Re: Xmas Music

So you really care what's my favourite xmas music? Well, let me say I'm no big Christmas fan, but I still hope that the small personal selection below would bring some tranquility to these hectic Holy Daze.

Stay tuned!

Harold Budd - The Room (2000)

Although I trully love The Pearl and The Plateaux Of Mirror, if I had to pick just one Harold Budd album, it would be The Room, imho the best of his electronic works. I remember having dreams of abstract geometric shapes when I used to fall asleep to The Room.

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Geoff Smith - 15 Wild Decembers (1995)

Philip Glass meets Kate Bush on the Wuthering Heights? Got it, heh?

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Momus - Timelord (1993 Creation)

My earliest memory of Momus is this: once I got stuck in my Dutch girlfriend's home with not much to do, couple of vinyls and no turntable. So I spent the days smoking all her youknowwhat, listening to local campus radio grunge Top Ten (it was 1991 or so), watching dirty grey Rotterdam sky and reading lyrics from the sleeves. Later I've left with two of those albums: Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen and The Monsters Of Love collection by Momus. This is how the true power of a good compilation works: I was doomed to buy all his albums since then. The Monsters Of Love is still my fav but when I think Momus, it's usually Timelord, eight great songs of fragile beauty and lyrics sometimes too close to the bone. Which is just what we'd expect from Mr. Currie, isn't it?

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MLO - Plastic Apple (1996 Aura Surround Sounds)

Yes, the whole 3-disc clicks 'n bleeps extravaganza including the legendary DJ Food mixdown and a disc of remixes.

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In-Existence - Moonwater (1994 Apollo)

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Skylab - #1 (1994 L'Attitude)

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The Irresistible Force - Global Chillage (1994 Rising High)

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Ho bloody ho!

Here comes Baby Santa with a bag full of goodies from the top of your request list. More gifts tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Peace Orchestra (1999 G-Stone)

 

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Tosca - The Chocolate Elvis Dubs (1999 G-Stone)

01 Chocolate Elvis (Babylon To Vienna Voiceover By Farda P.)
02 Chocolate Elvis (Boozoo Bajou Soul Sufferer Version)
03 Chocolate Elvis (Baby Mammoth Version 3)
04 Chocolate Elvis (Rockers Hifi Vocal Version)
05 Chocolate Elvis (Uptight Version)
06 Chocolate Elvis (Au Version)
07 Chocolate Elvis (Bullitnuts Version 2)
08 Chocolate Elvis (Baby Mammoth Version 1+2)
09 Chocolate Elvis (Quant Version)
10 Chocolate Elvis (Bullitnuts Version 1)
11 Chocolate Elvis (Baby Mammoth Graceland Dub)

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Tosca - Fuck Dub Remixes (1997 G-Stone)

01 Fucked Up Intro
02 Fuck Dub (Shantel Mix)
03 Worksong (Uptight Mix)
04 Fuck Dub (Baby Mammoth Mix Nr. 1)
05 Fuck Dub (Haaksman Mix)
06 Fuck Dub (Fila Brazilia Mix)
07 Fuck Dub (Fauna Flash Mix)
08 Fuck Dub (Baby Mammoth Mix Nr. 2)
09 Fuck Dub (Fuck Electro Beanfield Mix)
10 Fucked Up Voices
11 Fuck Dub (Baby Mammoth Mix Nr. 3)
12 Worksong (Rue D'Irlande Mix)
13 Fuck Dub (Gambusa Mix)
14 Fuck Dub (Pulsinger Tosca-Tunakan Mix)
15 Fuck Dub (Auinger Mix)

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Beanfield (1996 Compost)

See what I mean? This trip hop opus contains all the juicy tracks that made Compost famous back then - Planetary Deadlock, Keep On Believing, Charles... Check this compilation for Ian O'Brien's remix of Elektro-Kraut and if you happen to have Streetbean reissue of this album with Richard Dorfmeister's remix of Planetary Deadlock, please share with me.

