Genre-lly speaking, the tracks on Simply Good Music are diverse, ranging from broken beat to neo soul to UK rap to uplifting New York-style garage. But this compilation makes you realize how useless genres sometimes are, since these numbers by Amp Fiddler, DKD, Roots Manuva and more are intrinsically linked by their soul roots, soothing vocals, and a large, at times oppressive, amount of live instrumentation. Highlights include Ty’s bumpy relationship ode “Wait A Minute” and Carl Craig’s remix of Zap Mama’s “Bandy Bandy,” which manages to be jiggy and experimental at the same time. But most of Simply Good Music is incredibly smoothed out and mellow, a Giant Step trademark that will suit some people’s definitions of good music, and not others’.
Various Artists Solid Steel Presents Amon Tobin Live
This Final Scratch DJ set by Amon Tobin contains tons of drums: heavy jungle kicks, skittering, jazz-inspired snares and bass that woozily expands and contracts as if in a nitrous daydream. Tobin fans will delight-the mix contains a fair amount of his moody, cut-up breaks-and new listeners will be amazed by this Ninja Tune stalwart’s DJ virtuosity. Tobin’s at his best when he effortlessly segues between experimental breakbeat, shuffling downtempo, and minimal drum & bass without missing a beat; he tosses in tracks from Facs & Scythe, T Power and Dizzee Rascal before ending with a haunting version of The Velvet Underground’s smoky classic “Venus In Furs.”
Various Artists Bip-Hop Generation Vol. 7
In Bip-Hop’s latest Generation, there lies a mysterious boiler room. Heard through the furnace’s din are the mournful murmuring of a piano and a Chinese folk string instrument-all serving as a blues for China: sweatshop to the world. Beijing’s Fm3 makes their international debut here with haunting sounds in their tracks, “P.Pa” and “Zheng.” Just as intriguing is Janek Schaefer’s musique concrete sketchpad of urban noises, along with Fonica’s feedback and drone symphonics. Elsewhere, Taylor Deupree still gold-pans for clicks ‘n’ cuts, Ghislain Poirier provides eyelid movies for B-boys, and Emisor concocts robotic funk that nearly flunks its cha-cha lessons.
Christian Marclay DJ Trio
The sounds of vinyl-the surface noise that amasses ticks and pops and accidental stylus scratches over time, and the sharp snaps of it getting broken into bits-intrigues Christian Marclay more than its musical content. In his DJ improv project, djTRIO, he shares space with a changing lineup of two other deconstruction turntablists; members include this album’s collaborators DJ Olive, Toshio Kajiwara, Erik M and Marina Rosenfeld. The results resemble an archeological excavation where whirlpool scratches, microtones and samples of thrift store-mined cheese fly around like poltergeists released from a tomb. An uneasy trip, but far more adventurous than instructional video-taught flare scratches over clich»d breaks.
DAT Politics Go Pets Go
DAT Politics is laudable for emphasizing the violent delirium and naked psychedelia of cartoon music. It’s nearly miraculous that such sounds-schizophrenically bouncing between genres and damning even five-second attention spans-became our childhood babysitters. On Go Pets Go, the DAT politicians continue to shove Rugrats synth melodies, toy drum beats and time-stretched vocals into a DSP blender, but sans the tinnitus-licking high frequencies and bloody chipmunk squabbles. The result is fine toon pop on par with the I”magination Land” song from The Muppet Babies or John Zorn’s Cynical Hysterie Hour soundtrack. However, this music might make tykes cry.
Big Bud Rice N Beans
Big Bud drops a pair of eclectic floor-hustlers sure to put some bump in your trunk. “Rice N Beans” puts a spin on the traditional deep and dubby approach, infecting it with seriously addictive grooves. More of the same on “Dirty Mr. Kurti,” except here Bud takes a trip south of the border for an essential Latin-tinged summertime ass-shaker.
Illskillz vs. Concord Dawn Watch Me Now
The subtle metal-bass hybrid of “Watch Me Now” is sure to get the heads up in the speakers, but don’t be surprised if all the love falls to the B-side, where Vienna boys Illskillz turn in a heavy remix of DKay’s “Platinum.” Imagine the same epic vibe, with swirling synths and a wall of bass twisted up into a hallucinogenic blend of atmosphere and melody that’s every bit as powerful as the original.
Seba Steel
Opening with the spaced-liquid vibes of “Steel,” Good Looking stalwart Seba brings on the goose bumps before dipping into darker territory for the cryptic “Piemo For B.” Centered on a subtle hook and dark atmospheres, it’s the chopped beats and swirling details that make this one worth revisiting over and over again.
Tim Paris Architexture
“One Man’s Monument Is Another Man’s Grave from French” remix talent Tim Paris, throbs with a fat breakbeat, standup bass, new wave handclaps and vocals from rapper Mike Ladd. Is it hip-house? Techno? Breaks? All of these and none, but it doesn’t matter as it’s a rollicking, two-steps-forward-one-step-back track that enlivens floors and enlightens minds. Ladd shouts out the Washington Monument as the world’s biggest phallus while Paris dresses up Detroit keys in Christmas lights and lets an acid b-line eat away at the myth from inside. Fiendish.
Bucci/Pink Elln Badminton EP
Mambotur’s Pier Bucci and occasional Atom Heart collaborator Pink Elln get absolutely unhinged on this electro-techno workout, marked by spring-loaded percussion, Luciano-like arpeggios, and stutter-funk R&B vocals reminiscent of Jamie Lidell. It’s an anthem for more adventurous universes. Elsewhere on the EP, Composure founder Mike Shannon delivers punchy cascading basslines and Montreal’s The Mole bitchslaps the tune to disco and back.
