In The Pocket

29 June 2011

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Massimiliano Pagliara 'Focus For Infinity'

MASSIMILIANO PAGLIARA
Focus For Infinity
[Live At Robert Johnson]

Patience is a virtue, as they say. The Berlin-based Italian producer Massimiliano Pagliara is clearly a believer, as his debut album demands and richly rewards patient listening. It's not that Focus For Infinity is a difficult listen; quite the opposite - crystalline synths and deep, warm bass drape themselves languorously over the sub-110bpm codeine-funk chug of classic drum machines, which threaten/promise to swallow the unwitting listener whole. It's only after repeat listens the album's subtle charms slid their way properly into your ears, and Pagliara's talent for arrangement is revealed. While there are a handful of songs featuring vocalists - including standout Gonna Get Your Love Gonna Find You with Sigrid Elliott - most of the tracks are slow burning instrumentals, with snatches of manipulated vocals sometimes bubbling up amongst the lush layers of sound. This is simple, incredibly effective stuff. The perfect soundtrack for a steamy, loved-up, 4am slow motion disco.

4 stars from 5

28 June 2011

Live: Dewey Decimal Sound System at Library Bar

DEWEY DECIMAL SOUND SYSTEM
With your hosts SWEETPANTS and 90
Spinning a selection of music suited to lounging, foot-tapping & soft-shoe shuffling
From 8pm til close
Saturdays in July: 2nd - 16th - 30th
At THE LIBRARY BAR
Cnr Market Place & Pakenham Street East
www.thelibrarybar.co.nz

26 June 2011

Review: Holy Ghost! 'Holy Ghost!'

HOLY GHOST!
Holy Ghost!
[DFA]

Apparently everything that goes around does come around. NYC duo Holy Ghost! have quite the pedigree - playing with The Juan Maclean, remixing MGMT and Mark Ronson - and the blogosphere has duly lit up with the arrival of their self-titled debut album on the DFA label. But why, exactly? While marketed as synth-heavy disco, boogie and sleek Italo, it sounds more like Yacht Rock got into New Wave's make-up kit after a night on the alco-pops. Obvious touchstones are New Order and Pet Shop Boys, but Holy Ghost! lack the latter's singwriting chops and the intensity and swagger of the former. Wafts of A-Ha, Pseudo Echo and Duran Duran are also present and there are a few really good, strong songs here, but little in the way of new ground being broken. The overwhelming feeling is that Holy Ghost! are more concerned with striking their hipster pose immaculately. Sad face.

2 and 1/2 stars from 5

George FM Playlist Sunday 26 June "In The Pocket with 90"

24 June 2011

Radio Ponsonby Playlist Friday 24 June "Expansions with 90"

A bit of a Yin Yang type situation with regard the playlists from today's two radio shows - the uptempo Yin in the post below, and the downtempo Yang listed here. It should also be noted the sun came out in Auckland Town today during the 2hrs Expansions was broadcasting on Radio Ponsonby. True.

Roy Ayers | Programmed For Love
Bill Summers | Come Into My Life (Onur Engin edit)
Duff Disco | A Tribute To Barry
10CC | I'm Not In Love
RAMP | Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Al Jarreau | Ain't No Sunshine
Quincy Jones | Summer In The City
Sarah Vaughan | Summertime (UFO remix)
Handsome Boy Modeling School | The Truth
Jeffree | Mr Fixit (Recloose HIQI edit)
Sublime | Doin' Time (Marshall Arts remix)
DJ Fitchie & Joe Dukie | Midnight Marauders
Erykah Badu | Bump It
Lowrell | Mellow Mellow
John Legend & The Roots | Hard Times
Arthur's Landing | Love Dancing
Mid-Air | Ease Out (The Revenge edit)
Rayko | S&M (Sexy Music)
DJ Wick-It | Rolling In The Fire

George FM Playlist Friday 24 June "Key To The Pocket" or "90 In The Groove"

What a rainy old day today has been. Never mind. It's always sunny in the George FM studio, and I had a ball filling in for the salty ol' seadog himself, Bevan Keys, so who cares about the weather?

