The limited sunlight has most definitely put me into hibernation mode. So far in this period, music has served me well. I’ll be more specific:
1. Coded Language – DJ Krust & Saul Williams
>> Coded Language (Universal/Island, 1999)
>>> What a throwback… Saul Williams seems pretty pissed off on this track. His call to action makes you wanna go and start a revolution. Hard-hitting and dirty. Soooo London.
2. The Cell – Erykah Badu
>> New Amerykah: Part One – 4th World War (Universal/Motown, 2007)
>>> “Momma hopped up on cocaine… Daddy on space ships with no brain…” Any track with lyrics like that is bound to be massive. The contrasting vocals, kitsch production and sheer urgency of the track make me wonder why she is still compared to the likes of crappy neo-soul artists. This song is living proof that Ms. Badu gets better with age.
3. Galaxy – Eddie Henderson
>> Sunburst (Blue Note, 1975)
>>> Jazz. Jazz. Jazz. 1970s: eat your heart out. Very simple stuff yet the trumpet and flugelhorn solos bring a whole new dimension to what would otherwise be boring repetitive loops.
4. Gamma Play – Jeff Mills
>> Blue Potential – Live With Montpellier Philharmonic Orchestra (UWe, 2005)
>>> The original is an undisputed classic but the godfather of Detroit outdid himself when he reversed the concept of techno during this project. Techno is ALL about machines yet this full-blown orchestra brings out the artistry of the composition. Beautiful and elegant. A benchmark for up-coming producers: This is the way to push EDM forward. I thoroughly recommend the DVD.
5. Livin’ in a New Day – Tribe (8)
>> Rebirth (Planet E/Community Projects, 2009)
>>> Woah. How smooth is this track? The bass licks keep things ever-so funky. This is what I call “music to chill to.”
6. Leprechaun’s Dream – Chick Corea
>> The Leprechaun (Polydor, 1976)
>>> Despite the fairytale theme of this concept record, I used to think that the dreamy intro didn’t do justice to the remaining 12mins of the track. This is no longer the case. The tune is somewhat of a tribute to its era. I have to applaud Corea’s intricate arrangement: the sporadic percussion teamed with tricky piano riffs and mulitple horns. Each sub-section is bursting with its own personality, yet everything is just about held together by the airy theme – fusion at its finest.
7. Land of Make Believe – Chuck Mangione
>> Land of Make Believe (Mercury, 1973)
>>> A perfect remedy for the depressing weather. Uplifting flower-power vibes. No instruments are spared on this track (except for guitars). If the Brady Bunch were musicians, this would be their magnum opus. A kind of ‘cha-cha’ sprinkled with some happy-go-lucky-hippy vocals for good measure. Has the tendancy to get slightly ‘prime-time-ish’ but this is to be expected with music in this genre.
By Lola
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