Details

Published: 13 July 2004

L.S.G. - The Best Of LSG (trance/progressive/chillout/dub) Think of trance, forget the commercial “samey” sounds that we’ve been introduced to over the last few years, add a little experimentation, hints of techno and you arrive at the “ground breaking” sound that is Oliver Lieb who’s remixed many artists like Banco De Gaia and had his tracks repeatedly played out by Sasha amongst many other trance and progressive DJs.

“The Singles Reworked” sees Oliver stripping down to the bone and “chilling out” his previously energetic releases, taking them down to a new level that soothes, excites and takes many an unsuspecting turn into various space scapes. If you are familiar with Oliver’s previous tracks, you might spot a hint or two of them throughout the course of the mix, especially the likes of Hearts, Netherworld and Fragile in this “oh so smooth” production. Throughout the course of this musical ensemble you find hints of dub, spacey delays and plenty of analogue sweeps and bleeps that will make your heart rise along with Oliver’s usual symphonies of pads and lead lines. “The Singles Reworked” really is heading into the realms of chillout and sounds great! Whether you’re at home with the hi-fi or out walking with headphones, there’s every chance you’ll forget the passing of time and purely focus on the sounds alone.

Included with this release is also a bonus CD with even more remixes of Oliver’s Tracks. Again, it’s great to hear trance being offered in such a variable range of genres, especially notable are the pure tech breaks of “Hearts” and the driving acid of “Fragile Part 3”. You will still find hints of trance on this journey although in spits and spurts as the bonus CD covers as many cross genres as “The Singles Reworked”, it tends to be unpredictable and you never quite know where you’re off to next. Unlike “The Singles Reworked”, this CD is all separate tracks that are not all sequenced together into one long set, but still, you can’t have everything with free gifts and I found it didn’t really matter listening to tracks individual in their own right.

Overall a bargain at any price whether you love trance, progressive or laid back techno trance. Marvellously produced and lots of variation to keep even the fussiest of music lovers happy. I’m not a die hard fan of trance (even though I did buy L.S.G’s The Hidden Sun Of Venus on Platypus) but this is a collection that I can relate to as many of you will. Give it a whirl!

Track Listing:

CD1: The Singles Reworked
CD2: Bonus Remix CD

http://www.superstition.de

Title: The Best Of L.S.G. : The Singles Reworked
Artist: L.S.G.
Format: CD
Cat No: ???
Release Date: Out Now!

Reviewer: DJ Alixir

Details

Published: 13 July 2004

Auf Der Maur – Auf Der Maur (Rock) : Do you remember the sexy bass guitarist from Hole, in their legendary days, and Smashing Pumpkins, just before they split? Did you ever wonder what happened to her? Well, in her hiatus from the limelight she has been working with her new band, Auf Der Maur, on their debut release.

Born in Montreal Quebec this musical all-star likens playing the bass to her sexual encounters "I get so into it. The only time I ever feel the same way is when I'm having sex; it's the epitome of unifying with something."

The music on this album tends to be spacey and dreamy, definitely more along the lines of the Pumpkins as opposed to Hole. If you are a Pumpkins fan, and are into female vocals this disc may be a priority of yours.

Track Listing:
01. Lightning is My Girl
02. Followed The Waves
03. Real A Lie
04. Head Unbound
05. Taste You
06. Beast Of Honour
07. I’ll Be Anything You Want
08. My Foggy Notion
09. Would If I Could
10. Overpower Thee
11. Skin Receiver
12. I Need I Want I Will

www.aufdermaur.com
www.capitolrecords.com
www.emimusic.com

Review By: Melissa B.

Details

Published: 13 July 2004

Kelis - Tasty (Various): With her third and most stunning album yet, "Tasty", this "delicious Harlem darling" has returned. Since signing with Virgin in 1998 Kelis is now just proving her true natual abilities.

With her first two albums created with the guidance and support of Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, "Tasty" displays this 24-year olds real ambition, co-writing five of the tracks and acting as the executive producer.

Kelis has a strong musical background, beginning at a young age with influence from her father, who was a jazz musician, and growing up singing in the church choir and playing violin, piano and saxophone.

The guest appearances on this new album have been kept to a minimum, but the choice of support is noteworthy, having two tracks supported by Andre 3000 of everybody's favorite hip hop duo Outkast. Also heard on this disc is the hot and flawless single "Milkshake", which has just entered its fourth consecutive week at number two on the Official UK's singles charts and shows no sign of stopping there.

