Dave Bartlett bathes in some hot wax coming to a club near you.
Charles Webster: Defected presents…
Defected
House fans will be no strangers to Charles Webster, and even those not partial to the genre will probably recognise one of his run away successes â Ready.
ItâÂÂs fitting then that the third CD dedicated, to 12 of his own productions, should start with the unreleased vinyl mix. And itâÂÂs not to do a dis-service to the first two CDs in this package but disc three steals the show.
His two Furry Phreaks creations featuring the dulcet tones of New York Terra Deva â Want Me (Like Water) and All Over the World in particular stand out.
They epitomise the best of Webster â perfectly punctuated drum beats, deep bass, with swirling melodies and great vocals.
The second disc is also a triumph of redefining the barriers of music categorisation.
Webster throws in PlaidâÂÂs Ralome, Black SabathâÂÂs Planet Caravan, and Brian EnoâÂÂs Deep Blue Day among others to the relaxed, laid-back post club CD.
Meanwhile the first disc is the most uptempo of all three. Doctor RockitâÂÂs Café De Flore with the heavy bass beginning giving over to Balearic guitar, then soothing synths flowing into a Parisian acordian deserves a mention. Compilation house albums may have a bad name â let this perfectly crafted package change your mind.
9/10
Soul Designer: Evolutionism
Third Ear
The title of this CD is a give away to the lyrical tone for this album which just tries too hard.
The cover of Herbie HancockâÂÂs Rockit and Children of Galapagos are the only tracks on this funky house album really worth talking about.
The rest of the music does not set the world alight, it is mediocre at worst. But Fabrice Lig spoils the good stuff on this record with preachy socio-environmental talk-over messages.
3/10
Housemeister: Who is that Noize?
Phantom Sound & Vision
Noises reminiscent of a 1980s Atari or Nintendo combined with weird elctro space sounds – Who is That Noize? is a cacophony of other worldly beats and drones.
Certain tracks jar so much and use such raw abrasive noises you do wonder whether the Berlin DJ just wants to wind you up, and scream back at the Hi Fi âÂÂwhoâÂÂs making all that noise?
What You Want is oddly catchy â the title words repeated throughout by a lemmingesque voice. Close your eyes and you can almost see the tiny creatures wondering around your living room.
The dark intense bass line and high-tempo drum of Hifi Positiv might be found on a more mainstream record. Strange this record may be, and liable to irritate many, but itâÂÂs certainly not boring.
4/10
DJ Donna Summer: Panther Tracks
Cock Rock Disco
If you were into the 90s rave scene then I think youâÂÂll like this record.
IâÂÂm not really a fan of happy hardcore or breakcore, but if you are, I think youâÂÂll like this record.
Most of the songs on Jason ForrestâÂÂs first album in two years are remixes of a variety of his own heroes.
Ratpack, Get the Fuck Off, Screaming Divas and Wonder Years are all based on live cassette recordings in 92-93 from Dance Paradise sampled from DJ Slipmat, Ratpack, and Ellis D.
Forrest also throws in samples from DJ Technics, DJ Rod Lee, and DJ Chip.
I was only 10 when half of the samples for this record were etched on to a cassette tape, and banging tunes have never really featured highly in my record collection. Panther Tracks is likely to work rave veterans into a frenzy of reminiscing. I think you had to be there.
8/10
Dimitri from Paris: Return to the Playboy Mansion
Defected Records
The production of this album is so clinically perfect and crisp â but what else should we expect from Dimitri and Defected Records.
DonâÂÂt misunderstand me, I am not saying that as if it were a bad thing. Take Incognito feat. Jocelyn BrownâÂÂs Always There on disc one. The drum beat, bass, trumpet dance around your ears effortlessly but also in such a crisp manner.
On disc one (Partytime) Dimitri manages to combine tracks from Jamiroquai, Marvin Gaye, Fish Go Deep and Tracey K among others to pull off a soulful house musical cocktail.
Disc two (Sexytime) is a more chilled out affair. When Barry WhiteâÂÂs IâÂÂm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby kicks in you can almost imagine Hugh Hefner wandering around the room in his trademark smoking jacket.
Dimitri has selected some of the best cuts for this album. Take Richard Rogers‘ CanâÂÂt Stop Loving You (Original Marshall Jefferson version). Jefferson was one of the prime movers in the emerging house scene in Chicago in the 1980s, and is credited with helping start the Acid House movement.
Fitting then perhaps that this album seems to be a tribute to those very funk, disco, soul noises of the 1970s that helped inspire house.
8/10
Osborne: Osborne
Spectral Sound
When the keyboard starts at the beginning of this record a pleasant feeling comes over, despite never having heard Osborne there is something familiar.
The opening track, 16th Stage, does sound similar to the noise Royksopp has etched out, but itâÂÂs no rip-off please understand. Apart from the first track thatâÂÂs where comparisons to the Norwegian duo end.
Osborne mixes techo, house, electronica in a eclectic mix of beats with a hint of nostalgia to days gone by.
This album is a grower, youâÂÂll find it full of aurally pleasuring surprises, even if some of the tracks fail to reach the high standard others set.
DJ producer Todd Osbourn, who also flies and fixes planes, crafted this record on his own music software on a hand-built computer. Look out for 16th Stage, Detune, Outta Sight, Fresh but make sure to avoid Our Definition of a Breakdown.
7/10