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Taran - Mod And Mini And Space Age (1996 Compost)

The legend has it that Eugene Taran is a sort of ukrainian indie scene visionary turned beathead but I have my doubts about his contribution to this album, especially if you compare it to another album recorded the same year by Mod And Mini And Space Age co-producers Jan Krause and Michael Reinboth - Beanfield.

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Four Ears - Kurwa Galactica (1996 Compost)

Four Ears were Bremen-based couple of beatheadz and their debut album Kurwa Galactica represents typical sound of early Compost releases - a mixture of cold sci-fi soundscapes and solid beats. Kurwa means whore in many slavonic languages, sometimes I wonder what they meant with a title like this. Probably the worst cover art in Compost history. I have their other album as well and will post it soon.

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It's Compilations Time!

Just stopped by to drop a handful of compilations picked from your requests. These hectic pre-christmas days will soon be over and I'll be back with some serious posts. And what's cooking? Some sweet stuff from Dorado / Filter, Acid Jazz and Ubiquity among others... And some early Compost too.

Stay tuned!

VA A Compilation (1996 Cup Of Tea)

01 Barcode-Love Anybody
02 Statik Sound System-Up In The Air
03 The Eff Word-TBC (Crustation Slow Mix)
04 Spaceways-Crimes
05 Monk & Canatella-I Can Water My Plants
06 Monk & Canatella-Rough Head
07 Red-Squeeler
08 Grantby-Timber
09 Monk & Canatella-This Time Is Different (Live In France)
10 Purple Penguin-Passion (Monk & Canatella Remix)
11 Statik Sound System-Secret Love
12 Statik Sound System-Revolutionary Pilot (Rob's Jungle)
13 Oska-Floot

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VA Another Compilation (1997 Cup Of Tea)

01 Fruit Loop-Drifter
02 Invisible Pair Of Hands-Oil, Oil, Oil
03 Slick Sixty-Hilary
04 Spaceways-Charlie X
05 Slick Sixty-Recliner Classic
06 Monk & Canatella-Picnics
07 Monk & Canatella-Apology
08 Receiver-O'Driscoll's Curse
09 Statik Sound System-Strawberry Lemonade
10 Purple Penguin-Discendent
11 Statik Sound System-Amazed By You (Aim Mix)
12 Mr. Scruff-Mouse At Organ
13 Receiver-What The Fuc

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VA Source Lab (1995 Source)

101 La Funk Mob-Slimfasst
102 Hypnotykdeejayz-Slow Jam
103 DJ Gilb-R-Espece Funk
104 Lexi (X.Pensive)-Many Are Called
105 Bazbaz-Kibboutz Dub
106 DJ LBR & Cut Killer-Keep It Real!...Represent
107 Air-Modulor Mix
108 Raggasonic-La Contre Attaque

201 Lumumba-La Fortune Sourit Aux Audacieux
202 Dafreephunkateerz-Nuphunk
203 Motorbass-Bad Vibes
204 DJ Cam-No Competition
205 La Chatte Rouge-Ecoutez...Fumez
206 La Funk Mob-Folow Da Dealer
207 Alex-Mandrake
208 The Mighty Bop-Excursion Mentale

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VA Source Lab 2 (1996 Source)

01 Bang Bang-Neither Sing-Sing Nor Baden Baden
02 Zend Avesta-Free Jah
03 Main Basse (Sur La Ville)-Hunt One Connection
04 Daft Punk-Musique (Version Longue)
05 Ollano-La Couleur
06 Krell-Planete Interdite
07 Dimitri From Paris-Man+Woman=Infinity
08 Doctor L-Ghost Town
09 Le Tone-Bomb De Bretagne (Bombe Breizh)
10 Alex Gopher-Gordini Mix
11 Extra Lucid-Technical Jed
12 Air-Casanova 70

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VA Dubbed Out In DC (1997 Eighteenth Street Lounge)

01 Thievery Corporation-Transcendence
02 Thunderball-Hijack
03 Liftoff-The Collector
04 Exodus Quartet-The Far East Coast (Thievery Edit)
05 Kevin England-Summer Down
06 Thievery Corporation-The Foundation
07 Liftoff-Angel Headed Hipsters
08 Peace Bureau-As Red As My Eyes Get
09 Thunderball-Ultra Thin
10 Thievery Corporation-So Vast As The Sky
11 Kevin England-Maenad

