 |
 |
DANCE/ELECTRONICA |
|
|
 NEWZ:
Following the success of Bionikworld's Preset 101 and Reset 001 releases, the duo will relocate to Europe as French and German labels get set for local releases of their energetic brand of electronic grooves. The act already has the distinction of breaking records in Australia with consecutive appearances in the AIR (independent) charts. Suffice to say, if you'd like to check them out, you'd better be quick and their current string of appearances may be the last chance you'll get until they decide to return to Oz. The lads will make a quick trip to Sydney and Queensland before packing their bags and having a final 'going away party' in their hometown of Melbourne. The bon-voyage will aptly take place on the Victoria Star Cruiser, so get your tickets fast. It should be a hell of a show. For Boinikworld dates, click here. To read a review of Preset 101, click here.
(posted: May 5, 2004)
2003 was a huge year for Melbourne label, Sensory Projects, including some of the best releases of the year from acts like Disaster Plan, The Rectifiers and Symbiotic. So, it should be a huge Saturday night on May 15 when 4 of Sensory's best - The Rectifiers, Symbiotic, Pretty Boy Crossover and City City City - all converge on The Jade Monkey in Adelaide for a huge showcase of the label's talent. This gig comes very highly recommended by Whammo.
(posted: April 28, 2004)
*Salmonella Dub have had to change their supports on their upcoming tour. 2 Dogs and The Bird will replace Scribe and DJ D/Form as they have had to pull out due to unforseen circumstances. The ammended dates/information is available on the tours page. Read on for more about the tour...
(posted by Miss Terri: April 28, 2004)
If you haven't seen Salmonella Dub live, you've missed out on some great parties. I can't name any other band that generates such a communal atmosphere of celebration when they perform and sold-out shows at the Metro in Sydney have proven the band's crowd-pulling power. Only their Kiwi cohorts, Shapeshifter, can generate such a huge live drum&bass; sound and as for dub, Salmonella's brass-powered big-band flavour is a tasty as the genre can possibly get. Their welcome return to deeper dub grooves, the One Drop East LP, is still attracting a lot of attention from beat-lovin' folks around the globe and the forthcoming single Longtime is a great example of the fine tunes on the album. The Dub are back in May/June for another east-coast tour with Resin Dogs and Cornerstone Roots. Make sure you get to one (or two or three) of these gigs to check out the best of southern hip-hop, dub and drum&bass.; Remember that these shows include strong line-ups, so make it to the venue early. For dates, click here. To view the Salmonella Dub page, click here. To read a review of Scribe's The Crusader LP, click here.
(posted: April 20, 2004)
The best local hip-hop gig in months will be happening at The Gaelic Club in Surry Hills, Sydney on Friday April 23. TZU, The Herd and Good Buddha will be joining forces for a show that promises to attract yet another capacity crowd. TZU's Position Correction album is the finest hip-hop release of the year while The Herd's An Elefant Never Forgets was Whammo's #1 Dance/Hip-Hop album for 2003. As for Good Buddha, if you think you know what to expect from a hip-hop show, you're in for a shock. Their show is an amazing fusion, combining the power of a full funk outfit with lyrical dynamism that makes their shows 'must see' events. Fans will get a treat in the form of new material from their forthcoming second album, Futurhistix. This triple-header is not to missed: Friday April 23, The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.
(posted: April 13, 2004)
Rumours of Madison Avenue's unstable musical partnership became reality when the duo of Andy Van and Cheyne Coates split in 2002 while recording a follow-up to their successful debut album. Now Coates, the singer, lyrist and powerful leading lady of the act, will release her debut single I've Got Your Number. Coates is already a recognisable face and voice on the international dance scene after Madison Avenue's catchy break-through single, Don't Call Me Baby, was a hit in Europe. Stay tuned to Whammo for more news of Cheyne Coats' solo debut.
