HARMONIA ENSEMBLE. Meets Zappa.
Materiali Sonori MASOCD 90067.
Not sure who to thank first here, the label or the Ensemble? As readers of MD
should know, Materiali Sonori are quite an eclectic Italian label who have released
some stunning material over the last few years. The Wolf And The Moon, almost
all their Roger Eno albums, as well as the Arturo Stalteri's remarkable album
of Brian Eno covers. Harmonia Ensemble, if I'm not mistaken, aren't exactly
new to Zappa's work either! This album has been re-released with two extra tracks,
so in total we now have sixteen tracks. To be give the Ensemble even more credit
(of which they deserve), they don't just cover some of Zappa's music, they feature
one or twoof their own. Like the proverbial chameleon, their music blends and
fits in like a glove, perfectly suited to this album. Out of the Zappa pieces,
I reckon pride of place has to go to Waka/Jawaka, Peaches En Regalia and Intro
To Music For Low Budget Orchestra, but to be fair, all the Zappa covers are
simply stunning. It was often said that a lot of Zappa's more challenging work
(mainly the Synclavier stuff) was just simply impossible for the human to play,
well, I think this lot would tackle it, because this is magic. And yes, I do
enjoy Zappa, and this is a superb and quite touching tribute to the man. Like
I say, full credit to them, and the label. Check out the links page on the Modern
Dance website, and see what gems unfold...(Dw)
UNDERWORLD. A Hundred Days Off. JBO. JBO201023
They had a massive hit with Born Slippy a few years ago thanks to the film Trainspotting.
Although now only a duo, Karl Hyde and Rick Smith continue to follow their unique
style of music with another ten compositions. Generally developing rhythms is
one of their particular trademarks and their music is not so easily accepted
on first hearing, but you will never tire of these involved compositions. The
range of material varies from the hard edge of the dancefloor as heard on the
single Two Months Off to the easy listening aspect of Ballet Lane, which is
impressive to say the least. The opening piano chords on Twist are so simple
yet so fascinating as the instrumental develops into a much more intricate affair
with many melodies, rhythms and a complex beat. It is a true reflection of high
quality adult music available here. The following song, Sola Sistim is more
sorrowful with a slower beat and growling basslines that will test the speakers
to destruction. Trim is a great song with lots of funky attitude that will have
you reaching for the repeat button. The gentle guitar laden Ess Gee will surprise
many as this is not usually what Underworld are about, but displays another
fine aspect of their ability to vary the music. At first, I thought this album
was only average and the lads could do much better, but with subsequent exposure,
I now realise that Underworld have done a lot better. Magnificent. (Brooky)
VARIOUS. Africanism mixed by DJ
Gregory & Bob Sinclair. Defected.
A double mixed CD by two well-respected DJ's each showing their differing styles
on this interesting project. The title is defined as a New World collision of
African rhythm and digital futurism. In simple terms the ancient tribal beats
are brought bang up to gate with the latest Western house sounds all combined
to give a happy dance track or two. You will have difficulty in evading this
collection as the infectious nature of it all is bound to overpower. Damelo
by DJ Gregory starts with one of those standard club beats, which then introduces
the powerful horn section and Latin style rhythms to show what can be achieved
by inventive remixers. A lead guitar giving it all appears in the middle of
Los Amigos Invisibles' Bruja which you would have thought would sound completely
out of context, but it actually works. On the second disc mixed by Bob Sinclair,
the tribal beats are much more pronounced and taking tracks such as Kazet. The
following My Dub, is not true dub as such, but rather a peculiar blend of African
and house with a smattering of those killer beats. On Les Efents Du Bled, the
mood is more reflective, the proud beat is matched by more subdued melodies.
Don't get me wrong, it's still dance music, but perhaps aimed for the latter
hours of a party before the chilled mood pervades. The sixties style long organ
type notes add to the curious atmosphere. The finale is entitled Zulu's and
it piques your imagination to what it must sound like being out in the bush
plains of Africa with the indigenous sounds. It's not house as you know it,
but one of the more interesting aspects of this diverse package. This is French
house music with that added African twist to spice up your life. (Philly)
SIMIAN. We Are Your Friends. Source.
Mancunian outfit Simian produce a sound that is best described as 60's psychedelia,
West coast rock and electronica. At times you get the distinct impression that
the Beatles (in their late 60's incarnation) have suddenly time-travelled to
the 21st century. On first listening there's a lot to enjoy with this album.
There are great melodies and some excellent soaring harmonies, together with
hypnotic beats, drums and the usual electronic pips and squeaks. Apparently
their previous album had a folky feel to it, but this album seems to have more
rock energy; only the track When I Go seemed to me at first to have the touch
of the Levellers about it, but that soon changed. The harmonies are a joy to
behold and again have you thinking of the Beach Boys. All the tracks have a
strong bass backing throughout. My favourite track End Of The Day has a thumping
drum 'n bass and pulsating synth beat backing. Also She's In Mind is worth a
mention, it kicks off with acoustic guitar and contains some excellent harmonies.
Apparently, while they were recording this album in London, Brian Eno came in
and confused them by lending them toys they didn't understand and showing them
processes they never thought of. It's certainly a very enjoyable, out of the
ordinary album and well worth spending money on. (Liam)
TAMA. Espace. Real World CDRW106
Tama is a group featuring musicians from Mali, Guinea Bissau and London and
mixes together a rich tapestry of ethnic rhythms and sounds from across Africa.
While the music is dance orientated it isn't too heavy on the dance beats and
leans more atmospherically towards the compounds of Africa than the London clubs.
