ESSENTIAL REVIEWS 63
ALBUMS
ANDY C – NIGHTLIFE 4 CALIBRE – OVERFLOW DANNY BYRD D-BRIDGE PENDULUM – IN SILICO
RAM SIGNATURE – SUPERSIZED – THE GEMINI PRINCIPLE WARNER
The fourth instalment in this Calibre returns with an album HOSPITAL EXIT Pendulum’s sophomore LP
seminal compilation series that maintains his signature The debut LP from Hospital’s Containing sparse, bleak and major label debut offers
doesn’t fail to deliver. Andy stripped back style but is an much-loved West-Country bod atmospheres contrasted with even beefier, turbo-charged
C’s bang-on selection takes altogether moodier piece of is substantially overdue, and choppy, distorted beats, ‘Gemini stadium-sized rock-synth-
you on a journey spanning a work than you might expect. with the Andy C-rinsed ‘Shock Principle’ conjures images of bass than its predecessor.
whole range of styles from Alongside instrumental Out’ (surely the beginning of a dark studio sessions with Ed ‘In Silico’ bounces and fizzes
raw bassline to the vocal and highlights like ‘Savannah Heat’, jump-up-jungle-jingle revolution) Rush & Dillinja. D-Bridge is, with the combined energy
melodic and most in between. ‘Suddenly’ and ‘Low Note’ opening proceedings, this creatively, on the crest of a wave, of a Fabric d&b rave and a
Artists from the Ram stable are vocal contributions from heavyweight collection of soul- and shines through with hopeful head-banging mosh pit. The
make a predictable appearance DRS on the edgy ‘Slums’ and driven dancefloor gold is already sonic promises, particularly on production is impeccable
alongside the best of the rest Lariman on the jazz tinged value for money after one track. the touching ‘Cast A Cold Eye’. It’s and few contemporary bands
of the talent around at the ‘Overreaction’, although it’s Album closer ‘Soul Function’ this unlikely mesh of opposing or producers can match
moment. Even if not all appeals the vocal from Calibre himself sparkles with what can now emotions that make ‘The Gemini Pendulum’s explosive, bone-
to your tastes you’ll find that stands out as most officially be referred to as “pure Principle’ such a delicate, juddering drops. The song
something to like, even if it’s memorable, on the sublime Danny Byrd” melody and technical devastating, unnerving, warm writing and Rob Squire’s voice
just Andy C’s reliably impressive roller ‘Alone In The Crowd’. wizardry. Top stuff from a humble experience – one that, despite are lost amid the gargantuan
skills on the decks. producer who is now one of the anger resonating from its soundscapes - but it hardly
Hospital’s most accomplished rusted textures, sews seeds of matters as Pendulum are best
– and marketable – audio medics. hope in the listener. experienced on a dancefloor.
VARIOUS – HARD TIMES MILLION DAN – SPEKTRUM PATHAAN SYNCOPIX – ICARUS VARIOUS – MOODSWINGS
DNAUDIO DAPPA/BOOMBOX – GLOBETRONICA SYNCOPIX SPEARHEAD
Sticking to their guns and Million Dan’s lazily filed under PLATIPUS Hamburg’s finest export, double Former Ibiza resident,
simultaneously sticking two UK hip hop, when in fact he’s City hippy Pathaan packs his German d&b award-winner, Spearhead boss and favoured
fingers up to the rest of the bashment/dancehall, or an MC CDJs onto his rickshaw and sets Hospital wonderkid and creator collab-chum of Kubiks and
scene, the DNAudio crew with a yard style flow, capable off on a globetrotting expedition of still-rinsed classic ‘8-bit Blues’, Lomax, BCee cashes in his
continue to inhabit the outer of all of the above and more. hunting out electronic music from the teeth-gnashingly brilliant rather sizeable collection of
realms of the d&b universe ‘Spektrum’ showcases Dan’s the four corners of the world over Syncopix returns with his debut d&b chips and bags an all-star
with their futuristic tech-funk. full range, whether conscious two CDs. The first leg focuses on LP ‘Icarus’, a stunning 13-track cast for his imprint’s first
Never ones to compromise, this realness covering teenage percussion or beats and takes concept album cruising the compilation LP. Sumptuous