Isaac Hayes | Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile (Onur Engin edit)
Rayko | Sweet Sensation (edit)
Natalie Walker | Cool Kids
Nikola & Sasha | Gene
Killer Funk Disco Allstars | Shake Your Booty Baby!
Rock Master Rus B | Dirty Lowdown
Lindstrom & Christabelle | Baby Can't Stop
Yaxkin Retrodisko | Bonanza
PBR Streetgang | J2ThaB
The Drop Out Orchestra | Release Myself
Mr Fudgesickal | Mash The Right Thing
Eva Gina | Gappy Daze
Greg Wilson | C'mon (You Can Get It)
Drop Out City Rockers | Man On The Run
Justin Simmons | I Need My Disco Fix
Masters At Work | Backfired (Joey Negro remix)
Bob Sinclar | Ultimate Funk
Real El Canaria | International Style
Dez Andres | As We Rock On
Me&You | How Can I Hold You When Your Body Keeps Moving?

21 June 2011

Review: Beastie Boys 'Hot Sauce Committee Part Two'

BEASTIE BOYS
Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
[Capitol]

The Beastie Boys' first album, Licensed To Ill, was released in 1986 - alongside debuts from New Kids On The Block, Poison and Crowded House (!!). Hot Sauce Committee Part Two is only the Beasties' eighth studio album since, but we crave quality, not quantity, right? With Part One's release delayed due to a cancer scare for Adam "MCA" Yauch, most of the tracks from that album were jacked for this release. That's irrelevant though, as the trio show they still know how to rip it like few others, bouncing off each other with ridiculous ease. Disappointing guest spots from Nas and Santigold aside, this is a full-tilt, back-to-form party rocker from a resilient group of guys who've perfected their nerdy-braggadocio niche and flavour it just enough to keep it interesting, even after all these years. No-one else from the Class of '86 can say the same. Here's to growing old disgracefully.

4 stars from 5

19 June 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 19 June "In The Rainy Day Pocket with 90"

Proper rainy ol' day inna Auckland Town today, which brought out the feelgood factor in the tune selection process; because there ain't nothin' quite like dancing in the rain...

Arthur's Landing | Your Motion Says
Johnny Adams | Feel The Beat (The Revenge edit)
Andy Ash | Hip Joint
Killer Funk Disco Allstars | Avoid The Question (I Gotta Go edit)
Rayko | S&M (Sexy Music) (club edit)
Curtis Mayfield | Love Me Love Me Now (Onur Engin edit)
Aaron Neville | Hercules (Anthony Mansfield's "Son Of Zeus" edit)
Gazeebo | You Ain't So Tuff
Neil Diablo | The Feeling
Greg Wilson | Booty Dance
Rock Master Rus B | Dirty Lowdown
Bing Ji Ling | Home (Blackjoy remix)
Nikola & Sasha | Gene
Yaxkin Retrodisko | Bonanza
Cool Million with Leroy Burgess | Cool To Make A Million (The Drop Out Orchestra rework)
Prince & Sheila E | Chelsea Rodgers
Prince | I Wanna Be Your Lover (Dimitri From Paris edit)
Kid Sublime | Fruitsugar

15 June 2011

Review: The Revenge 'Reekin'structions'

THE REVENGE
Reekin'structions
[Z Records]

Disco edits are de rigeur in dance music at the minute, with a number of so-called producers' content to slap a sixteen-bar intro and outro onto a track and call it an edit. Bollocks to that. Reekin'structions, released on Joey Negro's Z Records, shows them how it's done. The compilation features ten tracks given a re-rub by Auld Reekie's own Graeme Clark aka The Revenge, who has developed quite the reputation for his lovingly assembled disco and funk re-edits, showcasing an innate ability to encapsulate the essence of an older - usually lesser-known - song and repackage it faithfully for new ears. Clark tweaks basslines, beefs up the intensity and builds his edits brilliantly; in the vein of Greg Wilson or the enigmatic Onur Engin (who is also doing fantastically considered re-edit work at the moment). Sure, it's not rocket science, but it's most certainly rocket fuel for a dance floor.

