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Artiste: Incubus
Album: Make Youself
Spotlight Track: Battlestar Scralatchtica
Label: Sony

I love this one! It’s my generation’s music and it’s done with a fuck all attitude! The boys from Incubus are from LA, and their second album, Make Yourself, is a fierce one! This album is so diversified, it’s really hard to categorise, there’s thoughtfully written ballads like Stellar and I Miss You to hardcore stuff like Pardon Me and Out From Under. Despite its commercial slant, Make Yourself definitely is a good listen, more to the likes of Faith No More.

With the introduction of a new dj, DJ Chris Kilmore, Battlestar Scralatchtica (my spotlight) is the only instrumental on this album. As if to make his mark, this track is outstanding! In my opinion, it’s definitely crossed genres with its trip-hop funkiness. It’s a great party track which I’ll drop in any Xmas party anybody out there want to book us for ;)

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Azymuth
Album: Cascades / Rapid
Spotlight Track: Montreux
Label: Milestone
Catalog: MCD-47088-2

Jose Roberto Bertrami: Keyboards, Organ, Percussion, Vocoder, Vocals and Piano.
Alex Malheiros: Electric Bass, Percussion, Vocal and Acoustic Guitar.
Ivan Conti (Mamao): Drums, Percussion, Vocals.
Jose Carlos: Flute
Sidney Moreira (Cidinho):Anaraug, Miscellaneous Percussion.

It’s been a while folks. The year comes to an end with 2009 floating us by with a blink of an eye. It’s been an eventful year for most and we at HQ still have the flavours to ensure aural satisfaction for all you good folks.

To close our musical reviews for 09, I had a very tough choice choosing between rare groove, Berlin minimal house, stateside house, funk, jazz and alas I had to go for comfort food which lies in the fusion grooves of the Brazilian Trio “AZYMUTH.” These fellas have been rocking round the block for aeons and are still at it with their new found label mate “Far Out Records.” Their music has been played countless times by the maestros of many scenes such as Masters at Work, Patrick Forge, Norman Jay, Gilles P, etc.

Just a simple dose of fused sounds gives me the tingles with their musical composition. These guys have solid ideas when cooking up their production. Style-wise, it’s pure classy and groovy at the same time. Mentally groovy is how I see it and the infectious stabs and intricate samples used in their tunes just brings you to higher ecstasy.

Leader of the group Bertrami coins their music “Crazy Samba” and exposes that their musical approach is an impressionist one, whereby telling a story pervades the group sound and can range from Herbie Hancock’s sly polyrhythmic sounds to the backwoods folk song style of Milton Nascimento. Crazy Samba was established back in the 70’s by folks such as Flora and Airto as well as Eumir Deodato (who also by the way are our musical heroes) who reconstructed the CTI label formulae by incorporating pop soul, samba-funk and represented a new form of musical frontier.

Look no further if you are seeking slick and sick grooves coz these mofo’s got it goin ornnnn! To end of of 2009 and to usher in a positive 2010, “Montreux” the spotlight track recorded back in 1983 most definitely hits the spot and will continue to do so for many moons to come. I groove to it with a smile every single time I hear it coz it really seems to me an inspirational tune worth treasuring in your C Drive.

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Swing Out Sister
Album: Beautiful MessI- Special Edition
Spotlight Track: Heaven Only Knows (Live)
Label: Avex Trax
Catalog: AVCD-23785/6

Lead Vocals – Corinne Drewery
Producer, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Andy Connell
Bass Guitar – Juneroy Johnson
Congas, Percussion, Kalimba – Jody Linscott
Drums – Chris Bailey
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tim Cansfield
Vocals [Additional] – Delores Clay

Sup Sup folks!

It’s been along time since we boys at H4U have done any Zao Gng reviews but good news is.. we’re back! It’s been a real hectic few months for us but we’re really happy to be back in da zone ;)

For this Zao Gng installment, I would like to review one of the camp’s all-time fave acts, yes yes yes, you’ve guessed it – Swing Out Sister yo! They’ll be in town this week and we will be there to soak in the jazziness under the coconut tree. No doubt the SOS gig at East Coast is gonna be rockin’ but to whet your appetite before the gig, I thought it might be a good idea to shed some light on their latest release, Beautiful Mess. It’s really damn shiok. It’s not so straight forward and takes a while to fully slap you in the face but it will no doubt be giving you one nice tight slap if you concentrate hard enough.

Tracks to look out for in this LP are “My State of Mind”, “Time Tracks You Down”, “Butterfly”, “Beautiful Mess”, many many lah. Just go get the album, it’s like Guinness man, the more you listen the more you steam kodok. Satisfaction guaranteed from Andy and Corinne!

For the Spotlight Track, I decided to review a track from the bonus CD which comes with the Special Edition version of this album release. This bonus CD is basically a live audio recording of their Tokyo concert, so confirm STEAM TO DA BRIM!! Anyway, back to the Spotlight Track – Heaven Only Knows (which blows my mind everytime I listen to it) – is a super stylo mylo tangkap track with strong songwriting influences from jazzy maestros like Michel Legrand, Cole Porter, etc. Have a listen folks, the melody, the instrumental jazz stylings, the vocal nuances, mad shit all the way! You will really feel like pouring yourself a glass of single malt to savour the full flavours of this song. Serious business.

Also check out YouTube for an ol’ skool performance of this cut at Tower Records Tokyo. Classico Madrid y’all! And last but not least, make sure you go to the concert at East Coast! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity people!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: ICE a.k.a. Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Album: The Afro-Instrumental LP
Spotlight Track: Ozan Koukle
Label: Musidisc (1977 France)

Hi all, welcome back and apologies for the long hiatus. We HOT-4-U boys have been hard at work and time flies when you’re having fun. The spotlight track for me this session is Ozan Koukle from little known Afro Funk band ICE, or more widely known as Lafayette Afro Rock Band, or also known as Captain Dax or also known as Krispie And Company.

Despite the cheesy names, Lafayette Afro Rock Band have just about the most serious hardcore funk tracks in the history of funk music. They have been sampled by everyone from Public Enemy to Janet Jackson.

Back to L.A.R.B, I mean, these are guys with a vision. In 1971, they decided that America has too many funk outfits, so they packed their bags and moved to Paris, and have performed regularly live. They disbanded shortly after in 1978, leaving us the legacy of their outstanding vision and pure funk. However, Ozan Koukle is not a hard thumpin’, balls busting funk stomper. It’s actually a sophisticated rare groove groover, just the kind that appeals to my stressed out nature. In all walks of life, gifted folks have put out efforts that continue to inspire generations to come, and personally, nobody does it better than the masters of yesteryear. Since I’m the arty one in the group, let me make my case in point with an example from a master of our century, Picasso and his masterpiece Guernica. Click here to see details. In reaction to a bombing of a defenseless Spainish town, Picasso painted this and boy what a painting, almost 8 metres wide and 4metres tall. Just like Picasso, folks like L.A.R.B and their music will stand the test of time and will continue to inspire future generations of DJs, producers, and hip hoppers, from all corners of the world.

Re-released on Strut: Darkest Light The Best Of LARB. Bag it.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Everything But The Girl
Album: Idlewild
Spotlight Track: Goodbye Sunday
Label: Sire Records/ Blanco Y Negro
Catalog: 925721-2

Recorded and mixed in London at Livingston Studios 1987.
Written by: Watt/Thorn
Vocals: Tracey Thorn
Piano & Synthesisers: Damon Butcher
Bass: Steve Pearce
Alto Saxophone: Peter King
Tenor Saxophone: Ian Fraser
Trumpet: James McMillian

Howdy Howdy folks!
This week, I review something that has been in “my favourites” vaults for a long long time. 1988 is the year when a lot of good music was being churned out, and amongst the massive lot, this full length album by E.B.T.G is an old school goodie that will retain an evergreen status in my books. An extremely well produced album of 12 tracks, worth every single cent. TOP SHIT.

It carries the popular Rod Stewart classic “I don’t want to talk about it” and many other slow but classy grooves such as ” Love Is Here Where I Live”, “Oxford Street”, “Apron Strings” and of course one of me favourites “Goodbye Sunday.” I dare say that E.B.T.G is one of those rare groups that always re-invent themselves and they really have the substance to carry it off, and best part of it all is that they do so with flying colours.

Be it folk/pop, soul, jazz, funk, drum and bass, house, this dynamic duo ( I call them the ugliest folks in show bizz) have covered them all. Other notable albums to check out from their discography would be ‘The Language of Life”, “Acoustic”, “Walking Wounded” and “Temperamental.”

True to their craft, Tracy Thorn and Ben Watt deserve all the accolades and praises as they have been at it for close to 3 decades! These folks are ORNNN Yoalll…!!!

My choice for this spotlight track is due to the fact that it carries with it a melody and flavour that is truly serene and so 80’s at the same time (specially when you check out the drum machine sounds). The cool thing about their element and why they are always so refreshing is the fact that Tracy’s voice is one of a kind, what kind I don’t know, but definitely a kind that I dig! ;)

If you haven’t heard of E.B.T.G, then go kill yourself coz they are going to stay for the long haul. True Iconic Giants of our time.

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Thelonious Monk
Album: Criss Cross
Spotlight Track: Rhythm-A-Ning
Label: Columbia, Legacy
Catalog: CK 63537

Piano – Thelonious Monk
Bass – John Ore
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse
Drums – Frankie Dunlop
Engineer [Assistant] – Seth Foster
Mastered By – Mark Wilder
Producer [Original Recordings] – Teo Macero
Reissue Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Notes: 24-Bit digitally remastered

Yo people, wazz happenin’??

These past few months have been pretty hectic for me and usually in days when I’m up to the ears in activity, I tend to get into the trad-jazz frame of mind. Which brings me to one cat I’ve been wanting to review for a long while.. Thelonious Sphere Monk. Phoooo, whadda name folks! Fella with this kind of a name is bound to be mad.. and when I say mad.. I mean he’s bonkers to da yonkers y’all! No kidding. Musically, he is also MAD!! Along with Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Miles Davis, Monk is considered one of the “greats” in the post bop era and one of the most inventive piano players in any musical genre. He was perfect for modern jazz because his sound pressed the right buttons and his style was totally “avant garde”. Once you hear him bang on the keys my friend.. you will mos def haveta agree, he is a DON, fullstop.

I’ve heard quite a number of his albums and in every one of them, there’s that Monk signature which only he can pull off. It’s off but yet on, kao on the tension but yet heavy on the groove. Fella has got that quirky melody in his vibe and I think it stems from his gila babi behaviour. His speech is also damn hard to pick up.. if you think Miles is hard to understand, wait till you hear Monk man, he is the numero uno in the art of mumbling. Haha, lurve it! Last but not least, being a fan of head gear, I really dig his selection of hats. Some of his hats are totally nonsense vibe but yet they go really well with his tailored suits. His dressing is a bit like his music I guess, off but yet.. ORNNNN. Itz ornn itz ornn itz ornn itz ornn itz ornnnn :)

For this week’s Zao Gng, I wanna introduce a Monk recording other than the famous “Straight No Chaser”. I decided to go Columbia style and it was a hard toss between ‘Criss Cross’ and ‘Underground’. Both albums had a lot of tracks that I liked but in the end, I decided on ‘Criss Cross’ because there are some important cuts here for the jazz listener. Seriously mad shit here folks. Tracks like ‘Tea For Two’, ‘Eronel’, ‘Don’t Blame Me’, ‘Think Of One’, ‘Crepuscule With Nellie’ (intense!!), ‘Pannonica’ and not forgetting the title track, ‘Criss Cross’. All are 10 outta 10 killer cuts and the sound of these new remastered re-issues are damn shiok. Don’t sleep!

On the spotlight track, ‘Rhythm-A-Ning’, the best word to describe this track is SNAPPIN’. It’s dancefloor with a real tangkap feel. You can hear the bassist groovin’ hard, you can hear the drummer just vibin’ to the rhythmn and Monk as usual, doing his thang on the keys. It’s not easy to spar with a genius like Monk so kudos to Charlie Rouse on the tenor as well. If you wanna hear the full track, they’ve got a great live version on YouTube. Jazzin’ y’all, absolutely jazzin’!!

PS: Before I go folks, there’s another song on this LP that you can’t overlook. It’s something this genius wrote for his wife, called ‘Crepuscule With Nellie’. Check out this heavy-ass piano piece on YouTube. Speechless man.. STOOOOM TO DA BOOOOM.

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Johnny Hammond
Album: Gambler’s Life
Spotlight Track: Gambler’s Life
Label: Salvation Records (1974)

The genius of the Mizell Brothers is the surefire way to make any song timeless. Compared to the other tracks coming from the 70’s period, the Mizell’s have an undeniable distinct signature to their sound, even the production level on their output is light years ahead of the competition. For example, take any Mizell masterpiece, from Bobbi Humphrey to Donald Byrd, they sound as if they’ve been made yesterday. The Mizells have truly changed the face of jazz funk and that of music in this century, inspiring the future generations of producers and musicians to come.

Johnny “Hammond” Smith, had a great career at Prestige and later at the CTI sister label, Kudu under the masterful eye of Mr Creed Taylor. “Hammond” was used in his name to avoid confusion with other musicians, John Smith or the more famous Jimmy Smith, and dropped his last name Smith on his first album on Kudu.

Johnny’s first venture with the Mizells would be on Gambler’s Life, on the subsidary CTI offshoot label, Salvation. Although Gambler’s Life did not receive as much of a cult status as the later Gears album, it definitely has struck a chord with us here at Hot-4-U. The Mizells have included their trademark layered jazz sound and the unmistakable vocal intros after the mid break, together with Johnny’s electric organ, Gambler’s Life is a journey in jazz dance nation.

I’ve chosen the title track Gambler’s Life because of its innovative introduction and for its dance-your-pants-off melody, the track’s intensity never stops, especially when the female vocals, courtesy of Stephanie Spruill kicks in… oooh damn, Kerna! Overall the entire album is great, Rhodesian Thoroughfare is just as experimental, Virgo Lady is a futuristic vision of jazz, and last track Call On Me slows things down, if not still groovy. The album has been re-released on UK label Soul Brother, with bonus tracks from his earlier Prestige albums featuring the usual suspects on the sessionists rounds, Harvey Mason, Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, Airto, Grover Washington Jr, George Benson, Eric Gale…etc

I leave you now with the surrealistic notes in the cover sleeve from Emory Holmes:

Gamblers and Parables
so slick says to me:
bring your lady
and shoot down to the sound factory,
it’s a party,
shoot down and feel your roots and party,
and
me and my ol’ lady fly down,
in the space coupe,
before cool breezes, from sky high.
down to the ear-star lady
and her organ man,
in with their arps,
and moogs,
and jazz and things.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Robert Nacken
Album: It Could Be So Easy
Spotlight Track: Won’t Be
Label: Parallax Records BSCIJ-13

I know you must be scratching your heads thinking who the f*%k is Robert Nacken? His name and his music really doesn’t match, but here’s the thing, when you check out his tunes, then you’ll really know why he needs to be called Robert Nacken and not some other fanciful name.

