|
It's time for Cali's vibrant beatz scene to add a new name to their checklist. Plug Research has built a reputation for their eclectic electronics and releases from locals like John "Mr. Hazeltine" Tejada, Danny "Low Res" Zelonky, and label owners Allen "Mannequin Lung" Avanessian and Joe Babylon, along with musicians from the international community. Until now, the PR love for hip hop hasn't been translated to wax. This all changes with the label's latest: Shadow Huntaz vocalists Breath and Non lay their verbals over beats and atmospherics laid down by Trash Aesthetic (Mannequin Lung and Low Res) and the results are stunning. Check too the "Approximate Love Boat" full length from Low Res. The hip hop and electronics combination continues on the new album from Kurtis Mantronik. "I Sing The Body Electro" (US Oxygen Music Works) features the singles "Mad" and "Bass Machine Retuned" plus new material and a Kraftwerk cutup in the form of "Original Electro". ISP leader Mix Master Mike's 31 track materpiece, the "Anti-Theft Device" 2 X LP on Asphodel, delivers top turntablism for those who live by the needle. Cleveland's Metamorphic, like Plug Research, proves to be just as open to moving away from more techno/house-oriented material with Hanna's "Freshglow" EP. The product of Cleveland artist Warren Harris, there is a four on the floor piece here, but the other pieces display an innovation borne of his work with local hip hop and jazz acts--from a breezy number a la the downtempo Larry Heard and the heady bonus beats feel of "And 1 (Theory)" to a blissful, skipping uptempo piece. Check too for Titonton's refreshing "Endorphin" package, with Dego's "Extrapolation" reinterpretation. Moving to Europe, David Moufang's Move D project is remixed in varying styles by Bedouin Ascent, Morgan Geist, and EWO to please a variety of palates on the credible German Compost. To Sweden now, and we find three full lengths from the baby Left <> Right imprint. Peter Benisch's instrumentals reflect the smooth sounds he has unleashed on labels like Svek in the past, while the duos Luic and Boolaboss combine drum n bass rhythmatics with punk attitude, the former with female vocals and a style at times similar to Lamb, the latter more dark and chunky with a male voice. Off to a fine start as well is Stockholm's a P.M.S. plan with it's first two releases: for brilliant instrumental hip hop and like tempoed bumpin', grab Gravity's "A Paroxysm Of Excellence" 2 X 12" (complete with a Cari Lekebusch remix as Mr James Barth), while You gets down to some electro-inspired trickery that's all good. Speaking of new imprints, Justin Vernon's Positive Kinetik project debuts the Vernon label out of New York with mind expanding yet rugged drum n bass that bodes well for the future. Raw too is the squelch meets strings of the "True Stories"/"Cold War" twelve from Krust on Talkin Loud; Urban Species' "Woman" is jazzed up to marvelous effect by New Sector Movement on the same label. More accessible is Duke Mushroom's "Presents The Warriors" LP on Intersound. Drum n bass, and various other beats, confidently injected with pop sensibilities. "Traveller" is the first taster from Talvin Singh's "OK" LP (Island). The original is epic in scope, sounding like a complete soundtrack compressed into just a few moments and made sublime with the input of Cleveland Watkiss and layers upon layers of sound, while 4 Hero's version gives it the drum n bass roughup and Kid Loco slow everything to a dripping molasses pace. Sacred System has an even more worldly feel on "Nagual Site", where stalwarts such as key wizard Bernie Worrell, bassist Jah Wobble, guitairst Nicky Skopelitis, and other musicians of note join Qawwali Singers all under the helm of the ubiquitous Bill Lawell. Once again, he manages to pull it together with dub, drum n bass, ambience and more transformed into a miracle of electronic sound, referenced by the present but taken into the future. The other well known Mixmaster, Morris, whips up a new breed of chillout on his "It's Tomorrow Already" album for Ninja Tune, leaving behind the druggy passages of the past for more jazz-infused yet still horizontal pieces. Atom Smith and Brad Cooper's Brain Garden release "Music For Unfamiliar Highways" (Farren Music America), displaying the range they're acquired from much touring, recording, and work in such media as television and film. With an old school techno feel (think early Plus 8), their laidback meld of strings, deep basslines, acid flecks, brittle breaks, and delicate percussion are engagingly melodic and easily appreciated. Shaping up to prove there's much more to the Blue Room name than strictly trance, the American stable for this company has set up in California and unveiled a slew of releases in the last two months. Most brilliant of the latest bunch is Galaxy's "Angel" album, a marriage of listening techno with input from the drum n bass realm and some trance elements. While music with a "big" sound often has no dynamics, Galaxy's music is airy and bright like a journey to outer space that gets within spitting distance of the sun, deftly working in varying tempos and a potpouri of soundscapes. They're destined to convert many as Blue Room makes known their name in North America. Cognition Electronics Top 15
|
