gullbuy music review

November 27, 2001

  • 23 Skidoo

    23 Skidoo reviewed in the gullbuyclick to read more

    title:: Urban Gamelan
    label:: Ronin records

    Rerelease of the second album by 23 Skidoo which came out in 1984. 'Urban Gamelan' is divided into 2 parts.

    Part 2 contains seven songs performed with a whole new set of instruments, the 'gamelan' that 'Urban Gamelan' is named for. Instruments used on these tracks are kendang, water jug, conga, bamboo xylophone, metal percussion, and tapes. These tracks are very unique sounding (nothing I can think of outside of actual gamelan records sounds like them) and maintain the very exotic, mysterious, and slightly dangerous feel that the whole record holds.

  • The Aggrovators

    The Aggrovators reviewed in the gullbuy click to read more

    title:: Dubbing It Studio 1 Style
    label:: Jamaican Recordings

    The Aggrovators were a Jamaican session band fronted by Bunny Lee (not the same person as reggae artist Neville Livingstone aka Bunny Wailer). He used members of Burning Spear (Robbie Shakespeare, Aston 'Family Man' Barrett, Earl 'Chinna' Smith, & Valentine 'Tony' Chin) as well as others.

    What sets this apart from other releases on Jamaican Recordings is that most of the tracks are vocal based. Only five of the fourteen tracks are instrumental dubs.

  • Miss Kittin & The Hacker

    Miss Kittin and the Hacker click to read more

    title:: First Album
    label:: International DeeJay Gigolo Records

    Add a touch of Francoise Cactus, a tip of the hat to Chicks On Speed, and the whole package of ADULT. to the synths of Giorgio Moroder and you will have a hint of what Miss Kittin & The Hacker sound like.

    This record firmly introduces an artist destined to become notorious and very popular.

  • Now thing

    Now Thing reviewed in the gullbuy click to read more

    various artists
    label:: Mo Wax

    What Mo Wax has done with the 'Now Thing' compilation is gather 15 contemporary instrumental ragga dub (dancehall) songs by new Jamaican artists.

    Jamaica has been exporting tons of singles by new artists but they do not reach most stores and they sell out quickly, as they are pressed in one-off quantities. All of the tracks here have been released on singles by such labels as Greensleeves, Opera House, Golden Cartel, Black Scorpio, Maximum Sound, Slam Productions, Call Me Shams, or Mastermind 2.5. Really fine comp trading little explored grounds.

  • Psychedelic Experience Vol. 4

    Psychedelic Experience Vol. 4 reviewed in the gullbuy click to read more

    various artists
    label:: Mystic Records

    The folks who put out the psychedelic experience compilations have come back strong with volume #4!

    In case you aren't familiar with this series, what you'll find here is a collection of incredibly obscure (mostly U.S.) psychedelic bands of the mid to late sixties. If by any chance acid-drenched fuzz guitar is what you crave -- you've hit the jackpot here buddyboy!

  • Raumschiff Monika

    Raumschiff monika reviewed in the gullbuy click to read more

    various artists
    label:: Monika Enterprises

    Since 1997, Monika Records has put out a unique brand of postrock releases, and Raumschiff Monika (translating as: Spaceship Monika) compiles tracks from each one of them.

    Spotlighted artists include Quarks, Barbara Morgenstern, Contriva, Komëit and Zigarettenrauchen with Rosa. I think every track on this disc has something to offer and there isn't a clinker in the bunch.

  • Stereo Total

    Stereo Total reviewed in the gullbuy click to read more

    title:: Liebe Zu Dritt
    label:: Bungalow Records

    Liebe Zu Dritt is a four song EP featuring a German language version of the song "L'Amour a 3" from their newest LP 'Musique Automatique'.

    Although the first 3 tracks are very different from the version of "L'Amour a 3" on 'Musique Automatique', the final cut is completely unique to this EP. It is a version of a Japanese TV theme, called "Tetsuwan Atomu", worth owning this EP for if you are a fan of Stereo Total. All 4 tracks are ace!

  • Piero Umiliani

    Piero Umiliani reviewed in the gullbuy click to read more

    title:: To-Day's Sound
    label:: Easy Tempo

    To-day's Sound, a double album from 1971 isn't a film soundtrack but sure does sound like it could be -- except for the absence of the thematic limitations inherent in most soundtracks. 21 tracks with varying degrees of jazziness; some tracks are mellow, some could be car chase scenes.

    There's also plenty of electronics mixed in with the more standard instrumentation and a liberal sprinkling of Latin influence, too.