Sounds
K-S.H.E. - Routes Not Roots (Skylax)
Friday, April 8th, 2011 | Sounds | No Comments
After releasing a few limited 12″s last year, Skylax gives Terre Thaemlitz’s K-S.H.E. ‘Routes Not Roots’ a full release. The original Japanese release in 2006 via Thaemlitz’s private label Comatonse, has become quite sought after. Listening to this album, you can understand why anyone lucky to have the original, wasn’t about to sell it on Discogs. It’s all too rare that electronic music has a social commentary, however, ‘Routes Not Roots’ is not only a great deep house album but it’s underlining themes (about Thaemlitz’s experiences as a transgender) creates a much more emotive and thought provoking listen. Many of the tracks are deftly crafted using samples, much in the same style as KDJ, taking the original source material, re-interpreting and making it work in it’s own right. ‘B2B’ uses LNR’s ‘Work It To The Bone’ as the backbone to the track and adds a vocal-loop, sub-bass, lush organ and piano with great effect. Thaemlitz’s sample of ‘Another Star’, on the 13 minute long ‘Crosstown’, has to be one of the most inspired and interesting uses of a Stevie Wonder song - taking the uplifting original and giving it a melancholy twist. Not only is Thaemlitz respectful of the original but he makes it his own, and to do this from such a recognizable and widely loved song, is even more admirable. There are also a couple of lush beat-less pieces and interludes that pace the dance-floor orientated tracks. Thaemlitz’s productions are often compared to Larry Heard’s, a comparison which is quite appropriate when listening to this album. Although the two producers approach crafting music in different ways, the effect is same - for me ‘Routes Not Roots’ evokes the same feeling and thought provoking commentary as The It’s ‘On Top Of The World’. Highly recommended.
Recent records round-up
Monday, February 28th, 2011 | Sounds | No Comments
There’s been no slow in pace for great music being released over the past few months. Here’s what I’ve been enjoying, including a few things that didn’t make it into my year end mix.
Kassem Mosse shows no sign of letting-up on quality releases. His latest offerings on Workshop and Kinda Soul both live up to the standard of Mosse’s previous outings. The Workshop EP, delves into deep house territory, with the untitled b side track being the stand-out. The ‘2D’ EP on Kinda Soul features the hypnotic track ‘Thalassocalyce’, which has a distinct Omar S vibe to it - you can see why Omar has released Mosse’s material on FXHE.
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Speaking of Omar S, he too has a couple of recent releases of note. The first, a collaboration with Kai Alce, which produces great results. The ‘Jive Time’ EP features three solid tracks, all with tough drum programming accompanied by archetypal Detroit melodies - pure late night vibes. Omar’s other release, ‘Here’s Your Trance, Now Dance!’ is a monster of a track, in a similar vein to ‘Psychotic Photosynthesis’, and no doubt will be just as popular.
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Also, on the Detroit tip, Delano Smith releases two tracks via his Mixmode label. Nothing too surprising, just simple, effective, driving house of the finest quality. Theo Parrish releases his ‘Sketches’ compilation through Sound Signature, which gathers all of the tracks from the 12″ series. The 12″s were very limited and also extremely expensive - something that was insightfully discussed over on ISM. ‘Sketches’ is a solid album, with highlights being, ‘Kites On Pluto’, ‘Thumpasaurus’, ‘Black Mist’ and the ‘Untitled’ track featuring Larry Mizell (of the Mizell brothers fame). A better job done with the mastering of the CD would have been nice - if the vinyl prices are going to be prohibitively expensive, then at least offer a quality alternative. Theo also gives us Read More and listen…
Aril Brikha - Deeparture In Time - Revisted (Art Of Vengeance)
Saturday, February 26th, 2011 | Sounds | No Comments
Aril Brikha re-issues ‘Deeparture In Time’, on his newly launched Art Of Vengeance label. Originally released in 2000 on Transmat, Brikha’s debut album garnered a lot of praise, often cited as a favourite techno album by many. ‘Deeparture In Time - Revisited’ sees Brikha’s original album getting a re-master and also includes a second disc of unreleased material from the same time period. Ten years on, the deep Detroit-esque techno of ‘Deeparture In Time’ still sounds as good now as it did in 2000. ‘Groove La Chord’, obviously, was a huge track but the rest of the album is equally as good, with ‘Embrace’, ‘Otill’ and ‘On and On’ being personal favourites. What comes as a pleasant surprise is how good the bonus material is, most of which wouldn’t sound out of place on the original album. If you enjoyed ‘Deeparture In Time’ the first time around, then the re-issue is worth checking out, and if you are just discovering Brikha’s work then this album is essential.
Record reviews catch-up
Monday, November 22nd, 2010 | Sounds | No Comments
I’ve picked up a lot of great records in the past few months, and have been slacking off on posting reviews, so here’s a quick catch-up on what’s doing it for me.
In a few releases Jack Hamill aka Space Dimension Controller has picked up a lot of attention. Last years full length, ‘Unidentified Flying Oscillator’, hinted at what was to come, fusing techno and electro with a distinct Detroit feel. This year has seen excellent releases on the resurrected R&S, as well Clone sub-label Royal Oak. The Detroit connection is present again with SDC’s remix of Anthony Shakir’s ‘Detroit State Of Mind’ - I can’t get enough of this remix.
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Laid continue their strong release schedule with their past few records. The untitled Kassem Mosse track (Laid 007) hits all of the right buttons with it’s tough Chicago style drum programming, and the Lawrence release (Laid 009) features three hypnotic tracks in his usual style, the highlight of which being the excellent ‘Dwelling On The Dunes’. John Roberts released his debut album, ‘Glass Eights’, via Laid’s parent label Dial. The album has been receiving a lot of critical acclaim, however, the album leaves me cold compared to Robert’s previous material on Laid
Read More and listen…
Interview Deepblak Recordings Crew
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | Sounds, Vision | No Comments
Oakland’s Deepblak Recordings crew (Aybee, Afrikan Sciences, Damon Bell, EPS1 and Percepticon) recently came by The Friday Night Session for an interview, where they talked about music past, present and future, touching down on the difference between beats made in Oakland vs. San Francisco or Detroit, and how having the expensive pieces from your studio stolen makes you a better artist. You can check out the full audio interview here. Shout out to my co-hosts Mike Bee and Andrew Jervis who held it down despite the technical difficulties.
Interview - Larry Heard (Alleviated Records)
Monday, July 19th, 2010 | Sounds | 8 Comments
Last month Larry Heard came to San Francisco. Initially, we had planned on doing an interview for the KUSF radio show, The Friday Night Session but, summer in SF means fog which in turn means delayed flights. Because Larry couldn’t make it to the show in time, he was kind enough to reach out and agreed to do an interview via email. Larry Heard’s legacy is undeniable, helping to shape the house music genre as well as influencing many producers with a wealth of soulful, forward thinking music that sounds as relevant today as it did 25 years ago.
Q. You’ve been producing for over 25 years and yourself and along with a handful of other producers in Chicago were pretty much responsible for shaping the acid and deep house genres. In those early years did you get a sense from how people in Chicago reacted, that your music was going to go on to be so globally recognized and important?
A. I don’t recall even thinking very far ahead at that time. I don’t think any of the people who were around making music and doing releases did. Read More and listen…