Filled with the succulent sounds of R&B, hip hop, and soul this album is bound to be a success. Exuding confidence and filled with sexually laced lyrics that are spoken with such innocence it leaves the listener wanting to play it over and over again.

Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. Trick Me
03. Milkshake
04. Keep It Down
05. In Public (feat. Nas)
06. Flashback
07. Protect My Heart
08. Millionaire (feat. Andre 3000)
09. Glow (feat. Raphael Saadiq)
10. Sugar Honey Iced Tea
11. Attention (feat. Raphael Saadiq)
12. Rolling Through the Hood
13. Stick Up
14. Marathon

www.kelis.co.uk
www.the-raft.co.uk/kelis
www.arista.com
www.emimusic.com

Review By: Melissa B.

Details

Published: 13 July 2004

Courtney Love – America’s Sweetheart (Rock): With a history that extends beyond the years of most listeners, she is an artist with a story to tell. Making her musical debut in 1994 with the group Hole, she became most famous for her marriage to grunge alternative legend Kurt Cobain. However, when he committed suicide in 1994 Courtney Love was forced to make a stance of her own and that she did, releasing some of the most emotionally charged rock music of the time.

Her long awaited and eagerly anticipated solo debut is finally here. After a six-year hiatus Love's "America's Sweetheart" brings the same raw rock that listeners fell in love with from Hole. Again writing her own music, with minor assistance from 4 Non Blondes Linda Perry, whose lyricism is rapidly becoming legendary, the tracks are filled with Love's characteristic angst. However, this time the songs are telling us a little more, and opening a window into life on the edge in Los Angeles. From "All the drugs" and "Sunset Strip" we are given a chance to understand the, as of yet unshared, secrets of the troubled life of Courtney Love.

This disc receives my highest ranking, it has been recommended to my friends and family and now I am recommending it to you. If you ever wanted to know what real unabridged rock was, here is your chance. And of course if you were ever a Hole fan then you probably already own this CD and agree that it could be one of the best of 2004.

Track Listing:
01. Mono
02. But Julian, I’m a Little Older Than You
03. Hold On To Me
04. Sunset Strip
05. All The Drugs
06. Almost Golden
07. I’ll Do Anything
08. Uncool
09. Life Despite God
10. Hello
11. Zeplin Song
12. Never Gonna Be The Same

www.kittyradio.com
www.courtneylove.com
www.virginrecords.com

Review By: Melissa B.

Details

Published: 13 July 2004

!!!: Louden Up Now (Punk-Funk) “And you can tell the President to suck my fucking dick. Does that sound intelligent? Like I give a fu*king frick”.Chatting to Skrufff recently !!! guitarist Mario Andreone admitted the 7 piece punk-funk pioneers now wished they’d named checked President Reagan on their reactionary latest single Pardon My Freedom, though any band that can rhyme dick with ‘frick’ is clearly already aware that the devil’s in the detail.

And it’s the detail, or rather the 10 songs included here, which will carry them beyond being ‘the trendiest of New York hipsters’ (NME) after a year in which they’ve already effortlessly surpassed erstwhile contemporaries like DFA and The Rapture.

Essentially a collection of loosely structured jam-style punk-funk workouts, the record is both surprisingly listenable as well as cheerfully upbeat, its serious political messages offset with humour and intelligence that compares favourably with the wit of their spiritual 80s forefathers; namely Talking Heads and original agit-pop provocateurs Gang Of Four.

Breakthrough single Me and Giuliani Down By The School Yard remains a highlight as does live favourite Shitscheissemerde though the whole album trundles along happily, reflecting the band’s chemistry which they’ve clearly now got hold of.

Another reason !!! are set for great things is the sheer brilliance of their live shows (all 7 players are superb musicians as well as clearly great mates) and while Louden Up Now doesn’t quite capture that magic, it’s nevertheless a worthy musical snap shot of a band clearly going places. Louden Up Now is out now on Warp.

Genre: Punk-funk

Rating: 7/10

Rating:

Track listing:

01. When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Crazee
02. Pardon My Freedom
03. Dear Can
04. The Kings Weed
05. Hello, Is This Thing On?
06. Shit Scheisse
07. Merde pt. 2
08. Me and Giuliani Down By The School Yard
09. Space Island
10. Shitscheissemerde

http://www.warprecords.com/bleep/current_item.php?selection=WARP121_DM

Review by: Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)

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