Robert is true to his musical forms and plays the guitar and keyboards. Again, I know you’d be thinking why choose his own name for music that is so club jazz oriented and hip and I found the reason to be that it’s kind of catchy and easy to recall when you say Robert Nacken out loud. (Give it a try “ROBERT NACKEN”).

Anyways back to his craft. This dude hails from Germany and has 11 tracks to his name in his album titled ” It Could Be So Easy.” I would say the full length album can be hailed as quite experimental and covers quite a varied scope of styles ranging from Fusion Jazz, Clubby Jazzy Bossa, House, Latin etc… Yeah you said it, Nacken’s got it all covered…and I must add, his flavors and approach are pretty interesting to say the least.

For this week’s spotlight track and quite a tough one to spot amongst the 11 tracks, it has to be the airy, stringy, sexxy, euphoric reverbish track titled “Won’t Be”. Quite easy to describe this one as the sound is kind of 80’s in some ways at the intro (the pads will most definitely keep you flying high) , yet it has that clean minimal Japanese feel to the production (at the chorus breakdown, the Samba Bossa Nova gets strong) and reminds you of a carnival feel type of vibe.

The club jazz appeal for this 11 tracker is strong and in my opinion, I would give Mr. Nacken a nine outta ten for his efforts. Musically he deserves some credit for his efforts as each track as this album is totally different and has a unique flavor to it.

Call me a sucker for the pads and airy feel to the whole production (kind of like J Magik’s solo album), but when I hear Nacken’s production on this spotlight track, I know it’s a sure route to flyin’ high in the Brooklyn sky. For those keen into the experimental club jazz crossovers, do visit the folks at Parrallax Records Japan.

You are bound to find some new shit and hidden gems to collect. Savvy?

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Orchester Erwin Lehn
Album: Color In Jazz
Spotlight Track: Fünf zu Vier
Label: MPS Records

Howdy people! The radio silence from HOT-4-U has beem a while but we’re back!
Today’s Zao Gng brings us back to The Black Forest, home of MPS Records and home too of Mr. Erwin Lehn. Jazzer extraodinaire. Big Band specialist, and now, active pensioner!

From the sleevenotes of this album, I read that with the advent of recorded music, many ballrooms closed and the number of swing orchestras declined, leaving a large group of jazz musicians jobless. However, some bands managed to carry on with concert tours, radio dates and recording sessions. The criterion was quality and only the best made it. Needless to say, Orchester Erwin Lehn was one of these.

Although Orchester Erwin Lehn boasts of some hardcore jazz soloist of it’s time – people like Bernd Rabe, Ack Van Rooyen, Rold Ericson – Erwin Lehn also expanded his musical responsibilities to more commercial dance music. This modus operandi alone makes this album even more meaningful as not too often does the orchestra let it all hang out, jazzzwise. Well folks, with Color In Jazz.. they do!

Like the name of the LP, the whole repertoire here is a showcase of strong jazz colours. Each song diffuses into different shades of the spectrum and really shows the top class standards of a big band led by jazz musicians. Swingin’ yo!

I chose “Fünf zu Vier” as the spotlight track because the arrangements here are pure class. You get a bit of the sleazy swing flavas, a touch of Latino, some spicy retro rhythms and some nice stylin’ beats. The mood is pretty reactive but yet groovy and good for tangkaping. Very tastefully done. Kerna lah folks.

BTW, before I sign off. I noticed that Erwin Lehn looks like Terence Stamp (as General Zod in Superman I & II). Kryptonite jazz yo! Freak out!!

Tangkap This!!!
-Crispian

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Artist: Patti Labelle
Spotlight Track: If You Asked Me To
Label: MCA Records

Producer: Stewart Levine
Written: Diane Warren
Arrangments: Aaron Zigman
Engineering, Mixing: Darren Klein

Born Patricia Louise Holte, Patti Labelle is renowned for her wide vocal range and super power high-octave belting. This is one passionate soul diva folks – check out her performances on YouTube and you’ll know what I’m talkin’ about. SOUL YO!!

Before going on a solo career, Ms.Patti fronted two groups, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, which received some success on the pop charts in the 60s, and Labelle, which made a breakthrough to the mainstream in the 70s with the seminal soul-funk claasic, “Lady Marmalade”.

After leaving her girl group, Ms.Patti went solo and scored some serious RnB hits like “New Attitude”, “Stir It Up” (recently re-recorded by Patti and Joss Stone), “On My Own” (with Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame) and the spotlight track “If You Asked Me To”.

“If You Asked Me To” is the lead single for Ms.Patti’s seventh solo album and also the lead single for James Bond – Licence To Kill soundtrack. This is real proper RnB people, beautifully arranged with great instrumentation and topped with the soul power of the Labelle herself. As quality as this cut is, Ms.Patti only made it to Number 79 on the U.S. Billboard but when Celine Dion covered it 3 years later.. it hit Number 1?!?! Damn Parameswara balls. Until today, I still feel that Ms.Patti’s version is leagues better than Celine’s, and the numbers on the Billboard charts should be the other way around.

Anyway, this spotlight track really brings back fond memories cos it was released when I just entered National Service. I really steam the track big time and was so mesmerized that I found myself listening to it everyday in camp. Even the simple drum beats and bassline were kerna. The whole production, arrangement, right down to the sound engineering was pure class. Made me smile everyday even though I was botak and serving the nation :)

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Patricia Barber
Album: Mythologies
Spotlight Track: Persephone
Label: Blue Note Records

Distributed by: EMI
Produced by Patricia Barber
Assistant Producer: Grazyna Auguscik.
Recorded and Mixed by Jim Anderson
Recorded at: Chicago Recording Company. Chicago, IL.

I was digging up through my pile of CDs recently and stumbled across one of my favourite songstress that always aces her repertoire with her cool styles. This songstress is none other than Patricia Barber. She’s been in the jazz circuit for almost a decade and she is rather known for her musical coolness in the way she evokes her voice, the arrangements and most importantly the vibe. Go google her out and try to suss out her older catalogs under the “Premonition” label and you’ll most certainly find that she has quite a few recordings during that mid to late 90s era.

What I really dig about Patricia is that she does her music in a way that is non pretentious, in her own cool, smoky attitude and the vibe that you get outta listening to her shite will just melt you away. She’s not your typical current jazz singer type material as she also writes a lot of her own songs and of course does covers here and there to meet market demand.

It’s hard to describe the mood of her music in plain words, but if you check this taster of the spotlight track “Persephone” you’ll know exactly what I mean. Maybe you’d find her materials boring and hard to understand, but at the same time when that certain hook comes in, or when that bass line wacks you in the soul, you’ll be suffering from goosebump madness. I think she’s the master of that specially when it comes to the slow burner ones… (oh folks… kerna personified!!)?

Up to date she’s had close to about 9 full length albums and this latest offering is under the infamous Blue Note label. It’s readily available in shops as this album was released in 2006. I am a big supporter of her sound and it’s music that always allows you to contemplate and groove mentally at the same time.

If you’re in the bistro mood to chill with close buddies and loved ones, get ready for a swell of a time as Patricia will most definitely get you in that mood will full effect. Kudos to her yoall!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Photek
Album: Natural Born Killa EP
Spotlight Track: Into The 90’s
Label: Metalheadz

Rupert Parkes from St Albans, England (and now residing in L.A., USA) aka Photek, was perhaps one of the more influential figures responsible for shaping the drum n bass scene in the late 90’s. His trademark drum breaks and patterns have earned him the title of “Scientist” from the Hot-4-U crew and if our opinions don’t matter too much to you, Photek has also earned the respect of just about every drum n bass don. Legend. My spotlight for this session is a no-brainer, the weather has been particularly warm and wet, and the flu bug has got everyone paranoid, I myself am indoors from a long battle with a chronic cough and flu like symptoms, doc says it’s my sinus that drips into the throat, my lungs are healthy though. I’ve quit drinking, smoking and I’ve even been advised to quit the coffee. What??? So it’s obvious that the spotlight track would have to be “Into The 90’s” on the old school Metalheadz single 008 circa 1995.

“Into The 90’s” takes me back to the times when it was the 90’s, when the days weren’t as hot and the follies of youth meant you could get away with slacking the whole day… good times. The absolute chillness in this spotlight track is a far cry from Photek’s tendencies to throw in the amen jungle breaks. It’s a cool cool track for cool cool cats, every Puma Clyde wearing joe would concur. This was a beautiful era, with quality downtempo break tunes mostly from the UK, also check out London Funk Allstars.

Other seminal tracks would be everything else in his catalogue up to his solo album Solaris. He now produces hip hop for the MTV generation, but you can’t blame the man if he needs to upkeep his L.A. crib. My personal 3 other essential tracks from Photek would be T’raenon from the Op Art Records 001 (Kirk Degirgio’s label – try finding this one!), Infinity from the Solaris album, and One Nation, never released on Prototype.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artist: Manfredo Fest
Album: Braziliana
Spotlight Track: Braziliana
Label: Digital Music Productions Inc. (DMP)

Steinway grand piano, Korg DSS-1, synthesizers: Manfredo Fest
Bass: Paul Socolow
Drums: Porthinho
Percussion: Cyro Baptista
Vocals: Roberta Davis

This week’s Zao Gng brings us to Brazil for some smooth GRP styled jazz flavas. Artist in mention is one of my favourite piano players, Manfredo Fest. Although I reviewed his 60s stuff last year, I thought this year might be a good idea to expose his 80s work. This fella is too power liao, so I can’t stop talking about him. Blind from birth, Mr. Manfredo Fest really demonstrates his power and control as a keyboard player in this album. The dude is NO JOKE.

Before, I start raving bout the album, a bit about the little known DMP label – pioneers of high quality digital music production for jazz lovers and audiophiles since the early 80s, the label’s approach is straight-to-the-point, no nonsense vibe. Record live studio performances without gimmickry, overdubbing or lots of editing, using only the most direct and pristine signal path possible. Fierce right?! Purist artist with purist label.. win liao.

Quite a couple of heavy hitters in this album, but I chose the ‘flow like chardonnay’ title track cos ITZ ORNNNNN Y’ALL! Haha! Folks, go and listen lah.. it’s pure Grusin smoothness The song floats, bends, flys, drops with the scat as the wind. Damn kerna. I think if you chow work and go East Coast fly kite, this will definately be the ideal track. Lakkkkkk all the way!

Also check out another favourite track from the album here on YouTube called Facing East. Another shiok song for flying kites. Trust me!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Soil & “Pimp” Sessions
Album: Planet Pimp
Spotlight Track: Khamasin
Label: Victor Entertainment, Inc Japan

Distributed by: Victor Entertainment
Recorded and mixed by Kiyoshi Kusaka (Dokugumi)

Once again the Jap invasion hits the spot on the reviews this week. I reckon if anyone caught them at the Esplanade during the Mosaic festival in Singapore would testify that this band is really best heard live as opposed to listening to their CD. These mofo’s can really rock the spot and their flavas and musical skills justfiy that they have what it takes to be at the top of their game.

I was and still am, super awed at the skills displayed by the pianist and I must really stress that it’s refreshing to hear Jazz in it’s various free forms. Soil and Pimp deliver theirs in what they call “Death Jazz!” Hehehe, sometimes I wonder how in the world they (these Japs) gather such inspiration to produce quality shit that’s super improvised, yet refreshing when they master it in their own uncanny way. Mad shit folks!!!

The latest offering “Planet Pimp” has all the varied styles of Jazz, Ska, Funky Fusion, Dub and slow burner type styles of contemplating Jazz. I completely am absorbed by their music and would say that within the 14 tracks of this album, almost every tune has it’s own distinct taste and feel and I would be doing injustice by picking one favourite. Nonetheless, Zao Gng proves to be useful in providing our viewership quality music and flavas, therefore I have chosen a nice danefloor number which reflects the band’s versatility in their musicanship and styles.

“Khamasin” is in the spotlight this round and I chose it for various reasons, as it’s kind of contemplating at first and then when the drums hit in at around 1min 45sec, you know you gonna be groovin hard on this chuck magione trumpet vibe, reminding you of yesteryears… (oh by the way, the energy levels of the trumpet and saxophone players evident on this track is much crazier when you see them live!)

I have been converted into a “Death Jazz” fan and I must say these folks are gonna stay in the spotlight for a while until the next big thing comes around. Until then, the soaring trumpet & sax sounds, the killer keys, the broken engrish (when the “Sha Cho” speaks), the double bass and the roaring drums will keep me smiling for a while : ) This is………………………………………..Deaaatthhh Jazzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Marlena Shaw
Album: Let Me In Your Life
Spotlight Track: Without You In My Life
Label: South Bay

This album was released in 1982 to the South Bay label and had the last chart hit for Marlena Shaw. This album is quite hard to find, but it’s a must get for any rare groove 2 step fan. The tracks are all quite kerna, from some disco boogie numbers to soulful ballads, but the most perfect song would be my spotlight track “Without You In My Life”.

This track always makes me feel like buying 10 copies of the album every time I listen to it. The lyrics are full on, you can feel the heartbreak through the vocals, Marlena sang the hell out of it man… MADDDD! The groove is uniquely 2-step, the off-beat drum pattern makes this a cut above the rest. Lastly, it has all the little quirks like bass twangs and sax moments. ITZZORRRNN YOALL!

Marlena Shaw is a legendary legend, with classics like “Woman Of the Ghetto”, “California Soul”, “Go Away Little Boy”, “Look At Me Look At You”, they’re all sampled by top Djs such as Dj Shadow. She’s done everything from jazz to soul to disco (Touch Me In The Morning). Another killer track would be her version of “Feel Like Making Love” but this cut my friends, is a classic in its own right. Check it outzzzz.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Album: Essential Blue – The Classic of Horace Silver
Spotlight Track: I’ve Had A Little Talk
Label: Toshiba EMI Limited

Band for I’ve Had A Little Talk’:
Piano : Horace Silver
Trumpet / Fugelhorn: Cecil Bridgewater
Drums: Mikey Roker
Bass: Bob Crenshaw
Guitar: Richie Resnicoff
Timbales: Harold Vick
Vocals: Andy Bey

Compiled by Jazztronik

Gong Xi Fat Cai to all the hepcats out there! Happy new year of the Ox from the HOT-4-U camp and good tidings for what is to come. We hope your funk has been energized for the new year and the huat has been with you during this festive period.

For today’s review, I wanna review a comp that’s been slapping my face for the longest time. Yeah you’re right folks, we’re making a stand for jazz in this lunar new year and we need to make a mention of the top notch pianist, arranger and composer, Horace Silver. This man has got jazz chops coming out of his ears lah people. Whether it’s tangkap jazz or dancefloor huating, Horace Silver will deliver. He is the Todd Terry of jazz folks.. no doubt.. chord work Number One!

This compilation which was commissioned by Toshiba EMI ala Blue Note Japan – and strung together by the funky Jap folks at Jazztronik – is the proper upper and really does the keyboard maestro proud. The whole album folks, and I mean THE WHOLE DAMN THING, will make you sit up and listen big time. Covering the whole spectrum of ghetto jazz, this comp is a keeper and ITZ ORNNNNNNNN!!

