Yearly Archives: 2009

Okay, so this has been around for a few months now and I should have reviewed it much earlier. On the positive side, this has given me the chance to live with the album for a while and really listen to it for pleasure and not because I have to. So, I can honestly say that this latest offering from the UK’s Mark Pritchard – now based in Sydney – is really quite brilliant. Imagine Dilla composing the score to the classic ‘80s movie Tron and you’ve got a fairly good idea of the sound and style of “When Machines…”. Purely synthetic – not unlike Dorian Concept’s material – with huge, growling, Dub-influenced bass-lines and Donkey Kong-esque early video game effects, the tracks are haunting, Sci-Fi sound-scapes with the swagger and swing of Detroit Hip-Hop. This is captured most perfectly in ‘Battlestar’ featuring Dilla’s former collaborators Phat Kat and Elzhi (the ever impressive Steve Spacek contributes elsewhere on the album). If you haven’t checked this out yet then you absolutely must, particularly if you’re a fan of next generation, Beat Dimensions type Hip-Hop.

Tom Breslin

This is the fifth full-length album from the Viennese duo of Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber and it marks a return to the classic Tosca sound after 2005’s more exuberant and club-friendly “J.A.C.”. As the title suggests, “No Hassle” represents an effort to create an hour of pure relaxation and musical escapism, free of the mounting pressures and hassles of everyday life. “Boring”, “yawn”, I hear you cry, “I’ve heard it all before”. Well, in a sense, you probably have, for there is nothing particularly new or earth shattering here, and these days we have ambient, chill-out music up the wazoo. But, let’s not forget that these guys really are the pioneers of modern down tempo electronic music and that they have been honing and mastering this sound together for at least 15 years. And my word have they mastered it. So skilled are they at crafting lush, slow burning, spacious grooves that you just sit back, relax and never once reach for that ‘Skip’ button. Sometimes more of the same can be a good thing, if the “same” is something wonderful.

Tom Breslin

Producer and drummer Nick Woodmansey, aka Emanative has kept us waiting for months for the release of his debut. Let’s be clear that it was more than worth the wait. “Space” is a wonderful collection of multi-rhythmic spacey jazz funk delights with an array of talented vocalists who add another layer to the album’s beauty. In addition, the collection of musicians, particularly Jessica Lauren on keys and Ben Hadwen’s playing on Bass Clarinet add an element of futuristic dimensions that will leave you breathless. This is quite evident on the opening track “Petite Planete”, an instrumental mid-tempo space odyssey filled with deep grooves. Jessica Lauren creates beautiful vibes with her lovely work on piano and clever synth arrangements. There is a vocal version of this track entitled “Stars Collide” sung by Deborah Jordan that is equally enjoyable. “We Travel The Spacebeats” is a dreamy spacey slice of soul heighten by the warm Rhodes playing by Jessica Lauren and the flute playing of Ben Hadwen.  “Wind, Sands and Stars” is another deep otherworldly soul gem that features Heidi Vogel on vocals. “When On Earth” is simply a beautiful record that was made available as a single long before the album’s release. The sublime vocals of Liz Elensky, along with backing vocals by Deborah Jordan and the lush string arrangements make this record a classic for years to come. So rare is the record that arrives with nary a weak track in sight. Well, this is one that qualifies as essential listening and is one of the true highlights of 2009. Highly recommended.

Reg Dancy

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Developed from the Liverpool 08 Capital Of Culture commission and with strong input from Jah Wobble’s wife Zi Lan Liao (Guzheng) and the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra plus on ‘Dragon & Phoenix’ an appearance of Wobble’s sons. They were joined by visiting Chinese dancers and vocalists (the wonderful Gu Yinji and Wang Jinqi) plus Wobble’s regular touring band. I had the pleasure of seeing them at Womad and every part of this East/West union came together brilliantly in a way which was both inspiring and magical. Highly recommended.