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VA Sonar Kollektiv (2000)

01 Pathless-Goddess
02 Soul Quality Quartet-I'm Not Here
03 DJ Ghe-Afutatam
04 Stereoton-Kick Me Off
05 Daniel Paul And Tobe Featuring Amra 8-My Day
06 Extended Spirit-Illicity Pt. 2
07 Meitz-Can You Live
08 Moon-Twisted Soul
09 Fleck-Tears
10 Justine Electra-I Feel Like Crying
11 Nootropika-Quatre Neuf
12 Meitz-Mayibuye I Africa (Restless Soul Mix)
13 Ras-Exit Routine
14 Static-Enceladus
15 Micatone-Run

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Pork Recordings Complete!

More than one years since the last post, I decree my Pork Recordings discography blog COMPLETED!

I know you've heard this one before one year ago when I decided that the last missing piece, the Dub Plates From The Lamp 03 compilation, was either non-existent or unobtainable. Now the album was miraculously donated by certain gentleman of russian descent who doesn't wish to be named and the case is closed. Some of the 54.000 visitors may also notice a slight improvement in the 320kbps re-up of Dub Plates From The Lamp 002. The rest of the world's population is invited to experience the sound of Hull's best electronic label.

One question remains - is there life after Pork? If you have in mind any deceased record label with roots in the 1990's that deserves an electronic tombstone the size of A Private Collection, don't hesitate to use the comments section. My music collection is opened to your suggestions.

Stay tuned!

Yennah - Red Noise (1998 Freerange Records)

Breakbeats'n'jazz in the late 90's fashion on this nice little album by Sam Kynaston and Mark Wadsworth (later known as Square One or Mettle Music). First album released on Freerange Records. This is the 2000 US release on Shadow Records and includes Bullitnuts remix of Are We Being Clear?

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Beatifik - The Blue Window (2000 Passion Jazz)

If you're gifted kid from a family with great musical background, you inevitably end up jamming with your parents. If your father is Roger Odell of Shakatak fame, the jam may be as good as The Blue Window, laid-back smooth jazz session flavoured with Jamie's keys and Cheyne Towers' elastic bass. Includes smooth version of Barracuda from Audiomontage album (see below).

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Audiomontage - Snert (1999 Freerange)

If you happen to be one of the 106.000 visitors of Future Vintage (yeah!), you already know I'm sucker for anything with Jamie O'Dell signature on it. Be it pre-Domestic Science Jimpster stuff, his early remixes or early Freerange releases, I just can't help it. Audiomontage was Jamie's guise used for less artsy material, supposed to be the lighter side of Jimpster. Snert is an assorted collection of catchy tunes with cool breakbeats, sci-fi samples and progressive jazz club potential. Does the title mean "Snot Nosed Egotistical Rude Teen" or "Dutch version of pea soup"? I'll leave it up to you.
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A Reminiscent Drive - Mercy Street (1997 F-Communication)

Since my first A Reminiscent Drive post some 15 months ago I received over 100 requests to post the full album. You know I'm mostly happy to oblige and still I was somehow reluctant to let this one go. Or should I say jealous? The thing is, I used to fall asleep while listening to Mercy Street for years and I still think it's one of the the best electronic albums of the 90's. I believe that some albums are equivalent to satori, the music just pours out of the musician independent on his will. Just listen to other Jay Alanski's works and you will find nothing comparable to Mercy Street. I'm not going to write any passionate review, don't worry. Suffice to say it's so good I own two copies (and I still prefer the worn out minimalistic cardboard promo edition, see below). I said it before and I say it again: I envy anyone who will listen to this album for the first time.

