Music Reviews
Show: New reviews | Artists beginning with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9 | Compilations
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Various Artists - Carolina Funk |
| Jazzman Records |
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| Thank goodness for labels like Jazzman Records to search where no man has searched before to resurrect the rare grooves of the 70’s. Last year, they released "Florida Funk" and it was a huge success. They've done it again with "Carolina Funk." The man responsible for this year's release is North Carolina resident and record collector, Jason Perlmutter. He's assembled 22 of the rarest funk gems to emerge from the Carolinas. There are songs that will make you get on the good foot like Dynamite Singletary’s "Super Good," a high energy track similar to James Brown’s "Super Bad." The Soul Drifters certainly burned up the dance floor with "Funky Soul Brother." The mood slows down for a moment with Paul Burton’s "So Very Hard To Make It”" Make no mistake, this disc lays the funk down hard and heavy from start to finish. It provides a glimpse into an era so rich in musical talent that the artists displayed here are now getting the attention they never received before. When you think of vintage soul, you can now add the Carolinas as a contributor to the conversation. We have Jason Perlmutter to thank for that. Reg Dancy, 05/08 |
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Various Artists - Chillifunk The Best Of… Ten Years, 1996-2006 |
| Chillfunk Records |
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| Ten years ago I was working in a local record shop, and I remember the first release on Chilli Funk, DSL's 'Enfusion', arriving in a box of new releases, and I've been a fan ever since. With an extensive back catalogue, Lofty, the man behind Chilli Funk and selector of this compilation, has wisely chosen to spread the selection over two cds. If you've missed any of their back catalogue, this is the perfect opportunity to do some catching up. All the heavy weights are here: Nathan Haines, Eastwest Connection, Restless Soul, Marathon Men, Vanessa Freeman and Jody Watley, with remixes by the likes of Kenny Dope, Ashley Beedle, Blaze and DJ Gregory. A limited four track 12' will also appear and as if that's not enough, there is a bonus cd mixed by Notenshun. Phew, Chillifunk don't do things in halves. Simon Harrison, 04/06 |
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Various Artists - Christmas In The House |
| King Street Sounds |
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| It seems that some of us do have a heart that goes beyond living for the music, or the money to be made from it. This is great, particularly regarding the meaning, thoughts and intent on releasing this digital only album - thanks to the vision of Hiro Ishioka, KSS's A & R man also behind the recent success of instalment 2 of Toyko Calling series. Full of poignancy; lyrics flow with sincerity that is undeniably driven by an innate faith as demonstrated on Diviniti's soul electro stacked 'The Reason'. As is Kenny Bobien's inspirational and emotive falsetto signature mark that makes sound the basic of the original hymn 'Let Us Adore Him (Come O Ye Faithful)', adding a sense of meaning so strong even this MP3 generation can get to grips and fall in love with it. Equally gorgeous and made for those deeper house dance floor gatherings is the instrumental percussion consortium of 'Silent Night' - so well produced by industry house keyboardist Eric Kupper, it's never sounded so fresh. Sparkling and glittering not only to set disco lights off all over the place, but made with the season in mind - to be cheerful, as the Afro rhythms and jamboree come alive in piano playfulness on Jihad Muhammad's 'It's Holiday Time'. Noticeably, there tracks that might only get airtime during the holidays, whereas some have been so cleverly crafted and worded it won't matter what day or time they're played. That said, with so many stand out tracks including those of DJ Spen, Joi Cardwell, two vocal offerings from Chris Bran aka Ananda Project and the opening from Stephanie Cooke reminding us why and what we get into spirit of it all for; Jesus, family and peace. We can all indeed be spoilt for choice; Christmas can be in the house all year round. Marcia Carr, 12/07 |
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Various Artists - Chrome Children Volume 2 |
| Stones Throw Records |
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| California-based Stones Throw, home to head-honcho Peanut Butter Wolf and leading light Madlib, is undoubtedly one of the world's most exciting and productive independent Hip Hop labels, and any new compilation from such a label is always cause for celebration. Far from predictable, Chrome Children 2 pulls together a collection that includes not only Hip Hop, but Jazz and Disco-tinged Funk and Electro (in the true sense of the word) as well. The featured Hip Hop matches some the hottest emcees around - Guilty Simpson, Aloe Blacc, M.E.D - with some of the most forward-thinking producers around - think Dabrye, Four Tet, Danny Breaks and Madlib himself - and the end result is satisfying indeed. For me though, the stand-outs are the Egon re-edit of the Clifford Nyren Disco-funker 'Keep Running Away' and 'Murder', by the rather comically named James Pants. Tom Breslin, 04/07 |
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Various Artists - Computer Incarnations for World Peace II selected by Gerd Janson |
| Sonar Kollektiv |