(posted: March 9, 2004)
WHAMMO'S DANCE/ELECTRONICA TOP 10 (MARCH/APRIL 2004)
TOP 10 DANCE/HIP-HOP/ELECTRONIC ALBUMS
1.....HILLTOP HOODS THE CALLING
2.....UBIN STAR LO
3.....HILLTOP HOODS LEFT FOOT, RIGHT FOOT
4.....PURDY FAIRYTALE INSURANCE
5.....VARIOUS ARTISTS ELEFANT COLLECTION VOL 1
6.....1200 TECHNIQUES CONSISTENCY THEORY
7.....BAGGSMEN ELEVEN STAGES
8.....HERMITUDE ALLEYS TO VALLEYS
9.....SALMONELLA DUB ONE DROP EAST
10....RESIN DOGS HI FIDELITY DIRT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 TALI
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $23.95 (US $16.11) (UK £8.71)
cd
If you can handle hearing lyrics over high quality drum & bass production, add Tali's Lyric On My Lip to your short list. She's the Kiwi signed to Roni Size's Full Cycle label and if you don't know that name, it's time to sign up at your local tech college for Drum&Bass; 1:01. Suffice to say, if Roni is willing to produce this young New Zealander, plenty of people will be willing to give this album a spin. Roni's production is subtle and respects Tali's obvious lyrical talents; talents that run the full gamut from soulful crooning to syncopated rhymes that show a real flair for timing. My personal tastes are rarely defied by a performer, but I found myself especially liking Airport Lounge, a more melancholy effort, despite my usual repugnance for drum&bass; love songs. While Tali's voice softens the mix, the production resists temptation to sink further into Bukem-like handbag D&B; instead it remains very direct, spacious and tight; like the tough Take A Look, with keys that reminded me of early Massive Attack. Following the impressive multi-syllable onslaught of Satirie Stylez, the tracklisting is divided by the mostly instrumental Pressure Release, a nicely positioned break from Tali's vocals that prepares the listener for the big finish. Lyric On My Lip will attract the attention of radio with its darker bass and catchy hook, but Soul Star and Don't Blame Me prove that Tali's voice sounds just as impressive over more tribal and dub-oriented efforts. With the single Blazin featuring many of the genre's stars, let's hope it attracts enough attention to guide potential fans to the LP, Lyric On My Lip, which could further enforce the notion that drum&bass; has enough melody to find a more universal appeal.
|
|
|
|
 OUVI MELHOR
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $23.95 (US $16.11) (UK £8.71)
cd
This release is confusing the s**t out of me. It's a very frustrating dilemma I find myself in. I'd like to destroy certain elements of it, I'd like to remix it and I'd also like shake the producers' hands. Firstly, if you've been sitting in a home studio for a couple of years, carefully crafting beats and sounds, wouldn't you give your work to an objective professional for the final mix? It's essential. Secondly, it takes a concerted effort to make live tracks (like vocals) blend in with digital trickery, otherwise the added tracks just sit on top of the rest of the ensemble like a loud hat. So what we have here is a collection of beautiful sounds - quite eerie and atmospheric - with minimal, unobtrusive beats that complement rather than dominate. Then a host of soulful female vocalists are added to the mix, wonderfully contradicting the dark foundations. It sounds great in theory, but the two major elements simply don't coherently gel, partly due to production, partly due to some forced performances that would better suit a House track. Anymore represents one of the moments when it works. The vocals, rather than sounding like a misplaced House recording, suit the moody synths and minimal beats to perfection. There are some beautiful sounds on the album and instrumentals like iiSd prove that Ouvi Melhor have spent an eternity tweaking sounds and obsessively crafting tracks. Readers who love hearing gals singing over beats will love the variety of contributors including Bonnie Gilham, Yvie Jones, Aimee Nash and Kristie Clemow. All these girls can belt out a tune (or whisper a tune, as is often the case on this album). So, to be objective, I'll say Odiumosis is a worthy contribution to the modern trend of breaking down barriers between sub-genres. But it simply ain't for me.
