Yusef Lateef – The Blue Yusef Lateef

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip bluesy jazz with some eastern experimental mixed in

Moods

East meets west on this hip bluesy hard bop LP with moments of eastern experimental

Thoughts

The bluesy rocking tracks are great, thankfully this makes up most of the album. Unfortunately there are these eastern experimental interludes that disrupt the flow creating an uneven listen.

The Good

'Like it is' centers around a particularly effective 'sad' sax solo with a piano and intimate percussion.

'six miles next door' is swinging blues jazz.

'Othelia' is a swinging blues thing with a blazing sax solo, harmonica. As much a blues track as it is jazz. The swing borrows from a specific type of rock and roll of the era.

The bad

'Moon cup' is a let down after. Eastern in influence with cringey Cantonese singing that just doesn't work.

'Back home' continues the Eastern sound and I'm just not a fan.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Yusef-Lateef-The-Blue-Yusef-Lateef/release/376373

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3z7853uxgw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVhov-Y6ToI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSMVJTrUS4M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXN-P4qPl5U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPrOVvqIEBA

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Yusef Lateef – The Blue Yusef Lateef

Description: Album Review of Yusef Lateef – The Blue Yusef Lateef


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

robotic g-funk techno

Moods

daft punk lost in deep space

Thoughts

Looking past the cheesy voice and narrative stuff is a set of great electro productions. Maintains a g-funk flavor and techno thing at times.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Space-Dimension-Controller-Welcome-To-Mikrosector-50/release/4343221

Listen!

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Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

Description: Album Review of Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

People Plus – Third Space

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Electro jazz

Moods

Spacey electro jazz – quite nice

Thoughts

A record that is both chilled out and energetic –  ambient down tempo textures meets tight jazz-like instrumentation. Longform instrumental songwriting makes this a record for specific audiences. But it's quite nice overall.

Jungle room has a Radiohead meeting in the aisle vibe. O.S.C.1. is a tropical dub thing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/People-Plus-Third-Space/release/13594488

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4E8qrwv6wU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cr9GkR_o6w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dY6chQ7Wc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBruPwYpObI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUy5rDnjwi0

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People Plus – Third Space

Description: Album Review of People Plus – Third Space


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

K-Lone – Sine Language

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Gritty hip electro house

Moods

Raw textures compliment strong productions on this hip minimal electro ep

Thoughts

Resident Advisor said it well:

Sine Language features four very different productions, putting K-Lone's versatility on display. The title track draws on a vintage Detroit style, mixing electro beats and hip-hop vocals—hardly a novel idea in 2019. But a sweet, subtly out-of-place ambient breakdown interrupts the flow at the perfect moment, keeping things interesting. "Batacuda" and "Bells" are experiments at slower tempos, something we've seen a lot of from UK-based producers in recent years, particularly those in the Timedance camp. "Batacuda" floats along, emanating a drowsy humidity, while "Bells" is moody and thoughtful, coated in a chiming haze. "Missed Calls," a carefully crafted piece of taught, polyrhythmic braindance, is probably the best track on the EP. With this kind of eclecticism, a producer takes the risk of spreading themselves too thinly, but not K-Lone. He brings an intelligence and inventiveness to everything he does, unifying his work and making it essential listening every time.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/K-Lone-Sine-Language/release/13695712

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifxYPDdNtKk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erI8pZgHwnc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQHdaRoJFHw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTdoBtMea2o

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K-Lone – Sine Language

Description: Album Review of K-Lone – Sine Language


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Mr Beatnick – The Synthetes Trilogy

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

electro semi dreamy, fun and easy

Moods

Blissed-out moonlight electro

Thoughts

The first half is OK, took me a few listens to warm up to but it improved with time. Things take a positive turn at shifting sands – stretches our gets a little more groovy.

Honestly it's fine record but nothing worth holding onto.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mr-Beatnick-The-Synthetes-Trilogy/release/5046503

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18MTnH1e5Rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWFwyP7llKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNuP-rLb6Uo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK2lVoimj70

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js_2ni6lJaI

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Mr Beatnick – The Synthetes Trilogy

Description: Album Review of Mr Beatnick – The Synthetes Trilogy


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

dramatic art pop

Moods

A theatrical guilty pleasure

Thoughts

Musically it varies from synth pop to theatrical show songs, piano ballad on 'Barricade' is a standout example. The dual harmonies of Torquil and Amy are beautiful and delivered with a poetic sincerity. Lyrical scenes are painted vividly with an erudite literary astuteness.

