Ohio producer RJD2 and MC/producer Blueprint join up as Soul Position, and the combo’s 8,000,000 Stories takes the underground’s pole position. RJD2 proves his crusty old soul drums, descending basslines and keyboard samples can sustain an MC over a full-length. Blueprint strays further out lyrically, rattling off the names of cartoons and toys familiar from ’70s childhoods on the “Candyland” interludes, and plumbing the depths of struggle with “Look of Pain” and “Run.” Blueprint’s flexible, appealing voice handles comedy as easily as drama, as proven by the hilarious girlfriend-trouble story “Jerry Springer Episode.”
Eric Sneo Frequency
These relentless Berlin boys just don’t quit. This heavy, peak-time techno jam blends driving organic percussion with syncopated analog key stabs. The remix adds wider vocal displacement without the weighty bassline, and more resonance on the lead’s filter cut-off. A top set-pleaser indeed.
Adam X Good Vs. Evil EP
After a short production hiatus, this NYC underground maven returns to the Midwest’s top techno imprint. Full of industrial metallic fury launched through electro/IDM progressions, this EP swims in darkness while maintaining a crucial dancefloor edge. Flip for sweltering 303s, as robot vocals announce an imminent warning.
James Cotton Buck! EP
From Ghostly sublabel Spectral comes a harder composition than one would expect. On top of glitchy, flanged-out, garage-like bass stabs that frame the melody sit groove-spliced vocal hits that chatter a bit of funk. Bubbly synths with random wave pitch modulations bring a different style on the flip.
Joris Voorn The Way Things Appear
This debut release from Mr. Voorn of Keynote, Line and EC Records is just the first of what could hopefully be many from him along the lines of these dubbed-out dancefloor jams. Percussive with just a bit of melodic edge, the mixes here are rough, yet clearly pave room for deep strings and wet vocals. Heavy emotion with a touch of acid complements the rear.
Spy From Cairo An Eye On the World
Experienced global citizen turned digital dub provocateur Moreno “Zeb” Visini (half of Organic Grooves) makes the connection between his heart, his mind and your ears with this absolutely gorgeous album. Floating vocals and distant, pretty instrumentation lend the work a vaguely exotic and mysterious ambience. “Spacewalk” travels through the stratosphere, hovering several miles above an old Persian caf? and bouncing that ancient chill out vibration off the satellites, while “Don’t Panic I’m Islamic” documents Zeb’s feelings on post-9/11 American culture. An Eye on the World remains strong from beginning to end, influenced by internationalist downtempo while charting its own rich, haunting sonic territory.
CuteTheories Cute Theory
Not all of CuteTheories is as adorable as its name, the Shibuya-style sweetness of the first track, or the homemade packaging with its tiny hologram sticker. Doom and despair do indeed linger on the new LP from Cute Theory, essentially a compilation showcasing each of the crew’s IDM talents. Exploring the dark side of Pro Tools, Casey Basichis and “new guy” Lee Hurley both deliver ominous ambience no doubt derived from the tenser moments of Legend of Zelda. But it’s the delectable singsong stylings of MadGirl (Madeline Puckette) that steal the show. You haven’t even heard “LA Fashion” yet, but you’re already infected.
Cheap Cologne Just A little Samle
If Dick Clark were commissioned to produce a hip-hip record, Just A Little Sample would be his brainchild. Funneling pop culture references from all walks of life, Twin Cities producer/DJ Cheap Cologne has created a divinely diverse, devoted and just plain hilarious maiden LP. Like any white suburban youth who grew up on equal parts Pantera and Public Enemy, Cheap Cologne drops a schizoid mix of Anglo angst. Whether it’s Pigeon John resurrecting Tony Danza, Slug sparring over Slayer’s “Spirit In Black” or CC’s cheeky homage to pacifiers and glowsticks (“Ravers Suck”), this album seems to have the Axe Effect.
Various Afrique C’est Chic
Afro house at times offers little in terms of inventiveness, as artists trot out respectfully 4/4-ed-up tributes to Afrobeat deity Fela Kuti. However, this compilation offers a whole kaleidoscope of Afro-touched compositions. Alton Miller’s re-rub of Jacob Desvarieux’s “An Die Adie” is a sublimely deep offering that solders together spiritually aware Detroit beats with emotion-gripped strings. Dennis Ferrer’s “Funu” is a bouncy, joyful track that fuses cultures and sounds together with the help of bright guitar and soul-searching organ keys. Despite the inclusion of a few cuts whose Afro influences aren’t immediately obvious, Afrique C’est Chic is a quality offering.
Fila Brazilla Brazilification 2
These consummate remixers take on everyone from Cal Tjader to Soulstice and Future Loop Foundation on this double-CD package. Each reworking shows the same elegant attention to detail, the same innate ability to pick apart a song’s structure and burrow into its soul, and the same graceful ?lan-all of which make Brazilification 2 a truly enjoyable, if not entirely adventurous, undertaking. This isn’t completely McSherry and Cobby’s fault; their standard of excellence is so high that it’s truly hard to outdo themselves with each release.