What can I say about the spotlight track except that it’s 2 thumbsup on the vibe and 2 middle fingers on the attitude. The dancefloor chords are swingin’ like as if you tiok ban lat twice in a row and Andy Bey’s vocal style can more or less be classified as one of Mark Murphy’s inspirations. This is a total track through and through, that’s all I gotta say. Basically for the whole comp, it’s like 70s Dutch football lah folks, start to finish is just total tracks slapping you all the way. Hands down champion sound… just like Manchester United :)

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Simply Red
Album: A New Flame
Spotlight Track: Enough
Label: East West Records / WEA

Hey Folks! First of all wishing everyone a really swell 2009 in the year of the OX!

This week sees me digging up the crates from way way back in the last century. Since it is still Chinese New Year, I just wanted to be corny (yet relevant at the same time) and pick up something “Red” as it represents Luck, Huatness, Good Vibes, Overall Peace and Prosperity.

Mick Hucknall and his top notch power upper cut crew hits the spot with this week’s review. I am sure everyone is well aware of Simply Red’s famous hits such as “Holding Back The Years”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, “Money’s Too Tight Too Mention” and a phat load of other hits which you can google and go Red over.

Dawggs, you probably ain’t living it till you get your hands on this album titled “A New Flame”! I hardly give a 11 outta 10 type of review rating, but I really have to be honest and state that this album is da shittt!!! It really is, for many reasons which I don’t intend to spell out but rather let you nice people find out for your own.

Now to the spotlight track “Enough”, Mick Hucknall does it totally right from something done in 1989 with many jazz licks, ragga grooves and funky soulness. To tell you the truth, this still sounds extremely fresh, and that’s the beauty of this song production. The keyboards soar together with his vocals and the jazz chops at 2mins 43secs will just simply give you the placid, I mean PLACID goosebumps man!! Intense!!!!!!!

I did some research and the folks at Rhino Records United Kingdom recently did a collector’s edition release. Well, the bonus material includes the remastered version of the original 10 tracks, 5 bonus tracks and dawggs, a DVD footage of them at a Manchester gig in 1990! Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray!!

Simply Red Yoall, Simply Sublime………………..

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Commix
Album: FabricLive 44
Spotlight Track: Life We Live
Label: Soul:r

As a self-proclaimed drum and bass expert, I was terribly disappointed when the music policy of the scene started to shift towards shit. Round ‘04 – ‘05, with the speed-induced clubs of UK where the young kids congregate and dance ALL night, drum n bass too got faster, cheesier and a lot more commercial to cater to these bunch of iPod generation punters. I’m not that old but I really can’t see myself jumping like a monkey the whole night to wobble basslines at +8. It’s insane! That’s the scene, but let’s talk about the music, where it got real bad was when different camps would push their own sound proudly, like wobbly jumps ups to badly remixes of pop tunes to your ever popular ragga influenced tacky jungle, but sad to say, because drum n bass is relatively new, a lot of the tracks released post 2000 were pretty much hit and miss. I saved my money from investing in crap and stayed out of the scene completely.

Rewind selectah to ‘96-’97, back to the era of the mighty Metalheadz, 31Records, Prototype. The days of the pioneers, Doc Scott, Goldie, Fabio, Grooverider, J Majik, Dillinja, Jonny L, Photek, Roni Size, Ed Rush & Optical and so on… this was the pinnacle of the drum n bass sound. Personally, it doesn’t get any better than this, not that I’m being negative to progress, but sometimes progress and evolution is a tricky thing. Like Darwin said, only the strong will survive. I mean, how do you outdo tracks like Carlito’s Heaven, Doc Scott’s Swarm, Dilinja’s Promise, J Majik’s Your Sound, Photek’s Into The 90’s, Digital’s Space Funk…etc HOW?! Just pick up Promised Land V2 Compilation, mixed by Fabio featuring Cleveland Watkiss, pure class. Back then, the beats-per-minute, were slower, each break hits you like a ton of bricks, and the “drop” would kick you in the nuts.

Now, fast forward to ‘08-’09, a dedicated few in the scene, much of whom feels the way I do, are starting a new shift. The gap is widening and inevitably, this is the year of the divide. Let me honour a few of our current day heroes: Commix, Kemo & Lynx, Instramental, D-Bridge, Kiat and some old soldiers backing up with serious firepower: Calibre, Digital, Goldie… etc. The latest I heard was a mix by Commix for FabricLive 44, and I must say, the sounds of the hey-day is coming back, even bigger than before! For these selected few, they have pushed the old sound with today’s technology, but most importantly, they have kept the essence of the sound alive: DRUMS and BASS, we don’t need electric guitars or weird sounding sirens.

I’ve selected Commix’s “Life We Live” because it takes me back to the Promised Land V2, I can’t wait to see what more this year has to offer.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Album: Sweat Volume One
Spotlight Track: Get It Up by Marc Pharoah
Label: Sweat Productions / UR
Distributed By: Submerge Recordings

Compiled by Beat Addicts aka D-Ha
Mixed by DJ Rolando

This Sweat compilation is a product of one of Detroit’s best kept house secrets, Mr. Lawrence Derwin Hall aka D-Ha. Back in the day, Derwin along with UR’s head honcho Mad Mike Banks started Detroit’s original deep house imprint Happy Records. This is way back folks, I’m talking about 1992 here so you feel me when I say D-Ha is a pioneer of sorts.

Derwin and Mad Mike during this time produced a series on Happy Records known as the Happy Trax series. Along with this series were also contributions by some of Detroit’s finest deep house producers for the Happy Records label. Folks, these releases are mighty groovy and pretty rare so if you see ‘em, grab ‘em!

So anyway, a few years ago, Derwin came back to the scene and started Sweat Productions. For it’s initial installment, Derwin got together some of the best deep house sounds Detroit has ever churned out (belonging not only to Happy Recs but Soul City, Simply Soul and of course.. UR) and released it as Sweat Volume One, stylishly mixed by DJ Rolando of Aztec Mystic / Quetzal fame. Now people, unknowing to many, he is actually doing the discerning house listening public a favour here so my Kangol off to him.

Because we are in a time of recession, the spotlight track for today is Marc Pharoah’s “Get It Up”, released under the now defunct Soul City Records. Check out the bassline folks, the groove is jackin’ 100%! The overall vibe is black from start to finish and basically a good pick to take your mind away from any worries during these depressing times of doom and gloom. It’s also a track that will cause pure mayhem on any dancefloor so I hope you guys enjoy this.

To view more about this compilation. Check out discogs.

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Album: 3 Chairs
Spotlight Track: Misty City (Featuring Bubz Fiddler/ Amp Fiddler)
Label: Sound Signature Sounds
Distributed By: Disk Union

WOOOOOOOOOOO….I had a super hard time picking up a spotlight track for this Zao Gng review, as there were too many tracks to choose from. It just occurred to me that the best bet would be to review something which is probably classic and yet always fresh like sushi at the same time.

3 Chairs is the name of the outfit and also the name of the compilation which features 16 tracks on a double CD set. This compilation is now 5 years old, but folks the sound is evergreen, and I really recommend that for 09 to be a swell year, you gotta get your hands on this album. According to my kaki Norm C, this genre is known as Beatdown, whereby the musicians record all instruments live, and then tweak and bastardize the whole live sound to give it a house feel (120BPM), yet super laid back and loungy at the same time. Meaning if you want to chill at the bistro and talk, or even just bop your head and snap your fingers, I say this is the shit you’ve been looking for. Class Personified!!!!!!!

Now just for you headz out there, most of you probably would know Moodyman (The King of the Detroit House sound) already. This installment brings a set of his 313 buddies together, namely Malik Pittman, Theo Parrish, Rick Wilhite and Moodyman himself. Apart from the spotlight track, I would say almost every other track on Disc 1 is off da hook!!

In tough times like this and the misty outlook on the economies around the world, this tune would bring much vibe to your ears and will keep you groovin’ for months. Get your hands on this compilation if you come across it, because the only piece of advice I would be saying to you is that Itzzzzzzzzzzzz Ornnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Yoall..; )

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Soil & “Pimp” Sessions
Album: Pimp Master
Spotlight Track: Suffocation
Label: Victor Entertainment Japan
Catalog: VICL-61566

Musicians:
President aka Shacho (agitator)
Motoharu (sax)
Akita Goldman (bass)
Tabu Zombie (trumpet)
Josei (piano, key)
Midorin (drums)

I give my ultimate maximumus most tiger-upper cuttest respect to the Soil and Pimp crew for all the explosive jazz they bring. They are responsible for the term DEATH JAZZ, and like what it means it’s really DEATH JAZZZZZ!!!!

The power comes from their hi-energy live perfomances and I was lucky enough to catch them the last time they were in Singapore. Man, you have to be there to know, it’s a 360 entertaining performance and best of all, the jammimg is top-class!!! The SESSION started and it was mad, rowdy and totally IN YOUR FACE. No nonsense hard boppin’ jazz whilst maintaining this odd sense of humour. The “agitator” Shacho is the band’s iconic figure, especially when he shouts into his trademark loud-hailer gibberish and broken english, that’s show biz man! Track after track at blazing tempos, I never danced so much before to jazz!

It’s very Japanese to take something from the West and do it 10000 times better, Soil & Pimp has definitely done so with Jazz, as they’re bloody fine musicians, these boys know their shit and they are TIGHT! Think the JB’s dressed in Jap Gear. Stylish. Individually they bring innovative angles to the dynamics, for example Josei the keyboardist is like a new age Cecil Taylor/Mccoy Tyner. Hardcore!

Initiated by President Shacho and Tabu Zombie to support their DJ acts, it quickly took over the DJ aspect and grew to a 6 piece band. It’s been all good since then, with international support from Gilles Pete and Jazzanova. Pimp Master is their first album and it’s so good I don’t even know what to Spotlight. All tracks are highly dope with the exception of Gilles’ much played “A Wheel Within a Wheel” and “Waltz For Goddess”, on a personal level, I don’t dig. It was a close call between Suffocation and Mo’ Better Blues, but for all it’s worth, Suffocation came out tops for the sheer mad groove and bop-til-you-drop vibe. Check it outzzzz!

Lastly, Soil and Pimp Sessions will be playing in Java Jazz Festival 2009, the HOT-4-U boys have already booked their tix and hotel, see you there!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Faith No More
Album: Angel Dust
Spotlight Track: Everything’s Ruined
Label: Slash

Bass: Billy Gould
Drums: Mike Bordin
Vocals: Mike Patton
Keyboard: Roddy Bottum
Guitar: Jim Martin

Produced by Matt Wallace

Once in a while, regardless of genre, a masterpiece of sorts will arise to change the face of music. Faith No More’s Angel Dust is one of these. An experimental followup effort to their Grammy award-nominated LP, The Real Thing, Angel Dust basically introduced guidelines for a funk metal blueprint. A blueprint that bands of the now like Linkin Park have followed (or try to follow) and I must say have made good money on. One of the more complexed albums ever released by a major, critics site that it “reveals a developing facility for combining unlikely elements into startlingly original concoctions” and more importantly, it became Faith No More’s best selling album outside of the US and went Platinum in Europe.

Fans might like to know that although lead vocalist Mike Patton was featured in The Real Thing, it was only with Angel Dust that he had influence in the band’s sound. The band decided not to “play it safe” by following suit with The Real Thing but instead went off in a different direction musically to produce, what we call here at HOT-4-U, a concept album… one that stands the test of time due to it’s sheer creativity and originality. Round of applause for havin’ the balls!

Although during the same time, Red Hot Chilli Peppers was touring with Mother’s Milk, personally for me, I was more into the Faith No More sound cos it had a stronger metal edge to it and a more ‘in-your-face’ kinda funk vibe. Their musicianship style is a take no prisoners kinda feel with hard riffs, badass bass and monster sounds (courtesy of Mike Patton). You can tell that as far as musical influences are concerned, the band’s appetite for music can range from Miles Davis to The Carpenters to Public Enemy to Nile Rodgers to Metallica to Godflesh… and you get it all here in Angel Dust ;)

I chose ‘Everything’s Ruined’ as my Spotlight Track because I absolutely love the song! Hearing the funky bassline and aggressive power chords really brings back fond memories and for me, this is a real complete song where everything gels swee swee. Top notch shit! Other tracks that you MUST check out are ‘Midlife Crisis‘ (how can you not groove to this cut!!), ‘A Small Victory‘ (STEAM!!), ‘Everything’s Ruined‘ (no doubt), ‘Kindergarten’, ‘Smaller and Smaller’, ‘Caffeine’ and ‘Be Aggressive’. Basically the whole album rocks lah folks so don’t sleep on the original funk metal band of our times.

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Primal Scream
Album: Dixie Narco EP
Spotlight Track: Screamadelica
Label: Creation Records

Produced by Andrew Weatherall and Hugo Nicolson

Heavy, heavy, heavy “Spaced out, scorched out Screamadelica, Screamadelicaaa”. This EP was released back in 1992 by infamous UK band Primal Scream. This track truly stands out and is a cut above the rest due to the fact that they had a visionary producer Andrew Weatherall and the band’s open mindedness to sample new sounds and stretch their sounds further to new heights.

Up till today, I find Primal Scream on the cutting edge of the whole indie scene coz of their willingness to keep on staying groovy, trendy and always on top of things. I got hold of this EP from Monkey (a.k.a Ren) a couple of weeks back and was still reeling back good memories from the early days of the indie scene when I popped this CD in my player.

This EP basically contains 4 tracks and this spotlight track “Screamadelica” also happens to be the title of their full length album. The only song used in the full length album was “Movin’ On Up” and it’s also one killer track for sure.

When you look at the EP artwork with the African American girl posing at the backdrop with her tracksuit and you hear the bluesy numbers such as “Stone My Soul” and “Carry Me Home” you know you gonna be in for some mad tangkap shit and then the spotlight trackwoooooooooooooooooo steam Yoall!! “Screamadelica” is way ahead of it’s time with it’s dubby infused sounds, muted trumpets and paced down 4/4. PURE CLASS full stop!

What else can I say folks, but with Bobby G fronting the unit get ready for some heavy heavy shit! ; )

PS: Oh, I forgot to mention, the full length album “Screamadelica” won the first Mercury Prize back in 1992 and it also packs a super punch with varied styles guaranteed to make u smile. Do check out another killer track “Higher Than The Sun”. POWER FOLKS.

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Tears For Fears
Album: Songs From The Big Chair
Spotlight Track: Head Over Heels
Label: Mercury

No need for introduction here guys, if you don’t know who these brit boys are, you’re probably not from this side of the universe. So instead of saying how timeless this album is with “Shout” and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”, I’ll just go ahead and describe the kind of memories I get from listening to this again after so many years.

Listening to Head Over Heels reminds me of simpler days when I was interning for various advertising agencies, the sort where I had to take a bus to work and stuff like this will be playing on my Sony Discman. Speaking of Discmans, I’m really looking for one, there’s something about the discman that you cannot get with the iPod. The whirring of the spinning hard-disk cannot compare to the visual treat of the spinning CD on a discman. Or the fact that it skips when you’re running for the bus (but later they released the anti-skip, anti-shock Discman). And also you had to carry a whole pouch of CD’s with the cover sleeves stuffed in your bag all the time, wah.. those were the good days.

