Reviews:22

Tim “love” Lee
‘Fully Bearded: 15 Years of Tummy Touch in Dub’
Tummy Touch Records

f**king lovely. I couldn’t care less whether this is post something, past something else, or indeed pre anything before it. This music makes you feel it’s fun to be alive and if you’re into growling bass guitars and heavy fx then look no further, you have found nirvana. Of course this much more than mere noise – people are singing too – as dub versions of all and sundry from the previous fifteen years of Tummy Touch gets remodeled and reinvented. Artists include Tom Vek, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Groove Armada and the excellent Circuits, Dubbing At Dawn amongst many significant others. This is joy from start to end. Tune in.    9.5

 http://www.junodownload.com/products/1847760-02.htm?ref=dc

http://tummytouch.com

  

Trentemøller
‘Reworked/Remixed’
In My Room

Released on Trentmoller’s own label this selection of self-penned, remixes and remixed by others represents the cross section of the artists’ inspired journeys through sound. A trip that is at times danceable and at others plainly provocative. Try his take on UNCLE ‘The Answer’ whose haunting piano and edgy electronic treatments are hard to surpass, or Weatherall’s off-kilter version of Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider Go!!! for a taste of what’s in store. The range expands the possibilities between Franz Ferdinand to Depeche Mode who all get made over in one way or another. There are certainly plenty of stunning moments to behold over this two disc set and it would be easier to say what doesn’t stand out as opposed to what does. The effortlessly sublime instrumental version of Tide being a case in point. 9

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/reworked-remixed/437164-01/

http://www.anderstrentemoller.com/

 

Gregory Porter
‘1960 What?’ (The remixes)
Motema Music

Nothing like a touch of jazz to blow the blues away and right from the second that double bass plays you know you’re in stylish company – even the title is a question of cool. This song is actually saying something to fire up your imagination as the horns blare and ride cymbals punctuate the rhythm, 1960 What? fits into any time frame as styled by Wicked Jazz Sounds’ Phil Horneman. The album, Water has been Grammy nominated in 2011 and the song now appears with further remixes: Opolopo add a four-four shuffle to the affair; Peas filter it over an infectious click track.  8
http://www.motema.com/artist/gregory-porter

 

Scott Harrack
‘Finding The One’
Love Not Money

Brand new label from Leeds who open with this notable release from Scott Harrack. Peculiar Girl begins with a twangy bass guitar and ends up in an explosion of emotion via neatly placed vocals and shimmering synths. Privileges, feels deceptively moodier with classic techno bass complimented by jazzy percussion and cool trumpet, although as the vocal snippets and chords work themselves together this feels decidedly breezy. She’s Something, continues to pick up the pace with warped organs and a clash of vocals, which you may be able to decipher from the early nineties. Sentimental Thoughts, darkens the mood with an impressively emotive production which again throws up a succession of clever ideas. Wishes, then finishes off by seductively dropping the tempo and replaying a classy boogie sample over easy-paced beats.   8
http://www.junodownload.com/products/finding-the-one-ep/1850912-02/

http://soundcloud.com/lovenotmoneyrecords

 

Cram
‘Slow Down EP’
Deep Edition Recordings

Excellent release from Hamburg’s Cram who neatly blends together three uber slices of funkiness for Deep Edition. Opening with Compose You A Tune which reworks a familiar sample in a creative way as this mid-paced groover proves hard not to fall in love with, while the slightly more suspicious sounding Make You Do Wrong sprinkles yet more Disco dust over heavy filtered bass and some classic vocal from the Reverend Green. Leaving the Wonder inspired Bring It Down to fire up Stevie’s electric piano in truly inspired fashion, and is something that will strike an instant chord with you. 9
http://www.beatport.com/#release/slow-down-ep/824877

http://soundcloud.com/deep-edition-recordings