Music Reviews
Nathan Fake - Drowning In A Sea Of Love
Border CommunityNow this guy has been hotly tipped as one to watch for 2006, with his work compared to Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine and Sigur Ros. Well, I'm not sure about the latter but it definitely has hints of 'Loveless' in this album and you can also hear the influence of Mogwai scattered about.
Self confessed non-DJ, Fake is a live performer who has been on the scene now for a few years with many a 12" kickin' about on James Holden's Border Community label. His live sets definitely cater more for the dance floor whilst 'Drowning' is the mellower side of his work.
The album is a brilliant chord driven, chime tingling timeless beauty that will get electronic fans buzzing around their robotic communities.
With this sort of talent this guy is gonna be around for a long time. Those in the know will already be looking forward to this release, but if this is the first time you've heard his name and are a fan of Boards Of Canada, M83 or Vector Lovers then definitely give it a listen.
PermalinkJax, 03/06
Natural Self - The Art Of Vibration
Tru Thoughts RecordingsNathaniel Pearl, the man also known as Natural Self caught our attention with the Broken Keys project he collaborated with Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77). On “The Art Of Vibration” he delivers once again with pulsating 60’s funk rhythms and 70’s break beats that evokes memories of the early hip-hop b-boy era. I definitely had a hip-hop flashback when I heard “Welcome To The Ascension”. The heavy percussion, the slick string rrangements and the well placed sampling make me wish that this track was much longer than three minutes. This is followed up with “The Rising”, this track has an afrobeat vibe and is layered with a chanting chorus and funky horns. An added bonus is the wonderful Antreya Triana on vocals. “Breathe Deep” is classic old school hip-hop. A simple mid tempo drumbeat with slick horn riffs serve as the perfect backdrop for MC Abdominal to spit over. “The Laws Of Motion” is a funky instrumental jam with sparse trumpet riffs and spacey chords. One thing is certain, Natural Self has beats galore and knows how to make funky grooves. “The Art Of Vibration” is a rewarding listening experience and further proof of his immense talents.
Reg Dancy, 10/08
Neil Cowley Trio - Radio Science
Naim JazzAnyone who has ever listened to pianist Neil Cowley can easily recognize that he is a special talent. He was a child prodigy who has become a force to be reckoned with. Like his previous two releases “Displaced” and “Loud Louder Stop”, this record provides more of his signature classical pop flavored compositions which are enhanced by the intensity he puts into each song. Neil’s orchestral arrangements are lively and engaging. The fun begins with “Monoface”, a track that starts out with a haunting intro and then progresses into a dynamic performance by the ensemble that is full of power and precision. Drummer Evan Jenkins cymbal playing effortlessly complements Neil’s thunderous chordal displays and solo offerings. “Gerald” is a fast paced number that displays the trio’s versatility and range. This is a playful pop tune that displays Neil’s enormous chops. The finale “Portal” is a wonderful fourteen minute cinematic gem that showcases Neil’s talented compositional skills. The song starts out with simmering melody before it bursts with great intensity, only to wind down into a lovely ballad. This isn’t your typical jazz record and probably shouldn’t be categorized as one either. Just sit back and enjoy listening to a trio that is clearly having fun here stretching songs in areas they haven’t been before. You will have fun listening to the results.
Reg Dancy, 04/10
Nels Andrews - Off Track Betting
RevealSecond release for Nels recorded with a brilliant line up of musicians including producer Todd Sickafoose , Adam Levy (Norah Jones), Michael Jorgensen (Wilco) and Ben Perowsky instruments. This is by way of a musical journey for Nels as he incorporates a subtle range of diverse sounds into the core of his country folk songwriting, the result is excellent.
Graham Radley, 06/08
Nibsvan der Spuy - Beautiful Feet
Sheer SoundQuite chilled and melodic with varied influences that move from west to East via African and reggae touches along the way. I especially like his version of âRoadâ the Nick Drake track which here features viola and piano from Brendan and works really well. Worth checking.
