|
my Ubyssey review :D
DJ James Lavelle’s breakbeats headline the newest Global Underground mix
Whether journeying through the epic trance of Sasha and Digweed or the deep house of Danny Tenaglia, the Global Underground crew, in its 23-release existence, has always been synonymous with quality. Its newest member James Lavelle, head of the trip-hop label Mo’ Wax, was handed the decks to mix up the latest two-disc installment, “James Lavelle - GU023: Barcelona.”
James Lavelle’s reputation for his blinding breakbeat sets has always included a love of hip-hop. This mix varies from the traditional 4/4 beat that has marked all previous Global Underground releases; it is the meticulous construction of Lavelle’s mixes that has garnered him rave reviews as a DJ.
Disc 1 ushers us in with Lavelle’s own “Unklesounds” intro, quickly melding into the blinding “Mongrel…Meets His Maker.” A protégé of Lavelle’s Mo’ Wax imprint, DJ Shadow’s guitar-led track is set in an unconventional yet relaxed 6/8 time structure. Its melancholy pianos lead into Leftfield’s “Dusted,” with a harsh rap vocal over slow, steady breaks. Lavelle continues to build his breakbeat-based atmosphere, reaching the Layo & Bushwacka! stomper “Let The Good Times Roll.” Its tight drum programming is one of the album’s highlights, featuring another spooky guitar riff and a simple blues vocal. After several tough breakbeat monsters, Lavelle gets moody with an unreleased mix of Ils’ anthem “No Soul.” PMT’s remix showcases a bassline much heavier than the original melody, sampling the blues vocal to sorrowful bliss. Lavelle finally mellows out, unleashing his mind-blowing Unklesounds rework of indie singer Ian Brown’s “FEAR.” As gentle strings fade in, the male vocal and drum patterns kick the listener into a state of auditory ecstasy.
Disc 2’s beginning sees a return to the 4/4 kicks of house music; the layered drum patterns and deep vocal of Pitch Black’s “Underground Sound” set the tone. Techy breaks evolve from the Rennie Pilgrem & Meat Katie collaboration “Atmosphere,” easily mixing into Meat Katie’s own “Next Life.” After hip-hop laced breakbeat beasts from Uberzone & Pilgrem and an Unklesounds mix of “Dead Prez,” we trip back to the steady tribal beats of house staples Peace Division. The middle of the mix possesses a dark, funky mood brimming with male vocal samples, then suddenly the soft synths of FC Kahuna’s corker “Glitterball” emerge. Hybrid’s new track “Gravastar,” produced expressly at Lavelle’s request, exhibits their foray into demented progressive. The album concludes with an Oasis-sounding number, a downtempo vocal mix of “Doves – There Goes The Fear,” produced by, who else but Unklesounds - again, James Lavelle.
Judging by the stark contrast this Global Underground release possesses compared to its predecessors, give credit to the Cluboxed label heads for taking a chance on a new direction, and attempting to develop their sound. However, their gamble does not go unrewarded; with Lavelle’s sparkling melodies and soulful breakbeats, they’ve absolutely struck the nail on the head.
___________________
what trainspotters are.
|
i love that chill ambience with slight energy in Seaman's GU
wOOt wOOt!!!
Re: Global Underground 23: Barcelona Disc 1...........
