Its hard to believe that two of these records are 18 years old. I was working in a record shop back in 1991 when Carl Craig's 4 Jazz Funk Classics was released, and it pretty much blew my mind, opening me up to a whole host of musical possibities. These records pretty much defy categorization. They rode in on the back of the Detroit techno invasion, but the sonic palette employed is coloured with a range of sounds and rhythms and textures that were unique in the dance music of the time. Carl Craig draws on a disparate range of influences that includes funk and soul and disco, cosmic italo, industrial, rock, jazz, modern experimental composition; the whole of musical history is probably in there somewhere, distilled down into a dizzying gritty mess of euphoric confusion. Perfect for Interplanetary Disco Dancing:
The tracks:
69 - 4 Jazz Funk Classics (Planet E 1991)
01 69 - Ladies & Gentlemen 02 69 - If Mojo was A.M. 03 69 - My Machines (pt 1)-Extraterrestrial Raggabeats (pt 2)-My Machines (reprise) 04 69 - Frequency Finale
69 - Lite Music (R&S 1994)
05 69 - My Machines 06 69 - Microlovr 07 69 - Jam the Box 08 69 - Desire
Innerzone Orchestra/Shop - Untitled EP (Planet E 1992)
09 Innerzone Orchestra - Bug in the Bassbin 10 Shop - Nitwit 11 Shop - Surreal
FRS - Harder (Global Cuts 1994)
12 FRS - Harder 13 FRS - Love is the Message 14 FRS - Theme from FRS
Carl Craig presents Paperclip People - The Floor (Open 1996)
15 Paperclip People - The Floor 16 Paperclip People - Reach 17 Paperclip People - Steam
I was out at a boot sale on Sunday and picked up a copy of Nicolette's 1992 hardcore monster 'O Se Ne Ne' on 12". When I got it home I played both sides, then just had to dig out my copy of her album, Now is Early. It's as strange and beautiful as I remember it, Nicolette's gorgeous vocals snaking about over PJ and Smiley's diamond sharp breakbeats and weird melodies. The opening track, 'No Government' is downtempo retrofuturist jazz and it could have been an anarchist anthem as Nicolette imagines a peaceful world of mutual aid and communal joy. From there on in though, we're treated to a fantastic set of Shut Up & Dance's trademark blend of breaks, bass and twisted acid atmospherics that makes me nostalgic for long nights in dark warehouses or squats, strobe lights and sweat and smiles...
The music is, of course, for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear then go out and try and buy stuff...or something, give money to a down on his luck musician, or sponsor a good busker, it may be the start of something beautiful.
If any of the zips die, then post a comment and i'll try to repost. And leave comments, abuse, name calling, any response is welcome.
I think all of the albums posted are currently unavailable, but if this is not the case we'll remove the offending files.
69 - 4 Jazz Funk Classics (Planet E 1991)
69 - Lite Music (R&S 1994)
Innerzone Orchestra/Shop - Untitled EP (Planet E 1992)
FRS - Harder (Global Cuts 1994)
Carl Craig presents Paperclip People - The Floor (Open 1996)
.jpg)
