Sunday, October 4, 2009

Cyclic Defrost Magazine

Cyclic Defrost Magazine

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Panoptique Electrical – Yes to Fear Yes to Desire (Sensory Projects)

Posted: 04 Oct 2009 03:09 AM PDT

Panoptique Electrical

The stillness returns for Jason Sweeney’s second outing as Panoptique Electrical. Whilst he is not afraid to get a little pop, electronic or indie in his other projects like Pretty Boy Crossover or the Mist & Sea, Panoptique Electrical is very much in ambient territory, anchored in the main by gentle piano runs and soft swells of heavily reverbed sound. The instruments themselves are a lot more explicit this time around, no longer hidden under a swell of electronic treatments. This gives the pieces a more organic feel, where the texture becomes a little more important. There’s also a definite pop element too, these aren’t epic pieces of drone, rather most tracks clock in around three minutes and tend to subtly progress and change. What’s so interesting about these pieces however is the control, we’re not talking about a big soup of sound, rather often we’re only dealing with minimal ingredients used with a subtlety and restraint. There’s a sense of peace and grace at play here, a transcendent tranquility that removes you totally from the hustle and bustle of modern music. I’ve read reviews where they’re calling this neo classical, and it may well be, however it’s origins appear to stem from the self assured stasis of Eno’s experiments with ambient music or perhaps some of your more atmospheric film soundtrack composers. And like the best soundtrack music its melancholic swells and tranquil ebbs turn your gaze inward and you forget you were even listening to music in the first place.

Bob Baker Fish

Panoptique Electrical – Yes to Fear Yes to Desire (Sensory Projects) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

Speed Caravan – Kalashnik Love (Real World/Planet Company)

Posted: 04 Oct 2009 02:51 AM PDT

Speed Caravan were one of the real highlights of this years Womadelaide, a feverish high energy electronic freak-out with hand drums and electric oud. Their approach is sacrilege to the purists, but this Algerian/ French ensemble really felt like they had bridged the gap between the traditions and the dance-floor without necessarily whoring themselves behind cheesy 4/4 beats or attempting to exoticise themselves for western audiences. The electric oud sounded incredible, heavy, raw, almost sexual, leaning closer to the likes of Hendrix than to say Omar Faruk Tekbilek. It’s played by charismatic leader Mehdi Haddab who stumbles around the stage with the decadent cool of Rachid Taha (who also contributes vocals) or Warren Ellis (Dirty Three). There’s bass, hand percussion and also a dedicated electronics and computer guy who regularly offers up these taut driving techno inspired beats that would repeatedly bring the crowd to a frenzy. Away from the party and on record everything’s much cleaner, perhaps almost clinical. The beats seem to take centre stage, with the rock element kind’ve lurking on the periphery. Their cover of the Cure’s killing an Arab whilst possessing a humour and irony is pretty average, though they have a little more success with the Chemical Brothers Galvanize, particularly when they do away with the lame hip hop. They are much more successful on the tunes they pen themselves, where the oud and beats compete for equal space and begin to fuse together. There’s an incredible diversity of styles here and at times it’s difficult to reconcile all of the cultures and influences. At times it’s brilliant, others it’s misguided, yet this only adds to the mystique of a band that really need to be experienced live.

Bob Baker Fish

Speed Caravan – Kalashnik Love (Real World/Planet Company) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

Various Artists – ZE 30, ZE Records 1979-2009 (Strut/Inertia)

Posted: 04 Oct 2009 01:23 AM PDT

ZE 30

Everybody seems to be having a birthday lately, especially record labels, and ZE Records is no exception, celebrating 30 years of releasing seminal disco tracks in NYC from some very unlikely artists. Strut, one of the heavyweights of the reissue, comes up trumps with this compilation, showcasing a label many may not be familiar with, but when you hear what is contained within, its apparent some of the artists reached the mainstream, and entered many of our lives at some stage (well, if you're old enough), I for one can recall some of these bands performing on Top Of The Pops when I was a kid in the UK.

Its all here, Was (Not Was) with "Tell Me I'm Dreaming"; "Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band with "Deputy Of Love"; James White & The Blacks with "Contort Yourself"; Kid Creole & The Coconuts with legendary Larry Levan's mix of "Something Wrong In Paradise". The lesser known tracks by quirky artists such as Christina, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Casino Music, Material featuring Nona Hendryx, Garcons, and Aural Exciters are represented well, but it's the few obscure tracks that show the reaches of disco in the US, obscure artists obviously becoming renowned in club land with the cross-over potential of their tracks. Marie Et Les Garcons with their swinging futuristic "Re Bop Electronic"; Michael Dracula with "What Can I Do For You", all crazed psychedelic dancefloor madness. The two standout gems are from Suicide, always on the outskirts of acceptability, but proving here they were successful on many dancefloors. Alan Vega gives his take on rock'n'roll swing with "Jukebox Babe", while his band Suicide tackle the more motorik synth pulse of "Dream Baby Dream".

