house

Scars

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:03:00 +0000

I am not a house head, as some enthusiasts of electronic music might insist. I am, however, deeply rooted in my musical past, a history punctuated by middle-American rave culture, pre-emo indie shows in Ohio clubs, and stints at several of the top college radio stations in the U.S. They say it’s bad for a woman’s roots to show, but as one who sports natural color, I have nothing else to hide. Basement Jaxx, a duo of house DJs from the UK, show their own roots with stylish flair on their latest studio album, Scars.

The Jaxx have an impressive track record of incorporating strong female vocals into their funky traxx. Title track “Scars” features Kelis, and no doubt due to her extraordinary harmony on Kish Kash hit “Good Luck,” Lisa Kekaula is back to impress on “Stay Close.” “What’s a girl got to do/To get your attention?” asks British singer Paloma Faith on “What’s A Girl Got To Do?” Indeed, how many angst-ridden times did I scream some variant at my college boyfriend? Again, we circle back without feeling tedious. It isn’t as though I contemplate failed relationships daily, but I do think closure is a bit of a myth.

“Day of the Sunflowers (We March On)” features Yoko Ono. Doesn’t Yoko strike many as a feminist icon? Renowned yet hated for existing. Blamed for the downfall of a great man, of great men in a group. There are more blatant examples of misogyny at the intersection of popular music and popular culture, but instead of listing my grievances, I will take this opportunity to praise Ono.

While not exactly related to femininity unless the song conjures images of a gyrating Jennifer Beals a la Flashdance, the BJ reappropriation of Michael Sembello’s lyrics from the ‘80s hit “Maniac” for “Twerk” is a more manic, production-heavy take on a classic. It’s just enough of a detour from the original to make it interesting without feeling repetitious.

Perhaps most notable is radio hit “Raindrops.” While it doesn’t feature cameos from any famous pop stars, it does offer a classic Basement Jaxx blend of random screeches and computerized voices over an addictive dance beat. I have it on my regular rotation for the trudge into work. It adds a spring to my otherwise clunky step.

I was a slightly neurotic high school student when I picked up Rooty, mostly due to my love of their giant white gorilla on the album cover. Yet because of my queer best friend’s insatiable love of booty-shaking techno, the once impulse buy became a mainstay. I don’t mind looking back—and I’m looking forward to more Basement Jaxx.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, November 11th 2009

Fabric 40

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:58:00 +0000

By Mark Farina

Fabric Records

Mark Farina, a San Francisco-based DJ, is a mainstay on the electronic scene. What began as an exploration of the house genre has now become Farina’s inimitable musical echo. The globetrotting performer is known for his genre versatility, but also his distinctive cocktail of Chicago urban, jazzy reverberation with San Francisco sound. While he’s also known for his down tempo grooves, Fabric 40 is nothing of the sort. Fabric is a series of compilation albums produced by the eponymous London nightclub, with the most recent mix by Chile’s Luciano.

I am sucker for anything that presents itself as a non-stop party, and Fabric 40, initially, is a generally bouncy invitation to dance, but I found a few of the transitions clumsy and forced. Farina’s compilation possessed a slightly anti-climactic feel to it, making it perfectly suitable for ambient music, but at times, I felt uninterested, or, unfortunately, like I had just tuned out 10 minutes of heaving drum n’ bass.

I grew weary about half-way through, and I wish that it better showcased the DJ’s versatility and musical creativity. Farina clearly didn’t strive for this compilation to be tuned out, but to excite the dancing shoes of his loyal fans. Regrettably, it fell short of his intent to keep the party bumpin’.

Written by: Erin K. Murphy, July 28th 2008

Perceptions of Pacha

admin — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:41:00 +0000

By Kiko Navarro

Swank Recordings

The most important thing to DJ Kiko Navarro is that “people must never stop dancing!” Although I’m not a consistent fan of house, and perfer hip hop when I feel the need to get down, Perceptions of Pacha definitely moved me.

Kiko Navarro is a producer and remixer who started working as a DJ in 1990 in Mallorca, Spain and released his first CD compilation titled The Latin Sound of Pacha in a collaboration with Tommy Boy UK and Pacha Group in 2001. He plays venues all over Europe and has a solid history of making great music in Spain, the UK, the U.S. and Japan. Perceptions of Pacha is his 2007 release with thirteen tracks of musical fun stemming out of his longtime residency at Club Pacha in Ibiza. Navarro’s Perceptions can be listened to online at Ibiza Global Radio every Saturday.

Perceptions of Pacha samples different musical styles and soulful vocals into this seamless album, where moments of funk, slices of neo-soul, raw percussion and beautiful instrumentals live next door to synthsized intros, a vocal scat session and horn solo, a piano/violin duet, a short hip hop-esque flow and references to disco and jazz. I loved his mix of piano and afro-cuban beats in “Ache pa Ti" and fell head over heels for "More," a soulful groove with soaring vocals and lovely lyrics. Next time I have a dinner party that wants to become a dance party, Perceptions of Pacha is on the decks!

Written by: Jessmaya Morales, May 31st 2007