album is a lesson in the type of babymothers and wasted youth, in Swedish minimal house, entire bandwith of ’90s rave slices from Utah Jazz and
streamlined aural assault that tropical ragga-salsa (‘Futuristic’), Pakistani gazaals (devotional anthems, super-modern liquid Marky & Bungle top the bill
has made the label such an two step bashment, big bad poems), Balkan gypsy rhythms, and neon ’80s heaven. Prog-rock- on the 3x12” release, and with
exciting prospect in the current and heavy rap and tearing before a tearing tabla-powered influenced ‘Anonymous’ has been a tasty 13-track CD version
d&b landscape. Featuring rap/ragga work outs. Jungle d&b finale. Producers du jour smashed by Marky, Logistics and spouting all sorts of high-
tracks from usual suspects names including Demolition Man Switch and Trentemoller and all the usual suspects, with ‘Blue calibre gems from A-Sides,
Silent Witness, Break and and Dynamite MC make stellar India’s leading electronic group Fog’ and ‘Dynamo’ offering classic Electrosoul System and Lomax,
Survival. appearances, as Dan updates Jalabee Cartel feature on the Hospital-esque fodder. Top work all-round good guy BCee can
Britain’s tradition of Jamaican second leg with chunky breaks by that man Trickartt (Hospital, feel rather pleased with himself.
MC culture with a UK twist. and magpie sounds galore. Critical) on the sleeve, too. Damn him.
INFINITE LIVEZ VS STADE KASHMERE ATLANTIC CONNECTION VARIOUS VARIOUS
– MORGAN FREEMAN’S – RAIDERS OF THE LOST – TOMORROW’S NOT – SUBTLE AUDIO VOL 1 – ROOTS & FUTURE
PSYCHEDELIC SEMEN ARCHIVES ENOUGH SUBTLE AUDIO DOPE AMMO
BIG DADA YNR WESTBAY The first compilation album Heavy, heavy, heavy. Nicky
Don’t be alarmed by the title, Kashmere returns with another For sizzling proof that genre- from the often deliciously Blackmarket expertly steers
for Infinite Livez it’s typical. journey into dark, mind-bending, hopping LA slickster Atlantic unsubtle Subtle Audio label you through this compilation
‘Morgan...’ continues the widescreen rap. ‘Raiders’ sees Connection is a cut above, look swerves casually around featuring some of the Dope
grossly surreal smutty feel, Kashmere don his Indiana no further than track two of his the issue of what makes Ammo stable’s choicest
against mindbending clanging Jones’ Fedora and battle snakes, guest-packed debut LP, where good ‘dancefloor’ d&b. This dancefloor sounds; plus a few
dissonant production courtesy demons and Lucifer. Kashmere’s the brilliant lo-fi bass grunts is off-script, edit-heavy, guest appearances along the
of Stade. This is as twisted and agile wordplay makes his ability of last year’s d&b single ‘Can’t atmospheric drum & bass, way. It sags just slightly in the
surreal as Sid James and Dr to conjure allegories combining Destroy Love’ are updated into a with the glorious ‘Lost Pride’ middle when it threatens to
Octagon going on a Fear And biblical language with the here sublime ‘Part 2’ version, featuring by Alpha Omega / Nubian go a bit wobbly, but soon finds
Loathing In Las Vegas gonzo and now (war, Blair, trainers) seem Minds One dropping hip hop Minds recalling the finest of its way back into the groove to
drugs binge. Challenging, like child’s play. MF Doom and verses over stunning piano Kryptics Minds-style sonic hurtle you along towards the
boundary pushing and funny, early Wu Tang have fused abstract re-jiggery. Quite, quite incredible. landscapes. The CD version finish. I put this on at while I
this is exactly the kind of imagery with rap so effectively Lynx, Armanni, Youngman and features a DJ Code mix, plus was at work and got more done
individual, experimental rap and ‘Raiders’ proves Kashmere’s Lady MC also snatch starring an unmixed disc boasting in an hour than I had done all
Britain could do with more of. lyrical genius is no fluke. roles in this silky-smooth, US- seven exclusives. day. Relentless.
flavoured extravaganza.
K60-63_EssentialReviews.indd 63 25/4/08 14:40:02
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