Under The Influence

There's a very good reason these guys won a Mercury prize for their work back in the 90s. It's because they were innovative - they made DnB good (along with Goldie of course). It still sounds relatively fresh. I can pick this album up at any time and enjoy it straight away. It works on so many levels.

The beats are nice and clean. They have room to breath - unlike most the crap the genre is spitting out these days (it's not all about trying the rattle the speakers guys). I mean - just look at the moment that rich dark double bass drops (1:54 in) on 'Brown Paper Bag'. Simple and clean but with so much impact.

I actually get a tad angry thinking about it. With such great examples aspire to why did DnB go so wrong? I take refuge in the fact that this album, and songs like Heros and Watching Windows, will be around forever for people to get re-inspired by.

What's the deal? Cheesy powerpop hits! You honestly listened to this? Yep, and I kinda enjoyed it!

The first tune 'Now Is The Time' reeks of movie soundtracks, as do lots of other songs on here. Super clean production, layered up just right in the studio and topped off with shedloads of pick-slides.

I think the thing I like about it is that it reminds me of the fun rock of the 80s. It sounds a lot like Def Leopard with a girl singing - have a listen to 'Get Up And Go' and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about - there are plenty of shredding guitar solos to soak up.

At the risk of being labelled Emo I'm going to say that it touched me. It's all very teenaged.

I only downloaded a single track off this album the other day, Into the Sun. I was put off buying the whole album by the poor reviews on the EM at the time. If this track is anything to go by that stance will have to be reassessed. I picked this track in particular due to the featuring of the sublime Martina Topely-Bird (check out Quixotic to see why some people think she's the real brains behind Tricky's success).

It's dark, heavily textured, full of that futuristic sounding backwards thing (like Boards of Canada) that I really love. Thinking about it, it's pretty similar to Marina's other work. Maybe she's particularly dominant in the studio :) I guess I should get the rest of the album to figure that one out myself.

Desmond Williams is soft/mellow/pretty in my mind. His only album I'm really familiar with is "Delights from the Garden". Says it all really, doesn't it?

This cover was not what I was expecting to find at all when I fired up EM (eMusic). I skipped through it on first listen - not really impressed at all, however I've since changed my mind. Listening to it now it's nicer than I'd first thought. Rather dark, and very break-beaty. The disc consists of the original work + a bunch of remixes. They're all worth a listen.

It's moments like this I wish I had my NZ record collection to hand (I can barely remember what Delights From the Garden sounds like right now).

For so many years I've told that Shuggie Ottis should be top of my to-hear list. It was only a few months ago that I actually managed to get hold of the album (I had tried sever times in the past). All I can say is I'm sorry I didn't do it right away. Man, The Neptunes and Co are still tearing pages right out of this book. It's so damn ahead of its time.

I've heard a number of covers of Strawberry Letter over the years (my favourite being Tevin Campbell's version... when he was like 14 or something) so the track was not entirely unfamiliar to me. It's a beautiful track, however the same can be said of any on the album. As I flick through it now trying to figure out which track to single out I just can't do it. It'd be criminal to elevate any single one of them above the others, they're all so good.

I'm going to make sure I put aside some quality time for this album this summer.

If you like your electro at all you have to have a listen to Vitalic - it's dance music done right. My first taste of this Italian master's work was due to the featuring of La Rock on 2manydjs essential pt 2 mix (if you're yet to hear it stop reading right now and go and get yourself a copy - I'm not kidding... essential). Most of my friends decided to skip his performance at Glade last year in preference for the typical glob-dual like fare of the Sancho Panza tent. I can tell you right now they made a big mistake.

I'd actually only listened to the album a couple of times before seeing him live so I was a little unprepared for his display. Refreshingly it was a predominantly live setup - lots of synths (just how we like it). That's probably how he managed to get it sounding so huge. Layers upon layers, up and up we went, building to insane crescendos. I guess that's what I should have expected, after all that's exactly the roll La Rock plays on 2manydjs pt 2. Those poor little djs that followed his act came out of it sounding weak and shallow. The album actually goes a good long way towards capturing that energy. And that's what it feels like - like the disc is an attempt to portray what this guy can do for you in a live environment.

It's not all club stomping beats though. The opener, Polkamatic, is a lovely playful little ditty and plenty of the other tracks are packed full of subtle production work.

If you're now getting inspired to listen to La Rock again please try not to injure yourself.

Ok. So there's a bit of a story behind the name of this album. See, apparently this guy, Leon, was an absolutely brilliant pianist some years ago until RSI or some such went ahead and ruined one of his hands. As a result he spent years studying (and conducting) the music he loved, striping it down to its core. Skip forward to now.

Somehow Leon's managed to get the use of both of his hands back and the results are lovely. Bach, Scarlotti, Chopin, Debussy and Schubert without the frills. It's pure spirit. The soul of the songs is left completely exposed. Incredible work.

Don't quote me on this but I have a feeling these cats are on Ninja Tune. It's unfair to do but one can draw a number of comparisons with Cinematic Orchestra (I know, I'm sorry). Having listened to the new Cinematic Orchestra a bit more I think it's probably lucky that Loka have turned up on the scene to take over.

All instrumental, very jazz infused. Big sound. Big textures. Very pretty. The two part Tabernacle is probably the song that most stands out for me.

Ha! Two years ago when I was banging on about Mark Ronson you didn't want to know. Even at the tail end of last summer I struggled to drag people in to his tent at LoveBox (AKA the Sweatbox - a title well earned), though those who were there were treated to a nice sneak preview of Version. See? See what's happened now? Now he's lined up to be the DJ act of the upcoming UK summer.

This is the point where I'm meant to go, "his new album isn't as good as his first one". Sorry to disappoint but I'm not going to. His new album is a fine piece of work. Covers, all endorsed by the original artists. That's like musical heaven to me.

It's pretty typical Ronson styling. Each track is treated to funky rehashing, dowsed in horns and left out in the sun to spontaneously combust. The opener 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' being a prefect example of just that process done right.

As expected he draws on a great range of sources for the original material. The one that gets me is Amy, a track from Ryan Adam's criminally underrated debut, Heartbreaker. Even the Ronson cover risks drawing a tear from my eye.

I'm sure there are a few people out there struggling to recall why they've heard that name before. One Night In Bangkok - rocking 80s musical anthem. It was the smash hit from the musical Chess (and a top dance track to boot). I believe Murray was the first person to play the role in which it is sung in the stage show (hence where the recording came from). Furthermore his little brother Anthony (Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) went on to play the role some years later.

Enough trivia. You Are is one of those random tracks I downloaded one day. I still listen to it regularly. I'm a sucker for the epic 80s synth sound. Well worth an emusic credit.