And There's More . . .

As the great Jimmy Cricket once said. Meanwhile, here's a few jottings on some recent releases.

Title: Lilly Louisa
Artist: Holmar Filipsson & Sasse
Label: Thugfucker
Genre: House

Lilly Louisa (Gus Gus remix)
Lilly Louisa (Holmar & Ulysses' Electricscrewdriver remix)
Lilly Louisa (original)

Three versions of the same track. Don't really know what I expected the Gus Gus remix to be like, but it's ordinary and sounds like they really couldn't be bothered. It's a monotonous, modulated groove that has the odd flurry of something else overdubbed on top of it. Nothing to write home about. "Holmar and Ulysses' Electricscrewdriver remix" is more exciting, with a solid kick, squelchy bass and an understated percussive clip-clop that keeps things funky. Some interesting background ambience serves to raise the intensity levels as well. The original mix falls somewhere between the previous two, being closer to Gus Gus' effort, but lacking the funk of the other. A bit of a stomper, but a more interesting stomp than that proposed by Gus Gus. Not up to the standard of Mr Negative though.

Title: Question
Artist: Dyed Soundorom
Label: Freak n' Chic
Genre: House

Infection
Question

Sinister stuff from Soundorom. "Infection" is a sparse groove topped off with a repetitive spoken word sample that effortessly blends in with the prevalent mood. What's that voice saying, "crispy"? Anyway, it's a good track that sems to have more than a touch of the Jamie Jones about it. "Question" initially sounds like an out-take of "Infection" which adds handclaps and some warped noises before the vocal comes in the form of "question" being repeated. Both are good cuts but are a bit too similar to each other to really stand apart.

Title: Lost
Artist: Marc Romboy & Tyree Cooper
Label: Ovum
Genre: Sweat and Strobe

Lost (original)
Lost (Mazi & Duriez remix)
Lost (dub)

Good piece of nagging, but subtle, acid with Cooper's vocal adding occasional emphasis. The original stays true to the game and does the paranoid delusion 'ting very well.
"Mazi and Duriez's remix" opens things out a lot creating space and endowing an already good track with epic proportions. Not as claustraphobic as the original or dub, it offers something different and is the pick of the bunh for me. An all-round strong package.





Title: Custom Made
Artist: Mr G
Label: O Proof
Genre: Peerless Techno

Custom Made (original)
Custom Made (Wink remix)

Mr G could make, and I don't want to cheapen things here, 100 tracks all sounding exactly the same and I'd love them all. So, it makes me very happy to announce that his latest doesn't disappoint. I can't explain how happy I was to find these links in my mailbox a couple of weeks ago. Made everything seem worthwhile. The "Wink remix" does a little bit too much to a classic G groove. It's good, and gives it a nice tribal feel, and ups the intensity levels, but it's the effortless simplicity of the original I prefer.

It's an uncomplicated formula, and didn't a track once come out called "If It Ain't Broke . . ."? 'nuff said.

The return of sound. I'd better get a move on. A little bit of ground to make up so here's four more of the best. Off to Paris next Sunday, so I'll try and post a few more before then.



Jazz Journey (Swag's Night Sight mix) - DJ Assassin (Phono)

DJ Assassin had his moments. This and releases on Cross - Section and Ugly amongst others. This is truly wonderful though. Swag's golden touch being the deciding factor. I couldn't stop playing this when it came out, and now that I've rediscovered it I'm on another binge.



Freaked Out - Charley Brown (Guidance)

A Wiggle favourite. What a great label Guidance was. Wonderful music, great presentation and here's Austin Bascombe aka Abacus, sometime recording artist on Prescription and Balance, and Nigel Hayes, under the Charley Browne moniker. Mid headlining set burner for when the beans kick in.

My Soul, My Spirit (Mr G's Freedom Train mix) - Mike Grant (Moods & Grooves)

One of Colin Mc Bean's many remixes, and it's a belter. The drama is heightened by the strings and the shouting. Great dynamics in this one. It goes like a train. You better believe it. Much more than a one-trick pony. When I grow up, I want a sequencer with a "Mr G Sound" button on it.




Song of Life - Leftfield (Hard Hands)

Does this one really need me to wax lyrical? Thought not.