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LTJ Bukem - Earth Volume Three - 09-Sep-08 10:40 PM
Here we get a taste of the more downtempo / hip-hop flavor from the veterans at GLR, starting off with the massive Constellations with DRS at the helm. Here is where we get to hear DRS's true approach to Hip-Hop lyricism, and I must say, it's rather quite the trump card over the loved vet MC Conrad. Let's not forget LTJ's uplifting sounds with much funk, deep bassline, and some Japanese flute / ambient element all in one. Critical listen: "I don't care if it's escapism."

Tayla's Stargazing is a fine entry in to the Earth series and I must say one of the best releases from him. Smooth bongo, flutes, and bassline that rolls throughout the track seamlessly.

Intense and Molly Duncan hits next with Jammin' In My Head, an instrumental filler approach by the band and a tribute to the Logical Progression 3. Molly Duncan rips up the sax in his solo as well as Sidwell on the trombone. Definitely for the Jazz enthusiast with a new school feel.

The W2BH collective is featured here with Conrad taking a slab at funky lyrics with Add Ill on the scratches. Conrad's lyrical approach is very different here and much well received, as this is where we get to see his style focus more on musical principles than just lyrics. Great tune.

Bjorn as well as Longers and Forces of Nature provide downtempo slices with heavy beats and spaced out synths...Blu Mar Ten then take the piss out of the GLR documentary with Ir On Ig which is surprisingly a catchy tune regardless how wacky it sounds in the beginning...

Mr. Nice makes his debut with 10:25 of funked out beats and something to look forward to in the future. This track is massive, with everything to bongos, smooth keys and crisp production, the breakdown is cool. This track also introduces Bud's style of re-climaxing tunes near the end when you think they're done. A style he sticks through for a while in GLR...

The closers are Artemis and Blame. Artemis' fascination with funk is clearly heard with First Light almost paying tribute to late 70's style funk with live sounding bass and organ keys. Latitude by Blame is a step down from his massive Jay Walkin', but none of the less a nice and closing track. Once again Blame works with a different key signature instead of the typical 4/4. 5/4 drum and bass feel of a track that has jazz guitar as well as the already-famous Blame rhodes.

Rantoul / Intersperse - On The Edge / Haunting Winds - 04-Aug-08 04:31 AM
Rantoul - On the Edge / Intersperse - Haunting Winds.

I will admit. When I first got this record, I was naturally more hooked on the Rantoul track since it is more dance friendly, introducing some crazy metallic crashing with atmospheric synths floating ominously. When the hook drops after the opening elements, the track goes on to dancing vibes full on with the bassline. The track however becomes very straightforward and doesn't offer much after the hook, which is a little disappointing for Rantoul. Solid none of the less.

The flip side is Haunting Winds, and my first impression was that it was the weaker link of the record. After listening to it more and more however, it is a MONSTER of a track and one of my favorites. The atmospheric is indeed haunting, almost setting a dark mood over the track with single piano keys mixed in the opening. The breaks are very heavy and so is the bassline making you feel as if there's just too much going on in the track. However, at 1/4 to midpoint of the track, there's another deeper layer of synths added followed by a soothing flute-like melody rinsing through the track releasing you from the darker mood, and then bringing you back to it. It's this back and forth that makes this track absolutely brilliant, almost cinmeatic. Big ups to Intersperse for going bold on this track, considering most of their releases are quite chilled, it is good to see this side.

LTJ Bukem - Earth Volume Two - 23-May-08 02:42 PM
As if Earth 1 was hard to trump, the second installation definitely gives the first Earth a run for it. Yes, this is indeed the trump card, and the presentation of this Earth classic is so majestically done, that the theme here is "evolved."

Check the introduction. Fictions is a nice downtempo tune that puts the wheels in motion. Uplifting funk and sampled horns brings the deep bassline that carries the tune. Bukem's journey via Cosmic Interlude is a nice long treat of uptempo, atmospheric elements similar to the Drum and Bass we all love, except it's not DnB at all. Piano breakdown is a must to carefully indulge. Nice track.