|
|
|
|
 THE RECTIFIERS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $18.95 (US $12.75) (UK £6.89)
cd
The Rectifiers released their complex but subtle masterpiece, Wear The Weight Of The Resting Sky, in 2003 to critical acclaim. But that wasn't enough for their label, Sensory Projects, which promptly farmed out tracks to electronic wizards, the Symbiotic Collective, for reworkings of the cinematic Rectifiers tracks. The result was always going to be a high-standard release but this set of 9 tracks not only transforms the originals, but also shows respect for the alt-country origins, retaining enough of the source to keep the songs recognisable. From A 3rd Dek's film noir reworking, Between These Pieces (originally This Peace Between Us) to the lounging An Egg Rolling Down A Hill by Guitarkus (featuring Ptero_Stylus), the only real themes that bind the album are slow hip-hop beats and breaks; a love of bent sounds; and, of course, the musical source (The Rectifier). Paso Bionic's Rusty Dawn Reprise (remix of A Quiet Life) is like a walk through the subconscious mind of a child, complete with elements of both dreams and nightmares, constantly shifting from the beautiful to the surreal. It's my personal favourite, but if you like to lean left when it comes to electronic tracks, you'll enjoy other artists like Pitch Bureau, Dengar, Terminal Sound System and Beatrix; all valuable contributors to Ants Farm Aphids, the Symbiotic mob's outstanding album from 2003. Sure, they may be insane, but these pioneering beat merchants do The Rectifiers justice on the Levy EP.
|
|
|
|
 TALI
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $4.95 (US $3.33) (UK £1.80)
cd single
You simply don't find a place on the roster of Full Cycle without rockin’ and after witnessing New Zealand's Tali live, I can confirm that her inclusion among the highbrow company on the afore-mentioned label is well justified. With the exception of Tali's tendency to constantly remind her crowd who she is, her set was extremely slick and professional. She seems ambitious and with the skills she displays on stage, who can blame her for aiming high? This sparse representation of exact vocal stylings serves its purpose, framing Tali's performance while still being hard enough to rock a dance floor. Trust Dillinja to up the anti on the more relentless drum&bass; reworking of Blazin'; it certainly raised my eyebrows. That's the great thing for Tali, the fact that her label-mates can lend a helping hand and add their respectable names to the credits. She certainly deserves to have great music behind her and you don't get much better than Shy FX & T Power, deservedly in vogue at the moment. Their remix adds some lovely rumbling bass and energy, leaving the original version for dead despite its initial appeal. There are high hopes for Tali on the international scene and this single will do nothing to deter the trust of her high-profile label.
|
|
|
|
 OFFCUTS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $23.95 (US $16.11) (UK £8.71)
cd
The Homestyle and Paper Bag/Plastic Bag EPs have laid the foundations and now, with Thrift Shop Boutique, Offcutts' ideas can finally be presented as a long-player, somehow packaged together cohesively despite duo's obvious disrespect for genre-related pigeonholes. Really, it shouldn't work, but what could have been disjointed set of compositions, ends up being my favourite album so far this year. A few electronic elements in the production of the lament Papillion D Amour and the pensive Frigid, link the songs to a dose of deep grooves from Homestyle: Gravel Rash, Kitchen Bay and Back To The Music. Those Homestyle tracks are some of the finest and most charismatic songs produced among the electronic music community in the last couple of years. Endearing vocals drift over bubbling bass lines and solid beats to produce something quite magical. A few of the tracks on Thrift Shop Boutique didn't resonate with me originally when they appeared on EPs, but now make sense in an LP format. One of them is Break It, featured on a TV ad and thoroughly rotated on radio; another is Hips, which was the track that first attracted the attention of Australian media. Luckily, for fans of Offcutts, it isn't all a well-presented rehash; you'll find a few fresh tracks to make this CD a worthwhile inclusion to collections. She Said We Could Make It? is a stand-out, but its traditional flavour also shows how diverse the act's repertoire can get, a far-cry from the shadowy groove of my favourite, Mushroom Cloud (Mouthbox Mix). Offcutts can inspire some varied reactions, including laughter, sadness and more than a touch of confusion, but listening to the richly diverse Thrift Shop Boutique, you quickly reach the conclusion that everything is intentional. Despite a few dubious vocal and lyrical moments, this LP is an early highlight for 2004 and as time rolls on, it may be remembered as an historic moment for a rising star of the local scene.