3 and 1/2 stars from 5

12 June 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 12 June "In The Pocket with 90"

Review: Jonny Love 'Courage'

JONNY LOVE
Courage
[Warner]

Jonny Love's 2008 self-titled debut album was a limp acoustic pop offering which left your humble scribe cold, so this hard-hitting collection of ballsy ballads and stadium-sized rockers is a refreshing change and a serious step forward. Courage is the Auckland-based singer-songwriter's second album, and it's aimed directly at filling venues and racking up radio spins - much like Opshop, Muse or Mumford And Sons. Recorded in the UK with a cast of famous names, including producer/drummer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Opshop), Courage is good old-fashioned rocking pop very well packaged. Love has a great voice and he doesn't over-reach, instead concentrating on hitting his notes effectively; with the huge, guitar-driven wall of sound behind him a more than useful foil. While I personally cannot stand this sort of shit, I also cannot deny this is a fantastic pop-rock record from someone clearly worth keeping an eye on.

3 and 1/2 stars from 5

11 June 2011

Radio Ponsonby Playlist Friday 10 June "Expansions with 90"

08 June 2011

Review: Disco Love 2 - selected and mixed by Al Kent

DISCO LOVE 2
"More Rare Disco and Soul Uncovered"
Selected and Mixed by Al Kent
[BBE]

According to his biography, an eight year old Al Kent ran away from his Scottish home to party in New York at The Loft with Nicky Siano, only to be deported back to Glasgow just two years later thanks to being caught in possession of PCP. He then promptly opened a nightclub in his hometown and had Walter Gibbons DJ the opening night. While much of that may well be a steaming pile of codshite, his newly released mix of rare disco and soul on BBE titled Disco Love 2, most definitely is not. Each and every tune here is an absolute floor-filling winner, and most are exclusive, painstakingly assembled edits put together by Kent himself. From backstreet crack-house recordings to uplifting dance floor gems, deep soulful and funky disco music abounds. No wonder he's the favourite disco DJ of Dimitri From Paris, Joey Negro and, why not? - me too.

3 and 1/2 stars from 5

Check out www.milliondollardisco.com
My review of Al Kent's Best Of Disco Demands here

05 June 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 5 June "In The Pocket with 90"

01 June 2011

Wednesday Night Wax at Longroom

Wednesday Night Wax with 90
"All Vinyl Records, All Night Long"
From 6.30pm til late
Every Wednesday in June
Only at Longroom

Review: The Yoots 'Sing Along With The Yoots'

THE YOOTS
Sing Along With The Yoots
[Economy Records]

Call this novelty music at your peril! The Yoots are a veritable supergroup of homegrown talent, courted and corralled by Fat Freddy's Drop trombonist Hopepa aka Joe Lindsay - yep, the one with the big guts who wears tiny shorts and singlets on stage. Lindsay formed The Yoots back in 2006 with his brother Sam, alongside Freddy's cohorts Iain Gordon and Toby Laing, Mike Fabulous aka Lord Echo, and a bunch of others. Working the local live circuit hard with their inspired blend of calypso-ska and country-soul, The Yoots embraced music from East Africa to the Caribbean. However, early in 2010, The Yoots began looking at the musical traditions from their own homeland. Thusly, their debut album Sing Along With The Yoots, is jam-packed with reworked classic Maori tunes from Hoki Mai to Tutira Mai via E Nga Iwi, Me He Manu Rere and more. The true New Zealand songbook.

4 and 1/2 stars from 5

30 May 2011

George FM Playlist Monday 30 May "In The Driver's Pocket"

29 May 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 29 May "In The Pocket with 90"

27 May 2011

George FM Playlist Friday 27 May "In The Selectah's Pocket"

I had great fun covering for Karn Hall on the George FM Selectah show today, and even managed to squeeze in a bunch of tunes from my own selection! Alas, there was no playlist taken, as such, but my share of the tunes came from this selection below:

Spandau v Peaches | Shake Yr Ballet
Al Green | Piece Of Mine (Jayl Funk edit)
East Coast | The Rock
Gazeebo | You Ain't So Tuff
Holy Ghost! | Hold On (Blackjoy remix)
Homework | Hold Me Tight
Andy Ash | Freak
Starsgarage | The Massage
Superbreak | Body Bait (Superbreak Disco mix)
Rayko | Gettin' Down

...and if you enjoyed those I strongly suggest you get on down to The Third & Social THIS Saturday night for Bump n' Hustle, alongside my good mates Murry Sweetpants and Jay Jeffrey.

