The Quiet Boys - Dazzle (1996 2 Kool) Ultra Edition (1998 Thin Air)

The Quiet Boys debuted with the gorgeous Can't Hold The Vibe on Acid Jazz in 1992, then Mick Talbot decided he's got better things to do (like recording another tiresome album with another ex-Counciler Steve White) and their second JAZID Bosh! wasn't half as good. For The Quiet Boys second coming on 2 Kool, Bangs picked young keyboard player Neil Cowley (later he played all the great keys on Zero 7 first album and I recommend his solo instrumental projects Pretz or Fragile State). Dazzle could have been an acid jazz classic - if it was released in 1993. In 1996 it was hardly more than cannon fodder for smooth jazz radios. This Ultra Edition was re-issued on Bangs' own label Thin Air in 1998 and "enhanced" with the drum'n'bass version of Everybody Loves The Sunshine and The 13th Sign bangin' remix of Bosh Tres Bien.

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Yada Yada - Subculture (1996 2 Kool)

The roots of the first Yada Yada album Subculture are in sessions with Mick Talbot, recorded after their initial project The Quiet Boys finally departed from Acid Jazz in 1996. Some of those mellow funky jazz tracks were released under the name Soundscape UK in the US (we'll get to it later), some on Yada Yada's Subculture. Anyhow, the tempo is relaxed and Mick Talbot's rhodes and wurly remind the days of The Style Council. Post acid jazz?

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Mr. Electric Triangle - Kosmosis In Dub (1996 2 Kool)

A collection of remixes Kosmosis In Dub followed the relative success of Mr. Electric Triangle a year later. In fact I suspect that most of the tracks were remixed by Mr. Bangs himself as I couldn't find any reliable info on the remixers (Red Rum, Mr. E.T., Beaverheadz, Misters At Work, Clickman) except for his label-mates James Bong.

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Mr. Electric Triangle - Kosmosis Of The Heart (1995 2 Kool)

2 Kool albums evening! If we exclude the sadly lost album C'ést Trés Bong by scandinavian trip hop junkies James Bong, all that's left is a material produced by a single person, certain Mr. Christopher Bangs.
Chris Bangs is a notorious figure of early acid jazz scene, having taken part in foundation of both Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud labels. Since the late 80s Bangs produced and remixed loads of artists, including the groundbreaking In Pursuit Of The 13th Note album by Galliano. Later he started releasing his own tracks as Bangs The Bongo until he was introduced to Mick Talbot, the guy who taught Paul Weller to love jazz. Together they formed a production duo known under the monickers of The Quiet Boys, Soundscape and Yada Yada.
Bangs first release on 2 Kool though was his solo trip hop project Mr. Electric Triangle and its sole album Kosmosis Of The Heart. The sound of Mr. Electric Triangle is intrumental hip hop with some acid jazz echoes, sweet vocals (Anthea Clarke known from another Bangs project The 13th Sign) and rapper Fabian, a collaborator of many early Ninja Tune artists. My fav is A-L'uomo with helter-skelter drums and spacey moog solo.

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VA Experience In Kool -2° (1996 2 Kool)

And one more, the last for today. Good night and stay tuned!

01 Pure Instinct-Skyline (Slo' Blo' Mix)
02 Deep Freeze Production-Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
03 Kruder & Dorfmeister-Original Bedroom Rockers
04 Mr Electric Triangle-Falling Down (James Bong Don't Trip Mix)
05 Dig Alliance-Inhale (Master Kush Mix)
06 Redeye Knights-Strange Noise
07 Fresh Lab-Ombre
08 Marden Hill-Psycho Clown
09 Freakniks-Scaramangas Revenge
10 The Jung Collective-Flamingo Down
11 Static Sound System-Revolutionary Pilot
12 Resonator-Lament
13 The Experimental Pop Band-Instrumental James

mp3 I 320kbps I 77 minutes I 178mb I link in comments

VA Chomp! (1995 2 Kool)

Another 2 Kool style guide.

01 The Egg-Fuzz
02 Gota & The Heart Of Gold-All Alone (Gratifying Dub Mix)
03 Jaziac Sunflowers-Eyes Of Love
04 Beach Flea-F For Fake
05 Howie B-Birth
06 9 Lazy 9-Electric Lazyland
07 Up, Bustle & Out-Avoir Le Coup (In Dub)
08 PD3-Stop (I Beg You London)
09 DJ Cam Quartet-Bloonaute
10 The 13th Sign-Take Me To A Distant Bass
11 Slowly-Nimble
12 The Jazz Vandall's-The Law Of Creativity

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VA Koolness Purr-sonified (1994 2 Kool)

2 Kool is another great acid jazz / downtempo label I love, mostly for their enchanting compilations. Although only six of them were released during the label's three years existence, they serve well as style guides until today. There's also a handful of albums by various interesting projects which I'm going to share sometimes soon. If you happen to have James Bong album C'ést Trés Bong, which I have lost, do not hesitate to share with us.

01 Index-Made In Voyage
02 Up, Bustle & Out-Y Ahora Tu
03 Tuttle & Dynamo Laboratory-Grasshopper
04 Naked Funk-Husband To Be Present
05 Marden Hill-Into The Future
06 Red Snapper-Cortina
07 Vacuum Productions-Dekalb Av.
08 The Groove Embassy-Always On My Mind (Instrumental)
09 Heavy Shift-90° In the Shade
10 DJ Food-Centre Of The Earth
11 Ramuntcho Matta-Viens Dormir Avec Moi (Dee Mix)
12 Bonjour Monsieur Basie-Sally 19 (Dreams Of Narnia Mix)
13 Blue Train-Mekon Mambo

mp3 I 320kbps I 75 minutes I 173mb I link in comments