|
|
|
|
 LAKE OF BASS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $27.95 (US $18.80) (UK £10.16)
cd
The duo behind Lake Of Bass have crossed many lines to piece together Wildlife Researcher and with the merging of electronic, world music and jazz influences, they manage to produce their own unique style. Poetry makes an unusual appearance, supported by emotive sounds as Diego Bosco injects a heavy dose of Europe into the mix, not only transmitting the musically diverse nature of Europe but also managing to craft some thumping beats. Grooves like Hit 5 provide some of the best jazzy breaks in recent memory and there's even some 4/4 that sounds like Herbie Hancock on '45. There's a hippy feel to the rasping vocals that I didn't go for and the words struggle to be more than dance lyrics given the nature of the music, but it's encouraging to hear someone trying to use intelligent lyrical content considering the inane ramblings commonly heard over beats. Wildlife Researcher has a variety that recent Australian electronic releases have lacked, traveling from subtle soundtrack moments to more obvious attempts at filling dance floors. An Aussie talking over an Italian's music? It's crazy enough to work.
|
|
|
|
 PURDY
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $22.95 (US $15.44) (UK £8.34)
cd
'Fairytale' is the operative word as Kevin Purdy, through songs like Sleep Well and The Secret Smile In The Camel Girl's Eyes, lures the listener from reality to visit the mystic recesses of the artist's imagination. Fairytale Insurance joins a long list of Australian releases over the last year that could easily find a home on a major film soundtrack. The production, as you would expect from a veteran of Australia's electronic musical fraternity, is slick with exception of a few muggy sampled narratives, but those samples are effective enough to be forgiven on what, generally, is 99% perfection. After dabbling with collaborations, sporadically releasing a few well-received solo efforts and continuing with his love of turntables, Kevin Purdy has learnt to craft slick music and tweak choice sounds, but this album attempts to do more than just sound sweet; it also offers vivid scenes, designed by Purdy as he successfully creates some clever escapism, sometimes offering a Spaghetti Western (The Grip), a Mystery (Here Come The Specials) or Thriller (Harry's Day); in fact he seems to cover most film genres with the atmospheres created on Fairytale Insurance. It may not be 'dance music' but this album reminds us that electronic music has made the transition from clubs to home stereos.
|
|
TOMORROW WILL BE LIKE TODAY
|
|
 RAND AND HOLLAND
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $22.95 (US $15.44) (UK £8.34)
cd
Brett Thompson may not have the sweetest voice in contemporary music, but as the digital revolution sweetens every facet of sound, it's becoming more and more important to sound 'real'. This Sydneysider definitely achieves that goal and his introspective and sometimes philosophical wanderings strike a chord through their honest and direct approach. Musically, the melancholy melodies are simply beautiful, slightly roughed up by abrasive and deep drum sounds. With acts like Machine Translations expertly combining songwriting and electronics, we hope that the appearance of Rand And Holland continues the trend. It's as though a traditional acoustic crooner had his guitar replaced by a laptop and music software. Let's face it, the boundaries of music can always do with a little stretch and if the ease of a home-studio environment can produce an album like this, we've all benefited from the technological revolution. Songs like Let Me Down Gently are so subtle and slow, they almost completely stop, but the tranquillity is welcome amid the constant influx of very ordinary rock bands. Tomorrow Will Be Like Today soothes and coos in dulcet tones that have struck a chord with this reviewer and it comes highly recommended to lovers of atmos and spacey electronica.
