Cyclic Defrost Magazine

Horace Andy & Ashley Beedle – Inspiration Information (Strut/Inertia)

Posted: 23 Jan 2009 03:03 PM CST

Horace Andy & Ashley Beedle - Inspiration Information

Next in the Inspiration Information series on Strut we see Ashley Beedle team up with legendary reggae vocalist Horace Andy. Horace Andy is by no means an unknown vocalist, having great success in his homeland, and being bought into the mainstream spotlight most notably by Massive Attack on their debut Blue Lines. You cannot mistake his voice, it is so distinctive, and has made its mark heavily even on his work with Massive Attack, sounding sombre yet uplifting, a rare skill for any vocalist.

Recorded in an intensive five day studio session, Ashley Beedle has used this collaboration effectively, laying down modern funk tracks, but retaining elements of reggae and dub, injecting a summer breeze into the whole album of infectious grooves and tough basslines. The house oriented tracks don't work as well, something seems to be missing, not quite taking full advantage of Horace Andy's vocal tones. Rasta Don't sees Beedle try his hand at dancehall rhythms, which works well, something different for Andy, as his trademark vocal highlights only entering briefly, content to chant a different style.

Overall a very enjoyable album, with only a couple of weaker moments that disappoint, but worthy of a listen, just to hear something new sung by Horace Andy, who would have to be one of the all time greatest voices. This series is one to watch, they keep getting stronger.

Wayne Stronell

Maus Haus – Lark Marvels (Pretty Blue Presents)

Posted: 23 Jan 2009 04:51 AM CST

Maus Haus - Link Marvels

Drawing comparisons to The United States Of America, White Noise and Silver Apples due to their penchant for crazy analogue synthesizers, Maus Haus release Lark Marvels on new Oakland based label, Pretty Blue Presents, after shows in the San Francisco Bay Area and a well received demo. It sounds very retro on first listen, elements of surf rock, psychedelia, prog rock, but its definitely the synthesizers that jump out from nowhere, buzzing, screaming, wailing, sometimes crazed, sometimes restrained.

I can really see the references to the Silver Apples, the opening track Rigid Breakfast launches straight into crazed synth lines, set on overload, only subduing for pop verses, and it's a similar story for Radio Dials Die, just a little more restrained. Reaction again uses this template, a contrast of soft and aggressive, restrained and chaotic, while Irregular Hearts is more abstract, the buzzing of machines, vocals almost whispered, Stereo Ghosts being an instrumental equivalent. The final track Million Volt Lights lays down an almost Portishead catchy synth pattern, layering vocals, eratic drums, organ pads, sing along melodies, slowly building the synth lines to a chaotic climax, fading to warm melodies.

Pop melodies throughout, crazed synths in contrast, a brilliant album of light and dark, a bold musical journey extremely well produced. Watch out for Maus Haus, I have a feeling their best is still to come.

Wayne Stronell

N.A.S.A – The Spirit Of Apollo (Anti-)

Posted: 23 Jan 2009 02:05 AM CST

NASA - The Spirit Of Apollo

N.A.S.A stands for North America/South America, a collaborative project by Squeak E.Clean and DJ Zegon, but containing quite a who's who of guests artists. Guests include David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab, Z-Trip, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, Method Man, E-40, DJ Swamp, RZA, Barbie Hatch, John Frusciante, KRS-One, Fatlip, Slim Kid Tre, Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Tom Waits, Kool Keith, Kanye West, Santogold, Lykke Li, Sizzla, Amanda Black, Lovefoxxx, George Clinton, Spank Rock, M.I.A, Nick Zinner, Kool Kojak, DJ Baboa, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, DJ Qbert, The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, Scarface, and DJ AM!!! Wow, what a list, which really shows the diversity of this album, the production is obviously hip-hop, but there are so many guest vocalists that this is what brings a fresh approach to this album. Not just a sea of rappers and MC's, but accomplished vocalists from outside of the genre, notably David Byrne, Tom Waits and George Clinton really do add something special to this album. Hearing Tom Waits growl over Kool Keith is something I never thought I'd ever hear, but it actually works a treat.

Squeak E.Clean and DJ Zegon took a long time assembling the album, trying to write songs that would take them in a certain direction, concluding "this sounds like George Clinton" or "this sounds like Method Man", and the idea to invite guest vocalists was born.

This is a fun album, hip-hop to the core, party hip-hop permeated by Brazillian funk, but it is the incredible selection of guest performers and vocalists that really pull it all together, a stroke of genius by the production duo. You will be hearing more of N.A.S.A I'm sure, every radio station and cable TV music channel will be playing them, the crossover potential is enormous.

Wayne Stronell

The Real Tuesday Weld – The London Book Of The Dead (Six Degrees)

Posted: 23 Jan 2009 01:56 AM CST

The Real Tuesday Weld _ The London Book Of The Dead

According to Stephen Coates, he started creating music to try and recreate the sounds he heard in his childhood home, "the cracking of radios playing swing and easy listening in some distant room", putting these sounds to subversive use, much like his main influences Serge Gainsbourg and Ennio Morricone. It's a rather strange mix of styles, almost extravagant pop songs, but with ticking electronica, and otherworldly exotica, cabaret, and psychedelia…

Released on Six Degrees, the album features special guest appearances by Cibelle, The Puppini Sisters, David Piper, Aurelia Thierree and Moses Strongpeace. Coates manages to use technology to his advantage, but turns it on itself to create something very personal and human, something from an era long gone, of great warmth, but with a very distinctive mystical bent. You'd almost think Coates has multiple personalities while playing this album, and this portrayal is where it lacks for me, it doesn't seem to have any focus, meandering all over the place through the sixteen tracks, and straying into kitsch territory on too many occasions.

Wayne Stronell

Various Artists – Otto; Or, Up With Dead People (Crippled Dick Hot Wax/Inertia)

Posted: 23 Jan 2009 02:17 AM CST

This is the original soundtrack to the new zombie movie by Bruce LaBruce. Its been a very long time since I've heard anything on the Crippled Dick Hot Wax label, it was somewhat a favourite of mine in the 90's, some quirky and crazy reissues, mainly of European origin.

A nice compilation of morose and foreboding tunes by Mikael Karlsson, Jean-Louis Huhta, 4th Sign Of The Apocalypse, All My Friends, Pandas Of Black Metal, Misty Roses, The Living Dead Boys, No Bra, Brittle Stars, Eyes And Teeth, Othon With Ernesto Tomasini, La Jovenc, Ultra Milkmaids + V, and The Homophones. The soundtrack starts moody, moving through some nice acoustic tracks, an almost Odd Nosdam like track (4th Sign Of The Apocalypse) of dirge beats, haunting orchestration, Joy Division guitar wails, and a truly twisted vocal. More whimsical moments are present with All My Friends, before Pandas Of Black Metal inflict their take on metal sampling dance music, and Misty Roses bring the tone down again with their balladry. The Living Dead Boys take us back to the dancefloor, with a strange hybrid of screaming guitars and disco, and No Bra bring us a quirky ditty, coming across like the female equivalent to Radiohead, very strange, while Brittle Stars lay down drone soundscapes of guitar noise. Eyes And Teeth head for abstract hip-hop territory with twisted vocals, while Othon construct strange orchestration with almost operatic vocalist, and La Jovenc and Ultra Milkmaids + V head into experimental electronic territory with two deliciously abstract tracks. The Homophones round out the soundtrack with a quirky pop number, "hey now, everyone's dead…". Makes me want to check out the film, a very quirky soundtrack.