October 2, 2001
Kimbu Kimra
click to read moretitle:: Raise The Dead part 2
label:: Mantis Recordings (England)The sound here is well produced with a sophisticated feel. It does not veer too closely to the nu-jazz territory that Compost releases can go to.
Kimbu Kimra seem like a really spirited band that mix African and Latin sound into an organic house groove.
Modesty Blaise
click to read moretitle:: Melancholia
label:: Apricot Records (Germany)Melancholia is bogged down by too heavy handed of a feel, and not enough sparkling songs to carry it high.
On the positive side, there are 3 songs I really like. Pretty Smart On My Part . Chorale, and I'm Going Out.
Pole
click to read moretitle::R
label:: ~scape (Germany)There is more breadth of sound on this CD than on any previous Pole CD.
As we all wait to see where Pole go on the next proper release, 'R' is much more than a place holder to keep his name on the new release shelf - it is a pretty good disc.
Saint Etienne
click to read moretitle:: Smash The System - Singles and more
label:: Heavenly Recordings (UK)This double CD set is like having studio versions of a Saint Etienne live show. Every song is well-chosen.
I probably have all these songs on the original releases, but put together in this way the collection achieves life as something new and separate and worth owning.
Soiled Doves
click to read moretitle::Hot Siberian Heart
label:: King Of The Monsters (US)Soiled Doves are an all girl band from California named after an old west term for prostitutes.
They sound like a mixture of the Glasgow band Gilded Lil and Big Flame.
Artefacts
click to read morevarious
label:: Art-Tek Records (Russia)The Moscow label ArT-TeK has released the best yet representation of Russia's underground electronic scene.
The comp has a very energetic feel. I hope that more records on small labels from Russia start making it to our stores, especially if the quality level can be as good as this.
Autour de Lucie
click to read moretitle:: Vue Par
label:: Le Village Vert (France)Formed in 1993, the Parisian pop trio Autour de Lucie released their third album Faux Mouvement domestically in March.
During the winter of 2000-1, Autour de Lucie assembled various European musicians (mostly obscure; the majority live in Paris) for remixes of songs off Faux Mouvement.
G Killers and Closers
click to read morevarious
label:: Crue-L (Japan)Many people have not been able to get past the childlike nature of J-pop. It seemed too cutesy. This CD removes all the 'easy' and hyper samples from J-pop and replaces them with more adult sounds resembling nothing so much as "J-house".
Where I expected to find a double disc of J-pop nuggets, I found the underground of Japanese dance culture right inside my CD player.
Lowfour
click to read moretitle:: Repeatle
label:: ForceLab (Germany)There are 4 songs on this 12" Andreas Tilliander recorded as Lowfour.
His music sounds very new and interesting even in these electronically saturated times. For me the standout track is Jagarvegan, though all 4 tracks made me want to buy this 12" when I listened to it in the store.