|
|
EVOLUTIONARY VIBES (VOL. 5): THE WINTER OF OUR DISCOTEQUE
|
|
 VARIOUS ARTISTS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $27.95 (US $18.80) (UK £10.16)
cd
The 5th instalment of Evolutionary Vibes shows exactly how far Creative Vibes have come and the nurturing roll they play as one of the country's only serious record labels for electronic artists. A healthy stable of acts cover most genres, notably hip-hop, breaks and drum&bass;, but it's the pioneering nature the acts that makes a clear impression. Ubin has released a very perplexing album in Star-Lo, but no one can doubt the quality of Red Room (featuring Vassy on vox), which is instantly captivating and a strong start to this compilation. With acts like Koolism, The Bird and Quro, Creative Vibes boast some of the most experienced and respected purveyors of local beats. Add to that a host of newcomers and you're guaranteed a balanced mix of 'sure things' and fresh interpretations. Koolism just keep getting better - Adrenalin proves that - and The Bird's 2 tracks on this disc remind us of the quality of their Audio Inventions LP. As for Maya Jupiter, I still believe she's the only Aussie gal on the mic who has real soul. The rest seem either technically proficient or passionate; never both. Maya's Try'na Bust prompted me to go back and give her LP another listen. Some pedestrian attempts at atmos slowed down the momentum of this CD but those tracks require a few more listens and to be fair, they suffer from the amount of soundscape electronica being produced at the moment. All in all, Evolutionary Vibes 5, hits the mark with a eclectic mix of ambience and hip-hop that proudly displays a fulfilling depth to our local talent.
|
|
DEFOCUS LOW RES PRODUCTIONS
|
|
 VARIOUS ARTISTS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $27.95 (US $18.80) (UK £10.16)
cd
If there's line drawn between 'approachable' and 'experimental' electronic music, the Clan Analogue collective are balancing on it. Some of the Clan's acts commit to one side or the other, but generally they're like-minded acts that push boundaries without destroying them. Established acts like Pretty Boy Crossover, Deep Child and Disco Stu provide stability in a long tracklisting of emerging talent. Parlour's No Title is an early highlight and sets the scene for some cerebral takes on existing genres, but generally the rule of thumb is: glitch meets ambience. DeForce reminds us that half our electronic community is labouring over a hot laptop, agonising over blips and blurps. The Clan call this 'low resolution', which certainly suits the majority of acts on their roster. I'm a big fan of Clan Analogue acts and it's good to see new talent raising their hands for a bit of exposure, especially Two4K and Able Child, who will assist me greatly as I write a horror novel. It's certainly not all dark but personally, I enjoy the Clan acts who take Darth Vader's lead and turn to the dark side. I can't imagine Australian music without Clan Analogue - they're a pillar of the electronic production community- and with DeForce they prove that the collective increases their depth of talent with each new release.
|
|
|
|
 MUSIC VS PHYSICS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $22.95 (US $15.44) (UK £8.34)
cd
The influence of DJ Shadow has been prominent in underground releases like The Sensory Projects compilation, Ants Farm Aphids, but here we see the full evolution, combined with other notable influences like Kid Koala to arrive at jazzed-up shot at truly cinematic scapes of deeper instrumental beats. A glitch mentality to scratching, similar to Smog, gives an unlikely unnerving relief amid hypnotic, dark layers and loops. It's clear, with an opening track like Main Title Sequence, that Music Vs Physics are striving for escapism. Given that, Underscore easily reaches its goal, helping create an atmosphere by using bizarre garnishes like cocktail music and gospel vocals out of their traditional context. Beats are minimal but solid, avoiding a tag of 'electronica' and still remaining true to a hip-hop philosophy. This is what Mo Wax was all about when no house was without one of their compilations, but Music Vs Physics manage to give the genre a well-overdue tweak and create music for the mind. The trio can easily be aligned with friends, Curse OV Dialect, sharing the same love for stuttering rhythms and that childhood imagery that seems at once a nightmare and strangely familiar at the same time.
