Untitled - Now Then

DJ Food.
Ninja Cuts.
1000 Masks Mix.
ninjatune.com
myspace.com/strictlykev
DENIS jones.
humdrum virtue.
denisjones.com
OUT ON HUMBLESOUL.NET
It The lore latest volent DJ Food wis release nos auguerat
comprised inim of tracks ing ea taken faccum from You
is a mix
Don’t Know – Ninja Cuts, a 3CD Ninjatune
showcase
amconsenibh erostrud
released earlier
et
voloreet in the year diam representing quat, all quat. areas Ut of
prat the praesequi diverse label tem and incing its imprints.
eros eliquat la faccums
andrerosto Let’s just say it consendreet
packs a lot it. Highlights
include the Zero dB remix of
ulla
Bonobo’s
am, quis
‘Nightlite’,
numsan
‘Next Levels’
henisl
by
illaNulputpat King Geedorah iustinci (MF Doom), bla and
adigna Bigg Jus’s consecte sublime ‘Say molenit Goodbye’.
alis It’s a nibh hectic exer trip accum through most dolorpercing
el res ut of ver electronic ilit luptat. music.
gen-
Xer
A major
sum num
criticism
inim
of this
quam
mix is that
ipsuscilit it all flies nis by num too fast. qui Packing bla 39
faccum tracks into dolutat. less than 50 minutes is
Molor perilous, sectet, especially corem when the quations
dionsequis is as eclectic eum ex as this.
music
ecte
Just
feuissed
as you settle
dunt
into
wis
a
elis
smooth
augiam hip-hop irilisi. groove it evaporates and
Venit you’re euissi. into Rate drum dolutpat.
‘n’ bass territory.
Ignim Thirty zzrit seconds estis later exeraesto and a grime
odigna MC is telling coreet us how lobore he ‘wears tet his
own garms’.
veniatuerat. Ut laortisi tat.
Iquat. It doesn’t ALIQUAM give you conulpute
enough time to
core vulla consendre enjoy the scenery. ea
con eros nonse dolutat
inisis aut la feugiam adipit
aliquatio commy nonsent
endre tie min hent aliquis
Denis Jones is the one-man-band
of the future. A master of the loop
pedal, Jones’ live performances
showcase his ever-expanding
soundscapes of woven guitar
parts, inventive percussion, subtle
beatboxing, wild noise-making and
layer upon layer of luscious melodies
and harmonious vocal effects.
Whilst all this is triumphantly represented
on record the truly winning
qualities of ‘Humdrum Virtue’ lie
in the depth and intelligence of
songwriting lurking beneath the
gadgetry which sets Jones apart
from other hawkers of self-sampling
trickery. Robbed of the visual impact
of the live experience, Jones’
outstanding technical skills bind together
a varied collection of styles
as Jones moves gracefully across
genres, encompassing elements of
folk, blues, country and electronica.
‘Loop’ is a piece of downbeat
electro soul, built out of delicate
acoustic guitars, intricate beats
derived form all manner of sources
and a distinctive, heartfelt melody
punctuated by tasteful touches of
atmospheric vocal effects.
This CD is a fantastic showcase for
Ninjatune and its sister labels,
Big Dada and Counter, but as a
standalone mix it’s a bit much.
At the end a sample stutters, “Don’t
be fooled by the mask I wear, for I
wear a thousand masks”.
Yes, the label has 1000 masks but
this particular mix suffers from trying
them all on at once. Get the
full 3CD compilation (ZENCD150) if
you’re serious about exploring the
glories of Ninjatune.
SAM WALBY
.
This moves seamlessly into the stark
‘Slumber’, a lone clean electric
guitar improvising around a melancholy
haunting production. In
contrast ‘Third Song’ consists of so
many complex parts, layers and
sounds crying for the listener’s attention,
you hardly know what to
listen to first, reminding yourself that
all this is being created by just one
man.