Most of the tracks have been lifted from 12" releases, which means we get the long extended versions, it would have been pretty wild to be in a NYC club almost 30 years ago and hearing some of this stuff for the first time, this is the template for so much rock/dance crossover tracks we hear today. Pick up a copy and get an education to the left of disco.

Wayne Stronell

Various Artists – ZE 30, ZE Records 1979-2009 (Strut/Inertia) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

Fat Freddy’s Drop – Dr. Boondigga & The Big BW (The Drop/Inertia)

Posted: 04 Oct 2009 01:21 AM PDT

Fat Freddy's Drop - Dr Boondigga & The Big BW

Its always a joy when the Wellington seven piece Fat Freddy's Drop release a new record, for someone who can live without R'n'B, there's something conforting for the soul when I hear Joe Dukie sing his songs, his voice reaches me. Joined as usual with Bobie Blaze on keys and synth, Toby Chang on trumpet, Jetlag Johnson on guitar, Hopepa on trombone, Chopper Reedz on saxophone and Mu on MPC, they further cement themselves on the world stage with another great release.

Its been two years in the making, and four years since their debut Based On A True Story, producer, beatmaster and engineer Mu, Chris Faiumu states "there was no external pressure, only self pressure to naturally progress, improve and take the music somewhere fresh".

All the soul is still there, their original take on soul, funk, jazz, reggae and dub, but through their globetrotting have definitely picked up some influences along the way, and a more modern approach to song structure has oozed through on this album. The obvious parallel can be made with the Berlin dub techno scene, in particular the Basic Channel/Rhythm & Sound school of reduced electronic dub, making for some long tracks taking us on a journey. Never being reduced to just "tracks", the coherent song is still to the fore, an art Fat Freddy's Drop has developed well, never degrading to pure repetition, with a particularly strong rhythm section, and catchy as all hell brass section. Its all of these elements in the one melting pot that makes what they do a success, and a very pleasurable one at that.

Wayne Stronell

Fat Freddy's Drop – Dr. Boondigga & The Big BW (The Drop/Inertia) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

Oddateee – Halfway Homeless (Jarring Effects)

Posted: 03 Oct 2009 09:14 PM PDT

Oddateee - Halfway Homeless

Hailed as one of the most dynamic live MC's, Oddateee, born in the Bronx, New York City, raised in Union City, New Jersey, his stream of conscience flow seems to tap into his fears, anger and frustration, making his story a real one. There is no fakeness here, spoken from life experience, with tracks like "Ricans", "Devil Runs Nation", "Pagan Baby", "The Influence", "The Hood", and "My Ex", Oddateee spits his thoughts forth with power and passion.

The production is so on point to match Oddateee's maestro / madman persona, working with some heavyweights such as Dalek, Komplx, Digital Unicorn, with cuts by DJ Motiv. Oddateee has also seen fit to work with people on the verges, working in the studio and on stage with Dr Israel, Dalek, Isis, Cherry Valence, The Sofa Surfers, Mike Ladd, Anti-Pop Consortium, Smut Peddlers, DJ Spooky and Prince Paul amongst others, walking the line between the dark gritty streets with an old school vibe, still managing to bring a party vibe to the darkness.

Its this need to collaborate with un/like minds that make Oddateee an interesting character, continually pushing boundaries, willing to try anything new, which was more than obvious with last years split release, on magnificent picture disc vinyl, with the Deadverse massive of Dalek and Destructo Swarmbots, breaking all the rules for rock, noise and hip hop.

Raw and dirty, and with an energy lacking from so much hip hop these days. Ace.

Wayne Stronell

Oddateee – Halfway Homeless (Jarring Effects) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

The Enigmatical / Misto Soon Configuration – A Miniature Of Bigger Things (Out Of The Blue/Magic Objects)

Posted: 03 Oct 2009 09:14 PM PDT

The Enigmatical/Misto Soon Configuration

The second release in as many weeks for this fledgling label, a far more focused affair than the first, not just sketches of jazz genius, but more focused and fully realised ideas based on the producers, Enigmatical, philosophy, love and passion for the spiritual soul of jazz, from the era of Pharoah Sanders and Alice Coltrane. The Out Of The Blue Crew are obviously more than one, and its on this release we see more of the scope of this project, recorded in Gothenburg Sweden between 2005 and 2006.

Elevated to another plane by the presence of Misto Soon on vocals, his style seems to fit perfectly, not rap, not singing, not spoken, but somewhere amongst all three delivery styles, with a spiritual conscious lyrical style that sits perfectly with the undeniably spiritual properties of Enigmatical's take on modern jazz production. This time Enigmatical doesn't just rely on his sampling craft, showing his prowess with the assembly of sounds from session musicians. Joel Wastberg plays saxophone and piano; Thomas Jansson plays contrabass, theremin, melodica and bells; Daniel Nilsson plays electric keys, metallophone, effects and scratches; and Edwin Edvinsson plays electric bass and cymbals, while Enigmatical brings it all together, and Misto Soon rides the vibe.