25 May 2011

Classic Review: Nightmares On Wax 'Smokers Delight'

NIGHTMARES ON WAX
Smokers Delight
[Warp]

Despite the liner notes by Nightmares On Wax aka George Evelyn himself asking that the music found on Smokers Delight should not be considered trip hop, this album is the benchmark - if not the blueprint - for that genre. Mind you, back in 1995 when this stone cold classic was originally released, trip hop music wasn't yet de riguer in cafes, hair salons and hotel lobbies worldwide. Smokers Delight was the second album from Nightmares On Wax, following a more dance floor-oriented debut, Word Of Science. For the follow up though, Evelyn got to experimenting with trip hop - which is essentially hip hop with deeper soul and less rapping. With its rubbery bass lines, low-slung funk, meandering, jazzy guitar patterns and slow-motion chocolate-smothered grooves, Smokers Delight is often described as sophisticated stoner music, but that's merely lazy alliteration. This remains an all-time classic of contemporary instrumental music and an essential album.

5 stars from 5

24 May 2011

Bumps

The next in an incredibly irregular series I like to call 'Bumps' features a tasty track from the producer Jayl Funk entitled Piece Of Mine, which samples Al Green's track All Because, from his Al Green Gets Next To You album. Check out the link on the *bump* and enjoy!

22 May 2011

George FM Playlist 22nd May "The Rapture Special" In The Pocket with 90

17 May 2011

Review: Pikachunes 'Pikachunes'

PIKACHUNES
Pikachunes
[Lil' Chief Records]

'Taking drugs in the afternoon / spending lazy Sundays drinking brews / party party every night / being with you makes me feel alright'. The self-titled debut album from one-mand-band Pikachunes aka Miles McDougall is anything but the usual twee-pop offering from the slept-on (but, very twee) Lil' Chief label. Quite the opposite in fact: this is almost impossible to listen to during daylight, revealing its true character only under cover of darkness (preferably from the midst of a dense and sweaty dance floor). Despite this, a strong pop sensibility nestles comfortably alongside a severely stripped back simplicity, eliciting feelings of desperate longing and an enticing darkness both implicit and unspoken. This hypnotic blend is at its most potent on lead single Nervous, which sounds like LCD Soundsystem fronted by Bernard Sumner or that guy from The National. Make no mistake, this is one-trick-pony material - but, oh! what a trick!

3 stars from 5

16 May 2011

Review: Sergio Dias with Tahiti Boy & The Palmtree Family 'We Are The Lilies'

SERGIO DIAS with TAHITI BOY & THE PALMTREE FAMILY
We Are The Lilies
[Third Side / V2]

We Are The Lilies is the result of a collaboration between Parisian outfit Tahiti Boy and The Palmtree Family, and Sergio Dias, founder of 1960/70s Brazilian psychedelic group Os Mutantes. The album was apparently written in five days and recorded in four, and that loose, live feel adds to the overwhelming sense of sheer fun which pervades every groove. We Are The Lilies is jam-packed with ideas; song structures blown apart by bursts of brass, guitars, sitars, organ and banks of percussion, as well as guest appearances from Iggy Pop and Jane Birkin. It's as if The Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend were in a pinball battle with The Beach Boys and Frank Zappa. Dizzyingly experimental and wildly acid-drenched, We Are The Lilies is one of three things: a boldly ambitious masterpiece; an incredibly joyful celebration of collaboration; or simply a deliciously disparate guilty pleasure. You be the judge.

3 stars from 5

Review reprinted courtesy of the Waikato Times

15 May 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 15th May "In The Pocket with 90"

11 May 2011

Sick Disco Presents Into The Night

Into The Night
With Bevan Keys, DJ Philippa, Logan Baker and Made Of Horror
And Sweetpants & 90 hosting the Kitchen Party
10pm Saturday 14 May
Cassette #9
$10 on the Door

George FM Playlist Wed 11 May "Play It All In The Back Pocket with 90"

10 May 2011

Review: Little Bushman 'Te Oranga'

LITTLE BUSHMAN
Te Oranga
[Little Bushman]