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| This is the second volume in what should, hopefully, become an established series and the focus this time is not on the pioneering producers of the ‘80s, but on the contemporary electronic music most directly influenced by those flag-planting disco forefathers. Selected once again by Running Back head honcho Gerd Janson, but left unmixed, the music comes from the cream of the Nu-disco crop in the form of Todd Terje, Prins Thomas, Maurice Fulton, Ray Mang et al. You know the score; 100 - 110 well placed beats per minute, dominated by firm bass-lines and awash with dreamy synths and weird effects. This is a great collection and the inclusion of Mark E’s ‘Fighter’ - an exclusive to this CD - is the worth the money alone. Tom Breslin, 05/08 |
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Various Artists - Controversy A Tribute To Prince |
| Rapster |
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| Generally, I’m not a big fan of remakes, especially an entire album. So initially I was skeptical of the “A Tribute To Prince” project. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down to listen to it. What’s refreshing about this collection are the alternative takes each artist brings to the table. D’Angelo comes out of hiding to deliver a lively version of “She’s always In My Hair”. Blue States takes “Alphabet Street” and turns it into an atmospheric trip hop offering that is very satisfying. Osunlade’s rendition of “Crazy You” is also tastefully done. It may be the only track here that might bear some similarities the original. Broadway Project puts a cinematic spin on “The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker” and, as a result, creates a song that aims for the depths of your soul. Kudos to the musicians involved in this project. This is how remakes are supposed to be done. It’s a beautiful thing when artists tear a song apart and recreate it all over again. This is wonderful work that deserves to be heard. Reg Dancy, 04/08 |
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Various Artists - Coopr8 Presents Our Music Our Culture Vol. 1 |
| Muthas of Invention |
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| This digital release is the first in a quarterly series from Coopr8, the latest incarnation of the much-loved Co-Op spirit, and it’s all pretty straight forward really. It’s a collection of premium quality music from some of the most talented and dedicated proponents of the broken beat sound around, including Ayro, Simbad, Bugz, Domu, Karizma, Colonel Red, Restless Soul and Marc Mac. That’s quite a line-up I’m sure you’ll agree, and for anyone who, like me, was beginning to feel rather depressed about the gaping chasm that’s been left in club land by the end of the bi-weekly Co-Op party, this is truly essential listening. I defy you not to be warmed and heartened by the supreme quality of these broken grooves. Tom Breslin, 01/09 |
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Various Artists - Creative Musicians Vol.2 |
| Perfect Toy Records |
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| For me Jazzman Records and BBE have dominated funk compilations over the last few years, with DJs like Gerald Jazzman, Keb Darge, DJ Shadow and Kenny Dope etc digging deep. Now Perfect Toy has enlisted Tom Wieland to hunt into his extensive record collection to compile volume 2 of Creative Musicians. Here are 19 outstanding recordings, released some 30 years ago in very limited quantities, or never receiving a commercial release at all. Rather than spending hours searching the net, warehouses and paying big bucks, just get down to your local record shop and buy.
Simon Harrison, 05/05 |
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Various Artists - DC Recordings Presents: Death Before Distemper |
| DC Recordings |
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| J Saul Kane aka Depth Charge has been delivering quality beats on his very own DC Recordings label for over 10 years. It's a label that has definitely carried the quality not quantity ethos and with the upsurge of cosmic disco'ed out dub electro tunes around at the moment, Kane has got a very fruitful array of artists producing some very twanged out stuff on DC. This superb compilation just dips into some of those artists talents. Emperor Machine, Kelpe, Padded Cell and Depth Charge are among some of the contributors to some great bass-lines, some clean drumming and some seriously spaced out synth noises. This album will keep you interested from start to end. Recommended.
Jax, 10/06 |
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Various Artists - Destination Boogie |
| Z Records |
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| Following on from last year's brilliant 'The Soul Of Disco' compilation, Joey Negro and Sean P again put their heads together, this time coming up with a selection of 20 boogie rarities. To these ears some of the tracks really haven't aged well and suffer from the crashing drum machine and synth effects so prevalent during the 80s. However there are some real delights contained within, namely Mid Air's 'Ease Out', C Brand's epic 'Wired For Games' and Lowrell Simon's sought after masterpiece 'Love Massage'. Other worthy inclusions are Vera Brown & The Rich Girls' 'Living Too Fast', 'Am I Gonna Be The One' from Colors, Samson & Delilah's 'I Can Feel Your Love (Slippin' Away)' and the gospel flavoured 'I Am Going To Love Him' by Sanctuary. Takes me back to the days of wet look perms, headbands and formation dancing! Andy Allen, 03/06 |
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