DANCE
ADRENALIN 11 Oh, boy, where do I start. If you are a lover of a lekker doef-doef
beat and predominant female House vocals, then this baby’s for you - if you don’t,
on the other hand, please skip this review. With the Samba/Mambo/Bosonova obsession
(still) not waning, what’s next? Cha-cha? Charleston? Anyway, with a whopping
38 tracks on this double disc there’s a wide variety of “artists” (beside the
Latin attempts mentioned), but not much of a variety in the range and scope of
cuts. There’s everything from the annoying (Toy Box) to the typical (Paradiso)
the better (Oakland Stroke,
12” Masters) the stupid (Sidestep)
the direct covers (Rah Band,
Sunland) and the cool (B52’s
- but the question remains, do they give this compilation credibility with their
remixed presence or lose their legendary hipness in effect?). The rest meanders
through commercial rave monotony like Jennifer
Paige, Shaboom, Solemar, Chris & James, Coffee Bag, Ghost Gang, Millenium, DJ
Groovy, Klubbheads, Brooklyn Bounce, Wayne G, Scooter,
even Afrika Mambataa etc.
So, if you’re a regular Bump
patron, this bag of over three dozen tracks will be way adequate for long stretches
of mindless abandon. - PB 2 / C THE
DANDY WARHOLS - thirteen tales of urban bohemia With their name and
album title, The Dandy Warhols
try to reflect exactly what they’re all about. Pretentious to some and brilliant
to others, they do however represent a slice of new rock, youthful in age but
mature in spirit, meandering through thought with borderline stoned trajectories
and slow rock determination wrapped up in cool, generation-X styled sensibilities.
The music gets electronic injections with stick-in-your-head hooks and choruses
scattered throughout. Country Leaver gets many a country rip-off from chickens
to harmonica while songs like Solid is treated with a bit more crunch.
The Dandy Warhols
represent that end of the new, modern rock generation’s spectrum that feel strongly
about what they have to say, convey and project, without necessarily turning up
to 10 in order to achieve this. Whether this album will get as much attention
as their debut, we’ll have to wait and see. - PB 3 / C DAVE
MATTHEWS BAND - Listener Supported (BMG) I am not ashamed to admit
that Dave Matthews & his band only came to my attention toward the end of the
millennium (especially with him being of Southern African descent, to a certain
extent). Well, there’s so much great music out there (and a load of cobblers)
that sometimes bits slip on by. Albeit lovely music, virtually technically flawless
and professionally executed, wonderfully structured and masterfully played, it
doesn’t grab me in that special little place for it to pop into my head at inopportune
moments or hold special memories. Well, that’s not altogether true, the haunting
Don’t Drink The Water does occasionally bob up through the flood. Perhaps
it’s just an unfortunate circumstantial mishap, because, why do most people I
know love the DMB?
Beats me. It is good music on almost every level, though, no denying that. And
with this meticulously performed double live album, the DMB
fan and newcomer alike will be treated to over 2 hours of real fine music with
jazzy, rock and ethnic influences seamlessly merging into that thing which makes
them what they are. Quite unique while at the same time nothing all that new.
- PB 4 / A DEAD
PREZ - Let’s Get Free Hip-Hop with a one sided conscience is about
as American as MacDonalds. While dedicated to the former, Dead
Prez despises the likes of
the latter. With their outspokenness more prominent than their musical originality,
this seems to be their mission. The white man and pigs (police force) in the States
are accused of getting fat off their people’s labour, forcing them into jails
and murdering them indiscriminately. They don’t take responsibility for wrongdoing,
though, assuming that all black people are humble and good. Sorry, but just as
you get a whole bunch of white assholes, the same goes for the black community.
No-one is sacred. Calling for freedom through violence has its repercussions,
but Dead Prez
can learn a thing or two from our country when it comes to hardship and reconciliation.
Dead Prez does however give a few pointers on how to overcome these obstacles
and live a better life (besides blaming the White Devil who forced them into slavery
centuries ago and still oppress them in every way). The only thing that really
sets Dead Prez
apart from other hip-hop acts is their refusal to sing about how much money they
have, fancy cars & ho’s and instead focus on a very direct approach of empowerment
after generations of discrimination. Plane tickets or not, why didn’t they make
their concert at The Jam free to all, showing everyone how much they hate capitalism
as part of the corrupt western whiteman ideology…? - PB 3 / C
DE
LA SOUL - Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump These guys have
come a very long way down the Hip-Hop trail and gained a lot of respect along
the way. No wonder the very rare occurrence of Mike D and Ad Rock of the Beastie
Boys make their presence felt
on one of the tracks. But that’s not all. The guest list also includes the likes
of Busta Rhymes, Tash & J-Ro
from Tha Liks and
Xzibit, Redman, D.V. Alias
Khrist, Indeed, Chaka Khan, Busy Bee
and Freddie Foxx.