 

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Réminiscence Quartet - Psycodelico (1995 Yellow Productions)

Réminiscence Quartet was a side project of Christophe Le Friant AKA Chris The French Kiss and I can't help seeing it as the first step from the abstract world of The Mighty Bop on his way to become Bob Sinclar. These 10 cool latin flavoured tunes still work well today as they had 15 years ago. The title track Psycodelico is still sure shot floor filler and the smoky voice of Salome de Bahia is just awesome. Btw I saw her perform live once, 1998 or so, and she was all you would expect - a full-blooded Vanessa Del Rio-type diva half naked under a boa so enormous it must've been visible from space ;-)

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The Mighty Bop - La Vague Sensorielle (1995 Yellow Productions)

Let's continue ze french excursion with some more Yellow Productions. The legendary label was founded in 1993 by DJ Chris (The French Kiss), DJ Yellow and DJ Cutee B AKA The Mighty Bop. Their first album La Vague Sensorielle contains 10 tracks of laid back jazzy grooves mostly from their first two 12''s and makes perfect soundtrack for lazy autumn weekends.

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Bang Bang - Je T'aime Je T'aime (1999 Yellow Productions)

In 1998, it was obvious that Xavier Jamaux is the more prolific half of Ollano project. The Bang Bang debut album Je T'aime Je T'aime was dressed for success. This fragile collection of cool melancholia with guest vocals by Jay-Jay Johanson or Garry Christian (remember The Christians?) was set to become Album Of The Year.. but it all happened before Air went on Moon Safari. And whatever happened to Marc Collin, the other half of Ollano? Haven't you heard of Nouvelle Vague?


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Ollano - Ollano (1996 Artefact)

Charismatic female vocal and dark jazz arrangements were always a perfect recipe for success. In the 90's we used to call it trip hop and Ollano are the most perfect example... that didn't really work out. Their eponymous debut album hasn't stirred much attention outside France, and Marc Collin and Xavier Jamaux had to wait for the 1998 US re-release. Could have been because the hit single Latitudes wasn't such a hit after all. My favs are still Antipodes and the instrumenal jam La Couleur.

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Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story (1997 Yellow Productions)

Remember Bouge De La? Flat Beat? Music Sounds Better With You? Since the media hype of french hip hop and french disco, ze french electronic scene had produced a cornucopia of great projects, from (A)lexkid to (Z)dar. Some of them so short-lived they didn't bother to name them properly, some still up and running like Kid Loco.
Although Jean-Yves Prieur released three other albums and a handful of compilations since his debut album, A Grand Love Story will surely be mentioned in bold lettering in 2030 edition of Rare Groove Encyclopaedia. I must admit that ever since I've first heard the Benson-esque guitar riff of Relaxin' With Cherry, I always had a passion for this little collection of great downtempo tracks and I envy anyone who will hear it for the first time on this blog today.

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Back with a Bit of Shameless Self Promotion

Due to popular request this now cold desert will bloom again. I promise. Again.

I'm sorry I couldn't deliver the September batch of albums (see the next post), but there have been many changes in my life and suddenly I had to deal with painful personal issues and that switched me into pure defense mode. Result: the whole idea of blogging seemed very very far away. I know it's not an excuse, just an explanation.

Another but more pleasant reason that kept me from posting - I decided to get back to deejaing for a while and play weekly After Hours sessions in newly opened chill out lounge in Prague. I've put together a couple of promo mixes showcasing mostly my selection of very recent breakbeats. These two mixtapes should also answer one of your FAQs - do I listen to new music or has my musical taste faded after 2000? Well, it's up to you to decide. I look forward to reading your wise words of kind criticism.

Future Vintage 2010 Promo Mix 01

01 Guts-Introducing Mr. F
02 Palov And Mishkin-Blunts, Parachutes, Headphones & Beats ft BNV
03 The Deadbeats-Swing Me Like A Hip Hop Song ft Emma
04 Kylie Auldist-In A Week, In A Day (Ashley Beadle's Streetsoul Edit)
01 Flevans-Lay Back ft Sarah Scott (Regal Remix)
06 The Deadbeats-Got What I Want
07 Tony Match-An Abstract Trip
08 Lester Klark-Back To Chicago
09 Seba-Silicone
10 Bonobo-Kong
11 Berry Weight-Heart Shaped Rock
12 JD73-Dark Dub
13 Bajka-The Bellman's Speech
14 Regal-As I Walk The Earth My True Love Waits For Me (Jah Works Dub)
15 Tosca-Birthday (Grant Phabao Version)
16 Jon Kennedy-I Feel The Weight ft DJ Short E
17 Luke Hampton-Jazz Music (Lemongrass Remix)
18 Berkstroem-En
19 Shur-I-Kan-Autumn Leaves
20 Regal-We Go Thru Life...Until The End (Outro)
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Future Vintage 2010 Promo Mix 02

