodate the increasing variety of music they want to release. Bowing in with the inaugural release is San Francisco's own MUSTAFA featuring newcomer NATALIA KISSOON singing "I Submit 2 U." This song sets a strong standard for the freshman label, with "soulful" heartfelt lyrics presented with a heavy dose of emotion. The three mixes here range from a pumped-up New York approach to an "Ode 2 N.J. Mix' and finally the "mind expanding " San Francisco freak mix from resident ARTURO GARCES. Bambossa keeps up the edgy tech-tracky front with "Night @ The Black" by HARRY "CHOO CHOO" ROMERO. The groove is minimal, the beat hard, the overall mood is dark, and the fuzzy guitar jams! The String Cheese Incident band is many things: bluegrass, jazz, rock 'n' roll, calypso, reggae, and festival performers a la The Grateful Dead. What I was certain they could not be was house. However, DJ HARRY releases "The String Cheese Remix Project" on Instinct and will convince all that this band is house, quite excellent house at that. Mixed CDs do not receive review in this column, but this is a unique concept most deserving of coverage here, as well as your consideration for purchase. S.C.I. are generally known as an open-ended, improvisational group of performers producing a grand variety of musical sounds. DJ Harry took music elements from this band and masterfully reconstructed these sounds into some of the classiest club tracks around. Instinct should really consider releasing this beautiful release on vinyl for a full range of appreciation. Keep an ear out for any future release from DJ Harry. Just in time for the sweltering July we all are sure to have is THE LATIN PROJECT "En Fuego" on Giant Step; as the name says, it is "on fire." The Latin Project is Matt Cooper (Outside, UK) and Jez Colin (Solsonics), both driven to fuse the underground with Latin instrumentation and vocals. There has been a solid movement towards these goals from many worthy studios, but few have had such successful results as "En Fuego." The infectious Latin rhythm is precisely manipulated by techno sensibilities and the whole is further enhanced by Marc Antoine's skillful guitar work. On the flip is a sensuous slow groove reinterpretation by Nickodemus & Osiris. Here are eight worthy albums:
Send review material to: |