However ‘Humdrum Virtue’ shows
Jones’ to be much more than an
illusionist with a box of tricks. ‘Electricity’
finds Jones’ unique vocal
style and noise-making abilities,
joined by double bass, drums and
harmonica, creating a blues sound
steeped in tradition but sizzling with
freshness and modernity. Final track
‘Beginning’ is a piece of timeless
beauty- a true 21st Century folk
song which develops out a looped
but consistently changing acoustic
guitar part, through superb electronic
flourishes and the distant
fanfare of a solitary trumpet.
Denis Jones is one of the most exciting
and innovative young talents
in Britain. Get ‘Humdrum Virtue’ and
discover why.
WILL HUGHES.
FLYING
LOTUS.
MYSPACE.COM/
FLYINGLOTUS
OUT ON WARP.
Flying Lotus- Reset EP Warp Records
Californian hip hop producer
Flying Lotus has been known on
the underground for a number
of years, producing innotive and
organic sounding beats not only
for the Plug Research label, who
released his first album, but also
for the soundtrack to cult cartoon
Adult Swim. He signed to Sheffield
based Warp records in 2007 and
subsequently released his Reset
EP on the label. Influenced by a
number of genres, from traditional
south american sounds to soul, the
EP serves as a pointer towards what
this exceptional artist is capable
of. Whilst staying true to his hip hop
roots, the talented producer has
moved towards a slightly more
electronic sound with similarities to
label mates Aphex Twin and Boards
of Canada apparent in songs
such as Dance Floor Stalker and
Spicy Sammich. What is incredible
about Flying Lotus’ production is
that despite this heavy electronica
influence he retains the warm
sound born of the slightly out of
kinter drum patterns and analogue
sampling that have earned him
comparisons with Madlib and J
Dilla. With an album apparently in
the pipeline-also on Warp- there is
a great deal to look forward to from
this exceptional producer.
ben dorey.
The
Carol Anne
Showband.
MYSPACE.COM/
thecarolanneshowband
Sheffield based The Carol Anne
Showband, serve up some lovely
quirky blues here, complete with
slide guitar, multiple vocal layering
and subtle rhythms beat out accordingly.
Throughout all four tracks one
gets the impression that live is
where these songs will truly come
to life. The sing along harmonies
and harmonica accompaniments
lend a feeling of outright fun to the
recordings, in particular, check out
‘Two Steps’ a great number about
the famous chip shop on Sharrowvale
Road. However, one cannot
escape the fact that blues should
be enjoyed in the flesh so whilst it is
certainly worth a visit to this webpage
for a listen, I strongly recommend
a glance at their gig listings
and a trip out to see The Carol
Anne Showband live very soon.
www.myspace.com/thecarolanneshowband
WILL HUGHES.
Kickflip.
Dat Sound
Breakin Even Records
With this release, one of Fat!
Records consistent performers,
yet again proves that he is on the
ball production-wise, only this time,
away from his main label releasing
this particular track on ‘Breakin
Even’. ‘Dat Sound’ brings a blend of
funk fuelled guitar riffs chopped up
that, in its entirety, wouldn’t be out
of place in the middle of a Prince
track! Expect the accessibility we’ve
come to know and love along with
that warm nu skool snap and bass
line that makes Kickflip one of Sheffield’s
(nay breakbeats?) finest.
On the 12inch release there’s also a
great bass heavy mix of ‘Disco Shit’
by Jay Stewart (signed to ‘Breakin
Even’) - a definite future breakbeat
force to be reckoned. It’s no surprise
that one of breakbeats up and
coming stars and long time breakbeat
jiver are matched together on
this all round high quality release.
myspace.com/bobkickflip
breakinevenrecords.co.uk
RICH SMOLENSKI.
REVIEWS.
REVIEWS.
PAGE THIRTY-FIVE. CLARK//TURNING DRAGON. JOHN FAIRHURST//JOYS OF SPRING
flying lotus.carolanne showband.kickflip. PAGE THIRTY-SIX.