01 Tom Middleton-Starq
02 Kieser Velten-Session 77
03 Globe by DJ Max & Gabb-Think (Club Mix)
04 Drop Out Orchestra-Macaque
05 Curses-The Deep End (Holy Ghost Day School Dub)
06 Luke Hampton-Jazz Music (Loose Goose Remix)
07 Kevin Yost-Jazz Is ft Brooke Harper (Nivek Tsoy Distant Jazz Remix)
08 K Street Collective-Go Go Go (Black Fuse Remix)
09 Euphonic 7-Duck Sauce (Diaz Grey Remix)
10 Tal M Klein-That Ain't No Mermaid (Quincy Jointz Remix)
11 Quincy Jointz-6 Millions Ways To Swim ft Tal M Klein
12 Manzel-Space Funk
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Anyone want a blog?

A couple of weeks ago I found this decree on Aorto's blog Had To Call It Something:

Not sure how that would work, really, just hate to see all this work go down into the ethereal universe of old blogs.
I just don't have the time to continue at the moment. New responsibilities at work have eaten up what little free time I had.
The legal trolls and their regular notices are as annoying as ever.
Add to that RS and their new rules, especially the part about deleting files if not accessed within 60 days. I just don't have the time and, as I've learned, I don't alway have access to the files anymore.
Blogging just ain't what it used to be.
I'll stick to this long as I can...as always, it's backed up; problem is, there's only so much energy to go 'round.
Enjoy the music and support the artists in any way you can. Without our support, there is no music.

Holy mackerel, I could sign it right up. Six weeks ago I promised myself to pause posting for a month. Not that I am so lazy but suddenly, for the first time after 12 years of sharing music, I've felt no special joy posting another album. When I decided to get back after said month, I usually planned new posts in that special time before falling asleep, but when I opened the blog page, I usually ended up cleaning comments section from that chinese link farm manure.

Also the RS shows no love to its long time clients. Recent policy changes made me truncate my huuuge account to sad sad 30GB, in order to make it economically sane to maintain. Believe me, it was like Sophia's choice hundred times over. But as the donations stopped coming months ago, all RS expenses are now mine. Finally I decided to delete material from the late The CTI Never Sleeps and Lemuria blogs to keep Future Vintage and Pork Recordings running. This decision will not please visitors of certain russian forums who kept downloading those files from leaked link list until the last minute. Vot takaya perestroyka...

I've been thining a lot about those Aorto's wise words. It would be just too easy to put on a closedown notice and watch this place rust until the last link expires. Can't help it but that's just not very me. Suicide is painless but it surely doesn't bring so many changes. So please take the handful of albums below as my humble "hello again" and let's see what it's like to blog in the New Dark Ages.

Stay tuned!

VA A Journey Into Ambient Groove 3 (1996 Quango)

01 Union Jack-Water Drums
02 Pressure Drop-Call To Mind
03 Sven Van Hees-Tabla Rasa
04 Zoot Woman-Stevanus
05 Cottonbelly-Give Thanks And Praise
06 Palm Skin Productions-The Beast (Autechre Mix)
07 Bomb The Bass-Bug Powder Dust (Kruder and Dorfmeister Session)
08 Strange Cargo-Million Town (Kruder & Dorfmeister Session)
09 Deadbeats-Humdrum
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Neutron 9000 - Lady Burning Sky (1994 Rising High)

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Ingrid Schroeder - Bee Charmer EP (1996)

Donated by HOUSE4EVER.
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Cujo - Adventures In Foam (1996 NINEBARecords / Ninja Tune)

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Syrup - Different Flavours (2000 Compost)

The third kraut-jazz gem comes from the early days of Compost Records. Syrup was a one-off project led by Jan Krause (Beanfield) and Boris Geiger (The Poets Of Rhythm). Their only album Different Flavours is just what you'd expect - juicy jazz-funk pastiche with complex breakbeats and hot horn section. A recommended listening for summer weekends.