Little Bushman often reference Jimi Hendrix as one of their bigger influences; but it's really his warrior spirit they seek to rouse with their gloriously orchestral cacophony of '60s psychedelic rock, lyrical folk and Maoritanga blues - and saying you sound like Hawkwind isn't anywhere near as cool, eh bro. Te Oranga is the difficult third album from the four-piece led by Warren Maxwell, surely already an official NZ music legend having also fronted Trinity Roots and played with Fat Freddys Drop. With a gentler approach than 2007's grandiose Pendulum, Te Oranga blends the song craft of The Beatles, the widescreen vision of Pink Floyd and the playing power of Led Zeppelin. Their Achilles heel is a tendency to sound like they're taking themselves very seriously, a major failing of many psych- and prog-rock bands. Happily, this occurs infrequently enough for Te Oranga to stand proudly alongside Maxwell's earlier work.

3 stars from 5

Goin' Places

Goin' Places
With Sweetpants & 90
Alternating Fridays
From 9.30pm 'til close
New Bond Street Bar
429 New North Rd, Kingsland
Get amongst!

09 May 2011

Classic Review: Butch Cassidy Sound System 'Butches Brew'

BUTCH CASSIDY SOUND SYSTEM
Butches Brew
[Fenetik]

(Originally released in 2004)

Butches Brew is the definition of a cult classic. The debut album from Butch Cassidy Sound System aka Glaswegian musician, writer and producer Michael Hunter is adored by those in the know - and equally impressive for first time listeners. After seven years recording for labels like Good Looking Records, Guidance and his brother's Red Hook Imprint as Pablo, Hunter began work on a project fusing his obsessino for rare breaks, hip hop and early '70s soul and jazz, with roots reggae. The diverse, fascinating and hugely enjoyable romp Butches Brew is the result: packed with vintage instruments, organic sounds, clever production - and above all else excellent songs - the album set a benchmark few have bettered. Highlights are many, but worthy of mention are storming house-tempo opener Brothers And Sisters; chillout masterclass Standing On; the rollicking title track; and a fiendishly funky reggae rub of The Meters' standard Cissy Strut. Timeless.

5 stars from 5
David Carroll

08 May 2011

Mu from Freddys interview in Groove Guide

Pick up a copy of this weeks Groove Guide magazine and have a read of the interview with DJ Mu from Fat Freddy's Drop. It's my first piece of writing for a publication which has been moving from strength to strength under the guidance and editorship of that fine fellow Sam Wicks. Get amongst!

George FM Playlist Sunday 8th May "In The Pocket with 90" Mothers Day Special

04 May 2011

Review: Hidden Orchestra 'Night Walks'

HIDDEN ORCHESTRA
Night Walks
[Tru Thoughts]

I cringed when I saw the sticker on the Hidden Orchestra debut album Night Walks. For fans of Zero 7, it says. Oh, really? Those boring bastards are worthy of being name-checked on a sticker? And this from one of my all-time favourite labels, Tru Thoughts? What the hell's going on?! Luckily for my pulse rate, the Edinburgh-based group formerly known as Joe Acheson Quartet doesn't sound much like Zero 7 at all. I hear Bonobo, Clifford Gilberto, Tortoise and classical influences mixed with Morricone and Axelrod, like a 21st century musical version of Alfred Hitchcock. Hidden Orchestra seek to emulate electronic music via acoustic means, utilising traditional live instrumentation, organically assembled samples - and two live drummers. This beguiling blend of hip hop swagger, lush sweeping orchestration and post-rock experimentalism makes for an intense and rewarding listen. Cinematic, emotive, percussive, next generation music. And Zero 7 can piss right off.

4 stars from 5

02 May 2011

George FM Playlist Monday 2nd May "Groovadelica In The Pocket"