Odyssey takes a stab with a tightly produced DnB track, almost to a 720ish flavor. Next up, is hands down the best of Blame has ever done. To this date, J-Walkin is a masterpiece. If future jazz was ever a concept, then in 1997 we heard what it was like. This track attacks conventional wisdom and completely dilutes it to awe inspiring levels. A 6/4 track smothered with an elegant flute, rhodes and bassline.

Artemis and Intense of course bring their own first stabs at Earth. Artemis with his deep liking to funk brings forth a gorgeous experience, and Intense with a slower tempo deep-chilled with Molly Duncan at the helm with the sax.

Blu Mar Ten bring their own wickedness with a rollerish feel track that sounds like an undersea voyage complete with submarine radars, waves, and, oh yeah - a Miles Davis trumpet sample...Must have a knack for it or you miss the whole point. Still, if you do, one of the best tracks out there by the duo.

The closers are DJ Addiction and DJ Crystl to feed the DnB starved, and what a meal. Addiction fuses atmospheric eerie feel and blends it with slabs of funk, jazzy elements, and one of the coolest vocal samples out there. Crystl adds the drum and bass to uplifting, inspirational levels. "If you put your mind to it, you can be capable of anything." The epitome of Earth Volume 2 indeed.

LTJ Bukem - Earth Volume One - 18-Apr-08 09:07 PM
Ah yes, the first, the groundbreaker, the original Earth. Back in 1996, this was a daring release from LTJ Bukem. But unlike most labels that kept to one genre and style, Good Looking Records held a strong value that the Drum and Bass artists we loved and heard were musicians first. And so with that in mind, the Earth series was launched.

The best way I can describe the sound of the first Earth series is "raw," as in, "new" yet keeping the sampling, programming, to give it a very analog feel. Starting from The Rhyme Goes On, one can hear that this is uncharted waters for GLR, and yet the splash is huge. A hip-hop flavored downtempo tune carried by its funky bassline with scratches and vocal samples. A brilliant opener and one that is memorable.

But lets not fret. GLR was primarily a D label, so we're treated with 6 D tunes exploring all sub-genres. Appaloosa's traveling - a lifting atmospheric track that has an interesting breakdown; keys reminiscent of dancehall reggae. Subject 13 - brings a jazz slice D track, and of course, PHD and The Funky Technicians declare their mastery of the amen sound.

Samba with JC is a great track with lots of latin sounds, percussion, and horns. A staple of what the Earth series is all about.

Jazz elements with futuristic synths clearly shows the self indulgence of Drum and Bass with Jazz in Blamde's Revival. The rhodes are infectious, the bassline is amazingly done, and the track would stand out as a prelude of whats to come from Blame. A solid D tune.

Bukem's own Moodswings, a minimal, jazzy downtempo tune gorgeously produced. The closing track is the now-classic Tokyo Dawn from Doc Scott; a piercing amen track with a deep atmospheric feel that fits just right. The breakdown at 5:18 is an amazing outer-space feel with the synth dipping low in the frequency range. Brilliant.

They say the first is always the best. Perhaps it is true here, but this marked the experimentation that GLR still brings forth till this day. Other volumes may have brought different themes, but this is still the most raw sounding of the Earth series. Definitely a worthy pick up.

KMC / Rantoul - System / Too High - 14-Apr-08 02:12 AM
The previous review on KMC's system does not do any justice on how great the track is / was at the time. To call this track "unfortunate" due to the "dated" minimalist style of KMC is downright pathetic and insulting. Lets notice that the review was done in 2002 and the track was out in the open for public hearing back in 1997...So don't pay any attention to what that scrub had to say about a track he only WISHED he sounded like back in 1997.

First of all, KMC's style at the time was that of an eerie type of atmospherics. It shows on Orbiting Probes as well as here in System. The track starts minimal, yes, but it grows in a deep atmospheric, yet driving, lush track. One key point here. This track does not follow the typical style of GLR at the time. That is to say, it has no breakdown. Once the drums and snare kick in, the track keeps going until it closes, setting up wonderful possibilities for mixing and very DJ friendly.

Too High is a techno-influenced track from start to finish, albeit a bit too repetitive and not Rantoul's best. The emphasis on the track is the bassline, which is clever and tries, but it lacks the killer drive to bring it home. Too many elements reused and reshuffled here to make it interesting, but none of the less a nice incorporation to the 720 off-shoot sound. Good, but System is the winner by far.