Tom Withers‘ latest efforts may glisten from a pop-perfect sheen, but don‘t toss this double CD aside as formula-happy fluff. Withers‘ signature moodiness and punk rock ethos are a potent force behind the production on this album, which according to the liner notes is a dart aimed at the eye of mainstream media. Trippy drum kits on tracks like “Silently,” synth and bass explosions on “Adult,” and the melancholic chords of “Torrential Pain” all make for a melting pot of jungle, breaks, and downbeat well worth dropping into your record bag.
Various Artists Select Cuts From Oracabessa
The most interesting dance music doesn‘t arrive in predictable packaging these days, and a perfect example is Ali Campbell and Brian Travers‘ ragga/2-step label Oracabessa. This latest collection of the label‘s work combines dub, reggae, and dancehall elements with the rudest of garage beats, aggressive enough to get your feet moving and hips swinging instantly. Jamaican MCs Lady Saw and Elephant Man are up to the task, and Rappa Robert‘s sassy lyrics, provocative delivery, and raw vocals sizzle with energy throughout.
Various Artists Julius Papp: Heartbeat Vol. 2
Julius Papp goes beyond merely mixing two records together on Loveslap‘s latest compilation; instead he invokes house music‘s uplifting emotional sentiments with a perfectly chosen selection and deft blends. Beginning with the pumping “UC Anthem” by Marlon D, Papp‘s mix slides gracefully into the crooning grooves of “Everlasting Love” by Passionardor, which tweaks the mood of the mix like it‘s simply another dial on the mixer. The rest of the tracklisting follows suit, creating a tight line of horns, strings, pianos, and smashing beats while remaining twelve individual tracks of solid, sexy house music.
Various Artists DJ Chicken George Presents: The Swed.U.S.H Connection
What‘s up with Europe knowing more about homegrown American beathead talents like LA-based Take, Dallas‘ Hydroponic Soundsystem, and fellow Texan Malcom Kip? Stockholm‘s Swedish Brandy offers this soulful downtempo EP as a primer, and producer Take‘s two RJD2/Nobody-style daydream hip-hop instrumentals are the standouts. Somewhere between Donovan and Caural, Take‘s folky funk will make b-boys/girls long for skinny-dipping in Lake Shasta.
Maetrik Cologne and Back
Following the breakthrough success of Berlin DJ dame Cio D‘or‘s “Hokus Pokus” single, Treibstoff‘s first single of ‘05 is a perfect follow up. Dallas‘ Eric Estomel has mastered his own style of imagistic silver-gelatin tech-house that glows via warm circuitry and deep space atmospherics. “Sentidos” splices Carl Craig‘s brain with minimal electro, while the A-side is an aquamarine-hued dance dream.
Overtone Give It Again
All progressive ragga souljahs step to this-Brooklyn‘s Red Bud takes a gritty tech-dub ting (think Stereotyp or The Bug) from Lithuania‘s Overtone (Paulius Kilbauskas) down to Nostrand Ave. In the process, Germany‘s DITD (a.k.a. Inverse Cinematics) hijacks the convoy and breaks the beat into a dancefloor killer that should have ‘em juxin‘ ‘n‘ jammin‘ at London‘s Co-Op club. For the cool down lick, Dublicate‘s Pole-style minimalism goes down like warm Guinness.
High Plains Drifter 4X4 Lick
People flock to UK dubstep artist High Plalins Drifter‘s ill, Far East tracks like mosquitos to skin cause he always brings rude rub-a-dub b-lines and spooky, cinematic samples aplenty. As the title suggests, this one‘s for the Todd Edwards garage freaks: four/four kicks, skittery snares and rolling subs. Pass me the Off!
Various Artists Version Excursion Sampler
Take some Jazz Bizzniz, some Afrika Underground, and a little Disco Juice, mix liberally with the likes of Yam Who, Nicola Conte, and Les Gammas and you get Version Excursio-Counterpoint‘s jazz-remixed concept. And for the anxious vinyl fiends, cop this sampler with Nick The Record‘s edit of Clarice Labbe‘s “No Other Love But You” (fantastic Rotary Connection-style vocals) and Marius Cultier‘s “Zouk,” which Ennio Styles whips into a Puerto Rican house hurricane.
Stephan Mathieu The Sad Mac
Stephan Mathieu (a.k.a. Full Swing) brings neoclassical rigor to microsound and field-recording composition, lending his music a timelessness that eludes most of his peers. The Sad Mac exemplifies Mathieu‘s penchant for what some may consider holy minimalism, but it draws equally from traditional instruments and nature. The 17-minute centerpiece “Theme For Oud Amelisweerd” extrapolates fragments of Handel‘s Violin Sonatas, forging exquisitely attenuated, wavering drones that create a sweet tension and a premonition of purgatory‘s Muzak (high praise). The angelic “Nibbio” is so beautiful, its sincerity and motives seem suspect. The Sad Mac truly is a new ambient classic-it‘s the balm.
DJ Spooky vs. Dave Lombardo Drums Of Death
There‘s something almost too pat about Drums Of Death. The disc sounds exactly how you‘d expect a collab between DJ/theoretician Spooky and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo to turn out. Factor in yeoman contributions from Jack Dangers (production, bass, ARP 2500), guitarists Vernon Reid and Gerry Nestler, and Chuck D (rapping on three updated Public Enemy tracks), and you have an experience similar to Bill Laswell‘s countless all-star jam sessions (especially Praxis). Lombardo displays thuggish power while also tearing off complex rhythms with frightening agility. Spooky orchestrates and scratches with authority. DOD is heavy, metallic, dubby, spacious, and ominous, yet somehow too predictable.