Hudson Mohawke | FUSE
Tony Allen | Kilode (Waajeed remix)
Krystal Klear | Tried For Your Love
Wes Coats | Land Of Music
Tony Cook with Dam-Funk | What's On Your Mind
Kanye West | Diamonds (J-Todd's "Gimme The Ice" remix)
Gary Byrd & The G.B. Experience | The Crown
The Gap Band | Beep-A-Freak
Killer Funk Disco Allstars | Supermodels & Sponge (Cake Mosh edit)
Spektrum | Kinda New
dZiham & Kamien with General Santana & Misirli Ahmet | Sliding
Groove Armada with Red Rat & Nappy Roots | Purple Haze
Breakage with Roots Manuva | Run 'Em Out
The Kenneth Bager Experience with Gisli | Fragment One (...And I Kept Hearing)
Icasoul with Capitol A | Givin' It Up
John Arnold with Paul Randolph | Rise Up
Lee McDonald | We've Only Just Begun (TM Juke remix)
Beastie Boys | Make Some Noise
Quantic Soul Orchestra with Spanky Wilson | Don't Joke With A Hungry Man (Diesler edit)

Shouts: to Jason Eli, for letting me cover his Groovadelica show today...

01 May 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 1st May "In The Pocket with 90"

26 April 2011

Review: Karlmarx 'The Karlmarx Project'

KARLMARX
The Karlmarx Project
[Loop]

"An instrumental soundtrack for a retrospective science fiction movie that was never made." So reads the press release accompanying this album. I usually blithely ignore marketing blather, but in this instance, it's accurate. Karlmarx is brothers Isaac Aesili and Mark McNeill, and The Karlmarx Project is their debut album. It's dripping with spacey soundscapes awash with vintage synths, off-kilter drums and space-invader melodies - imagine Vangelis playing PS3 with Dam-Funk while tripping on LSD. Though there's a dark finish, with three of the last four tracks beatless, the mood is uplifting. Standouts include Knight Rider's alternate theme tune ( !! ), Leaning Shadows; the loose-limbed haze-funk of Wakatipu; and Transform, with its Gary Numan referencing bassline. Despite the lack of vocals, traditional melodies or song structures as such, the bulk of these tracks build beautifully, revealing their charms over repeated listens - but treat this as background music at your peril. Compelling.

3 and 1/2 stars from 5

George FM Playlist Tuesday 26th April "Free Range with 90"

Review: Electric Empire 'Electric Empire'

ELECTRIC EMPIRE
Electric Empire
[Electric Empire Music]

The very best soul music straddles a fine line between being genuinely heartfelt and becoming overly saccharine. Bridging that gap successfully - which few acts manage - creates a special kind of spark which ignites particular emotions among both men and women; one of the best reasons good soul music remains so relevant in these days of meat-dresses, Witch House and "social" networking. Melbourne three-piece Electric Empire bridges that gap with aplomb on their self-titled, self-released debut album. Guitarist Dennis Dowlut, drummer Jason Heerah and keys player Aaron Mendoza are undoubtedly influenced by the organic sound and crafted song writing of the '70s as this slick, professional, but warm and understated trio at times recall Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway. However, their rootsy, soulful, considered pop music also sounds fresh and compelling. Rich with melodies and laden with their gorgeous vocal harmonies, this is a special debut album.

4 stars from 5

24 April 2011

George FM Playlist "Extended Easter Sunday Special All Seven Inch Vinyl Extravaganza" Sunday 24th April "In The Pocket with 90"

22 April 2011

Review: Mark de Clive-Lowe 'Leaving This Planet' EP

MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE
Leaving This Planet EP
[Mashibeats]

To these ears Mark de Clive-Lowe is one of our more successful musical exports. Sure, he's not Neil Finn and he can't pull punters to shows like the Exponents might, but he remains fiercely innovative and incredibly highly regarded amongst musicians and music lovers globally. From having worked with the West London broken beat alumni to key underground soul scenes in the US, MdCL has an address book to die for and chops for days. Those skills are present on Leaving This Planet, a diverse and exciting self-released five-track EP which precedes his forthcoming Renegades album. Featuring appearances from Bembe Segue, Sharlene Hector, Tawiah, Dego and more, the flawlessly produced EP (with covers of songs by Gene Harris and Charles Earland) moves from soulful afro-dancefloor bounce (Dreams) to otherworldly twisted bruk (Eight), with a little house v downtempo (What It Is) thrown in to keep y'all guessing. Album please!