There are times where this does remind me of previous work by The Cinematic Orchestra, but this stays true, not trying to veer into fully orchestrated interpretations of jazz standards, and the guest vocal input from Nadasdi and Rodan Kairos on "…Of Constellations" adds two extra vocal tones to an otherwise standard mellow jazz track.

The first release did not set the bar too high, this second release is a whole different beast, realising some of the ideas sketched out in the previous release, but building on these ideas to create a modern jazz classic. If you have any interest in jazz, watch this label.

Wayne Stronell

The Enigmatical / Misto Soon Configuration – A Miniature Of Bigger Things (Out Of The Blue/Magic Objects) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

The Enigmatical – Exercises In Beat Tradition Volume 1 & 2 (Out Of The Blue/Magic Objects)

Posted: 04 Oct 2009 02:52 AM PDT

Enigmatical - Exercises In Beat Tradition

It's not often something lands on my desk that seems to encapsulate everything good about modern excursions into jazz, usually weighed down by cliché, and embedded with the usual formulaic cheese that sums up so much 'acid jazz' and 'nu-jazz'.

Enigmatical is part of the Out Of The Blue Crew (www.outofthebluecrew.com), and making a judgement on this release alone, is going to be an artist, crew and label to watch closely.

Enigmatical seems to avoid any of these trappings, breaking the mould to create music of equal parts jazz and hip hop. Exercises In Beat Tradition Volume 1 & 2 grabs every great aspect of jazz, the raw funk, the spiritual jazz pioneers of yesteryear, and the space between the notes to create evocative jazz soundscapes. The 20 tracks take us on a journey through every nation ever touched by the jazz spirit, but underpinned with a strict hip hop production ethic, beats nailed to the rhythm, propelling the cleverly sampled elements to create something entirely new. Think a cross between great labels such as MoWax, Ninja Tune, Ubiquity and Memphix, channeling the whole spectrum of jazz, but creating a coherent result of finely balanced beats, bass and mellow swing.

As Enigmatical states, "this is a collection of instrumentals, beats and scapes… a black and white mix up for better seeing of colours… a few stills… exercises within a frame of knowing, needs take form…" This really sums up his philosophy, his approach to production, his love of jazz… He is passionate about jazz, that's so obvious, the samples he has chosen, the method used to weave them together. It's never in your face, its subtle, mellow, calming, oozes the spirituality you'd expect from some of the greats, and pleases your soul.

This is an outstanding debut release for the label, maybe setting the bar too high from the start, but we will see, and I will be listening some more.

Wayne Stronell

The Enigmatical – Exercises In Beat Tradition Volume 1 & 2 (Out Of The Blue/Magic Objects) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

Anti-Pop Consortium – Fluorescent Black (Big Dada/Inertia)

Posted: 03 Oct 2009 09:10 PM PDT

APC - Fluorescent Black

The kings of leftfield hip hop return after a six year absence, reuniting legendary MC's Beans, M.Sayyid, Earl Blaize and High Priest for this album on now legendary UK hip hop label Big Dada.

Their parting to persue solo projects did leave a gap in hip hop, especially in the US, where hip hop had become mainstream, stale and predictable, the scene missed Anti-Pop Consortium, and the ease in which they pushed boundaries, and blurred the lines between the genres they toyed with. Fluorescent Black portrays this ethic to the full, shifting with ease between styles, giving us the bangers like "New Jack Exterminator" and "Apparently", the future funk of "Volcano", the android soul of "The Solution", the weirdness of "Timpani", the psychedelic synth shapes of "C Thru U" and "Dragunov". Anti-Pop Consortium are from another planet, and they bring with them a knowledge no one else has, and an instrumental approach that flows through their combined psyche, and the machines they bought back from their space travels.

It's the sonic experimentation that gives Fluorescent Black its power and its charm. Its electronics have more in common with artists on labels such as Warp (where they have confortably released records on in the past), or Clear, but it's the vocal style and delivery that cement it in the hip hop world, all of the MC's seem to share the same gift, and rarely seek guest vocalists. Opting only to have Roots Manuva guest on "NY To Tokyo", a slow burning, plodding dance track with playful synth lines and 808 beats and percussion, Roots Manuva's contribution adds to the track emensely, but really, it would have been just as good without him.

The sonic experimenters are back, with their strongest album to date, and with it they bring their knowledge from a distant planet.

Wayne Stronell

Anti-Pop Consortium – Fluorescent Black (Big Dada/Inertia) is a post from: Cyclic Defrost Magazine.

at 5:46 PM