31.12.2024-2024 (x3)

 

https://www.sendspace.com/file/jhsjj0

https://www.sendspace.com/file/tcv1st

https://www.sendspace.com/file/bk4cie

30.12.2024-JESSIE J R.O.S.E. (Republic,2018)

 

POP

   Splitting an album into four chunks is a brave move for a popstar, in a genre when fans are a little more casual and expect everything to be delivered to them in one all consuming format. That said, R.O.S.E. feels like Jessie J almost fully rejecting her more mainstream appeal in order to put out a collection of tracks that mean a great deal to her on a more personal level. It might not be the kind of thing I normally go for, but as a project it’s actually quite skilled and enjoyable.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/52t2g7

26.12.2024-HYBRID Morning Sci-Fi (Distinct'ive Breaks,2003)

 

ELECTRONIC

   This British dance duo consisting of Mike Truman and Chris Healings is perhaps better known for their remixes than their own work. They have remixed such diverse artists as Alanis Morisette, Andreas Johnson, Fresh Prince and Radiohead. The work is taken seriously indeed, and sometimes Hybrid even brings in a string section just to get the right sound (a trick they also employed on this album). And I must say that most of their mixes are fantastic! But when I listen to this album I can tell that the duo works best when they can use melody and tunes already there, instead of inventing their own. Their skill at creating atmosphere is unsurpassed though, and mayhap song writing is not what this album is about. I suspect it’s more about harmonies, beautiful strings, beats, moods, dancing and getting into the groove. And it works very well in that respect. Very well indeed.

     The contribution by New Order’s Peter Hook on “True to Form” is in the form of a very trademark bass riff, but it fits pretty well with the electronic surroundings. Other collaborators are Kristy Hawkshaw, DJ John Creamer and The Hermitage String Orchestra.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/6oyuql

25.12.2024-NUMB The Valence Of Noise (Minimal Maximal,2014)

 

INDUSTRIAL

   Dirk Ivens, a self-confessed fan of these uniquely brutal and complex creations, at least does the rest of the fanbase a good service and brings together eight sampler contributions from the band on the vinyl album "The Valence Of Noise", some of which are no longer so easy to get hold of in the original. "Shithammer" in the Dred And Bled Mix from the first "Moonraker" sampler (1994), "Eugene" in the Pickaxe Mix from "Funky Alternatives Six" (1991), "Blood" in the Crash And Burn Edit from 1998's "Electropolis" and so on, but also exclusive pieces from that time such as "Suspiria" and "Half-Life" can be found here. There is no doubt about the quality of the material.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/77twwe

24.12.2024-FIXERS The Sun, The Moon, The Wind, The Sea (Dolphin Love,2021)

 

PSYCHEDELIC POP

   The Fixers from Oxford is an experimental group of like-minded people looking for their own ways to express themselves. Using pop melodies in their vocal parts, the musicians frame it in their art filled with bizarre rhythms and psychedelic synthesizers. One way or another, but it sounds really interesting.  

https://www.sendspace.com/file/avrpec

23.12.2024-JAMIE WOON Making Time (Polydor,2015)

 

NEO SOUL

   'Making Time' is a solid album, but it's elevated even further by the presence of closing track, 'Dedicated'. It begins slowly over tight percussion and woozy synth stabs, but by the time we're at the chorus and its hypnotic refrain ("Dedicated to the never-known / Dedicated to another love"), the strings envelop you like a comforting blanket. Woon continues to build textures and layers so that by the time it revisits that haunting refrain for the outro, it's confirmed its status as one of the tracks of 2015. Rarely has such a long break done someone so much good.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/psz2r9

22.12.2024-PUSS N BOOTS No Fools, No Fun (Blue Note,2014)

 

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY

  The charming hang session with Norah Jones, jazzy singersongwriter Sasha Dobson and alt-rock session vet Catherine Popper began as three friends blowing off steam at a pool hall - think of it as a slacker version of Parton, Harris and Ronstadt's Trio project. Most bar bands don't manage trio harmonies near this gorgeous, but the song selection is uneven. A cover of Wilco's 'Jesus, Etc.' is a keeper; their take on Neil Young's 'Down By The River', not so much. Dobson's 'Sex Degrees Of Separation' is the highlight, dubious puns notwithstanding. It's a promising sign.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/l8g7qd