It’s a cool endeavor to break a cohesive unit into its parts, and then explore the nuances that make the whole unique. If Jazzanova is the six-member unit, then Roskow Kretschmann is one of those important parts. New Aspects, his first solo album in over seven years, finds Kretschmann (as Kosma) embracing a predominantly mellow downtempo niche that’s both spiritual and uplifting. By no means is this mere background music-New Aspects repeatedly drives down the road less traveled, and makes the trip enjoyable.
Fabrice Lig My 4 Stars Remixed
Belgium’s Fabrice Lig gets the remix treatment by Ian O’Brian and Offshore Funk, and the result is an updated sound that’ll still please the purists. All the mixes are tight but it’s O’Brian who really shines, giving the track a lush, chopped-up jazzy feel complete with Detroit-esque strings, warm acidic melodies, and percussion that‘d make Mad Mike happy.
Jah Cure Freedom Blues
Plaintive wailer Jah Cure is one of the biggest “conscious” dancehall artists, despite his ongoing incarceration due to a rape charge. This compilation collects some of the best work he cut for various producers before being jailed, plus patchier material clandestinely voiced from behind bars. Standout tracks include the emotive “Songs of Freedom,” the melancholy “Trodding in the Valley,” the uplifting “Dancehall Vibe,” and the chilling “King in the Jungle,” but numbers like “Good Morning Jah Jah” suffer from an unbalanced sound. Freedom Blues is a good starting point for those new to Jah Cure, while fans will appreciate having his disparate singles in one package.
Various Artists Get Up Stand Up-Jamaican Protest Songs
Jamaican music has a long history of rebelliousness. In fact, much of the island‘s popular culture has always involved resistance-Jamaica is historically one of the most defiant nations in the world. Thematically, this introductory compilation mostly re-treads well-worn ground: Marley proclaims himself a “Soul Rebel,” Dennis Brown demands “Revolution,” Black Uhuru salutes “Solidarity” while Beres Hammond is “Putting Up Resistance.” Surprisingly enough, newer tracks such as Bushman‘s deadpan take of John Lennon‘s “Working Class Hero” and Yvad‘s adaptation of Buffy St. Marie‘s “The Universal Soldier” actually add to the set‘s appeal.
Macka B Word, Sound & Power
Produced by Tony “Ruff Cutt” Phillips, a stalwart of the British reggae scene, Word, Sound & Power is the first non-Ariwa album from Macka B. Mostly he’s in top form, with tracks like the censorious “Mi Noh Bizniz,” language-tracing “Jamaican,” and lamenting “Those Days” delivering important messages with wit and humor; “Deep Bass Voice” even finds him wickedly emulating Barry White. Unfortunately, a few tracks would have benefited from more time in the studio, and “Children Children” falls flat because his kids sing off-key, but the good far outweighs the bad.
Feist Gatekeeper (Do Right Remix)
On this clear vinyl, limited-to-500-copies 7, folky Canadian singer Feist (whose voice resembles Dani Siciliano or Smoke City’s Nina Miranda) gives us a taste of her Interscope debut LP Let It Die. Feist’s pretty, melancholy vocals sit well atop Do Right remixer Alister Johnson’s slinky broken beat rhythms.
Ed209 The Infectious Remixes
Distortionz and Ills take on Ed209‘s “Mentasm”-synth saturated “Infectious.” While the former crew leans on repetitive synth leads, Ills brings original programming to the table. With myriad melodic textures, panning acid sounds, and crisp, intelligent beats, Ills gives you something to listen or dance to.
Figurine The Heartfelt
It‘s difficult to put Jimmy “Postal Service” Tamborello‘s output as one-third of Figurine into proper perspective when The Heartfelt was actually released a year before Give Up, and around the same time as his grown-up Life is Full of Possibilities album (as Dntel). Figurine tracks are breakup odes for outer space high school students, while Postal Service songs chronicle the unexpected Earth girl rebound. Fans nostalgic for bouncy Europop will find much to love on this reissue. Those looking for a headier mix of beats will enjoy IDM-esque nibbles of electro and micro-house alongside a fairly constant drip of sugar and retro kitsch.
Caro The Return of Caro
Caro‘s music recalls buoyant early ‘90s Detroit techno, when the genre was becoming warmer and more inclusive. You can hear traces of vintage ‘80s acid bleed through, but the edge isn‘t there, instead replaced by bubbly synths and playful beats. “Ah, Ah, Ah” opens things up with Herbert-like squelches and a slow-building beat. “We Can Build It” features prickly synths that soon click with a subtle, shifting beat. “Heavy Wheel” struts by with a vamping, Latin-tinged piano beat. It all adds up to a funky collection of low-key tracks that keeps things moving.
The Pacifics Sunday‘s Chicken
Though Chicago hip-hop trio The Pacifics brandishes an unwieldy acronym (People Accumulating Creative Ideas Foregoing Ignorant Conclusions of Society), they still manage come across as neighborhood types trading rhymes on the stoop. KP, Strike3, and Norman Rockwell just want to give you some food for thought. Like similar Windy City crews All Natural and Typical Cats, they bring an up-with-people vibe and diss the bling and booze mainstream. It’s nothing that hasn’t been done many times before, but just like the fried chicken on the album cover, this music is comfort food for classic hip-hop fans.
