From Lance C McGannon Sent Sun, Apr 26th 1998, 06:21
Wow, up to pt 40 already?!? I've been doing this for too long. ; ) Oh well, here's some more reviews... . Moodymann: Mahogany Brown 2x12" (Peacefrog) Kenny Dixon Jr delivers bigtime with this new album of soulful detroit house music in the typical KDJ style. His masterful mix of samples, soundbites, tempo & style changes are employed to the fullest throughout the nine tracks on this album so much so that every track sounds like a KDJ classic. It's too difficult to pick favorite tracks because all are great but it's safe to say that if you've liked previous Moodymann and/or Theo Parrish releases then this record essential. 10/10 . Further Adventures in Technosoul comp 2x12" (Ferox) This comp is a sampler of what Russ Gabriel's renown techno-jazz label, Ferox, has been up to recently. It features eight tracks of funky melodic techno-jazz and tech-house from some of the best producers in the genre including Carl Craig, Aubrey, 4th Wave, Stasis, Max Brennan, Mark Broom and Russ Gabriel to name a few (the cd has additional tracks from Dan Curtin/Mike Filly, Fusion, and Ian O'Brien - i think). Favorites on this one are the Gabriel remix of Craig's At Les (it doesn't beat the original but it does do something refreshingly original to it), the Bjorn Torske cut, the Aubrey track, and the Curtin/Filly track (but this one was unfortunately left off the vinyl version). This a great comp for those who like the lighter/jazzier side of techno but it falls short of besting the first Ferox comp. 8/10 . Detroit Escalator Co: Nebulae/Plumb cdr (unreleased ep) Neil Ollivera has been pretty quite since his outstanding 1996 Detroit Escalator Co album on Ferox. But thankfully Neil is working hard on new material and he gave me this sampler to review and entertain the Inaudible audiences with - and entertain it certainly does. This ep features two tracks of deep detroit droney ambience with a delightful backdrop of muted polyrhythms like the kind that richie hawtin has become so good at. Both tracks are exceptional pieces of detroit electronica that bode well for future DEC releases. Fans of early Psyche/BFC, Musik-era Plastikman, John Beltran, and previous DEC releases will dig these tracks if they ever get a full release. 9/10 . Live Human: Improvisessions 12" (Fatcat) Four tracks of smooth melodic hip hop created with real live instruments (for a change) produced the by US trio known as Live Human. This record plays like it was recorded in one take because it has that live improvisational feel. All four tracks are nice listening experiences because you would never think that hip hop could be make with a contra bassist, a live drummer and a dj. But the live instrumentation does have a number of drawbacks mainly the depth of the tracks. The instruments, with the exception of the turntable, can produce a limited number sounds and soon after you start listening to each track the novelty of the live instruments wears off. The live instruments can't even come close to producing the noises that even the most primitive synths and drum machines do. So after a few listens this record becomes "live musicians trying to do hip hop." Again, an interesting listen but nothing more than a novelty. 5/10 . Herbert: Never Give Up 12" (Phonography) Deep house maestro Herbert with his third record on the UK Phonography label. The a1 is a funky tech-houser with female vocals. The b1 is complex building idmish track that sounds like something he'd do under his wish- mountain guise. The final track is light funky electro- tinged melodic houser that is in the classic herbert style. I don't care for the a1 track but the other two are grade-a herbert. 7/10 . Jerome: Artmosphere 12" (100% Pure) Jerome Clementz aka Jerome with another release on the excellent 100% Pure label. This one features three tracks of excellent lowlands/detroit-styled techno. Both the tracks on the a-side are atmospheric tracks with lush synths, light percussion and soaring melodies. The b-side features a long building remix by fellow 100% Pure artist 2000 & One. The mix features long ambient builds into a pounding bassy d-flavored track. Fans of the sterac, carl craig, kenny larkin or even b12 would like this one. Another gem for 100% Pure. 9/10 . Plod: O'boy cd (Plod Recordings) This ep, the third of the limited Plod releases, is a real gem of an IDM release. Featuring five tracks that all walk the fine lines of jazz, electronica, funk, and hip hop much in the same way that early Autechre or Boards of Canada do. Favorites on this one include Markkinal, and Eucalyptus, which both sound like Incunbula-era Autechre. This is yet another great release by Plod. But the real amazing thing is that they're still unsigned. Interested labels should take note and contact them at xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx while you still can. 8/10 BTW: Don't forget our Inaudible netcast every Wednesday from 9-11 pm Eastern Standard Time. Hear John C (Bent Crayon) and I spin two hours of the music we speak so highly of... The show will be accessible by visiting http://www.wcsb.org every Wednesday from 9-11 pm EST. The show will be broadcast in the AudioActive format (which is actually much better than RealAudio). You can download the Audio Active plugin for free at http://www.audioactive.com/player/ During the Inaudible show we will be giving away promo 12"s and cds so yet another reason to tune in. -->-Lance--- p.o. box 450715 westlake, ohio 44145 united states