Graham Radley, 03/07
Nick Pride & Pimptones - Midnight Feast of Jazz
Record KicksOn their full length debut, Nick Pride and The Pimptones come out swinging, easing up here and there but they mostly swing hard and often. Blending soul and jazz seamlessly, Nick displays impressive chops on guitar while the Pimptones demonstrate that they’re a funky horn section to be reckoned with. That’s evident on “Come And Get It”, a scorching tune just a shade under three minutes but enough time to get you hyped as the horns come blasting onto the scene and the rhythm section equally holds its weight as well. Drummer Oz Cassidy does a superb job of keeping everything in the pocket. “Lay It On The Line” is a tasty soul serenade thanks to bassist Ian Patterson laying down a nice groove, The horns once again add lots of flavor, particularly trumpeter Keith Nicholson. The title track is a simmering soul jazz treat and Nick’s playing is rhythmic and colorful. Another definite highlight here is “Brighter Day”. This track has it all, a killer rhythm section, funky horns and the vocals of Susan Hamilton to top it off. This is a very strong debut by Nick Pride here that you can dance to or just sit back and groove to. He and the Pimptones haven’t broken any new ground here but with musicians on top of their game and well crafted compositions, the “Midnight Feast Of Jazz” is an entree you’ll enjoy over and over.
Reg Dancy, 05/11
Nick Rosen - Into The Sky
Porter RecordsTwenty three year old multi instrumentalist Nick Rosen’s debut “Into The Sky” is a dreamy collection of atmospheric soundscapes that are deeply melodic and spiritually uplifting. Rosen co-produced several tracks with Miquel Atwood-Ferguson, with whom he’s worked with as a member of the Build An Ark ensemble. Their chemistry shines on tunes like “Ancestral Echoes” on which Atwood-Ferguson begins with a simple yet enchanting piano melody before accompanied by his ensemble to build a rich aural mesmeric sound. Atwood-Ferguson’s playing on violin is equally engaging. The performances on “African Sun” are also joyful and equally moving, Rosen’s playing on acoustic bass provides warmth and will certainly strum your heartstrings. The disc also brings together a host of innovative musicians that leave their mark on each arrangement. Cellist Peter Jacobson, French horn Danielle Ondarza and vocalist Mia Doi Todd all put their stamp on this disc. This is a wonderful record, If you like the stylistic string compositions of Build An Ark that echo peace and hope then you’ll certainly enjoy this.
Reg Dancy, 01/11
Nick Van Gelder - Choose Music
BBENick Van Gelder, former Jamiroquai drummer and key mover and shaker during London’s Acid Jazz heyday, clearly knows a thing or two about making soulful, funky records. Which is why I can’t help but feel a little disappointed upon listening to ‘Choose Music’ (especially given that it’s released through BBE, a consistently brilliant label). The songs are written, produced and, for the most part, played by Van Gelder himself, with vocals from Akwaaba People’s Mazen, and the style is an unashamedly straightforward brand of ‘soulful’, jazzy house music. Many people will undoubtedly love this record - fans of the likes of Reel People, in particular - but to me it is underwhelming and unmemorable. It’s destined to be successful as a piece of inoffensive, background bar Muzak, but a man of Van Gelder’s talent surely has more to give.
Tom Breslin, 09/08
Nicola Conte - Rituals
Schema RecordsItalian DJ/Producer Nicola Conte has delivered a string of quality bossa nova jazz recordings over the years but it would be difficult to name one album better than his latest. “Rituals” embodies an essence of cool that is elegant, engaging and ultimately a wonderful listening experience. Conte’s compositions make great use of chords, which are brought to life by an array of wonderful musicians and the outstanding vocalists on this set. The disc starts out with the dreamy “Karma Flower”, sung by Chiara Civello. Nicola plays guitar on this track and also features many contributions, most notably Timo Lassy on flute. “The Nubian Queens”, featuring Jose James is a rhythmic bossa flavored gem that highlights the dynamic interplay between Pietro Lusso on piano, Teppo Makynen on drums and Pierpaolo Bisogno on congas. “Love In” is a beautiful swinging exotic number sung by Kim Sanders, whose voice is flat out gorgeous. “Caravans”, the classic latin Duke Ellington track and the only song here not written by Conte is given a warm treatment by Philipp Weiss on vocals. Overall “Rituals” is a brilliant record that is full of virtuoso performances. Let’s hope this record gets the attention that it rightfully deserves.
Reg Dancy, 03/09
Nicole Willis And The Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin' Up
Timmion RecordsI've been holding back buying this album for a few months hoping that vinyl copies might appear but in the end I just couldn't wait any longer. Nicole Willis has been on the scene for years but I still get the impression that she still hasn't received the attention she fully deserves. Not many people can say they've worked with Brand New Heavies and Curtis Mayfield and that they were one of the original members of Dee-Lite or recorded for the legendary Mo' Wax. As I'm sure you've guessed, this time Nicole teams up with Finland's funk band The Soul Investigators, who have built their own reputation over the years. The final result is a wonderful 70's funk mash-up that could easily fool any music purist into believing this was recorded back in the day.
Simon Harrison, 03/06