This gem of an album doesn’t really break new ground-there’s nothing particularly flashy, attention-grabbing or innovative here. What distinguishes Osunlade’s Offering from the rest of the Afro-Brazilian, nu-jazz and broken beat set is the reverence, earnestness and sincerity with which he treats each of the tunes on this compilation. There’s no quick-mixing or clever cutting about, just one impossibly soulful song flowing directly into the next. From his own “Tree of Life” (featuring an unforgettable vocal turn by Nadirah Shakoor) and “Beats de los Muertos Africa,” tunes, to delectable selections from John Beltran (“Bota Foga”), Jazzanova (the quirky “That Night” track featuring Vikter Duplaix), Trüby Trio (“Alegre”) and Faze Action (“Samba”), Offering is an absolutely compelling listen from beginning to end, and one that digs deep to reveal the roots and primal rhythms that inspire modern electronic music.
GFS Mount Vernon Street
Drum & bass has found its funk. And it’s about time-Philly-based duo GFS have crashed through the (now-fading) stereotype of dark, serious and self-involved tech-step by bringing back a much-needed sense of playfulness. Liquid funk drips from the basslines, nicely balancing the crisp snares and throbbing kick drums and it’s all topped off with some spacey sound effects and acidic synth lines. By enlisting the help of a few friends-dubbed the GFS “Allstars” and playing bass, Fender Rhodes, sax, violin and guitar-GFS have created an impossibly funky, tripped-out and enjoyable debut album.
Adam F Drum & Bass Warfare
Adam F’s double-disc set (the second disc features a mix by Miami’s DJ Craze) is a touch confusing to listen to. His sharp drum & bass sensibilities are still intact, even after his well-documented foray into hip hop-but here, he’s chosen to combine remixes of his tunes (produced with the likes of Redman, Capone n’ Noreaga and Pharoah Monche) into a slightly abrasive, melodramatic mix that sounds more bombastic and heavy-handed than clever or ground-breaking. DJ Craze’s mix makes more sense. His turntable tricks and scratching are well timed, breaking up the relatively static vocal lines and linking them to the intense, densely packed rhythmic background.
Flash Atkins Chugnuts
An out-and-out dancefloor track on a West Coast tip. Deep, throbbing bassline, tribal drums and some ethnic chants build in intensity before one of those breakdowns we know and love. Mr. Pete Tong has been known to play this, so get it while it’s hot.
Missy Elliot Work It
Missy Elliot’s first single off her album Under Construction gets a rework from some house music secret agents. The queen of cool does her thing to a backdrop of an acid bassline and sparse, jerky, snappy drums. Simple but supremely effective. Watch those people twist and pop!
Mark Bell Feat. Blakkat Revolution (Rae and Christian Rmx)
I just sort of came across this and know little about it. A scatty guitar starts the proceedings before a huge funky bass enters the fray. Wailed female vocals and more vocals way back in the mix complete a deceptively dancefloor-friendly release.
Various Artists Motivate Movement Installment One: Asiatic
This compilation is first in a series of projects put out by Motivate Movement, a hip-hop collective dedicated to both preserving the memory of slain Bay Area graffiti artist Michael “DREAM” Francisco and supporting positive hip-hop. Overall, the CD is impressive, containing great production, awesome cuts and some real nice rhymes from a slew of Asian-American artists and their collaborators, representing East Coast, West Coast and in between. Organic Thoughts featuring U.N.I.Q bring a lil’ funkjazzynastiness with “All Too Easy,” and lyrical master MC Zion of Zion I fame blesses a track produced by world champion turntablist Vinroc in “Ghost in a Shell.” A real stand-out is the lovely and poetic “On God’s Path” by Poet Named Life, featuring abstract rap vet Divine Styler and Takbir of Styles of Beyond. It’s also a treat to hear all the female talent in the mix, from the dope emcee styles of Golda.Supernova (“Growing Process”) to the tough sound of La Bruja (“Bru Who”).
Omid Distant Drummer
This long awaited solo debut by LA underground producer Omid (who also records as O.D.) on his own Beneath the Surface label is a solid collection of instrumental hip-hop tracks. From the demonic distorted bassline of “The Sad King” to the frantic drums of “Island Covenant” and the sad Arabic strains of “Ease in the Middle Piece,” it becomes obvious that the man knows his way around a sampler. But while Distant Drummer brings the beats, it’s not entirely groundbreaking, at least not as amazing as some of Omid’s production for emcees like Busdriver and Freestyle Fellowship. While the songs don’t always achieve the depth or scope of, dare I say, a DJ Shadow piece, they do exist as lovely and moving soundscapes, and Omid proves himself to be a technically awesome electronic composer.
Illumination This Is Illumination
Illumination’s debut is an ambitious-if at times inconsistent-collection of tracks. This Norwegian duo made a name for themselves through their solo projects and remix work under the Chilluminati tag; their Bugge Wesseltoft rework should be required listening for any downtempo DJ. Now working under the guise of Illumination, the two shift gears to produce an album that’s at times aimed squarely at the dancefloor and at others better suited for after-hours listening. High points include the irresistibly funky bass line that underpins “She Got Soul,” the zero-g drift of “Black Sun” and the dub atmospherics and reverberating rimshots of “4 A.M.”
Windy & Carl Introspection
“Transcendental” might be the best way to describe the experience of listening to the music of space-rock duo Windy & Carl. For those not familiar, the Dearborn, MI couple have been recording blissed-out paeans to distortion and delay for nearly a decade now. This particular triple-disc retrospective amasses nearly all of their non-album output released to date. Early handpainted 7″ singles showcased on the first disc favor conventional song structures and lyrics, while the material on discs two and three leans toward endlessly spooling vistas of feedback and glorious noise. Their affection for each other and the music is clear, making this collection a testament to the duo’s labor of love.