Graham Radley

Senta Lain are a great band from Kenya who were formed by blind band leader Michel Ongaru 8 years ago. Michel is a multi-instrumentalist and plays harmonica, guitar, flute, drums, marimba and piano. Musically the band combine a wide range of influences and cultures which include Kenyan benga and soukous styles with gospel and Cuban Son. Very good.

Graham Radley

Second International release from Israeli composer and keyboard player Idan Raichel further developing his range of influences so that Israeli/Middle Eastern fuses into a wider global soundscape. Sung in Hebrew, Arabic, Cape Verdean (Mayra Andrade is a songwriting collaborator) Creole, Spanish and Swahili you get a feel of the diversity with other collaborators including Marta Gomez, Somi, Zohar Fresco and Alon Nadel plus a 24 piece orchestra. Old meets new, ambient meets traditional, the result is captivating.

Graham Radley

A CD that came about after Richard Blair aka Sidestepper went to Colombia to meet up with Toto La Momposina, he was soon recording local Afro-Colombian artists which in turn developed into this pumping dance floor mix of Colombian, Nigerian and Jamaican styles. Great tracks with my pick probably the 12” mix of La Paloma. Brilliant

Graham Radley

Follow up to the excellent ‘Let’s Get Out Of This Country’ and once again working with producer Jari Haapalainen. This is Tracyanne Campbell coming up with some of her strongest songs to date, sometimes dark (Away With Murder) and often, like ‘Careless Love’, relationship based but always delivered in that special Camera Obscura way. I love it, this band so deserve to be huge.

Graham Radley

Their debut, also on the superb Navigator Records, quite rightly received rave reviews, this follow up fittingly sees the trio of Kris Drever, Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke continue their adventurous approach to traditional folk music bringing to it the vibrancy of their brilliant live shows and a euphoria of song presentation that builds the passion with great musicianship and spirit, they were very good, they keep getting better.

Graham Radley

Now 70 and back with his first collection of new tracks since 2004’s To Tulsa and Back. Roll On has 12 tracks including the previously unreleased title track recorded with Eric Clapton. The style of course is the same & we wouldn’t want it any other way great music played and sung in that laid back style but with great integrity and style. Magic.

Graham Radley

This is just the best, a classic band with 19 tracks spread over two CDs , this as the title suggests is the third part of a story covering 1970 to 1983. All I really need to say is this is the band that first brought us the talents that are Salif Keita, Mory kante, Sekou Kouyate, Lanfia Diabate and Makan Ganessy, listen to them here & revel in divine, pure music.

Graham Radley

A retrospective of his acoustic live shows taken from gigs over the past ten years. Listen to the beautiful kora playing of the late Kaouding Cissoko, or Koni featuring Ernest and then drift into Baaba’s divine vocals and find yourself in a very special place, he’s a genius and please can we have a new CD soon.

Graham Radley

Brilliant release (first in 6 years although 1996 was her last full international release ) for the Malian star, this really is a superb collection of 11 tracks which leave you wanting more and more. A more mature, harder edge, than previous releases, with a positive flow to the groove and a respect for the tradition which reflects a woman happy in her skin and riding the crest of a musical wave. Superb.

Graham Radley

Originally from the island of La Reunion but now based in France, Davy’s music is sourced from the Reunionais folk dance ‘Maloya’ which is an amalgm of African slave chants and rhythms plus contemporary European instruments. The special ingredient though is Davy’s beautiful voice which glides across the music like a scrumptious coating, pure sweet and expressive. Good stuff.

Graham Radley

First solo CD from cameroon’s rising star who is part of the Bassa ethnic group (originally nomads from Egypt). He grew up surrounded by music, not only Bassa musical traditions but his familys collection of music from Western soul greats like Marvin Gaye. He then moved to Paris in 2005 where he worked with many top African musicians like Manu Dibango. Those influences now unite on ‘Leman’ with the soulfulness of Gaye enriching his African traditional heritage. Great debut.

Graham Radley