4 stars from 5

19 April 2011

Review: Scratch 22 'Distance From View'

SCRATCH 22
Distance From View
[Round Trip Mars]

Considered, cinematic, cerebral and gently psychedelic. These are words which accurately describe Distance From View, the debut album from Auckland DJ and producer Scratch 22. We all knew the kid had skills (turntablist, radio host, remixer, support DJ to the stars), but this is an incredibly confident and assured debut - just like the man himself. Distance From View recalls Ennio Morricone and David Axelrod mixed with Clutchy Hopkins, Kid Loco or later RJD2 instrumentals, and while some ideas remain underdeveloped, it's refreshing to hear a young producer letting songs breathe. Standouts are Window Rattle, a soundtrack for a spaghetti western car chase (if that were even possible), the loose-limbed, vaguely Hendrix sounding Medicine Man Revisited, and Walking For Faces with its fat-laced, slow-burning funk. Guests include Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle) and Jeremy Toy (She's So Rad, Opensouls), but without a doubt the star of this show is Scratch 22. Very impressive.

4 stars from 5

* Props to Pete McLennan at dubdotdash for the Scratch 22 aka Rodi Kirk interview, which I've linked to above and just back there where the text went a different colour...

17 April 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 17th April "In The Pocket with 90"

Greg Perry | Come Fly With Me
Lenny Kravitz | Heaven Help
Rayko | Into My World
Grandmaster Flash | The Message (Roots Manuva remix)
The Black Seeds | Rotten Apples (Lowman's Block Rockin' Bass remix)
The Black Seeds | Make A Move (Downtown Brown remix feat. Mighty Asterix & MC Switch)
Oneself | Unfamiliar Places
Lewis McCallum | Fly Or Die
Natural Self | Feet Keep Moving
*The Humble Souls | Beads, Things & Flowers
*Don Wilkinson | Dem Tambourines
*The Har-You Percussion Group | Feed You Good
Al Kent | Loving Living Feeling
Eva Gina | Gappy Daze
Ed Wizard & Double Dee | Bumper Funk
*Marvin Gaye | Got To Gie It Up (Roy Davis Jnr remix)
*Ron Hall & The Muthafunkaz with Mark Evans | The Way You Love Me (Dim's T.S.O.P. remix)
Don Ray | Got To Have Loving
*Satoshi Tomiie with Arnold Jarvis | And I Loved You (The Classic Club mix)
10CC | I'm Not In Love

Selections marked with an * courtesy of Jay "Fat Albert" Jeffrey.

A big shout to my fellow guardian of the good groove, Mr Jay Jeffrey, for swinging by the studio this afternoon & laying down a handful of tasty tunes for our listening pleasure. Much appreciated, fella.

Review: Treefight For Sunlight 'Self-Titled'

Treefight For Sunlight
Treefight For Sunlight
[Bella Union]

Every once in a while a debut album arrives so fully-formed it knocks you off your feet. Treefight For Sunlight is one of those rare creatures. Released on Bella Union, the self-titled debut from the Danish four-piece (plus songwriting and performing producer Aske Zidore) is something special for fans of indie pop. Epic in scale yet instimate in scope, deliciously ambitious yet supremely focused, the album generates feelings of optimism and euphoria yet retains a depth and layering which thorougly maintains interest. This is the '60s West Coast pop of The Beach Boys and The Turtles caramelised with the propulsive rhythms and muscular orchestration of Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend. Or perhaps Brian Wilson refereeing a wrestling match between MGMT and Empire Of The Sun. Either way, there are very few low moments amongst this harmony-drenched sunshine pop which showcases exellent songwriting and melodic eloquence from start to finish.

4 stars from 5

Review reprinted courtesy of Waikato Times

14 April 2011

Review: State Of Mind 'Nil By Ear'

STATE OF MIND
Nil By Ear
[SOM Music]

State Of Mind's third album kicks off with the massively epic track Vega, featuring P.Digsss, and which could've been lifted from Shapeshifter's last studio album. Thankfully it's the only track which apes NZ's most famous drum and bass outfit. The remainder of Nil By Ear sees Patrick Hawkins and Stu Maxwell delving deeper into their dark, intense, bass-heavy sound while crafting an outstanding album listening experience. Some of the songwriting is a little patchy in places, but does that really matter when dance floor stompers and wee-hour wonders abound? Nil By Ear is an incredibly well produced album, ambitious without straying too far from their roots. Highlights include vocal turns from Sacha Vee (drum and bossa?) and Thomas Oliver; but I can't go past Downward Spiral, which sounds like Burial and D-Bridge bashing the bejeezus out of an old space invaders machine with a blowtorch and a baseball bat.

