Scads of British musicians have been enthralled by the classic ‘60s film The Wicker Man and its haunting pagan-folk soundtrack. On Mother‘s Daughter And Other Songs, Tunng strive to recreate Paul Giovanni‘s revered score (among other things). If the London duo mostly fail at this endeavor, they do succeed at recalling Britain‘s psych-folk peak when Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention and Cat Stevens (uh huh) gamboled over verdant countryside. Tunng blend rustic, Bert Jansch-inflected acoustic-guitar ramble and solemn male/ female vocal interplay with subtle shadings of DSP and fidgety software beats, finding common ground where Four Tet and Pentangle fans can blissfully co-exist.
Drop The Lime This Means Forever
Drop The Lime embraces chaos and grit like drill & bass originators Alec Empire and Squarepusher, as well as recent acolytes like Doormouse. Which means DTL‘s top priority is disorienting dancers and exploring textural and rhythmic extremities, but without getting scientific about it. At heart, This Means Forever is a party album-with breakbeats that kick and punch like an epileptic Bruce Lee. Most music in this vein is female repellent, but you can imagine Forever getting women (albeit very limber, spazzy women) dancing. DTL injects his explosive, intricate breaks and loony textures with funk, making him an anomaly among breakcore artists.
Aaron Jerome Man Troubles
If you think that London‘s Wah Wah 45s just puts out dope funk biz, get ready to think different. Aaron Jerome‘s solo debut starts off with a tribute to a certain Trouble Man, and it‘s fitting that “Man Troubles” has enough layers and depth (and damn playfulness) to make Mark Pritchard proud. “Jelabi” develops into atmospheric house then gets twisted with cool syncopated madness. Dope and edgy!
Fertile Ground Yellow Daisies
Pulled from the Baltimore-based group‘s ‘04 album Black Is…, Fertile Ground‘s “Yellow Daises” gets the bossa treatment. Nicola Conte has gathered top Italian jazz musicians, recrafting the tune with springtime vibes. Calling it his “Ptah El Daoud” style as a nod to Alice Coltrane, the easygoing tempo retains Navasha Daya‘s commanding vocals. “Yellow Daisies” could grow on you.
Jazztronik Samurai
Ryoto Nozaki‘s Jazztronik project has been one of the forerunners in the nu-jazz scene, producing an admirable body of work. Samurai embodies music from three Jazztronik albums that were previously released only in Japan. Nozaki‘s classical training is mixed with house, R&B, and Brazilian influences to great effect. “Muddy Muddy” is a work of exquisite beauty, and the title track has been a standout club fave for well over a year. With considerable depth and musical vitality, Samurai delivers in spades.
Winston Francis Mr Fix It
The soulful Francis made his name at Studio One in the late 1960s with expressive reggae renditions of soul and pop hits totally transformed by his particular delivery and Sir Coxsone‘s sterling arrangements. Mr Fix It has individualized covers of Sam Cooke‘s “Chain Gang” and Joe South‘s “Games People Play,” as well as the wonderful “Fix It,” while California Dreaming has killer versions of Sly Stone‘s “Stand” and Junior Walker‘s “What Does It Take,” in addition to the creeping, semi-orchestrated title track. This two-for-one reissue also features the emotive “Let‘s Go To Zion,” one of Studio One‘s finest devotional songs.
Various Artists The Bunny
Bunny Lee is a legendary figure in Jamaica. Seen as a “godfather” for everyone from ska veterans such as Derrick Morgan and Slim Smith to ragga roughnecks like King Kong and Beenie Man, he is known as “Striker” because so many of his productions have hit big. This four CD, 101-track retrospective of his ‘60s and ‘70s work is heavy on musical quality, featuring enduring productions with singers like Cornell Campbell, Johnny Clarke, and Pat Kelly; many tracks are presented with companion sides featuring deejays U Roy, Alcapone, and Tapper Zukie. The only real problem comes on the few numbers mastered from noise-ridden vinyl. Overall, it‘s a thrilling musical ride.
Shabba Ranks Golden Touch
This Two Friends re-release production dates from shortly after Shabba hit big with “Wicked In Bed” (1990) but before he was snatched up by Epic; because co-producer Michael Bennett worked closely with the rapper in the group Home-T 4, the chemistry works well and the result is a great album that‘s been somewhat overlooked. Shabba keeps his focus broad, staying conscious on “Build Bridges Instead” but slightly reactionary on “If A My Youth” and “House Husband”; the irresistible “Digit It,” featuring Little Twitch and Jah Thomas, salutes the power of the computer in dancehall. Overall, it‘s a fun slice of mid-period ragga.
Unagi Keepin It Eel
Unagi is like the MacGyver of beats; he could make your head nod with a rubber band, two peanuts and a ball of wax. While fools everywhere are busy imitating the Neptunes with laptops, virtual instruments and sample libraries, Unagi is Keepin it Eel by sticking to his hip-hop roots. Stodgy sampling techniques, old-school drum machine beats (played by hand) and archeological record store finds are the M.O. here. Unagi‘s sophomore release is less about shaking ass than getting ass; like a well-worn issue of Playboy from the ‘70s, nearly every track practically forces you in the mood. Whether it‘s a drunken one-night stand or a wedding anniversary, you now know what to have cued in your CD player.
Balanceman Welcome to Balanceland
When it hews too close to the cookie-cutter work of Daft Punk on songs like “Robot Wife” and “Insertion Time,” the Bay Area-based Balanceman‘s new joint feels like a Casio hangover. But when it kicks the drums and spreads its cinematic wings on tracks like “Stick to the Plan” and “Nature Boy,” all seems right with the world. Which is to say that musical beauty is still in the ears of the beholder, and as long as Balanceman-also known as J. Goody to his folks-keeps it diverse and soulful, he‘s keeping it real…interesting.
