By the time you're gonna read this issue #
44, we'll be spending our very last hours chillin' by the sea and gettin' some
tan before the Winter Music Conference starts. Thereafter a bit of sun to heat
your cold daze on most of this North side of the globe and some long player
formated music to come up with as a sort of unlikely soundtrack. Time has come
for some more albums to fill your hearts, bodies & soul with…
As already said on these pages, there are
mainly two ways of approaching life : either you consider a bottle half empty,
either the contrary. We then may see many people fighting against globalization,
as if sometimes they'd finally come to realize that life was also effective
miles away from their homes. Well (RSVP : correct me if I'm doing a mistake),
world has always been around as a whole and guess that there's finally no other
option than updating the way we're living the best we can and adapt ourselves to
the period we're living in order to survive. This said, the so called
globalization has also many numerous positive effects like the reduction of time
transportation from a place to another, not to mention internet, regarding the
way we use it, to make people feel closer to each other and music hailing from
almost everywhere nowadays. Expect some other demonstration in this issue with
material coming from Italy, Germany, France, Austria, UK, USA and even a singer
hailing from some lost former USSR mini Republic…
As it is to be some sunny weather with feet on the water for some lucky
of us, not to mention the fact that March marks the end of the winter, let's
start this section with some appropriate aural climate and that really sensuous
and vibrant new effort from Italian pair
The Dining Rooms which happens
to be our current album of the month. Something as a whole that has the capacity
to put us on the right mood. Subtle arrangements, lush melodies bringing us to a
suble universe made of afro latin jazz funk influences with cuts remixed from
the guys themselves, The Cinematic Orchestra, John Kong,
Quantic Soul Orchestra and the likes. Not to mention that 7th wonder of the
world produced by Nicola Conte at the summit of his art, from a
collection entitled Versioni Particulari – in other words :
Particular Versions – on Schema Records (more info :
ishtar.it )
If some group has a particular sense of the
harmony and the atmospheres in UK, it's not doubt Zero7 !!! The
distinguished pair, comprising Srs Sam Hardaker & Ben Sims
are back again this month with a new album (When It Falls) and a
tour to start of on March 11 at Belfast Mandela Hall. Could this mark the
rebirth of cool ? No doubt neither the twosome and their guests embody the idea
of neo romantism facing this hard world full of inner and existential questions
we're currently living in. As always, simplicity makes its effects, being the
result of nothing but the talent in its primar form. Indeed there's melancholy
here, if not some nostalgia, seeing our people displaying numerous faces of
absolute beauty, as shown on various occasions like "Warm Sound", the opener to
this new collection, not that far away from Jerry Rafferty's classic
"Baker Street" or the current single, "Home" sung by Tina Dico. Not to
mention the follower "Somersault" in order of appearance on a sort of cool waltz
rhythm. The rest reaching unsurprisingly the same heights (more info :
ultimate-dilemna.com).
I may easily guess how Sainkho Namtchylak's name may sound like
coming from another planet as it did for me the first time I got sent a record
from this lady a while ago. Would really suggest you to pay a careful attention
to what she has managed to produce with her music, bringing us to some wild and
unknown part of the world at the Siberia/Mongolia border with the unevitable
folklore that comes with. We speak there about Tuvan, an ancient asian universe
and culture but also an artfort of singing amongst others with reminders both to
be found in the Huns story as in that throat based Mongolian way of singing
which you may have had a listen to while attending the latest Bartabas
horse show called Lungta (more to be discovered on
furious.com/perfect/tuva.html) Well, Mrs Namtchylak introduces herself as one
of the last if not the last of the avant-garde Tuva Wanderers, this with the
help of an italian team of musicians, joining the best of both worlds (eras)
from ancient to modern perspectives. And the result is incredibly beautiful,
displaying a vast array of elements that have arrived on Western folklores
throughout the centuries on her new album called Who Stole The Sky ?
Really surprising indeed and undoubtly vibrant (more info :
ponderosa.it).
