From Iain H. Sent Tue, Jan 20th 1998, 19:49
From Iain H. Sent Tue, Jan 20th 1998, 19:49
DJ Soulslinger/DJ Wally [Jungle Sky Limited Edition EP Cat#JS123]
This is a tribute twelve inch entitled "Diana/Theresa" which comes with
tasteful label artwork distinguishing one side clearly from the other. The
first track ("Diana") starts with a very recognisable chunk of 'Da Funk' by
Daft Punk which reprises throughout the track - bizarrely almost totally
unchanged apart from a different beat over the top (could this be a
France/Diana's-death kind of thing? still, it's a little strange to use so
much of a recognisable track...). The track itself is a nice enough cross
somewhere between old school jungle and drill 'n' bass - low sliding
basslines and jittery rhythms (apart from during a breakdown where it gets
a jagged hip-hop feel and starts on recreating the tune of what sounds to
me like an old 80's pop track...).
"Theresa", my favourite of the two dead figureheads, is also my favourite
track of the two. VERY old school jungle with full-on throbbing bass (a la
Dead Dread's "Dread Bass"), spoken vocal intros, & scratching, but updated
effectively with an upbeat rap vocal over the top. This track also uses
the art of the breakdown section fantastically ("making moves never been my
thing, check this out") before really kicking back in. This will sound
*great* loud.
Isotope 217 - "The Unstable Molecule" [Thrill Jockey 041/New Beyond 001]
A collaboration of sorts between Directions In Music and Tortoise, plus a
couple of others, this is a phenomenal album - absolutely fantastic.
Largely latin jazz (there's definitely a Return To Forever thing going on
here somewhere!) and easy-listening soundtrack music influenced with a
touch of dub & funk, and just absolutely brilliantly formed and executed.
This is full of lovely idm-type production tweaks similar to DiM and some
of the Tortoise or John McEntire produced stuff. Over the top of this are
effected organic drums and often-smouldering Miles-esque trumpet lines and
guitar and organ and so on and so forth... I can't recommend this enough
to those that already appreciate the post-rock sounds of
Tortoise/DiM/Ui/Ganger/etc etc... ..and to those that don't, yet think they
might, it is definitely worthwhile giving it a try.
Rubyjune.
----
<http://www.rjune.demon.co.uk/>