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Extended Spirit - Solid Water (1999 Sonar Kollektiv)

"Solid Water is a prime example of nu-jazz. This genre should really scare you. You should be alert to the hideous potential of such a term. Even before I became aware that such a thing existed, I was experiencing bed-wetting nightmares about Mike Oldfield collaborating with Jam and Spoon, the concept of Kenny G. cutting soprano sax-rug with, say, Utah Saints, or the limitless terror of the Rippingtons jamming with Howie B. This, naturally, precipitates me into a delirium of no small dimension. But maybe, on the evidence of Solid Water, I shouldn't be so timid.
First, though, let me get through my barbs: the title, I mean, it's so George Winston, or maybe it's a leftover from the Winter 1987 Windham Hill compilation. Surely, the band can't be referencing John Martyn's posthumous advice to fellow folkie, Nick Drake (who cannot be left alone now, ever since Belle and Sebastian and Whistler reared their homespun selves - why doesn't anybody pick on Cat Stevens?). Can they?
Extended Spirit are not corrupted middle-aged men who disguise themselves in paisley-print vests and open shirts and inundate God's glorious creation with instrumental bilge water. They are members of the German movement that has given us God's glorious creation Jazzanova, Beanfield, and even the Compost Label (named after the roster's fecundity, no doubt).
Solid Water has a squelchy, squirmy, mulchy, and compostular opening cut, too. "Fadin' In" does more than, well, fade in; it gets you in the mood for a joyful sixty minutes, bouncy with diminished chords and stylish augmented sevenths. Extended Spirit intend to get modal on your supine booty! "Pressure '98" lulls initially with breathy female vocals la-la-ling over a subdued Rhodes piano before the breakbeats thrust forward and roll over on top of an acoustic bass line. Extended Spirit aren't about to emulate 4 Hero's labored "Two Pages." Instead, they want their fun to be your fun.
"Propulsion" could be an Irresistible Force track, if Mixmaster Morris persuaded A Tribe Called Quest to lend him a silly Q-Tip sample ("This is how they do it!"). But Extended Spirit don't have the same "lie down and be counted" agenda as the Irresistible Force. "Propulsion", an effortless, effervescent groove that makes you doff your frown and feel a little euphoric, belongs up there with "Floatation" by erstwhile Balearic wonders, the Grid. The record's title track is ushered in with slow congas and a sleepy piano bassline. It's completely overshadowed by "Propulsion," of course, but it's not without class, by any means.
Before you get into the remixes, "Illicity" will smooth away any residual wrinkles and give you the chills to boot. Initally, the track is reliant on strings and a stand-up bass to subdue you, but it later becomes everything that L.T.J. Bukem has tried to achieve. (To my ears, Bukem depends too heavily on Vangelis' soundtrack to "Blade Runner" for inspiration and ambience.)
Though Extended Spirit use very Bukem-esque breakbeats on the later parts of "Illicity," their eerie, despondent, barely sung sample ("I don't like to be alone/ In the street") casts a shadowy, baleful pall over the track-- an indistinct menace that marks Extended Spirit out as vastly superior to the heavy- handed Bukem and his wearisome acolytes. The album's final track before the remixes is an original, more robust version of "Pressure" bustling with rampant hi-hats and a careening melody line bolstered by a lightning Rhodes piano solo for which Jamiroquai's Jason Kay would probably trade in his new Lamborghini.
Of the four remixes at the end of the disc, the AVDC's take on "Propulsion" deserves special mention, being as close to full-on house music as this record gets, though it'd be a daring DJ who dropped this tune into the set. AVDC's remix replaces the resplendent, Mediterreanean vibe of the original with a brooding, wary, injured groove. When Q-Tip's sample enters, it's more like words of warning than of applause.
My profound worries about enduring muso- toss, purposeless melismatics, and concealed new age earnestness have proved entirely foundless. Extended Spirit's spin on nu-jazz gives you all the delectable, sunny stuff you could wish for. They've just cut the joy with a lingering, sobering disquiet."