So I had my own cubicle and I was given a month to build a boring website, so all I can do is put on my alternative music like The Cure, TFF, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, RATM…etc on rotation. Of course now I would play the CDs straight from the CD-Drive on the computer, but it’s quite irritating when the PM pass you a CD of images, must stop and swap CDs. But, that was always the cue for a smoke break. Or the late nights I would pull at the office, not to work but to play multi-player LAN, like Quake. I’m pretty good at Quake, not professional but I would think I have a pretty damn good railshot (try me anytime, Quake 3). Now stuff like Head Over Heels would be blasting out loud on the computer speakers, and all the boys in the office would be singing along. After that we all would call it a night, and go for prata and teh tarik. Simple pleasures.

So yeah, anything from that period is always sentimental to listen to again, another favourite is Depeche Mode’s Question of Lust… Oh yeah, Head Over Heels is also featured on the Donnie Darko OST, a great movie, if you haven’t caught it, it’s about Time Travel and Tangent Universes, with the Artifact…

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Rufus Thomas
Album: The Funkiest Man – The Stax Funk Sessions 1967-1975
Spotlight Track: Rock Me Back aka Rock Back
Label: Ace Records

With the recent F1 Grand Prix happening on our shores, and spotting a number of funky mamas out and about, I’ve been inspired to review some ol’skool raw funk material for this week’s Zao Gng. Guess there’s also no better time than to introduce one of the purveyors of that era, the ultimate funkster and grand-daddy of the Stax imprint, Mr. Rufus Thomas.

By the time Stax got the legendary Rufus Thomas into the studio to record these sessions, the funky chicken himself was 50 years old. Although an aging R&B star, Rufus turned out one monster funk workout after another and laid some heavy jivin’ on radio stations all across America. The Funkiest Man album featured here is a sound compilation of all these heavy grooves and comes highly recommended for all you funk enthusiasts :)

Stax called this funky ah pek in with the idea of pumping up his sound and adding on some newer styles with his rough and raw styled vocals. So basically what amounted were heaps of classics which includes “Funkiest Man Alive”, “Itch & Scratch”, “Funky Hot Grits”, “Sophisticated Sissy”, “Funky Mississippi”, “Push & Pull (part 1)”, “Funky Robot (part 1)”, “Funky Bird” and the spotlight track “Rock Me Back aka Rock Back”.

The funk-filled spotlight today articulates the joys to be found doing the ‘rock back’ – a dance move of his own imagination! Hahaha! Damn nonsense! Anyway, the song was cut sometime around 1971 but was never released and basically almost forgotten. So in 1997 when Rufus heard the track again, his exact words were “Let that one come on out of there! That is out of sight!”

Although ‘Rock Back’ is not your usual funk stormer, the vibe here is undeniably groovin’ and plenty ‘easy-livin’. The drum parts, the b-line, the horns and the funky wah guitars are all laid down swee swee bo chow chwee. Look out for the coldblooded female vocals during the chorus parts here folks, really puts the cherry on the overall groove. Shiok!

Before I end off, I’ld like to point you to have a read and get some insight on this funk legend. Grab a hold of his stuff! It’s great funkin’ for those fried chicken afternoons aiightzzzzzzz ;)

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Motorcity Soul
Spotlight Track: Aura (Jimpster Remix)
Label: Infracomm

Voom Voom aka laka laka Voom, Voom Voom aka laka Voom Voom…sounds familiar? Ahh, been awhile since I reviewed some electronica stuff, but am in the mood for some minimal german stylee. Alas one track which has caught me sometime back is taken from zee German outfit also known as “Motorcity Soul” . With all this talk about Berlin being the new breeding ground for fashion, business and music, do check out these classy housin folks who hail from Frankfurt.

I don’t really know much about them lah, but all I can say is that these dudes, really know how to pump it up with their house and jazzadelic elements. Why do I like this track? Well, it’s one of those tunes that has a robotic, futuristic feel, yet funky and classy at the same time. Don’t really know how to describe it, but I had a Jap friend who described it to me in a pretty simple and profound way. Yutaka said “if music moves your body, then you know it is very powerful.” Phoawww dem simple lah statement but that kind of blew me away. He kind of went on further into the roots of house music (with the Marshall Jefferson’s track ” Move Yer Body”) having a major impact on his music tastes as well as the birth of house music in general but I shan’t go into music history here.

I also understand from DJs and Headz alike worldwide that this type of minimal style is really catching on and it’s getting deeper and has more old skool roots and elements. Well, again, this Jimpster version does super justice to the original. If there was going to be a sequel to the classic film “Blade Runner”, this probably would fit in with the Tyrell Corporation theme. A full on track which I would stomp to for sure even if it hit rewind for a million times!! BESTEST.

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Jeff Lorber Fusion
Album: Galaxian
Spotlight Track: Think Back And Remember
Label: Arista Catalog: AL 9545

Produced by Jeff Lorber and Rik Pekkonen

Wah lan eh!! Sweet steady laahhhh this track….! Think Back And Remember has got all the right moves in all the right places and personally for me, it’s the soulful vocals courtesy of Donnie Gerrard. Reminds me of Philip Bailey from EWF kinda style. This is as rare groove as it gets, or 2-step as they call it in UK or Zao Gngz as we call it at Hot-4-U, whatever you wanna call it, it’s damn good lahhh.

Keyboardist Jeff Lorber got the same history as most musicians of his time: played piano at an early age, formed a jazz band, produced a few fusion albums, then sold out and “evolved into smooth jazz”. Galaxian is his third album on Arista if I’m not mistaken. One of the best albums, almost every track is a killer with a different flavour, but remains consistently funky all the way. The spotlight track, Think Back And Remember really helps when I’m painting, the easy smooth groove makes me less critical and more vibed up, similar to the effects of some other things we know ;)

Other tracks include the monster funk drop of Monster Man featuring Mr Stanley Clarke, Bright Sky, Galaxian, Magic Lady, and Night Love. This album is not that hard to get and you be able to find it easily on Amazon or Gramaphone. If your taste is for early jazz-fusion with an R&B touch, this one is die die must buy.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Little Indian
Spotlight Track: One Little Indian (Jay Dee’s *hit Remix)
Label: Premeditated Records

Guest Rapper: The Foreigner
Produced By: Howie Tee
Addtional Production & Remix By: J Dilla

This review has been a long time coming and finally I’m happy to share with everybody here a hip hop track that cuts out all of the bullshit gimmicks and goes straight for the core.. straight to da STREET! Every second of this beautiful remix by the one and only Jay Dee (aka J Dilla) is to be cherished by headz in da zone. Straight up purist beats and rhymes for those in the know and if you haven’t heard this one yet then I sugest you go listen to it a hundred times!

Released 13 years ago, this is Dilla showing off mad skills on the remix front with smoked up beats and choice selected sounds. The lyrics are stylo mylo and the phasing here is smooth as shit, flowing like water with heavy street flavours. I just can’t get enough of this track and keep finding myself listening to it every now and again. Evergreen hip hop yo :)

Round of applause as well for guest rapper The Foreigner. Don’t really know who he is but he did well in this recording giving the cut another dimension with his heavy Latino slangin’ and street styled rhymes. The Foreigner here really impresses the image of East LA Latino coolness where checkered shirts, bandanas and slick Ray Bans reprazent – “my steelo mad ruff…”

Anyway, trying to find this record is a real pain in the ass so to start tangkaping the full track, you might like to vist You Tube to start groovin’ right away.

“Bringing funk from the Caribbeans..” STEAMMMM!!!!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

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Artiste: Roman Andren
Album: Juanita
Spotlight Track: Vento Do Verao (Summer Breeze)
Label: AJABU
Catalog: AJABUCD008

Nothing beats a summer track which features nice melodies, catchy hooks and stylized soundscapes of coconut trees, bikini babes and your favourite cocktail by the beach. Mr. Andren really does just that in this department by showcasing his musical powers in the spotlight track “Summer Breeze.” Go hear it for yourself to obtain maximum pleasure as my review won’t do much justice. : )

I am a very big fan of the eclectic sound, but no one I know can really mix and match the various genres like Roman. His debut album titled “Juanita” contains 11 songs to whip up any mood. I am not really sure how to describe his music, but from his myspace website, you can more or less tell this Swedish dude is full on into the power sounds of music honchos like Quincy Jones, Sergio Mendes, Eumir Deodato, Roy Ayers and many more… I guess if you are a fan of these honchos just mentioned, you know you are going to be in for a musical treat. ; ) DOPE!!!!

Talk about freshness, Roman really is the new kid on the block giving back music headz the soulfulness and kicks not found commonly these days in the manufactured world of music. He does it exquisitely and most of all with class. Actually when I obtained the sampler from label owner Pete back in December 07, I was super excited that someone from Sweden could actually produce such a killer album with sounds hardly found these days. If you were to ask me to describe Roman and his production, he can do Club-Jazz, Funk, Soul, Bossa Nova, Latin and whatever you can think of within those lines of the musical avenue.

A real hero to me at the moment as Roman’s impeccable flair and attention to musical details has made him stand out from the rest of the wannabees.

To find out more about Roman Andren, do check out his sites at : http://www.myspace.com/romanandren and http://www.romanandren.com

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Aquarian Dream
Album: Fantasy
Spotlight Track: Do You Realise
Label: Elektra
Catalog: 6E-152

Produced by Norman Connors (Except for “Friends” produced by Aquarian Dream, Don Mizell and Elzy White)
Executive producer: Don Mizell

Norman Connors is IMHO one of the top five best producers of 70’s black music. Hailing from Philadelphia, Norman, having met many legends early in his youth, such as Miles Davis, is deeply rooted in jazz. After several gigs with greats like Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders, Norman was signed to Buddah’s Cobblestone label and quickly put out his own material. The first three albums are die die must buy: Dark Of Light, Dance of Magic and Love From the Sun.

His sound grew ever more commercial and disco, but there’s no stopping him from creating absolute slammers with every album. His strength was definitely in production, and it’s wonderful how he can piece different musicians together and discover mindblowing vocals consistently. Aquarian Dream is one such act. The band was formed in 1976, when Norman brought them to Buddah and produced their debut album, Norman Connors Presents Aquarian Dream (with the highly collectible track Phoenix).

The spotlight today is for the super-trooper hot “Do You Realise” on 1978’s Fantasy LP, on the group’s second album. The headz know what time it is with this!!! Lead vocals are by Slyvia Striplin (who later went on to Roy Ayer’s Uno Melodic label), and with hardcore sessionists James Godson, David T Walker and Ray Parker alongside the tenor champ, Gary Bartz.

Do You Realise is definitive Norman Connors’ sound of the 70s, with its two-step groove, staccato horn stabs and stop/start choruses. I really cannot tahan whenever I hear it, I always find myself pressing the back button on my iPod to loop the intro, MF Doom Styleee. Beyond beyond!

Fantasy also includes another disco-boogie favourite You’re A Star, mid-tempo groover Yesterday and a brilliant cover of Herbie Hancock’s Gentle Thoughts. Please feel free to email me for more Norman Connors goodies or you can go here and buy the whole album cheap.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: The Monty Alexander Trio
Album: Montreux Alexander
Spotlight Track: You Make Me Feel Brand New
Label: MPS

Monty Alexander : Piano
John Clayton : Bass
Jeff Hamilton : Drums

Produced by Willi Furth
Engineered by John Timperley

Ok folks, this week’s Zao Gng is gonna rock your socks off!

It is indeed a supreme pleasure for me to review today one of the best and most memorable jazz concerts in history… The Monty Alexander Trio Live at Montreux Jazz 76′!! Talk about hot shit… this album is firing on all cylinders!

The energy and sky high vibes from this trio stems from nothing other than perfect chemistry through a tight-knit meeting of musical minds – similar to Miles and Coltrane, Count Basie and Freddie Green, etc etc.

How it all started for Monty was through the great Ray Brown, who introduced him to one of his bass students, Mr. John Clayton. Later on, John brought Jeff Hamilton along and soon after, they started a trio playing gigs at joints like Ronnie Scott’s in London and tearin’ the place apart. The Montreux 76′ gig however was pretty fluke cos they were supposed to be a filler band, playing in between Stan Getz and Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. However, being a relatively young and enthusiastic trio, they just decided to not shy, just wear tuxedo, go on stage and whack da bugger (ala Ronnie Scott’s). Riding on that extroverted approach coupled with a special chemistry and shared cohesiveness, they basically released a burner of a set which rocked those unsuspecting jazzheads at Montreux that night.

To be honest, I love this whole album. The flow, the skill, the vibe, the groove.. PERFECT! To choose a spotlight from this live album was a real headache cos every single cut here is pure dope – start to finish. In the end I decided on ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ (orginally by the Stylistics) because through it’s familiarity, you can really see how Monty and partners translated this slow burner into a jazz scorcher. Beyond steam!

Thanks to YouTube, we’ll be able to view 2 excerpts from this live performace, check it!

Nite Mist Blues: They started their set with this Ahmad Jamal blues number. Take a listen and you can imagine how stunned the audience was from hearing such energy and high quality from a little know trio meant to be a filler. Confirm some of their face blur outz.. hahaha!! Shiok!

Satin Doll: The swing is flying on this one. Monty and crew rode the groove and showed pure snap to this Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn classic. Respect!

So there you go ladies and gentlemen. Don’t waste time please. The CD is available at all good music stores. Just go and buy, you won’t regret but guaranteed you’ll be swinging from tree to tree :)

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: DJ Cam
Album: Soulshine
Spotlight Track: Condor (Espionage)
Label: Columbia/ Inflamable

Starring Baldhead Slick
Music composed by Dave Grusin

Produced and Conducted by Cam

Vocal by Guru

Music recorded at Studio Ferber by Jeff Ginouves,
Assisted by Benjamin Joubert
Vocal recorded at New York, D and D Studio

This record was released 6 years ago and it still sounds mighty fresh. DJ Cam or Cam (Mr. Laurent Daumail) really has the magic touch when it comes to the jazzy licks and slick grooves. In this installment created back in 2002, Cam decided to go live in studio with various star players in the music industry. The album credits range from Guru of “Jazzmatazz” fame, Anggun, Cutee B, Cameo, hey it’s really a long list of music celebrities in this one. ; )

Anyways, the spotlight track was hard to pin down, as I had a really tough choice choosing the jazzy Rhodes number featuring Anggun titled “Summer In Paris”, “Love Junkee” featuring Cameo (of “Word Up” fame) and many more. Finally after listening to the full album over and over again, I had to give in to my weakness of the jazzy cinedelicsoundscapeish vibes of none other than the honcho himself Mr Dave Grusin. Yes that’s right, Grusin of GRP fame! Cam is one smart fellow choosing the right samples and hooks from Grusin’s soundtrack taken from the 70’s movie titled “3 Days of the Condor” featuring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway.

