Cyclic Defrost Magazine

Joe Bataan & Fulanos - King of Latin Soul (Vampisoul/ Fuse)

Posted: 07 May 2009 05:29 AM PDT

So since the mid eighties when he walked away from the music industry, the King of Latin Soul has apparently been counseling incarcerated youth and helping his family train professionally in martial arts. Yet his tunes from Spanish harlem in the late sixties and seventies helped create a genre and ultimately the lure of the music has been too hard to resist for Bataan, teaming up with young Barcelona rare groove ensemble Los Fulanos to revitalise some of his classics, both the hits and the more obscure. So ultimately it’s a covers record, the difference being that it’s from the original artist. There’s a real mix of boogaloo, straight up Latin jams, and salsa, they’re hardcore Latin soul tunes, taut, punchy and funky as hell. Bataan’s voice, clearly aged and at times a little thinner than we remember is still great, though more lived in, like it’s the voice of experience. The production too has never been good. Highlights include his cover of Gil Scott Heron’s The Bottle, an instrumental disco version in the mid 70’s was one of his biggest hits, here he’s included the words and it elevates the song to new heights. In fact the energy and feel of this and the treatment given to many of the other tunes here including Rap-O-Clap-O and Subway Joe should dissuade anyone thinking this is a mere cash in on his legacy. In fact hopefully this is just the first step back into the world of music now the kids have grown up and the youth are still in jail.

-Bob Baker Fish

Purple Duck - Duckside of the Moon (Dual Plover)

Posted: 07 May 2009 05:25 AM PDT

We first heard Purple Duck whoring himself with the evil and wrong rap stylings of Suicidal Rap Orgy, and somehow we knew he deserved better. On his debut solo album he’s thrown everything but the kitchen sink at it, and most of it sticks. But then it slides off at funny angles and it’s impossible not to laugh maniacally then be charmed by the insanity and creative dexterity of the duck-man. It feels like a comedy album, with a couple of skits such as Cunt Dracula, who is a nasty insensitive piece of work (even for a vampire) and Sex Falcon which is about a falcon that terrifies townsfolk by penetrating them and then dropping them off a mountain two hours away. Yes I know it’s juvenile but it doesn’t stop it being funny. And it’s part of the charm of Purple Duck who uses hip hop, funk, house, indie folk, blues and electro pop to get his light humorous messages across. Despite his dexterity it’s impossible to dislodge the notion that he’s taking the piss out of the listener, possibly because the humor tends to overcompensate the soul of the music. That is except for When a Women Cries where the Duck adopts a Flaming Lips vocal style though almost seems to ruin the emotional sincerity by adding a catchy electro groove. Then there’s Bored, where The Duck describes how bored he is, demonstrating a remarkable ability to creatively curse and an almost implausible vocal dexterity. Duckside of the Moon is the antidote to the polished production and vacant content of most current day albums, and as a result should be encouraged.

Bob Baker Fish