PART2 AND LOTEK HIFI DOWNLOADS (NINJA TUNE)
January 13th, 2006 by rui
Two new releases from the best UK Hip Hop label, Ninja Tune’s Big Dada off shoot. These releases are coming out as (initially) as “download only” singles, something which many labels are looking at, especially following the success of Nizlopi’s “JCB Song” reaching number one, now that downloads are included in the top forty chart calculations.
It’s an interesting direction for the industry to take for sure, though as both these tunes are intended for the dance floor, I presume that there will be an accompanying vinyl release otherwise it seems a bit of a waste not to have these played out at full blast with all the bass and resonance that vinyl provides.
It’s also interesting that, for review purposes, I’ve been supplied with cd versions of this, however I’m not sure whether these CDs are “propah” full audio bandwidth audio cds or the compressed mp3s. I presume it’s the former, but I reckon it should be the latter. Anyway, on with the reviews…
[imgright]part2downloadbody.jpg[/imgright] “One of Dem Days”- Remix (feat. Fallacy) - It’s always a interesting moment when the Remix of the single totally rips up the original and throws it in the bin. It’s especially interesting when that Remix was done by the original artist, and this is definitely one of them.. or should I say “one of the dem”. Part 2 restructures the beat and drive in this uk grime hip hop track to a huge dance floor destroyer, the bass stomps through the track like a mad childish robot running towards its favourite toy. The track stays on course and doesn’t deviate. Fallacy’s ripe rhyming has never sounded so good.
“Take Ur Time” (feat Rick Witter) - Part 2 gets in the talents of Shed Seven’s Rick Witter to revoice this skippy half broken beat plate and it works - in a similar way to Shaun Rider’s vocal does the business on Gorillaz “Dare”, Rick’s vocal style sits well with the rhythm.
“One of The Dem Days” - Original - It’s ok… I guess; but as the remix is much, much better so just listen to that one. Lacks the flow that the remix has.
“One of The Dem Days” - Remix Inst. - Says it all really. Runs at 140bpm, for those who need to know that sort of thing.
“Mad Fazes” feat. Lotek HiFi and Sandra Melody - Has a slight skippy old skool UK garage/nu skool Grime feel to it. Both Lotek and Sandra supply a decent enough vocal.
“Move Your Thing” Remixes - A strong club stormer from the guys who gave us the perfect “Percolator” a couple of years ago. Team Lotek blend the Jamaican Bashment flow and the UK Grimy Hip Hop exceptionally well, in a way that still very few producers can and these remixes show what the tune is capable of, The best of the bunch coming from ‘Small Arms Fiya’ who ups the club floor ante with an infectious, approachable clapper rhythm. ‘Percy Filth’ takes into quirky space funk territory - like a moon walk with George Clinton but you can hear a hissing from your space suit - ‘Lucrative’ goes old school funk which works surprisingly well with both the UK and Caribbean vocal styles.
Sticks and Stones Dub - an odd choice for this single. It’s a pleasant enough instrument version of track, but doesn’t sit very well with the other tracks.
Lotek HiFi, with their pedigree of UK urban dance floor style and Jamaican roots are one to keep more than a eye on, you need to keep both ears and feet locked in too.
Mach V (SoxaN)
“One of Dem Days” by Part2 is available now on download only from Big Dada.
“Move Your Thing” by Lotek HiFi is available now on download only from Big Dada.
