OK, who can deny soulful vocal house with live instrumentation, especially if it’s from Philly? After previously doin’ the damn thing on vinyl with Alma Horton, beatsman Dwayne McClure a.k.a. Blizz, bassist Charles Webster and keyboardist Will Brock back vocalist Chris Dockins on a luminous and seriously testifyin’ jam on the A-side that Charles Spencer sends into profound, demi-disco orbit with his flipside remix. On the streets, they call this the good good.
Die Elektrishen
Oakland man Drew Webster has taken a chance launching an experimental label in this economic climate, but his 12, the label’s fourth, shows the guy means business. From Throbbing Gristle-ish noise to spacious and opaque ambient soundscapes to harsh industrial beat jams that invoke the UK’s Sweatbox label, Drew lays down that neighbor-irritating shit. Nice.
Diverse Explosive
Chicago MC Diverse gives us more excruciatingly well-produced tastes from his eternally forthcoming debut album. The title track finds Di and Lyrics Born rhyming with the quickness over an RJD2-produced stomper as they remain just one step from “Zion/tryin’ to keep it in perspective.” On the flip, Madlib provides the jazzy backing to Diverse’s lyrical look at the inner city. Tight-now bring the damn full-length already.
Mellow & Rivera Rug Cutting
They may not be making what most consider nu-breaks, but screw it: Hamburg-based Pete Rivera and Mellow bring it back to the good old-fashioned breakbeats here (enough that you can forget the slower tempo) with all the hard nu-breaks effects and even a bit of that housey shuffle, though not enough to be obnoxious. As Super Style, UK boys Dan Holmes and Neil Simons give it a jaunty, tough, almost Prince-ish remix, with enough ’00 boost to keep it from going too retro.
Metta & JT Love A-Fraid
After numerous releases on labels like Geek and HDS, these screwheads finally start their own imprint with a three-tracker of simple yet effective tech-house bizness. “A-fraid” interlaces three twisted vocal samples with some squibby synths and chunky beats, while the flip gives up more funky melodic samples on “Bastardo” and some old-school keyboard lines on “Shakedown.”
Bobby Beergut Kerbabylon Beats Vol. 1
Producer Robert Donnalove tosses down some straight-ahead funky, Art of Noise-style big-beat house on the A-side of this slab for Sheffield-based “filthy house” label Trashtalk. Check the flip for a more propulsive, filtered, overall safer version of the same, but for basic party action, the A-side wins it here. Bravo.
Fat Freddy’s Drop Hope
Time for the world to fully wake up to this apparently magical, dub-infused live soul/funk/jazz group from New Zealand. Almost a year after getting their debut single of bubbling reggae, “Midnight Marauders,” picked up by discerning Berlin label Best Seven, the Drop hits us with a 10″ of more laconic roots that’s almost gospelly in its build and inspirational feel. “Hope” finds lead singer Joe Dukie chanting about “hope for a generation” and busting out some jazzy call-and-response with the horn sections in an orgy of heartfelt sonic soul. Flip for “Bluey,” an equally subtle, almost cinematic bit of instrumental, Coltrane-inspired, early-AM jazz-reggae. Solid.
Single Cell vs. Bass Kittens Check It
It’s nice to hear something that you can tell took some time and skill. This is just what the doctor ordered. “Check It” is an uptempo, drummy track with lots of sampling, scratchy noises and a Cuban boatload of bass. It’s a real high-energy dance lick that bangs the boom. “Down With Digital” on the flip has a slight old-school feel in the beat structure and sounds, but it’s just thick, and man does it make the booties bounce. Its catchy synth lines and spacey breaks accentuate the driving beat.
Lacks The Idiology
Don’t be fooled: Lacks ain’t lackin’ in rhymes or beats. The artist first heard as Lacksidaisycal on Jay-Dee’s Welcome to Detroit lays down his own Motor City welcome mat on “The Idiology.” With bouncy beats and a clever, laidback rhyme style, his command to “bang this in your whips” will be easily met. On the flip’s “Hustolin'” 01 and Fe-Niks join Lacks over an insistently funky bassline. “
Ranking Joe Zion High
Jamaican toaster Ranking Joe was only 20 when he recorded 1980’s Round The World in a single two-hour session. Now reissued under the title Zion High, this crucial disc showcases Joe’s easy chatting style over Dennis Brown productions like “A Cup of Tea” and “Slave Driver.” Bonuses include long unavailable tracks from Brown (“Bubbling Fountain”) and Black Uhuru (“Wood For My Fire”) backed by a young Sly and Robbie. Still, all this additional star power can’t outshine the true ram dance master. Joe’s trademark rapid-fire bong-diddleys and easy, pure voice sail over the tracks, and King Tubby and Scientist’s versions are every bit as thick as the smoke clouds in the studio.