3 stars from 5

Reprinted courtesy of the Waikato Times

11 April 2011

George FM Playlist Sunday 10 April "In The Pocket with 90"

Review: DUFFSTEP Getting To Sirius

DUFFSTEP
Getting To Sirius
[Join The Dots]

When is dubstep not dubstep? When it's cleverly crafted, lushly layered and dripping with humour, pathos and sexuality. Young UK producer Duffstep aka Jeremy Duffy’s debut artist album Getting To Sirius, follows a slew of re-edits as Duff Disco, including rampant European dancefloor fillers from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mark Morrison, Steve Miller and others. Getting To Sirius is creating quiet undercurrents worldwide and helping to redefine open-ended bass music in 2011, taking it beyond testosterone-fuelled aggressive posturing. Sure there are elements of dubstep present on the album, but in reality they’re daubs of slow, squelchy beats with a little wobble. To these ears this lush, considered downtempo music sounds more like Love Unlimited Orchestra getting into bed with Kruder & Dorfmeister, or the Cinematic Orchestra. It’s all very low-slung and sexy, with slow tempos and a hazy atmosphere throughout only serving to heighten the inherent sensuality here. A treat.

4 stars from 5

07 April 2011

REVIEW: Bibio 'Mind Bokeh'

BIBIO
Mind Bokeh
[Warp]

Bokeh is a photographic term referring to the blurring of an image. It's an apt title for an album which is an aural representation of a "mind blur" and quite capable of creating exactly that in the listener. UK producer Bibio aka Stephen Wilkinson began bleeping loudly on folks' radars with his Ambivalence Avenue album (2009), which saw his tape-distressed British folk and ambient blends develop into a wierdly bent style of densely layered pop music. Mind Bokeh sees him step further into that realm - ten of these twelve tracks feature Wilkinson's breathy vocals - and the sense of adventure is exhilirating and contagious. With swilring atmospherics, lush layering of organic/electronic instrumentation and subtle, intimate, coolly intriguing vocals, Bibio manages to sound like J Dilla and Toro Y Moi jamming with Vampire Weekend and Jose Gonzalez - at 5am in the morning, smothered in treacle, that is. A challenging, highly rewarding listen.

4 stars from 5

05 April 2011

Review: Derrick Carter + David Rodigan Fabric Mix CDs

DERRICK CARTER
Fabric.56
[Fabric]

DAVID RODIGAN
Fabriclive.54
[Fabric]

A good DJ mix is like making love. I don't mean fucking, I mean actually making love, properly, taking your time, with someone you care for deeply. There are peaks and troughs, there are highs and lows, there is giving and there is most certainly taking - it should be a fluid situation which ebbs and flows as the situation develops. Legendary Chicago DJ Derrick Carter is famed for his ability to lay down erotically charged funk-infused house music ideal for getting juiced up to, but, sadly, his Fabric.56 mix is devoid of emotion, personality and sensuality, instead relying on hard, jacking beats and the usual cliches of house music - big vocals, piano hooks and simple loops - to keep asses shaking. Sure, we all enjoy a rampant quickie now and then, but be aware: there is no making love going on here. If you like it hard, heavy and repetitive, bend over, baby.

In stark contrast is the startlingly relevant and exciting mix courtesy of UK reggae's most infamous hypeman, David Rodigan. Unlike Carter, Rodigan's focus is on keeping the listener's interest by ensuring the tunes are fresh and the selection tight throughout - so much so that he barely bothers with mixing, instead concerning himself with quality, placement and avoiding any obvious choices. This is no bad thing at all, as many a DJ has fallen into the trap of relying on showcasing their turntablist skills rather than playing good music (see review above). Fabriclive.54 features an impressive an informed blend of the new and the classic old school, with a clutch of rare tracks and unheard dubplates from Rodigan's travels in Jamaica across the decades and a lifetime of digesting reggae, dub and dancehall music. This is a properly crafted mix and a crucial selection which comes very highly recommended.

Derrick Carter 1 & 1/2 stars from 5
David Rodigan 4 stars from 5