The spotlight track and the essence of it’s rhythmic poetry really hits da G spot. You got to hear it fully to really comprehend the real vibe behind it. What I like about this track is that Baldhead Slick (the rapper) not only stimulates your mind on his references to the original script in the movie but mixes and improvises on his own storyline regarding rap culture and the underground movement. Oh yeah, not forgetting, this is one tune that is super PHATT on the groove. DJ Cam is up there as a Beatmeister for sure.

This one is Headz a Boppin folks, NO DOUBT!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: Roy Ayers
Album: Africa, Center Of The World
Spotlight Track: Land Of Fruit And Honey
Label: Polydor
Catalog: PD-1-6327

I’m forever a jazz funk fan, and there’s no greater champion in the realm of jazz funk than Mr Roy Ayers, the champion of grooves, the don of the vibes! I love all his work, as much as I love my Marlboro Lights, they’re timeless, and I truly mean it, you hear it on the radio now and it’s still fresh as it was 30 years ago.

I’m spotlighting Land Of Fruit And Honey from the album Africa, Center of The World, release in 1981 just for the pure disco funk vibe it possesses. I can’t help but to get up and dance every time I hear this song. It’s absolutely mad!!! The lyrics declare Africa as the magic land, the land of fruit and honey, the destination motherland. It’s true, it all began in Africa, all of us. We really need to assess the world situation now, and realize what a crap place we’re living in.

Roy Ayers is loved throughout the whole world and his library is huge, from classics like Everybody Loves The Sunshine to unreleased material in his recent Virgin Ubiquity releases (check out Mystery Of Love in Virgin Ubiquity 1, oh shiTTTTTT!!!!!!), there’s no end to his genius! Reviewing this track alone is not doing him justice, for those who are interested, here’s a list of tracks you cannot sleep on: We Live In Brooklyn, Sweet Tears, A Tear To A Smile, Time And Space, The Memory, Running Away, Searching, Can’t You See Me, Love Will Bring Us Together, Our Time Is Coming…etc. He also produces for artists like RAMP and Slyvia Striplin on his label Uno Melodic, Slyvia’s You Can’t Turn Me Away is sampled heavily in recent hiphop hits. On a side note, I prefer to buy his re-mastered CD’s than the original Polydor vinyl presses, somehow the sound quality on Polydor just isn’t that good.

Please please please please, get yourself familiarized with true greats of soul, because it’ll be too late once they’ve passed on.

Here’s a fantasic live version of Everybody Loves The Sunshine on YouTube. Check it out!

Just bees and things and flowers… styleee.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: MF Doom
Album: Metal Fingers presents: Special Herbs, Vols.5 & 6
Spotlight Track: Coffin Nails
Label: Nature Sounds / Metal Face Records

The Metal Finger Villian For Lord Dihoo Music (ASCAP)

Oooooooooooohwee!! What we have here folks is Daniel Dumile, a British-born American B-boy otherwise known as MF Doom and Viktor Vaughn. He’s quite an ah pek cos one of his 2 kids is already a teenager! Fierce! Imagine growing up in school knowing your dad is HEADZ! Hahaha! Mad shit! Beyond cool liao!

Doom’s got quite a history.. he was actually signed to Elektra years ago back in the early 1990s with his rap outfit KMD, but when brother and co-member Subroc died in an accident, the label kinda played him out and dropped KMD’s intended second release, Black Bastards. He went through a bout of depression and was living the underground, sleeping on benches and shit. Little did he know however, Black Bastards had become bootlegged and was prepping his rise in the underground hip-hop world.

Anyway, fast forward to a couple of years later, Doom went through some reinvention and transformation as an artist and re-entered the scene spotting a metal mask inspired by Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom. He then collaborated with Madlib to form Madvillian and with the release of Madvillainy under Stones Throw Records, Doom got the commercial recognition he finally deserved and headz from all over were opening their ears to what this cat was dishing out.. mad beats and excellent rhymes!

Now, the album that I’m reviewing today is a bit different from the shit Doom is famous for, instead, Special Herbs is a series of releases in tribute to his weed consuming habit where every title is either a name of a bud or something related to it.. like I said, fella is Headz! These volumes are collections of beats and samples that Doom’s put together for outright stone-to-da-bone tangkaping sessions, nevertheless, the quality is up there and the vibe is full-on hip hop with heavy Rare Groove, Jazz Funk influences.

The spotlight track is straight up hands-in-the-air, head bopping summer vibes, method simple and vibe effective.. lurve it!! The guitar riff and bass licks ride the pimp-ass beats really nicely here so all I’ve gotta say is enjoy the sample ; )

Lastly, just wanna sign off with some words-of-wisdom from Doom himself:

“To me, from a musical aspect, hip hop is going into the direction where its almost damn near 100% on everything besides the music, what you look like, the sound of your name, to what you’re wearing, the brand of clothing, whatever intoxicants you choose to put in your body, everything except what the music sounds like. So the mask is really a testament to yo, it’s not about none of that, it’s straight about the wreck. You could be any color or whatever, youknowhaddaimsayin’? The mask represents everybody to say that yo, nothing matters, the brand of clothing, none of that matters, it’s about how you spit and how the beats is raw, thats what it’s about.”

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: DJ Premier
Album: Kings Of Hip Hop
Spotlight Track: Love Ballad by L.T.D
Label: BBE
Format: CD
Mixed at Headcourterz Studios, New York City

Hey folks, it’s now June and we are half way through 08. Time does fly, and so does this top notch double CD mix by both Hip Hop honchos DJ Premier and Mr. Thing. This CD is definitely available if you want to search for it online or at retail shops like HMV. All I can say about this double disc package is pureeeeeeeeeeee dope!

If you want your music swanky and groove oriented and at the same time jazzy, this is the album to get! Disc 1 contains selected rare groove tracks mixed by DJ Premier (of Gangstarr fame) and Disc 2 contains more of the old skool Hip Hop flavas of the past by Mr. Thing (of Scratch Pervert and UK DMC winner). Overall, both discs definitely will rock your boat 101%!!

Seeing that there are so many tracks to review within the various tracks featured in Disc 1, I decided to go with my all time comfort zone groove, FUNK! DJ Premier really delivers the goods here with no compromise, featuring cut up stylized guitar riffs from the defunct band Heatwave on “aint no half stepping” and continues with a clever build up. Premier assassinates us with his set as he moves all over from disco grooves, funky numbers and then breaks it down to a jazzy ballad (L.T.D’s ‘love ballad’) which the Hot-4-U camp are all too crazy about and will endorse their chop of approval. What’s all the fuss you wonder, but here you have a song that is guaranteed to bring you back to the heydays of black disco vibes and super melodies. Production is of course done by the infamous Mizell brothers with the lyrics written by Skip Scarborough. ; )

If you wanna be HEADZ supreme, then I do suggest getting the original album where this track came from.

The melodies have been sampled by DE LA SOUL in their track “Much More” found in their LP titled “The Grind Date” also produced by another honcho Mr J Dilla. Don’t look no further folks, this is one song that will guarantee much more in life and good vibes the coming months ahead!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: C.J & Co.
Album: Tony Humphries Choice: A Collection of Club Zanzibar Classics
Spotlight Track: Sure Can’t Go To The Moon
Label: Azuli

Track is produced & arranged by Mike Theodore And Dennis Coffey

I’ve had the luck of finding Tony Humphries Choice Compilation on Azuli a few weeks ago at Gramaphone. It was a sure hit with the rest of the boys, bringing back many memories for them. For me, it reconfirmed my love for black dance music (or simply put, disco).

With this compilation, I’m truly spoilt for choice! All the tracks are killers, carefully selected by the godfather of garage himself, Tony Humphries. Although the tracks are varied and eclectic, one thing in common is the distinct vibe found in all of them, and it’s definitely a subliminal product of the disco era.

Dance music now as we know it may have very well hit a dead end, save for some creative individuals pushing the boundaries, but back then it was more straightforward. Dance music was black (and gay) and it was all about sharing positive messages, happy vibes and to party all night long. Champions like Nicky Siano at The Gallery, David Mancuso at The Loft, Larry Levan at Paradise Garage, Tony Humphries at Zanzibar, Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy in Chicago, they were all breaking grounds back in the mid-seventies to late eighties. The songs that worked the floor to a frenzy were MFSB “Love Is The Message”, Eddie Kendricks “Girl You Need A Change Of Mind”, Risco Connection’s “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now”, Peech Boys “Don’t Make Me Wait”, Dinosaur L “Go Bang!”, Third World “Now That We Found Love” and so on. Eventually the people partying to disco music got so inspired, they went on to evolve the music to House, Techno, Hip Hop and Garage, and everything else to follow.

Tony Humphries is the true don of the “Jersey Sound” created in the lengendary club, Zanzibar. His taste for soulful, gospel-tinged sound is eclectic but always SPOT ON! We had the good fortune of dancing to his set recently at Zouk til 630am, amazing stuff! After much thought, the spotlight track chosen is CJ & Co’s “Sure Can’t Go To The Moon”. This track is a forgotten classic first released on the Devil’s Gun LP on Atlantic. Its message is about the current state of society, for we sure can’t go to the moon once we have destroyed our earth! Man, I love this track! The rest of the tracks are also worth a mention, from Tongue ‘N’ Cheek’s “Tomorrow”, to rave tunes like Psychotropic’s “Hypnosis”, this comp is totally worth it. Check it here.

Here in Singapore we have a strong media-force, which makes us spoilt when it comes to what music we listen to. With a small nation like ours and too many fan boys starting their own movement, why not stop to look at what the disco has to offer?

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Maxwell
Album: Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite
Spotlight Track: Sumthin’ Sumthin’
Label: Arista

This being my first Zao Gng contribution, it was quite difficult to decide what to pick. Should I go back for some NY Garage tunes or should I go forward with some current beats? In the end, I dug deep and hard into my little musical vault, otherwise knwn as iPod, to have a peep at what’s the album or single to guarantee some soulful musical returns. Well, I didn’t have to look that far as one of my personal favourites that is always on heavy rotation, on vinyl, and now this silly format called MP3, is non-other than Maxwell’s Urban Suite by Maxwell. If you’re one of those peeps that chucks on some Marvin Gaye or Sade whenever the lights go down…maybe don’t be so obvious and slip on this album. Of course, if you have the CD or MP3 version, results not as guaranteed as the LP…it’s all about the static at the end when the album ends and you’re in another dimension of jazz-seeking soul. In case you’re wondering, this album has been recorded with a new technology that makes humans get down with a lil sumthin sumthin.

One can hear the purplesness on “When the cops come knockin’ and the the great Gaye on pretty much the whole album as they were a large influence on Maxwell as a teen. The album was co-written with the legendary man from Detriot , non other than Mr Leon Ware, who also crafted Marvin Gaye’s “I want you” LP and Quincy Jones’ “Body Heat” LP as well. So quality songwriting To cut the story short, the album went double plat with a live EP with 7 tunes I think… definitely worth a check too! But the real juice is packed in this album.

Super slick production that would stand tall alongside the other great soul brothers. Once you try it, I’m sure you will agree. A lot more than the Gng will be Zaoing.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kiat aka DJ Kiat

Listen to sample

Artiste: Sunship aka Ceri Evans
Spotlight Track: The 13th Key
Label: Dorado
Catalog: DOR007

Released 16 years ago, this little known single didn’t really get the attention it deserved when it went to market. Quite sad, cos when I first heard the record, it really blew me away. Dare I say… Acid Jazz at it’s FINEST! Truly reminiscent of the Dorado vibe, this track showcases a nice blend of shiok-a-doo chuggy-like breaks, soaring euphoric strings and that rolling jazz piano scaling as the cherry-on-top. This is what you call.. a total track. Woooyeahhh… the vibe is still kickin’ even when I listen to it today. That’s when you know a song is FRESH ; )

I feel compelled to reveal a bit more about Sunship aka Ceri Evans because like Matt Cooper of Outside, I really feel these two honchos of the Acid Jazz movement were seriously overlooked. So anyway, here goes >> Ceri Evans first appeared on the scene 17 years ago in 1991 with a track he released called ‘Sunship’ on Acid Jazz Records – founded by Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson (yes, this was before Gilles’ started Talkin’ Loud!)

Prior to this, he was already doing remixes and productions for artists like Naughty by Nature (Hip Hop Hooray), Jungle Brothers (40 below) and James Taylor Quartet (Hope and Pray). I guess it was with the James Taylor Quartet where Eddie Piller discovered Ceri’s talents which resulted in the Acid Jazz record thereafter.

After the Acid Jazz release, Ceri then signed on to the Dorado label with a MOBO award winning album titled ‘Sunship’ as well. Today, Ceri Evans has extended his portfolio of work with artists like Christina Aguilera, Texas, Craig David and Morcheeba. So as you can see.. pretty much a force to be reckoned with.

Before I sign off, I would like to urge you to check out this brillant single from the masterful Ceri Evans. With the sun coming out in full force these past few weeks, it’ll be a great musical accompaniment while you’re lying on the beach watching bikini-clad volleyball and frisbee activities ; )

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: The Quantic Soul Orchestra
Album: Tropidelico
Spotlight Track: Panama City
Label: Tru Thoughts
Format: CD Catalog: TRUCD139

Written by Holland
Drums: Richie Staple
Guitar: William Holland
Bass: German “Chispa” Lawson
Congas: Popo Buckley
Timbales/ Bell: Francisco Buckley
Saxophone: Regi Johnson
Trumpet: Regi Boyce
Recorded & Mixed at Panavox Studios, Panama City by Eduardo “Balito” Chan
Produced by William Holland

It’s been a while since I’ve heard some good ol’ funk, just simple bass lines with that kick ass groovy guitar lick, super screamin’ horn and brass section and of course funky drummer stylized beatz. This spotlight track represents that era of the 70’s when the JB’s and a few others had aced this course of sound direction. For me I know a track is rolling, when it’s minimal and hits you where it should and keeps you in that funky zone. This track does exactly that!! Headz a boppin.. ; )

The Quantic Soul Orchestra or Quantic for short, has been driving up that funky road, pushing new boundaries of old skool funk sounds with a kind of groovy rawness that will make your spicy sambal belachan turn into iced belachan kachang!

Quantic has up to-date released 2 other full length LP’s under the Tru Thoughts imprint, namely “Stampede” as well as “Pushin’on.” This current LP titled “Tropidelico” has flavours influenced from the Carribean as well as South America hence the album title. William Holland, the band leader has confessed that within this present generation, it is us who are responsible in making and moulding the music of today, in a manner that should reflect all of the good parts of music present and music past.

The music given birth here is Tropical, Funky and heavy in a sense. Most peeps would easily understand when they groove to the funky drum sounds of Richie Staple and accompanied by United Kingdom’s funkiest drummer Malcolm Catto. If you can’t understand this groove, maybe you should go to the nearby grass patch and put some ants in yer pants. That should do the trick.

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: Swing Out Sister
Album: Kaleidoscope World
Spotlight Track: Coney Island Man
Label: Fontana
Format: CD Catalog: 838 293-2

Notes: Tracks 11, 12, 13, 14 listed as Bonus Tracks.