The musicians; Tom Diakite, Mamani Keita, Djanuno Dabo and Sam Mills plus their
stellar guest list of top world music musicians gell together superbly here
and have created an album of quite joyous music - songs with a deep groove that
leave you feeling pretty damn happy. In these days of doom and gloom one can't
really ask for more than that. (Hal)
LEE SCRATCH PERRY. Wonderman Years.
Trojan TJDDD052
During the recent BBC Jamaica season of tv programmes they ran a short documentary
series about the history of reggae music, and for someone like myself who has
only dipped a toe into this type of music it was both an eye and ear opener.
One of the major talents covered in this series was record producer/composer/musician
and genius, Lee Perry. And with perfect timing Trojan have brought out this
2 CD, 49 track collection of some of his work. These CDs bring together the
best of Perry's early 1970's work released on his Justice League label Now it
has to be said that Perry worked best as a producer, so while this collection
is 100% 'Scratch' it also features the talents of a wide variety of reggae artists.
Check this list out: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Big Youth, The Upsetters, Denis
Alcapone, Junior Byles, Peter Tosh, Agustus Pablo, The Stingers, plus many more
I've never heard of - and of course tracks by Perry himself. Most of my reggae
listening has been focused on Bob Marley's Island Records period, so to hear
all this talent is certainly an education. Perry was a man who knew the value
of a good tune - there are several backing tracks here which have been re-used
with different lyrics and vocalists, and in many instances end up with a very
different vibe to the original. There are even some very early examples of dub
on here too. I'm sure that purist reggae fans will snap up the Wonderman Years
immediately, but its appeal is wider than that, and it acts as a pretty good
primer for early 70's reggae and the mad genius that is Lee Perry. (Johnny Boy)
MR SCRUFF. Trouser Jazz. Ninja
Tune. ZEN65
With lots of jazzy breaks in a traditional style, you could be led into an early
conclusion that here is an album full of standard lines from a bygone era. If
you have the stamina to survive listening for more than 10 seconds, you will
realise that the brass sections have been lifted from a previous generation
and mixed with up to date electronic sounds to form a style that is not all
that common! Add a female voice of course singing in a jazz style and synths
from the early seventies and this peculiar mixture is somehow refreshing. The
funk is certainly very prevalent on Shrimp and again the brass section blend
in marvellously to make this a toe-tapping experience of great magnitude. The
Valley Of The Sausage (good title) has a Latin feel and vocal harmonisation
that would not be out of place in the classiest of jazz clubs. Come On Grandad,
has a great beat and is chock full of class. On the song Vibrate, I was amazed
to be confronted with what is essentially a jazz rap track that will certainly
perplex many listeners, yet the vocals by Braintax are not delivered in a fast
and furious style, but rather more measured. The lyrics still bite though. The
finale is a quirky, some would say tongue in cheek rendition of fishy tales
by well known Children's TV presenters set to music and appropriately entitled
Ahoy There! Effectively recorded at home in the new studio, Mr Scruff has succeeded
in providing an album full of invigorating tracks that do break the mold and
anyone with an ounce of patience will readily warm to what is a very fine CD.
(Philly)
MORENO + 2. Music Typewriter.
Luaka Bop
Brazil has been a hotbed of musical style for more years than anyone can count,
but it's only comparatively recently that this has spread beyond the South American
continent and become widely heard across the world. Moreno Veloso is one of
a new generation of Brazilian singer/songwriters who has taken the classic bossa
nova music form and modernised it, adding carnival elements and created something
that can be intricate and gossamer thin one moment and muscular and full of
street vibrancy the next. The album is nominally acoustic, just Moreno and his
guitar and piano, with occasional slashes of electric accompaniment by his band,
plus some trippy ambience in the background. There's a strong dreamlike feel
to this album, Moreno has one of those light and high voices that slide effortlessly
over the instruments, it takes a little getting used to but it is a plus factor
once you sync into this album. If you want to check out the contemporary in
Brazil then this is definitely one of the albums and artists you should put
on your list. (Johnny Boy)
AMON TOBIN. Out From Out Where.
Ninja Tune. ZENCD70
Some reviews are very wordy with little actual information given and you are
often left not really knowing whether the album is good or crap. I will speak
plainly in this sentence and reveal that Tobin makes exceptionally good music.
His style is a strange mixture of pseudo orchestral (Pictures At An Exhibition),
drum 'n bass beats and cinematic scores and that is only the opening track Bach
From Space. The next track, Verbal is a modified big beat epic that almost defies
description with acoustic guitar riffs amongst a mass of other sounds. Searchers
contain an abundance of lush orchestral passages and a down tempo beat that
is surely the gateway to the one of the most enigmatic parts of this CD. Time
to change my mind as the next track Hey Blonde is even better with its enthralling
spaced out vibes that has a dramatic effect on your mood. The mean plodding
beat that keeps entering Rosie is perfectly blended with the melodious moments
to create aural excitement. Don't imagine that this is all musical sweetness
as Triple Science has very disturbing non-traditional notations that will scramble
any brain. Recovery is soon obtained on the following 9th track, although some
may find the assembly of musical styles and instruments all a bit too much for
juvenile minds. Tobin definitely composes in a testing way that continually
expands the boundaries whilst basically retaining your attention is such a way
that you become totally absorbed. Proper Hoodidge is another fine example of
his ability to rearrange what is familiar into something that is unusual and
beguiling. In plain speaking... This album is brilliant and don't let anybody
persuade you otherwise. (Brooky)