Quantic: ‘Apricot Morning’
June 8th, 2002 by freddie96
B I G C H I L L R E C O R D O F T H E W E E K
24/06/02
QUANTIC
Apricot Morning
(Tru Thoughts)
Not for Quantic the soul-wrenching horror of the second album that takes several years and sizeable cash injections to complete. But one year on from the sublime funk of his first long-player, ‘The 5th Exotic’, 22-year-old Will Holland already has another fine slab of vinyl in the bag and, believe it or not, an album apiece from his Soul Orchestra and Limp Twins projects waiting in the wings. How on earth does he do it?
When you listen to his music, it’s almost immediately apparent that the man is simply bursting with ideas. All eleven tracks on this album are ripe with energy and invention: however rewarding it might be for the recumbent headphone listener, ultimately there’s too much snap, crackle and pop to this album to make it anything other than music for the good times. That’s where its true centre of gravity lies.
It opens with the single and title track which you may well already know. It’s an infectious little number which establishes right from the outset what you are in for over the course of the next fifty-four minutes: lots of warm, live percussion, a catchy afrobeat guitar strummed with gentle intensity, and spaced-out keys adding a slightly dreamy element every now and then. That’s Quantic all over – creating music that pulls you in different directions simultaneously.
There are many such tracks on ‘Apricot Morning’. The second track, ‘Transatlantic’, is another beautiful fusion of Quantic’s jazz sensibility with Scruff-esque beats. Indeed, with its mix of swinging jazz horn and shuffling beats, it does have a good deal of ‘Get A Move On’ to it. I expect it will get a proper caning from Big Chillers this summer.
Those in search of a more downtempo feel should turn to ‘Wider Than The Sky’ and ‘Trouble From The River’. The latter is something of a family affair, being inspired by his original home in Bewdley and featuring his two sisters Lucy and Beth on saxophone and double bass respectively. It’s perfect for those smoky late night moments when a haunting melody is exactly what you need.
But what many will most enjoy this album for is its collaborations. ‘Brand New Watusi’ features some fine scat sounds from EQ, Alice Russell sings on ‘Search The Heavens’ and ‘Sweet Calling’, while the Aspects hip hop crew deliver some memorably barmy lines on ‘Primate Boogaloo’. These tracks show how fast Quantic is moving out of his bedroom towards the world of live performance, a journey in which his show at this year’s Enchanted Garden will surely mark an important development. Personally, I just can’t wait.
Freddie B.
Quantic’s first appearance with a full 9-piece live band – EG2002 will be his second – is Saturday 30 June, at phonic:hoop in Brighton (01273 720 000 for info)
Quantic will be performing live at EG2002