Swing Out Sister are easily the most bestest, most fiercest, most sophisticated jazz-pop group for all of us at HOT-4-U! Their cool brit-gentlemen style shows through in everything they do, even down to the top of the charts pop hits like Breakout and Am I The Same Girl. Personally, it’s their instrumental tracks that drive me nuts!

Here in the Kaleidoscope World album, make sure you only buy the CD version because I own the vinyl and it does not include tracks 11 – 14, bang balls! Before I go on, do yourself a favour and click here to buy the CD first, don’t waste time. While you’re at it, go ahead and buy other classy albums, It’s Better To Travel, Where Out Love Grows and the latest Beautiful Mess (released on Avex Japan). Not only would you save on shipping, but you will become a SOS-pro over night, good stuff don’t bruff!

I’ve decided on Coney Island Man because lead singer Corinne Drewery’s vocals are heaven sent! The smooth scatting and lalala-ing feels as good as walking on the beach with the waters gently breaking at your feet, and the salty breeze in your face, fullest on steam! Take my word for it, I just came back from Lombok and I’ve done my rounds with the iPod, definitely Tangkap material. Check out our short sample or go here for the full track.

Don’t miss out other heavy heavy instrumentals such as: Caipirinha, We’ll Find a Place, La Source…etc! Lastly, I would like to say a big thanks to all my brothers who made it to the wedding, sorry I don’t remember much but your presence is heart-felt!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Foreign Exchange
Album: Connected
Spotlight Track: The Answer
Label: BBE

Producer: Nicolay aka Matthijs Rook
Executive Producer: Phonte Coleman

Now I definitely wouldn’t qualify myself as connoisseur of the NU-sound- a purveyor of unsubstantial b-lines and mathematical beats. I have always preferred the raw! That’s possibly why I just discovered this 2004 release by Foreign Exchange- a collaboration between Dutch producer Nicolay & one half of American hip-hoppers Little Brother, Phonte.

Firstly it’s pretty damn amazing that the two key individuals involved in the production of this LP only met each other when they were going on tour to promote the release of this album. All music production was handled by Nicolay in Holland (these Dutch buggers can play bola and produce tunes as elegantly as Van Basten), sent to Phonte in the US electronically where he laid the vocals., then back to Holland again for engineering and mastering by Nicolay and *Voila!* a complete and solid album for your listening pleasure. Of course like all predominantly hip-hop-soul albums of our era there are a number of other collaborators like Big Pooh (other half of Little Brother) and this killer vocalist Yahzarah, but the stand-out of this album is the sublime production, instrumentation and arrangement of Nicolay.

If you could imagine the beat production of Mitsu, the musicianship of Matt Cooper of Outside fame, and of course, the complete packaging and finish of a BBE product. Ideal for those solo days refurbishing your fish tank, banging out the BBQ and beers with your lads on lazy Sundays or warming yourself up for a night out.

A number of really outstanding cuts on this album including the Foreign Exchange Title Theme, yup, they hit you with the madness from the get go with killer vocal arrangements and the by-line, “Thank you for the music”. Raw Life which is a masterpiece of gelling West Coast gangsta and European production class is another stand out.

The track I have chosen to Spotlight though is The Answer. Great ambient sound you rarely hear in hip hop, nice rolling bass riff, quality beat making and they flip it with some great lyricism and delivery topped off with a typical chanting B-boy chorus. Kena la I tell you.

The CD version has a few bonus tracks and remixes which are definitely worth a listen and do look out for the instrumental album which I believe dropped not too long ago as well.

Tangkap This!!!

-Josh aka DJ Escobar

Listen to sample

Artiste: Level 42
Album: Level 42
Spotlight Track: Love Games
Label: Polydor Records

Mark King: Bass, Vocals, Percussion
Mike Lindup: Minimoog, Acoustic & Electric Pianos, Vocals, Percussion
Philip Gould: Drums, Glockenspiel, Timbales, Backing Vocals, Percussion
Boon Gould: Guitars
Wally Badarou: Prophet 5, Korg Polyphonic, Minimoog, Vocalising

Guest Musicians:
Leroy Williams: Congas, Bongos, Percussion
Gary Barnacle: Electric Sax
Dave Chambers: Tenor Sax

Albeit bullshit weather and even shittier whiteboy food, it’s comforting to know that England can at least boast housing one of the best 80s pop bands ever to have existed… yes yes y’all.. it’s Level 42! With high calibre musicianship – not only from Mark ‘Thunderthumbs’ King – courtesy of Mike Lindup (keyboards), Boon Gould (guitars) and Phil Gould (skins), the band have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide! Phewwwwweeeeeeee!!

Hailing from The Isle of Wight, Level 42 was formed in 1980 as a jazz-funk fusion band. Now, just after recording their very first single “Love Meeting Love”, Wally Badarou – a renowed synthesiser / instrumental keyboardist – joined the band and became Level 42’s longtime co-producer. Although Wally only ever played in the studio with Level 42, he was known as the band’s unofficial “5th member”. Personally I believe Wally was instrumental for infusing the right belachan funk into the Level 42 sound and his production ideas were definately critical in contributing toward the success of their best selling LPs.

With the brillance of Wally Badarou in place, Level 42 was on course for snazz-jazz heaven and our spotlight track for today – which was their first Polydor single – ‘Love Games’, really slams the funk in the listeners’ face and was a small prelude to the quality offerings this band was capable of.

There’s so many things to check out in this song, I really don’t know where to begin, but take a careful listen to Mark King’s percussive slap bass technique here which really drives the groove home. The vibe is so steam, you cannot help but cram your face everytime the b-line twangs or when Mike Lindup scats in his flying falsetto style. Hands down BAD ASS!!

This album as well, although meant to be more a jazzfunk installment than a pop record, is totally super tiok with other rocksteady tracks like Starchild (heavily sampled by Kenny Dope and many others), 43, Why Are You Leaving and Dune Tune. Highly recommended record if you’re feeling up for a funky jazz fusion afternoon ; )

To end off, I’ld like to point you to some YouTube gems I’ve discovered on Level 42. Take some time to peep these performances if you can.. u won’t regret!

1) Love Games – Live 1981 performance @ Top Of The Pops >> FUNK COCK STAND!!

2) Something About You – Live 1987 performance @ Wembley Stadium >> bloody matured lyrics and the band’s vibe here is spot on.. goosebumps galore!

3) Starchild Part 1 & Starchild Part 2 – Live 1983 performance >> to call this clip a rarity is an understatement.. BEYOND SPEECHLESS…

So there you go folks. Not only are you gettin’ the low down on my favourite 80s pop band but you also get to see them in their funky drainpipe jeans.. bestest!

“Fragile but free…” Phoooooooo, mad lyrics….

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: Roy Ayers
Album: Love Fantasy
Spotlight Track: Love Fantasy
Label: Polydor
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Released: 1980

Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Weeeeeeee is all I can say about this super duper funk ballad anthem. They don’t make music like that anymore for sure. What went on in this production process during that period of the early 80’s obviously shows in this melodic tune. Roy is a genius, period!

It’s one of those tunes that jives your mood up and keeps you in proper check, especially if you’re into that slow burner groove waiting to explode. I really like the way Roy scats on the chorus and he keeps you in suspense while you’re just cruising to his humsup vibes. In terms of love songs, I really rate this in my top ten list. It’s really an essential track folks.

In light of our brah, Botak, getting hitched in the coming weeks, the HOT-4-U crew basically wishes him and his wife, Jenn a wonderful marriage and a funkylovelife in the years ahead…..der der der der!!!!!! ; )

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: Bone Thugs ‘N’ Harmony
Spotlight Track: 1st Of The Month (K&D Sessions Part 2 Mix)
Label: Ruthless Records, Epic
Catalog: XPR 2257

Executive Producer – Eric “Eazy-E” Wright
Producer – DJ U-Neek
Remix – Kruder & Dorfmeister

Stoner alert!! K&D delivers the definitive hardcore stoner track of the 21st century! If you’ve been clean for the last 10 years, Peter Kruder & Richard Dorfmeister are djs/producers/remixers known for their mellow, bassy downtempo tracks with soul, hiphop, reggae, dub, drumnbass and jazz influences.

This is a 1995 12″ release which features 3 mixes from Kruder&Dorfmeister’s power-packed Sessions days. But the spotlight track is definitely Part 2! Fans will not memorise the lyrics or rap-along with Bone Thugs ‘N’ Harmony (except maybe the “Smoke a lot of weed on the first” bit), but will deeply enjoy the deep bass and head-bopping dope beats from the mix. Part 1 is drum n bass which is ok, and Part 3 is the dub version. Incidentally, K&D are coming to Singapore for Gille’s Worldwide Tour. If you would like to take photo with the Hot-4-U crew, please feel free to email us!

In true stoner spirit, I’ll keep this review short and let you tangkap for youself! “Don’t tarik the seed! Sure headache!”

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Kerri Chandler
Album: Computer Games
Spotlight Track: Bzzerk
Label: APT. International

As I’m writing this review, Marcel and me are on MSN discussing bout the chooness that is Mr. Kerri ‘Kaoz’ Chandler. This guy folks.. is a true don of the GLOBAL deep house sound. All we can say is.. he’s done it again! Talk about merging Jap Sony Budokan freshnuss with an individual concept and versatility.. oooooooh weeeee!! This album ladies and gentlemen is a landmark testament of perfect mashing between Tokyo synthesized deepness and New York house rawness. Talkin’ bout raw cool stylez and shit… can I get a muthafuckin’ woot woot!

I’m gonna make this short and sweet. We decided to review this LP that was recently released cos the NOWness and articulate NYC raw vibez that it was slappin’ us with is just too shiok to ignore. Check this LP out peeps and dig in to the euphoric totalism of quality deep steam kering HOUSE MUSIC. Reason why KC is the champ? Cos he never lets deep house music fade away.. and that is gospel folks!

Track in mention… ‘Bzzerk’. If you don’t dig this, GO CUT YER PARIAH EARS OFF! This is Joris Voorn. This is Tokyo Black Star. This is face rubbing funkness from the first lick to the last drop! Aiightzzzzzzz. Other tracks to look out for.. ‘Fortran’, ‘Space Invaderz’, ‘Overwerked’, ‘ESC’ and ‘Reset’. Go get it folks… KC lets the music speak for itself once again!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: Cleveland Watkiss
Album: Green Chimneys
Spotlight Track: Song For You
Label: Polydor / Urban Jazz

Produced by Paul Hunt and Cleveland Watkiss
Engineered by Ashley Alexander & Paul Hunt
Recorded and mixed at Eel-pie studios

This CD ought to be within my uptown Top Rankin Jazzin’ albums of all time. If you are wondering if this Mr. Watkiss is that of the Metalheadz MC during the mid to late nineties, you are right! Those were the days when he was busy mashing it up with the likes of Kemistry & Storm, Doc Scott, Goldie and the likes. So here in its full glory, you can experience the real old skool days when Jazz was not pigeon holed into some genre, but rather a swinging and bebop style reminiscent of the Dingwalls period.

Looking at the inlay credits, it really brings to mind all the old skool headz who are now either semi retired or still carrying the Jazz Torch like Gilles P, Norman J, Patrick Forge etc…The spotlight track in focus is called “Song For You” and this fella really sings it with ease. You’ve gotta hear the way he scats it out when he does his up’s and down’s on the lyrics like nobody’s business. I got to remind you folks that it’s a full on finger snapping track and will sure to make your day when you start to groove from start to end. Just try imitating his stylized feel when he raves at 1min 26 seconds onwards. Now, if you can pull that off, I say you can fry C.K.T (Char Kway Teow) like the Hill Street Master.

For those seeking to purchase this album, not to fret as it’s still available at Amazon.com. The album contains 9 tracks, but it’s sure to keep you busy as it has Jazz flavors catered to every need. Other notable tracks are “Seeds of Sin 2″ < check the intro upright bassline and keys, sure sounds like Maiden Voyage aighht? Dunno wat else to say folks, but if u dig Mark Murphy and the beat poetry and swing flavors of the past, this is one hidden gem you ought to keep in your vaults. Well worth owning. : ) Keep it Jazzy peeps!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: Jah Wobble & The Edge & Holger Czukay
Album: Snake Charmer
Spotlight Track: Hold On To Your Dreams
Label: Island Records
Catalog: 90151-1-B

Music written by Wobble, David Evans, Ollie Marland, François Kevorkian
Words by Arthur Russell
Jah Wobble: Bass, Vocals
The Edge: Lead guitar & Atmospherics
Jaki Leibezeit: Drums
Marcella Allen: Lead Vocal
Ollie Marland: Keyboards
Animal: Rhythm Guitar
Neville Murray: Percussion
Produced by Francois Kevorkian
Recorded and mixed at the Fallout Shelter, London, UK

Illustrations: Paul Wearing, Art Direction: Bruno Tilley

This little known 12″ was first released in 1983 as a mini-LP, never released on an album. Firstly, the artwork on the cover makes it worth hunting down. You know you’re getting the real deal when there’s an art director involved and on this EP, it’s Island’s very own Bruno Tilley. The funky illustration is by talented Paul Wearing and it made me say JAH JAH JAH!

On to the music! Jah Wobble is John Wardle and was pretty big in the 80’s, mid 90’s to present. He teamed up with U2’s David Evans (The Edge) and Holger Czukay (I don’t know much about this dude) on this one-off project, but personally, the real standout track is Hold On To Your Dreams simply because of musical genius, Arthur Russell.

Responsible for 80’s disco classics like Dinosaur L’s “Go Bang!”, Loose Joints “Is It All Over My Face?” and Lola’s “Wax The Van”, in short, Arthur Russell is one of those talented guys that died too young. Here, Arthur provided the lyrics which basically completes this track. Hold On is one of those epic sounding ballads that maintains that slow, penetrating dance groove. Brilliant. The Edge is on lead guitar and in charge of the atmospherics. Not Bad. Don’t forget who’s producing this as well, none other than Mr Francois KKKKK.

The short sample here is not enough to tangkap the 8 minutes of sensual seduction. If you’re up for it, drop me an email and we can meet at Joo Chiat. You can listen to it on my iPod then. JAH JAH JAH!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: George Duke
Spotlight Track: Rhyme Or Reason (Shelter Anthem Mix)
Label: Fall Out Records

Remixed By : David Lalla

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all the hepcats tuning in to HOT-4-U! This week’s Zao Gng is dedicated to all the valentines in the zone and we would like to wish you all the best in huating for the LOVE! The track in focus for this round is a masterful house remix of a slow number by the king of the bak kwah, Mr. George Duke and his niece Rachelle Ferrell. The original song is called ‘No Rhyme, No Reason’ and David Lalla is the man responsible for this stylin’ Shelter remix. As you will very soon see, Mr. Lalla most definately delivered the goods by not straying too far from the original vibe and maintained the right level of soul at all points… worthy to be tagged a house bomb.

By just inputting some nice relac kinda beats whilst retaining the chops of Mr. Dukey Stick and the steam kering melodies. This remix teaches us that sometimes you don’t need to show too much pattern to make a deep impression. Just like Valentine’s Day I guess, where the norm of roses and chocolate are a bit cannot make it kinda vibes and going over the top may be too much at times. It is perhaps good to be unique and do something simple but meaningful above all.