Couldn't have possibly said it better. Did I mention this was the first Sonar Kollektiv release?

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Marschmellows - Klangsystem (1996 INFRACom!)

It's chilly sunday and good time to continue our exploration of funky German scene of the 90's. The Frankfurt-based INFRACom! label delivered fine electronic music since the Happy Hardcore daze, and Jörg Rosenbaum & Thilo Kraft AKA Marschmellows were surely one of it's finest artists. Their debut album Klangsystem (which means simply Sound System in german;-) is a sampledelic collection of funky trip hop beats and includes all the tracks from their first three-sided 12'' Blackout/Waterfront/Splendid, which I used to rotate so heavily that the plastic is almost see-through.

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VA Electronic Colorations Volume 1-3 (re-upped by public demand;-)

Hey, I know I'm a lousy blogger, you don't have to remind me.. But the days are finally warm in here and my baby sister just delivered a daughter, the sweetest thing I've ever seen. So you see I'm quite busy learning to be cool uncle and there's just not much time to post.

To apologize to all those faithful readers who keep filling my email with assorted request, I decided to reupload the three of four volumes of Electronic Colorations which was compiled last year from quality sources for my Lemuria blog (the first of my blog family to be murdered by G**gle after the infamous Lialeh post stirred too much attention). It seems some of you found the remains of EC package scattered around the net, incomplete and even downsampled, and were not afraid to ask for re-up. Well, folks, here it comes in pristine 320kbps, the three finished volumes including full res original cover art and PDF templates for your own DIY CD cover.

The original sleeve notes:
electronic colorations is a term originally used by lonnie liston smith in 1973 to describe his style of layering electronically generated sounds over jazz funk rhythm section. in the following years, jazz musicians quickly adopted electric pianos, synthesizers, multi-track recording and electronic effect boxes and transformed them into valuable musical instruments to enhance their musical expression while keeping the jazz rhythm still hot.

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Dynamic Syncopation - Dynamism (1999 Ninja Tune)

The first and the better of two albums Jonny Cuba and Loop Professor AKA Dynamic Syncopation recorded for Ninja Tune. Dynamism is full of great hip hop tracks with Mass Influence or Juice Aleem, but I like this album for the same reason as the early The Herbaliser stuff - for those smooth instrumental tracks with chilled beats and juicy samples. No games this time.

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Jacob's Optical Stairway - Jacob's Optical Stairway (1995 R&S)

Marc Mac and Dego again, this time under their Jacob's Optical Stairway moniker. At first this album sounds like an updated version of 4Hero debut album Parallel Universe, but give it a second chance. Yes, there are some solid breakbeats, atmospheric electronics and expert knob-twiddling, but also a touch of that cold Detroit techno sound. No wonder Jacob's Optical Stairway was co-produced by Josh Wink and Juan Atkins (of Model 500 fame) and released on belgian R&S, the coolest european techno label of the 90's. Even after 15 years it's joy to listen to these tracks, Fragments Of A Lost Language being my favourite.

Speaking of R&S, any chance somebody would have Volume 6 of their In Order To Dance compilation series? Yeas, it's the red drum'n'bass one.. Thanks.

mp3 I 320kbps I 55 minutes I 127mb I link in comments

Tek 9 - It's Not What You Think It Is!?!! (1996 Reinforced)

Marc Mac and Dego present their hip hop/trip hop alter ego Tek9. Disc one contains the regular album It's Not What You Think It Is!?!!, a collection of mellow trippy breakbeats with loads of classic samples. Disc two, titled Breakin' Sound Barriers, is a journey back in time and brings some oldskool jungle breaks from joyous daze of early 90's.

mp3 I 320kbps I 128 minutes I 298mb I link in comments

Chris Bowden with 4Hero - Hero EP (1998 Satellite)

Marc Mac and Dego AKA 4Hero meet saxophone player Chris Bowden in this one-off session, released on Satellite Records, an experimental subsidiary of Soul Jazz Records. Chilled classical sound with some cool breakbeats and sax, some vocals too. A recommended listening for sunday afternoon.