On a far different perspective although
proucing the same kind of effectsin front of the good is Steve Jones's
fifth instalment in the Klubb Jazz series and believe this, the
Slip'N'Slide A&R guy comes here with his best selection so far regarding this
collection, in a far much interesting and exciting way than what Phil Asher
has recently managed to provide with his Jazz In The House series for the
same label. Not to mention his mix giving the instant feeling that our man has
trully found his innerside. A CD mix featuring Markus Enochson & E-Man's
"Music Player" on Wave, Blak Beat Niks current corker, The Sun Will Shine"
remixed by Simon Gray, a fresh and brilliant new version of Negrocan's
classic "Cada Vez", the monster groovy "New jersey Deep" by Black Science
Orchestra recently re-edited by Swag, and that famous collaboration
between Dr Bob Jones and trumpetteer Snowboy that has appeared
last year on Chillifunk label to name but a few (more info :
kickinmusic.com).
Parisian label, Serial Records come with the
issue 2 of their French Do It Better series. Although I dunno if the
froggies are really doin' so, have to piont out the fact that these people have
managed to do it better from a release to another with names such as Soldiers
Of Twilight, Herald, Monkey Business, Insiders and
DJ F.E.X. amongst others in the roster. This vol.2 giving us in the meantime
the opportunity to hear from the very latest of the Bouthier Family (remember
Tom & Jerry at the time ?), Matthieu, in the mix on a very acurate and
versatile mood, firting with deep house, progressive, post-disco and abstract
grooves with elegance (more info :
serialrecordings.com).
Other people worth to mention in Paris are
without a single doubt Next Evidence. Here we get this pair in the mix
for a reader's digest of some of the best tunes that have appeared on their
Basic Recordings label, from people like Julien Jabre, DJ
Gregory, Soha (aka the two of'em), Dennis Ferrer or NE
themselves out of a package which is hot, displaying from deep jazzy house to
some more festive groove. PS : A collection called Basic Recordings –
Early Hours. (more info :
basicrecordings.com).
As said on our Compost Records label scan, the
serious things begin for the Munich-based label this year with the release of
Beanfield's new album melting soul and electronica. Gotta definitely check
out this collection of electronicsoulfunkjazz influenced grooves called
Seek as it really opens some new path in the genre with a very silky
touch. More to know about these people next week via a recent chat to be
published on these pages and also on their label's website (compost-records.com).
The Stereo Deluxe 2
issue arrives right on time as this other German stable has managed to have
The Strike Boys and Trio Electrico this week in Miami for some action
at the M3 Summit. Here we go more atmospheric, from cool jazz tempo to some
inherited reggae kind of extrapolation, cinematic aural delight, rare soul
groove revamps and the kitchen sink. Useless to specify that this collection is
rather eclectic, including tracks from Soul'N'Bossa, Finnish outfit
Robyn Rhodes, Mo'Horizons whose singer sounds like defunkt Fine
Young Cannibals leader, Norwegian latin jazz champion Bobby Hughes
Experience and Swiss vibe twisters, Loungehic Productions with The
Funky Lowlives adding their delicate approach to this collection (more info
:
stereodeluxe.com).
Don't expect that many releases on Kruder &
Dorfmeister G Stone label as these distinguished Austrian purveyors of
selected quality works are very concerned in what they're putting out. A new
exemple is currently given with Rodney Hunter's new album. Under the
Hunter Files title, this guy who's been around since the beginning,
actively giving his contribution the what Vienna is today as a key place in
today's music world, provies us with some interesting experimentations in terms
of electroatmospheric grooves dealin with funk somehow like Beanfield
have done with soul as notoriously shown on "Let You Soul Guide Your Heart"
featuring vocalist Diana (more info :
g-stoned.com ).
The word of the end with one of the most awaited album release
Stateside, from one of the highlights of the forthcoming Conference. I mean
Elements Of Life by none other than 'Little' Louie Vega… As
usual, the surrounding is impressive featuring contributions from Blaze
on the title cut of this effort + on "Better Days" (see our chat with the pair
on our Word Up section this week), the stunning Raùl Midon
(with "Cerca De Mi" remebered as one of last year's WMC' pieces of vinyl),
Anane (in other words, Madame Vega) delivering various factes of her talent
and some other people. As said by Blaze's Josh Milan, this album
is really fluid varying from afro to latin deep influences with more festive
moments and tributes to where Louie's coming from, leavin' us with another proof
of his genuine talent as a producer.
Next week's issue will see the official debut
of ADN with his first column to hit the screens while we'll be in Miami
in search of the best from this year's Conference.
Peace, ya'll
MFSB
INTERVIEW