Anyway, going back to the spotlight, I must say that although simple in it’s re-production, the vibe is full on expensive Manhattan kinda shit. Classy without the designers gear kinda feel and deepness without trying to be cool. So check it out asap and good luck for the rest of the HUAT!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: Janet Jackson
Spotlight Track: Any Time, Any Place (R.Kelly Mix)
Label: Virgin Records America, Inc.

Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris 3 and Terry Lewis
Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson.
Published by Black Ice Publishing (BMI)/ Flyte Tyme Tunes (ASCAP)
Mixed by Steve Hodge and Dave Rideau at Flyte Tyme Studios, Edina, MN
Remix and additional production by R.Kelly for Bass Productions, Ltd.
Engineered by Peter Mokran at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL.

First of all a Nice Big Up to all peeps celebrating Lunar New Year and hope the all the nice festive food and kueh kuehs are making you smile and keeping you phatt!!

To usher in the New Year of the Rat, a short tune for you folks to sing along to before we get into da spotlight track. ; )

HERE WE GO: Gong Xi, Gong Xi, Gong Xi Ni —- Aightz (X 3)

Ah….so how all warmed up and in the zone now?

Ok, as you sexy folks know by now, Valentine’s Day is just round the corner and us nice blokes at Hot-4-U have carefully selected some killer tunes to perk up that magical evening. This CD single is probably not available anymore but contains 5 tracks from the legendary Janet Jackson (who by the way is Wacko Jacko’s sister).

When us bruhs were discussing what to do next for Zao Gng, I was finding it a bit hard to really introduce one killer from Manila known as Godzilla who digs Dilla and then…………………. I found hidden in my large stack of stuff this super duper power Hair Standing Goose Bumper!

It sometimes amazes me when I think that the producer Mr. R Kelly (who by the way is looney tunes at the moment and also a paedophile) can churn out such an amazing mix from the original tune. R Kelly of course retained the vocals, melodies etc, but what I really like about this tune is the way he makes use of the spaces in between the track and exploits the nuances to ensure you get maximum Steamm…. Won’t divulge much into the producer himself, you curious folks can go find out more about him in your spare time. Who knows you may bump into him at the counter of McDonalds!

Anyways this track was produced back in 1993 and it really still sounds damn fresh after 15 years BALLS!!!!! It’s a guaranteed sure win for your love making sessions. Not sure how you sexy lovers will cook up a storm, but this track is mos def an essential recipe for your starters, main course and of course dessert. ; 0

Make Love Not War!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: The System
Album: X-Periment
Spotlight Track: I Wanna Make You Feel Good
Label: Mirage

Ahh Valentine’s, the mother of all holidays. Valentine’s is the day commericialism run supreme, where lovers scramble to purchase the perfect gift or splurge over the most expensive dinner. Me? I don’t claim to be a romantic, and I certainly don’t believe in spending money on just one day to prove my love, but I must say I do enjoy an intimate walk downtown during Valentine’s. Because it’s always fun to watch the kids these days, with their big flowers, big hair and over-the-top wardrobe. That much I share with my wife on this special day.

But enough of me, I guess Valentine’s is a day to remember true love and be honest to with your own feelings. That is why I chose The System’s I Wanna Make You Feel Good for my spotlight track. Check the opening line: “I got nothing up my sleeves, no rabbit in my hat.” I just wanna make you feel good! That’s all there is to love, just make that special someone feel good! It’s so simple really, just like this 80’s synth-dance boogie number. A bit of guitar here, some drum-loops there, keyboards and a catchy synth pop rhythmn, and you’re in love. This kills it on the dance floor everytime, I dunno why they don’t make it as straightfoward as they used to. The sweet vocals from Mic Murphy really pulls the whole track together, also check out You’re In My System remix from Mr Kerri Chandler.

This is the track before sex, the part where they cut to an instrumental montage of couples having the time of the world. Sometimes they let it play on while the guy is struggling to get the bra undone but never more than that. If you are truly X-perimental, you can try it during sex and let us know how. Nevertheless it’s always fresh and totally danceable!

So please remember, forget the flowers and candies, just make your partner feel good! Happy V Day!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Venom meets Marco Di Marco
Album: Images
Spotlight Track: Brazilian Waltz
Label: Arision
Catalog No.: Ari032 CD

Written by M. Di Marco
Additional Remix by Venom
Flute By Nathan Haines

This album is for all Jazz Headz seeking a wonderful re-visitation of the piano-driven grooves recorded by Italian jazzman Marco Di Marco. The album contains 10 remixes taken from recordings found in his album “My London Friends” and “At the Living Room.” It retains much of the depth and elements of the originals. Most notable are “Solaria: Chapter One”, “Bossa of the Future”, “Solaria: Chapter Two” (Tech Jazz Rekonstruktion) and many more.

Our spotlight track in focus is of course a heavy hitter and will no doubt hit your G-SPOT. The title is “Brazilian Waltz” which kind of reminds me of scenes from the 70’s and days when you were into NBA fever, Nike dunks etc…It’s one of those tunes that is just perfect for sipping wine with your girl and chilling out to a lovely evening. What can I say, but it’s a (contemplating piece) for moments when you just need to relax your mind and contemplate Jazz. ZONE OUT…..(this tune gives me a black and white image of Big Ben or London Bridge whenever I hear it, don’t know why.) Maybe Marco should have changed the track title to “London Calling”, “London Bridge is Falling Down” or something…

On the whole, there is definitely a bit of a 21st Century feel to the tunes yet the warmth of the original elements portrayed in the 10 tracks still retains the album’s integrity not bastardizing Marco’s original sound. What else can I say folks, but get ready your dancing shoes and samba to the waltz…SIBEH HO Lahhh!!!!

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Album: The Message
Spotlight Track: The Message
Label: Sugar Hill Records
Catalog: SH 268

Hello! How’s everyone?! January is almost over, yes dem fast right?! You should be well aware of the state our world is in. We’re on the verge of a recession, and is it me or are the days getting hotter?

We at Hot-4-U are no haters, neither are we eco-evangelists, but it is nice to stop and notice what’s going around us. Listening to The Message does just that. This is a MASTERPIECE of hip hop. Yes, true hip hop don’t need to rave about holes and chrome. Instead Melle Mel gives you some of the most heartfelt rhymes that dig deep into your conscience and makes you think twice about buying a Rolex.

The Message was one of the first songs with lyrics that talk about the struggles and frustrations of living in the ghetto. The beat is simple but viciously addictive. The chorus has just about the most famous lines in rap history. It’s also THAT track with the synth riff that’s been sampled to death.

With all that said, do remember to take some time to enjoy your hobbies and avoid taxis at peak hour!

“Don’t push me cuz I’m close to the edgeee….I’m trying not to lose my head”

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Various Artists
Album: Brasiliance – Jazz Bossa 4
Spotlight Track: Quem E Homem Nao Chora by Manfredo Fest Trio
Label: Victor Entertainment
Catalogue No: VICP 5279

Compiled by Izuru Utsumi

Manfredo Fest Trio are:
Manfredo Fest: Piano
Mathias: Bass
Heitor: Drums

Once in a long while, you come across a comp or a series of comps that truly reflect the authenticity of the music in focus. The Brasiliance series is one of them and Jazz Bossa 4 is a great testament to the true Bossa sound of the 1960s. Tailored for Jazz Bossa purists, Izuru Utsumi has done a remarkable crate diggin’ job with a 10 upon 10 selection of bossa gems stemming from dancefloor jazz improv to psychedelic a-go-go chorus lines. Reminiscent of other classic Brazilian comps like Kevin Beadle’s Blue Brazil series, Giles P and Joe Davis’ Brazilica series and David Byrne’s Brazil Classics series to name a few. What a selection!

The discerning listener here will be floored by the amount of depth, sophistication and originality displayed through each and every song in this comp. From Zimbo Trio to Ery Arcoverde to Quarteto En Cy, all the tracks here are simply seductive ear openers – radical and exciting in style yet beautiful in both melody and structure. Released in the early 90s, the Brasiliance series is fast becoming a rarity so if you’re keen to get a hold of these gems, try eBay or get a hold of a Japanese friend to hunt em’ down for you in Japan. Good luck!

The Spotlight Track from this compilation is by the great (and blind) Manfredo Fest along with his band members Mathias and Heitor – if you wanna know more about “one of Bossa’s best kept secrets”, peep here. Recorded around 1963, Quem E Homem Nao Chora is one of the gems found on the trio’s debut album which is self titled. Bomba Records from Japan re-released this album on CD a couple of years back but it’s damn stress to find, so if you happen to come across it, DON’T SLEEP! From listening to the sample, one can clearly delight in the dancefloor jazzabilities and steam to the brim notes from Manfredo Fest. The rim-shots and tempo is full-on swingin’ and the overall musicality is true Dingwalls stylo-mylo vibin’. Perfect track to usher in the new year with much positivity!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: The Beastie Boys
Album: Paul’s Boutique
Spotlight Track: The Sounds Of Science
Label: Capitol Records
Catalog No.: CDP 91743-2

Written and Produced By: Beastie Boys and Dust Brothers except “Ask For Janice”
Produced by Mario G. Caldato Jr.

Recorded at Mario G’s
Mixed at Record Plant
Engineer: Mario Caldato Jr.
Assistant Engineer: Allan Abrahamson
“Hello Brooklyn” recorded at the Opium Den

The Dust Brothers are:
Matt Dike, John King and Mike Simpson

Turntables: EZ Mike

First of all wishing all readers a dope 2008!

To kick off my first review, I must say that this album is pure genius and style which features a lot of classic hits from the Beastie Boys. Most notable are famed tracks such as “shake your rump”, “Looking down the barrel of a gun”, “what comes around” etc.. Actually to me all the tracks within Paul’s Boutique is da shit! All Lah, ALLLL…

It still sounds fresh today and will always be at the fore front of Hip Hop. This is also due mainly to the producing efforts of the infamous Dust Brothers who created that whole sampling spectrum with much love and I dare say it’s been over 19 years since this whole style was created. Still DEM FRESHHHHHHHHHHHH lah!! If you like DJ shadow and the likes, u do need to get this as the Beasties were the first to initiate such a style and genre. They were the 1st!!

The spotlight track I must say is full on nonsense but too in your face to be ignored. It comes in 2 parts where the boys start off with a Nursery Rhyme vibe and then kills ya with the up rockin’ militant style mixed with rock guitars and funk and a ragga rhyme half way. Here are excerpts to the intro:

Now here we go dropping science dropping it all over
Like bumping around the town like when you’re driving a Range Rover
Expanding the horizons and expanding the parameters
Expanding the rhymes of sucker M.C. amateurs
Naugels, Isaac Newton Scientific E.Z.
Ben Franklin with the kite getting over with the key
Rock shocking the mic as many times times the times tables
Rock well to tell dispel all of the old fables
I’ve been dropping the new science and kicking the new knowledge
An M.C. to a degree that you can’t get in college
The dregs of the earth and the eggs that I eat
I’ve got pegs through my hands and one through my feet
Shea Stadium the radium E M D squared
Got kicked out of the Palladium you think that I cared
It’s the sound of science (x 3)

Whatever I say ain’t science, so get off your ass and get this album.

2008 MUST GET LAH……MUST LAH…

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Patrice Rushen
Album: Prelusion
Spotlight Track: Puttered Bopcorn
Label: Prestige Records
Catalog: P10089

Credits: Arranged By, Composed By Patrice Rushen

I made a resolution to save money this year. Saving money means buying less records means having to dig back old ones to tangkap. I found this dusty copy of Prelusion, the first album by child prodigy Patrice Rushen. This is the first album from Patrice Rushen, who will later sing R&B for Elektra Records and cause Will Smith to dance like an alien.

Released in 1974 on Prestige Records, Prelusion is mainly an instrumental jazz album. This is number 1 of 3 albums on Prestige for Patrice, the others are Before The Dawn and Shout It Out. I really wished she had continued making Jazz albums, cos she certainly has the flair for it. I mean, she’s barely an adult and already she wrote and produced all the songs! Truly hats off! She’s also dem good at the piano, on this album she flexes her finger muscle to play a range from acoustic to the ARP synths.

All the tracks are mighty good! Side 1 covers 2 lengthy tracks Shortie’s Portion and 7/73, both wonderfully composed with that deep soul jazz vibe. Side 2 is no-bullshit funky Headhunters style, just to show you that she can. I chose Puttered Bopcorn to spotlight because of its Moog sound popish flavour. It’s sample friendly too, I hope someone out there reading this might get inspired in some way.

Please respect Patrice Rushen, she’s covered all grounds in her long career, including musical director for the Emmys and composing movie soundtracks to name a few. She also nailed a lot of wonderful hits like Number One, Forget Me Nots and Remind Me. May 2008 be a year of quality not quantity for most!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

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Artiste: Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin featuring special guest Ivan Lins
Album: Harlequin
Spotlight Track: Before It’s Too Late (Antes Que Seja Tarde)
Label: GRP
Catalogue No: GRP-D-9522

Ivan Lins: Vocals
Lee Ritenour: Guitars
Dave Grusin: Keyboards
Harvey Mason: Drums
Carlos Vega: Drums
Jimmy Johnson: Bass
Abraham Laboriel: Bass
Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion
Alex Acuna: Percussion
Regina Werneck: Backing Vocals
Carol Rogers: Backing Vocals
Marietta Waters: Backing Vocals

A number one scorcher at the HOT-4-U camp, one of the classiest smooth jazz albums ever made, Harlequin is VIBIN’!! The combination of legends like Dave Grusin, Lee Rit, Paulinho Da Costa, Abraham Laboriel, Carlos Vega and not forgetting the maestro himself.. Mr. Ivan Lins, Harlequin is one of those gems you feel absolute pleasure when tuning in time and time again. The vibe here is amazing with clean ass sounds and rockin’ soul! Make suer you check it out!

This album tiok the full marks all the way with ultimate steam tracks like Harlequin, Early A.M Attitude, San Ysidro, Cats of Rio, Silent Message and the spotlight cut for this week, Before It’s Too Late aka Antes Que Seja Tarde. This track is pure class from start to end, vibin’ high with that classic Bahia feel. Hat’s off to Ivan Lins who’s skill in composition and songwriting is truly hardestcore and well displayed in the two songs he wrote for this album – Harlequin and Before It’s Too Late. The beats here are super tangkap which compliments Ivan’s singing to a tee and Ivan Lins’ voice man.. sounds like an instrument by itself! The track just progresses to pure euphoria and the listener will sure to end up with hands in the air one time.

Thanks to YouTube, we are now able to view live performances of a 1985 show featuring Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Carlos Vega, Abraham Laboriel and yes.. Ivan Lins! Tune in to their performance of Harlequin (check out the whole band tangkap steam!) and Before It’s Too Late (deep yet soaring!) and you’ll soon realise why GRP is always DA SHIT!!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: The Lions
Album: Choices Volume 1
Spotlight Track: “Think” (About It) featuring Noelle from Rebirth
Label: Ubiquity

Production Credits:
Produced by the Lions, Arranged by Todd Simon
Recorded at Lion’s Den studios, Topanga, CA by Dan Ubick and Todd Simon.
Mixed by Steve Kaye, Dan Ubick and Todd Simon.