These earlier Stars albums strike a guilty pleasure chord for me. I'm not typically into lyrics like these – grandiose, overly romantic, so straightforward – but something here works well. When I'm in the mood for that type of thing nothing satisfies like Stars does.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Stars-In-Our-Bedroom-After-The-War/release/3986030

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzSUIxYQI2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-K05oBku10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5qx_ZMY7tU

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Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

Description: Album Review of Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

MJ Cole – Sincere

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

UK garage meets cheesy house

Moods

A Y2K party in London

Thoughts

An uneven album. The bad tracks feature Elisabeth Troy doing these overly polished house vocals that lack character; would serve well as Muzak at a slightly dated 'hip' hotel lounge.

However the good is REALLY good. These tracks are generally more 'raw' garage like Sincere and Desperado. Memorable melodies that capture a hectic urban pulse.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/MJ-Cole-Sincere/release/146498

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXaWfgOGcqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAZwrZ0MFo0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZE3kncX3qU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_JvvALgD9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nejpEOeQRfw

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MJ Cole – Sincere

Description: Album Review of MJ Cole – Sincere


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Thomas Fehlmann – Lowflow

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

bassy dub minimal electro

Moods

A slight euphoric buzz graces these minimal dub tracks / a quiet glee while pregaming for a night-out in Berlin

Thoughts

these productions are super crisp and rich, no surprise from Thomas Fehlmann. Little textural flourishes everywhere elevate this from standard minimal mood techno to a well crafted album. It has a heavy dub influence with enough bass to give it a pleasant bump throughout, sounds very much like the orb.

Quiet and stoned, it takes it's time.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Thomas-Fehlmann-Lowflow/release/338329

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxJJPmTiTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1iqD389dss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTBCjJTN2M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLryCyusjOQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJFXhinVu8k

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Thomas Fehlmann – Lowflow

Description: Album Review of Thomas Fehlmann – Lowflow


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Urban hard bop

Moods

Damn fine hardbop, one of the best 'saxophone' records ever

Thoughts

Rollins playing is fantastic on this. His solos consume most of the tracks and he plays with an impressive amount of variety. Consistently dexterous and light, it's engaging and a must hear for bop fans.

The first couple tracks are alright, Rollins early solos compliment Roaches quick percussion.

'Strode rode' is what got me into the record. Impressive

Rollins is delicate on solos like 'moritat', almost samba like in his agility.

'Blue 7' is a nice finish, nocturnal hip and cool.

All around good session if nothing incredibly inventive, the playing is fantastic and the tracks are memorable.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sonny-Rollins-Saxophone-Colossus/release/3934932

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCMNWVTxZI4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA2XIWZxMKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDagrq6hcYU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7G4DciALDs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ChOkkdT2zw

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Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus

Description: Album Review of Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Darkstar – North

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

mid aughts uk electro, gloomy synth pop with digital interference

Moods

A mournful synthpop record that explores man's fragile relationship with machines

Thoughts

has that slightly dark quality certain bands can pull off well (think wild beasts, miike snow, spiritualized). It's emotional music but some of the impact feels limited by the reliance on synthesisers. Poetic in a 'ghost in the machine' exhausted-by-technology kind of way but at 10 years old, it definitely feels like commentary from a time before now; when we admired technology before we truly started to fear it's scary data (people) focus.

I think I like the sound more than the overall songs but it's a good record nonetheless. Darkstar utilize this cracking in the vocals that has an interesting effect, I thought my files were corrupt the first time. I interpret it as a commentary on man's role in music, the beautiful imperfection.

Mark Fisher originally brought this to my attention, worth a read here:

https://markfisherreblog.tumblr.com/post/32185314385/you-remind-me-of-gold-dialogue-with-simon

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Darkstar-North/release/2494475

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8-85U4UWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1oC0-xx_Hc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osIZ5ETBBeM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHJwtc2qYPU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7nUgy4_Jc

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Darkstar – North

Description: Album Review of Darkstar – North


Rating: 3 out of 5