Published June 2000

GILES PETERSON
The Incredible Sound of...(Sony)

Giles Peterson musical tastes spans the music of the last forty years.
But there is nothing passe about how he puts it all together and creates a kaleidoscope of sounds combining jazz, funk, Brazilian and the forward looking sounds of the London club scene.
This double CD produced by the seminal DJ-cum-Talkin Loud Records founder makes no bones about his love for jazz which underpins much of the music. More importantly its music that you can dance to or simply just chill out and enjoy on a nice summer day. Starting with the CD #1, Peterson kicks it with a nice flow starting with Funkadelic's Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow" along with tracks such as "I Can See The Future" by Incognito; Nu Yorican Soul's I Am The Black Gold of The Sun (4 Hero Remix)" and Tribe Called Quest's "If The Papes Come."
Peterson seems less concerned with the flow on CD#2. He serves up some jazz and soul classics such as Pharaoh Sanders' "Rejoice," Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" Andy Bey's "River Man," Minnie Riperton's "Le Fleur," Isley Brothers' "Ohio" and the the very contemporary "Your Revolution" by DJ Vadim featuring Poet Sarah Jones. An excellent package. Go get this CD!
Karl Whitmore

VARIOUS
New School vs. Old School vol. 2 (Jive Electro)

The second installment of this modern day reworking of old school jams picks up where the first left off, with a strong affection for A Tribe Called Quest. But who can blame them? For those of us who grew up on "Electric Relaxation" and "Bonita Applebum", a chance to relive these classic tunes on local dancefloors is a more than welcome opportunity. At first glance, however, fans may be a little skeptical of some "new jack" taking contemporary stabs at their childhood memories. Still, a lineup boasting the remixing talents of the Propellerheads, Rabbit In The Moon, and Groove Armada commands at least some attention.
This compilation doesn't disappoint. First up is the Propellerheads' remix of Tribe's immortal hip hop standard "Electric Relaxation", an upbeat and slightly funkier version of the original. The album's many adaptations cover the electronic spectrum, from classic techno to big beat. Mark Pritchard's caustic drum & bass take on BDP's "Necessary" adds a stern sense of urgency to KRS-One's political vocals. Conversely, Tribe's "Description Of A Fool" gets the acoustic treatment with Groove Armada's downtempo mix, a less club oriented version than Ali's original that actually gives a lot more room and purpose to Q-Tip's telling lyrics. New School Vol. 2 promises to be as well received as its namesake.
Kevin Jones

FATBOY SLIM
On The Floor At The Boutique (Astralwerks/Virgin)

Norman Cook is dancefloor populist. He was on that tip with the nouveau Northern Soul thang in mid-80's with the HouseMartins (Caravan of Love). And reinventing himself as a sample friendly late 90's Pop/DJ. On his latest release, On The Floor At the Boutique, Fat Boy Slim and friends, recreate the club buzz vibe from his well known DJ gig at a seaside shack in Brighton UK . And despite the lengthy mix the grooves wears thin quickly On Boutique as much for it's studio sterility as the abundance of stale Fatboy Slim filler cuts, from the big debut. In the end, this one's a frothy lite mix-off, with a possibly short shelf life.
Jerry Pratt

LTJ BUKEM
Journey Inwards (Good Looking/Kinetic Records)

Junglist LTJ Bukem and his various DJ super crews, have edged their clever drum n' bass riddims closer to the Rare Groove. 96's Logical Progressions hints at this vibe, on a Rhodes inspired soul tip, amidst minimalist quickbeats. Earth Vol. 2 saw Bukem, phatten up the bass, halt the BPM's to a down-tempo, laying on the vibe samples. Journey Inwards, LTJ Bukem's latest 2 disc drop shows Bukem bringing on the full Jazz Funk. The band expands to include live instrumentals joining the turntables and samplers on this outing. The drums' n' bass are still intelligent here, adding solid beats to the lush ambient funk. Bukem and co. unabashedly revisit their icons: Roy Ayers, Dee Dee Bridge and Leroy Hutson droppin'vintage flava'd tracks "SunRain/Rhodes To Freedom." 4-Hero are LTJ Bukem closest peers, sharing a penchant for cerebral song arrangements. Check the gems "Close To The Source" and "Viewpoint" for this vibration. LTK Bukem's Journey Inwards creates progressive grooves, closing the time gap between 70's funk, and 90's electronics. Brilliantly.
J.P.

DJ SPOOKY
Subliminally Minded Kid

Although this EP came out in mid 99, it still deserves a mention. DJ Spooky (a.k.a. Paul Miller) elicits different reactions from music folk. Some have called him a fool (presumably for his pedantry) while others are fascinate with his anarchy fueled collage sound. That's certainly in effect on The Subliminally Minded EP, with Dub clashing up against spoken word, commercials, ambient noise, backwards masking....whatever . But the ideas are more fully realized than on previous releases. But the best thing about these remixes is the surprisingly successful collaborations. "Rekonstruction," featuring Prince Poetry & Pharoah Monch on a Kool Keith tip, wise lyrical science without Dr. Octagon's scatological madness. Spooky mixes down the Dub Pistols into a gentle Ska soup. And for the avant weird heads, Spooky joins Sonic Youth guitar freak, Thurson Moore, for some atonal Junglist noise core, on "Dialectical Transformation III Peace in Rwanda Mix." The Subliminally Minded EP is probably the best eargate to date, into this talented but cryptic artist.
J.P.