|
|
|
|
 UBIN
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $27.95 (US $18.80) (UK £10.16)
cd
Star-Lo is well outside the range of my radar (being quite light in feel), but it's instantly obvious that Ubin have meticulously crafted one of the best-sounding electronic releases of the last 12months. I longed for something a bit harder, I'll admit it, but with the exception of a couple of saccharine pop attempts, I warmed to the eclectic nature of Star-Lo. I can't do the high-energy cheese even though I know it's slick and humorous in that 80s-influenced trashy kind of way. Instead I'm diggin the atmospheric tunes like the brilliant opener Redroom; and the jazzy tracks like Biseaux. The pioneering feature of Star-Lo is the influence of glitch on this duo and the effect it has when applied in a more approachable way than the traditional teeth-grinding version; like manic rhythms that make sense after repetition and actually have some bass. Personally, Summertime gets my vote as the standout track and that may have a lot to do with some digestible vocals that don't go over the top. Star-Lo is one of those albums that you love with the exception of a couple of tracks you loathe. Having said that, 11 out of 13 ain't a bad score.
|
|
|
|
 VARIOUS ARTISTS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $26.95 (US $18.13) (UK £9.80)
2 cd pack
The Dance Music Awards were dominated by the commercial power of House music a few years ago, before Kid Kenobi's 'Best DJ' awards signalled a changing of the guard and Breaks began to emerge as a valid competitor in our clubs and charts. Australia was recognised as a leader in the late 80s dance music explosion and it was those early, infamous parties that gave our artists and DJs an early start. The tracklisting on this 2003 DMAs album proudly displays the results of that early obsession with all things electronic. Hip-hop, R&B;, House, Breaks and more straight-laced Techno are represented by fine acts that have an extra edge over overseas competitors because harsh trials by fire on Australia's tough live circuit have turned these combos into intense performers. Anyone who's seen Resin Dogs, Baggsmen, Pnau, The Herd or 1200 Techniques knows what I'm talking about. This is the ultimate sampler for curious lovers of beats and you'll probably end up following the example of the world's top DJs who scramble for Australian wax as soon as it's pressed. Australia's jam-packed festival season has begun and Australian acts will be highly visible over another eventful 'silly season'. It's time to do your homework so you'll be prepared for the lush rhythms spilling from speakers during another sizzling summer of electronic music.
|
|
|
|
 THE BIRD
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $27.95 (US $18.80) (UK £10.16)
cd
It's releases like this that make me proud of the unique approach Australian acts have developed in the broad genre of 'dance' music. The Bird, Baggsmen, DB Chills, Nu Breed: all of these acts tackle their beats with a truly live approach. It's hard to ascertain the exact reason for this philosophy. It could be the traditional infatuation Australian punters have when it comes to entertainment or the fact that many of Australia's electronic music combos have been forced to play venues that traditionally would be a forum for rock, but regardless of the root, these blossoming acts consistently out-gun highly regarded overseas peers and Audible Inventions delivers a 'coming of age' for Sydney's finest. The Bird mix it up on their new blunt, gliding through ambient hip-hop that should please any Shadow fan, drum&bass; that could rock the most discerning purist and moments of pure fantasia custom-built for day-dreamers. The majority of tracks are laid on a bed of deep and intelligent dub, driven by sharp and dynamic beats. It's a sparse offering in regards to sounds, cleverly spaced and never cluttered, sonically brilliant without any trace of self-indulgence. Audible Inventions suggests that The Bird's interest in eastern sounds is now more than an infatuation, it seems to be a direction and future target sound; yet another major ingredient to flavour the stylised sounds of one of Sydney's most respected live beat combos.