Ubiquity records have been holding fort over the last decade in pushing new grooves and expanding genres across the board since 1990. The label is owned by both Michael Mcfadin and Jody who both started their dream in San Francisco as an outlet to their strong passion for music. Over the last decade, Ubiquity has forged a very strong catalog of releases in the genres of Soul, Funk, Jazz, Disco, Electonica and Nu Jazz. A cult like customer base has been developed through this last decade providing customers with a choice of quality recordings and hard to find gems over hugely publicised and advertised musical productions.

Most notable of their sub labels apart from the Ubiquity label, is the “Cubop” Imprint which focuses solely on Latin, South American, Brazilian sounds. Artistes featured here range from the infamous Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers, Soul Bossa Trio, Snowboy, Bobby Matos and many others. For lovers of rare gems from the past, do check our their other sub label “Luv N’Haight” which features Disco, Deep Jazz and Funk classics rehashed and brought to life!!! Thanks to Mcfadin and his crew, we the people get to enjoy much of the sought after recordings of Arthur Verocai’s self-titled album (a true Brazilian Lo-Fi experimental blending of funk and superb soundtrack style music!!) Also for lovers of Rare Groove and Funk, you can now legally get your hands on Harry Whittaker’s “Black Renaissance” which many honchos regard as the holy grail of rare groove music.

Now, coming back to the spotlight track this week titled “Think”, originally composed by James Brown in the early 70’s. JB originally released this back on his own record label called PEOPLE which is still available under the Polydor label (Another must have for fans of this Dark Lord of da Funk). The reason why I chose this version is due to the way it was rehashed into a Ragga, Ska’ish feel instead of the usual funky playing styles. It of course still retains the funky elements from the original version, but with a little more spice and oomph! Raise Your Hands in da air posse………………………; )

My ratings for this EP are: “Must have”, “Die Die must buy”, “Bo Lui, Rob A Bank” , ” Bestest of the Restest” and finally “10 stars and 100 Moons.”

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

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Artiste: Rance Allen Group
Album: Say My Friend
Spotlight Track: Reason To Survive
Label: Capitol Records

Produced by The Mizells

I’m a bloody kotek, confirmed kotek. Sometime ago, I told Crispian I wasn’t feeling Rance Allen Group, but last week I put the Mizell record on, and the track Reason To Survive came on. Ten re-plays later, I am fully convinced that I’m a bloody kotek.

It’s been a while since I kerna the flying feeling from any song. Reason To Survive is TKO from the start to the end, and it doesn’t hurt to have the Mizells onboard. This is CLASSIC rare-groove Comet straight from Cosmic Soul Space!

The group consisted of brothers Rance, Tom and Steve, and were originally under Stax label. The lead vocals supplied by Rance are spiritual and uplifting. My hair stand when he hits moments of falsetto. ‘Reasons To Survive’ is a very positive song, simply reminding us all not to lose sight of what life is about.

The whole album oozes of sublime classics, Truth Is Marching On, Norman Jay favourite Peace of Mind, and something I like, Got To Be Ready, a nice gospel number. I salute the Mizells for the tight production in Say My Friend, they are truly the Masters of the Jazzy Feel. I really don’t need to elaborate any further, just listen for yourself.

For the record, I wanna state that everyone should listen to music without prejudice, keep a positive outlook on life and always heed what Uncle Lye says. Happy B Day Kiat!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Eddie Henderson
Album: Sunburst
Spotlight Track: Galaxy
Label: Blue Note

Eddie Henderson: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cornet
Bennie Maupin: Saxello, Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet
Julian Priester: Trombone, Post Horn
George Duke: Electric Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizers
Bobby Hutcherson: Marimba
Alphonse Johnson: Electric Bass, Effects
Buster Williams: Bass
Harvey Mason: Drums
Billy Hart: Drums

Feelin’ like some abstract groovin’? Then check out Eddie Henderson’s debut Blue Note release, the fresh and brilliant ‘Sunburst’. An album that opens up new moods and grooves each time you tune in. Constantly surprising the listener with it’s freeplaying freshness and gerum grooves. Comprising of ex-members from the Herbie Hancock Sextet (of which Eddie was also a member) along with fonky honchos like George Duke, Alphonse Johnson, Harvey Mason and Bobby Hutcherson, the album was set for some abstract sleazy jazzin’ with this mad cast of players.

Listen carefully and you’ll soon discover strong influences from the rich instrumentation of the Hancock Sextet, the ghetto sleaze of The Headhunters and the kinetic funk arrogance of early Electric Miles. Basically this album is good shit from start to end and kudos to Eddie Henderson for incorporating all the right influences and sounds in this recording. Truly refreshing stuff!

Again, choosing the Spotlight Track was a damn headache cos I love the entire album. But in the end, I decided to go with the fonk for this round. I really wish you could hear the whole of ‘Galaxy’ cos the 2 min sample here is really not enough and quite sad cos this track is hardcore kerna all the way. Like foot reflexology kinda kerna.. damn bloody pain but damn shiok at the same time. The vibe here is primarily laid back but yet, kinky as hell!! Seriously, the last part of the track (which is not in the sample unfortunately) is full-on galactic free-bop climax! Super duper dope! If you want me to make a visual replication of this track, I’ld say it’ll most probably be porn in Death Star Gunner uniform. Hahaha!! Shit is crazy!

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: Oh No
Album: The Disrupt
Spotlight Track: Every Section (featuring Cornbread)
Label: Stones Throw
Catalog: STH2097

Producer: Oh No & Madlib

Musicality runs deep in the blood, especially for this Jackson Family (Not your Jackson 5 crew) but West Coast soul and jazz heads Otis Jackson Senior, Otis Junior AKA (MADLIB) and younger bruddah Oh No.

The Disrupt, is the first full-length offering from multitasking California rapper and producer Oh No. The full length is kind of a family affair with Madlib behind the engineering and mixing board and Oh No on emcee for most parts. On the whole, The Disrupt has sounds similar in the veins of predecessors of the West Coast underground hip-hop styles such as Peanut Butter Wolf and, of course, Madlib. The album has about 17 tracks which showcases a collection of singles featuring a framework of different tempos, tones and musical atmospheres.

I guess I chose this spot light track due to the fact it has that heavy weight groove samples at the backdrop, yet at the same time shows how the underground head-knodder is done. ; ) In light of Hip Hop being commercial and compared to Pop music these days, I strongly urge you eager groovin folks out there to check out tunes from Oh No, in particular this LP.

It could perhaps make your sexy dance a bit more stylish.

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: Steely Dan
Album: Aja
Spotlight Track: Black Cow
Label: ABC Records
Catalog: AA 1006

Producer: Gary Katz
Song composed by Walter Becker & Donald Fagen

If your taste is skewed towards jazz+rock+funk+R&B+pop, and your ears demand a quality Atas Sikit feel, then you better check out all of Steely Dan’s six albums from the 70’s.

Fronted by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, the real maestroes of songwriting!! You won’t find straight up lovesong lyrics in their music, but a more novel-esque, poetic style type of writing, really glam and akward at the same time. Their music is also characterized by complex jazz-tinged structures and very unusual harmonies.

Here’s a recap of their popular albums, all must-haves in any jazz collection: Can’t Buy a Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, The Royal Scam, Aja, and Gaucho. For collector’s, hunt down a 1978 12″ European EP titled “Plus Fours”. Also check out Donald Fagen’s later album Nightfly.

I can’t really decide which track to spotlight this week. I almost settled with my all-time favourite “Glamour Profession” from Gaucho, but finally Black Cow wins the day for it’s sick hip-hop beat, Seow Lang lyrics (Black Cow is a drink like a ice-cream float) and that Jam at the end. Taken from the incredible album Aja (it’s Asia not Aiyah), straight from the title track (featuring a Wayne Shorter solo), to Peg (with Michael Macdonald’s backup vocals), it’s pure Class 95. Maybe 96.

On the later albums, Walter Beck and Donald Fagen dissolved the need for formal band members, and experimented with established jazz sessionist in the studio. On Aja alone hosts names like Wayne Shorter, Lee Rit, Larry Carlton, Steve Gadd and Tom Scott.

Even if you don’t trust us, just give it a listen for youself lah, you won’t be disappointed.

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Bah Samba feat. The Fatback Band
Spotlight Track: Let The Drums Speak (Harvey Lindo Edit)
Label: BKO Productions Ltd.

Credits:

Backing Vocals – Alice Russell
Bass – Johnny Flippen
Drums – Bill Curtis
Flute, Saxophone – Finn Peters
Guitar – Mark Ralph
Keyboards – Julian Bendall
Percussion – Satin Singh
Trombone – Nicol Thompson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Dom Glover
Vocals – Bill Curtis, Johnny Flippen
Written-By – Bill Curtis, Johnny King, Richard Cornwell

This is a spot-on cover version, encapsulated in the perfect groove with the help of Mr. Harvey Lido aka Modaji aka Dominic Jacobson. ‘Let The Drums Speak’ was first heard in 1975 on The Fatback Band’s Yum Yum LP and I guess caught the ears of Bah Samba’s team members big time.

A bit here about Bah Samba, formed in 1996, Julian Bendall, Kevin Alexanda and Geoff Holroyd are a group of very talented musicians who experimented on a fusion of modern dance techniques with straight-up classy musicianship. This resulted in a great new sound that showed longevity and most importantly… maximum enjoyment. But for this cut, big props to Dominic Jacobson who did a fantastic job on keeping the vibe modern but yet retaining that funky 70’s groove throughout.

On musicality, I think you will have to agree that from the very start of the track – synths, bass, all the way to the brass and ghetto slangin’ – the summer groove is spot-on berms and slipper inna jazz stance kinda feel. The section parts are on all counts in true jazzfunktaztical form, inviting the listener to some hands-in-the-air, finger snappin’ goodness.

With the sun coming out in full force these past 2 weeks, I think this will be a great track to celebrate on the beach with “happy hands, happy feet”. All you need is a picnic mat with some keropok and cold beers and you’re good to go with ‘Let The Drums Speak’ in the background as you relak under the coconut tree with quality vibes all around.

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian

Listen to sample

Artiste: Dee Edwards
Album: Gilles Peterson Digs America Volume 2
Spotlight Track: Why Can’t There Be Love
Label: Luv N’ Haight

Writer – Herman Weems/ We Do We Do (BMI)

Howdee folks! It’s been a mad crazy last 3 weeks, with the weather being erratic and everyone falling sick etc. The good news is that Jazz honcho, Gilles Peterson is back with some really great selections from America.

It’s definitely a must have for 2007 due to the fact that he has selected some of the really rare shit and one that I feel he has put in all ears to make it a classic in the making. (reminds me of the early Capitol Rare grooves done by Kevin Beadle back in 1991)

Gilles digs deep in various used-record stores and gives us 18 selections, dug deep in the regions of America and Canada in early 2007. In the liner notes of the album, you can see why Gilles gives his all in this really proper compilation of super solid tracks. (to find out why, go purchase the album and then u will find out!!)

Moving on to the selections, I had a pretty hard time selecting the spotlight track, as I realized that there are just too many killer ones such as Ray Camacho’s “Movin’ On”, Ramp “The Old One, Two” (I also just found out that RAMP actually means Roy Ayers Master Production ; )) , The Diddy’s “Intergalatic Love Song”, ok ok, sounds like I’m trying to hard sell this album, but really folks, its pure quality and the honcho really gives his best in this one.

Not much anecdotes to go along with this review, just letting you peeps know since the market is filled with so much compilation materials, why don’t just save yourself the headache and go grab this LP now. It’s going to be one of the very last few crate digging classic albums to be released ever again…

Tangkap This!!!

-Marcel

Listen to sample

Artiste: Alan Hawkshaw
Album: Synthesizer And Percussion
Spotlight Track: Mile High Swinger
Label: Themes International Music
Catalog: TIM 1012

OK Brothers and Sisters, this joint is FULL ON SWINGIN!!!! Mile High Swinger is tough on the breaks and heavy on the ARP, my bo bei zhao sound. I can’t belive this was composed and produced in 1974, it just sounds so fresh!!! Pure Sophisticated Groove, dem sick! Alan is not your typical artist, simply cos he’s the undisputed king of library music.

Beat Diggers look out! Synthesizer And Percussion is filled with DOPE loops. There’s plenty of organ licks, and funky breaks. So if you’re looking for inspiration, this is a good LP to check out. It will make your drum n bass 100% more kinky. After all the album IS composed as library music.

A little about the man himself: Alan Hawkshaw is a legendary British composer and performer of music soundtracks for film and tv. You’ve probably heard a lot of his stuff on tv shows (like UK’s Channel 4 News) and won’t even know it’s him. I don’t blame you, cos I also dunno. Also, this fella has bagged a few awards for his work. Respect!

Collectors’ note: Alan fronted the band, The Mohawks in the 60’s. They released a one-off LP of incredibly groovy and funky library music tracks. Eric B & Rakim, EPMD, KRS-One are a few of the artist who sampled this album.

So moral of the story, it’s not always about what you know, it’s about what you can discover that will shock you. Take Mile High Steamer for example, it’s totally under-rated, from one of the greatest unsung heroes of funk, but you can’t fake a groove. Big Up Alan!

Tangkap This!!!

-Kenny

Listen to sample

Artiste: Roland Clark
Spotlight Track: Alright (Original Mix)
Label: Polar Records
Catalog#: POL-001
Released: 1991

Executive Producer – Freddy Sanon & Manny Diaz
Producer – Roland Clark for Centerfold Productions.

The 28th of September will be a happening day for the camp as we take a journey to Zouk to witness one of the chongs of the ‘Jersey Deep House Sound’. Yes yes y’all, the tua pwee kia Mr. Tony Humphries will be hitting our shores later this month to kick our asses all over the Zouk dancefloor and we’re mad excited about it. To check out more on New Jersey House, Club Zanzibar and the man who championed the sound, click here.

I’m looking forward to the event so much so that I’ve decided to review a Garage classic from 1991, a track that I first heard on a Tony Humphries mix back in the day – “Alright” by Urban Soul aka Roland Clark. Listening to this track again brings back fond memories of Adidas Gazelles, slick baggies and serious jives to the sounds of the underground. The stabs here are PHAATTT, the militant breaks are rockin’ and Roland’s singing on this cut is pure Garage Soul flava! Oooooohh yeah… makes ya wanna shake that money-maker.. keep them heads a boppin’, bringin’ ya down to ya knees AIGGGHHHTTTT ; )

We strongly urge everybody who’s reading Zao Gng to drop all your 28th September engagements, make your way to Zouk and prepare yourself for some sexy movin’ and heavy sweatin’. Wooohoooooo!! Shiokkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!

“My friend say it’s gonna be ALRIGHT” : )

Tangkap This!!!

-Crispian