Substance

Reviews

I read somewhere that Frank Zappa once said that writing about music was like dancing about architecture. Well that was said before the days of internet, thanks to which anybody with broadband and an opinion can have their ten pence worth, so we figure we may as well do the same. Sorry Frank.

AROE AND THE SOUNDMAKERS - THE WRECKSHOP PHILLY GOLDEN ERA VOLUME ERA VOL 1

Ask half a dozen rap enthusiasts what hip hop's 'golden era' is and there's a fair chance that you'll get half a dozen different answers, although the first few years of the 90s or last few years of the 80s are likely to rank highly. Late 80s is the choice here and Philly is where it's happening. Now, if you're growing as tired as I am of rap history retrospectives (you might remember that I tried to put that particular genre of mixtape to bed once and for all by chronicalling the entire history of rap in a single mix), then it'll probably take something pretty special to attract your attention. I can tell you that this one won't disappoint. An excellent selection ranging from seasoned classics from Cash Money and Marvellous to relative obscurities are cut, chopped and blended by Aroe with a little help from none other than Too Tuff and LA Kid from Tuff Crew (yes thats the Tuff Crew 80s rap heads). Don't sleep!

www.myspace.com/soundmakersproduction

BUILD AN ARK - DAWN (KINDRED SPIRITS)

The phrase 'genre defying' is casually thrown around these days with a general disregard for whether or not it actually applies to the music in question a little too often for my liking. My disdain for the expression perhaps stems from the fact that is seldom used for any purpose other than to describe predictably boring DJ mixes which seek to blend what now passes for 'electro' with pop, rock etc. This album on the other hand does genuinely defy genre classification, not it seems in any self conscious attempt to do so, but simply because it's formed from a range of influences which, although diverse, fuse wonderfully. The press info describes it as 'spiritual folk jazz' but that doesn't really do it justice. Folk, jazz, funk, latin rhythms and soul all play a part. The best I can suggest is to listen for yourself and be captivated. A truly excellent piece of work.

www.kindred-spirits.nl

dj format & mr thing - holy shit (self released)

With the volume of so called 'mixtapes' flooding out of people's bedrooms and studios these days, it really is very hard to get excited about what's on offer out there. All too often, predictable selection or absence of stylistic presentation (and very often both) let the side down. Here, however, we have two of the UK's most able tablists and die hard collectors joining forces to bring you a truly unpredictable selection of cuts delivered in unique style. Religious themed rarities are served up with on point cuts and a little help from Monty Python's 'Life Of Brian'. Forget hearing the Electric Prunes' 'Holy are Thou' for the thousanth time - this is a deep selection. Holy shit? Funky shit!