|
|
|
|
 SPOD
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $22.95 (US $15.44) (UK £8.34)
cd
Can it be true? Is this the future of music? It's a frightening thought but this extraordinary solo artist's tongue-in-cheek fusion of harsh electronic sounds and cock-rock is brilliant satire while also teetering on the edge of critical acclaim. Like a cross between T-Rex and Peaches, this pink-clad, self-made sex symbol struts on stage, flanked by dancers; an act born from guest slots between the performances of local rock acts. It's got to be one of the most extreme and gutsy acts on the scene at the moment and after initial confusion in the industry, the media are leading the way and finally getting the joke. With production assistance from Decoder Ring's JohnBoy Rock, Spod's debut, Taste The Radness is...well, I guess you'd have to say that it's ‘totally rad’.
|
|
|
|
 RESIN DOGS
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $27.95 (US $18.80) (UK £10.16)
cd
Lovers of fine beats and breaks have been eagerly anticipating the release of Hi Fidelity Dirt all year. 'Anticipated' is the right word; we've all expected a superb effort from Australia's finest funk collective. Having had the pleasure of enjoying the Dogs' hospitality in the great brown city of Brisbane, one memory is still fresh: that record collection. These guys are swimming in great tunes and the waters run deep. Hi Fidelity Dirt is a chunky batch of slick sounds and expert arrangements and after Introdogtion, Sidesplitter lays down a huge slab of instrumental funk in true Resinistic style: the rolling bass, bursts of brass, dirty loops...it's all good. Good Buddha's vocals on the previous single Take Off prove that Aussies can rap in an Australian accent without sounding like they're on day-leave from the local prison and the combination of two acts at their peak makes for an early highlight on an impressive tracklisting. The legendary Pharcyde add an international feel on Shut Yo Mouth and remind us of the precise, upbeat lyrical stylings that made them superstars of hip hop. The Resin Dogs have plenty of ammo when it comes to collaborations and the ragga-infused Gunshot Dub allows Spikey T to loosen his vocal chords while Absract Rude is back for more Resin on Rebel (you may remember his subterranean vocals from Set It Off in 2002). The scope on this LP is vast and R&B;, Latin and Ragga influences creep into the mix without inspiring jeers; the Resin Dogs would have to collaborate with Sophie Monk before they started losing their well-earned cred. Hang on...Resin Dogs with Sophie Monk? That's brilliant. I should be working in A&R.;
|
|
|
|
 BAGGSMEN
Add to basket. Normally ships within 10 days $22.95 (US $15.44) (UK £8.34)
cd
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of attending a special show by the Baggsmen (ex-Hive) where scenes from classic cult films were projected onto a screen above the band as they played their own custom-made soundtracks. It was a totally captivating experience and the style of Eleven Stages suggests a continuing theme through their current set. This filmic collection of tunes is making major waves on Australian radio and one listen to the new LP had the same effect on me. After Rockin On 5th, a fast-paced burst of solid grooves that would be perfect for any Bond film, Rudy Jackson lends her vocal abilities to Hi-Top Days- an infectious slab of funk with an explosive chorus, custom made for play-lists. The careful selection of guest vocalists is a strong-point of this Sydney act; they know how to sprinkle the perfect garnish on each track, evident on Long Strong Diamond when Jake Stone yells above broken beats and a sinister progression of dark keys. If Sydney has developed its own style of electronic music it must hinge on the live approach, necessitated by the dominance of live venues, usually reliant on guitar bands. Local acts have heeded the call, building energetic live performances and this act have always been at the forefront of the revolution. With bass, keyboards and drums they construct a massive sound and faithfully represent their recordings in the live arena. Eleven Stages will add to that reputation and surely, when Lords Of The Fly join the band on stage for Blown Angels, fists will pump the air and feet will leave the ground. Watching You welcomes regular collaborator Lior into the ring for a 12-round heavy-weight bout against fat, rolling bass lines that results in a knock-out points decision in favour of funk. Baggsmen's Eleven Stages is beyond genre, mixing jazz, funk, hip-hop, breaks and dub successfully but it's not beyond me to add a rare rating to this review: ten out of ten. Go the locals!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
