BEN SMITH – SINGLE REVIEW – 25 JANUARY 2006
January 25th, 2006 by rui
Funkanala – Bamako – Here And Now Recordings 12″
This has been out for a while but has stayed with me so I’ve just got to give it a mention! Straight out of Mali, ‘Bamako’ is a slow burning, Afro epic with heavy djemba percussion and a relentless bass line, topped off with soprano sax. Psychedelic and spiritual, this is a real journey that never becomes dull or laborious despite reaching almost 10 minutes in length. B-side ‘Economy Class’ is less exciting in a house type way, but it doesn’t detract from the sheer brilliance of the main track. This limited 12″ might take some finding though!
Out Now
The Bamboos – Step It Up – Tru-Thoughts 7″
The Bamboos played as backing band to the Quantic Soul Orchestra while they were on tour Down Under and have built a solid reputation with previous singles on Kenny Dope & Keb Darge’s world famous Kay Dee label. ‘Step It Up’ marks their Tru-Thoughts debut and they’ve enlisted the help of Brighton beats favourite Alice Russell on vocals. It’s pretty much as you’d expect – heavy drums, chicken guitars, Hammond, horns, gritty production etc – and it hits the spot! This type of music will always start people moaning about how derivative it is, but as long as it continues to be made this well, then it’s fine by me.
Released: 13th February
Dr Rubberfunk – Watch The Tables Turn – GPS 12″
The good doctor is back! Party rocker ‘Watch The Tables Turn’ features MC Sarah J coming across like a modern day Salt‘n’Pepa, spitting lyrics over an Amerie-esque (in the way that any drum heavy, guitar stabbed tune is Amerie-esque these days) backbeat. Buddy Peace contributes on turntable duties and Shredded Pete provides some unique beatboxing. ‘Live Wired’ is just as good if not better, with some very charming slide guitar courtesy of Guder man Jim Oliver. Also included is one of those Beat-a-pellas, just like you used to get on Mantronix records in the mid 90s.
Released: 13th February
Ramjac feat Natalie Gardner – Arise/Sweetest Child Of Mine – Ramjac 12″
This is a mixture of shuffling, electronic glitches, bare instrumentation and the soulful vocal talents of Natalie Gardiner. Ramjac is responsible for all of the production works on the label’s releases, including Natalie’s 2004 album, and these are two offerings from his own forthcoming ‘Transfusions’ long player. The music is reminiscent of a more restrained Herbert with distorted beats meshing with minimal jazz chords, while Natalie hails from the Sade school of singers – all sultry whispers and smooth delivery. Not an immediate attention grabber but one that subtly grows on you with repeated plays.
Released: 6th March