The cool mid-paced beats and rapping is hard to dislike and if you dig this you
can head on over to the Tommyboy website to collect your bonus track. -
PB 4 / B DELIRIOUS?
- Glo Christian music is always approached with a certain prejudice.
There is a stigma attached to it and a certain sound is expected. It is hardly
the case with Delirious?.
Two years ago this UK band broke in the US. This album actually covers 5 years
of recordings in their home country, previously unreleased here. Their modern
rock sound is something along the lines of U2,
many pop elements creeping in as well as an epic tone and some programming. Their
catchy tunes has a not too forced optimism, while they are obligated to a certain
subject matter due to their commitment to the Lord. They can’t exactly sing about
merely hanging out or anything like that. Still, the commitment is a voluntary
one with which they seem very comfortable (even in their new, bright, almost glammy
attire of primary coloured outfits of pink, orange, yellow…). The opening track
uses a male choir to full effect while most of their catchy tunes are actually
not as light in the trousers as some would have hoped. The track Glo In The
Dark appears in four diverse parts, scattered across the 15 track album. Some
parts sound very Bush-like,
while others include bagpipes. The 4th part is an extremely moving, passionate
orchestral piece with haunting cello and violin wrapping the album up perfectly.
With the whole Christian element removed, this would still be a fine rock/pop
album. Somehow the added spirituality (though sort of reserved for a certain denomination)
can be appreciated. Perhaps even by atheists and agnostics alike. - PB
3 / C DIMINISHED
RETURN - Laager Mentality -3 Finally a release by one of the little
known persistant bands around. This 4 track self released effort is high on energy
and production value. The "fuck you" punk attitude and ska-touches make it hard
to hate. The best track is definitely the opener, Wonder, but seems to
set the stage for more of the same which might have been tedious if it were 12
tracks. Still, it sticks in your head like superglue. Atteridgeville's
lyrics were written by die-hard Sound Action man and underground advocate, Ernie
P. This is a fine example of what is out there but which gets little exposure.
Track it down and surprise yourself. - PB 3 / B DOGMA
- Motion Picture Soundtrack (Gallo) I’m not much of an Alanis fan,
but my mind is open enough not to skip the track. (At least there’s only on of
her on here). Yes, swear at me, I don’t care (at least I’m not a hypocrite and
say how wonderful she is but inside think she’s an over-rated whiner). Where was
I? Yes, a fine soundtrack to a fine movie, be you Catholic or not. At least the
Alanis song isn’t too bad. The instrumentation is lovely and the almost Hindu/Middle
Eastern sounding influence gives it an edge. Oh yes, that’s Mz. Morissette we’re
talking about, in case the surname omission confused anyone. The rest of the soundtrack
is the sinister, powerful and epic compositions of Howard Shore with dramatic
choir swirls, bells and triumphant rising and falling. A cool school choir-piece
sounding like some Broadway musical is a surprising bit of ingenuity between the
serious sounding, ominous orchestration, some of it sounding like an excited gothic
horror soundtrack. Great listening. - PB 4 / B THE
BEST OF THE DOORS I’m sure, just like me, many music lovers have been waiting
for this re-release. The 2nd Best Of box set with rare and unreleased material
reawakened that undisputed Doors
atmosphere (not only reserved for 1st year students in the midst of an identity
crisis, I must add). Having had the vinyls (pretty well worn), this re-mastered
Best Of couldn’t have come at a better time. Sick of re-hashed shite and
soulless electronic radio pulp, the real, organic and poetic intelligence of The
Doors is as relevant now as
it was in the late 60’s, early 70’s and the decades between then and now. Some
vinyl purists might object to its new, clean remastered touch, but my answer to
that is, thank God it’s only remastered and not re-MIXED by some kid in Oslo with
his PC…Then maybe I shouldn’t speak too soon… Riders On The Storm, Light My
Fire, Roadhouse Blues, People Are Strange, L.A. Woman, Strange Days, Break On
Through (to the other side), The End - man, they’re all timeless classics
and perhaps this might also serve as a release to turn younger listeners on to
an era of music with more artistry than all their NOW
compilations put together. This is essential stuff. - PB 6 / A
DORP
- Five Steps Off The Pacemaker (Wildebeest Records) This five song
ep needs something more (besides a longer running time, but hey, that's why it's
an ep). If it did lack the saxophone it would definitely fall flat to a certain
extent, but the enthusiasm keeps it afloat. Free And Headless are one of
the sing-a-long tracks that'll have the girlies joining in at gigs. Intelligent
Men takes a humourous poke at those who don't exactly fall in that category.
The highlight is definitly Softshoes Cinema Helicopter which takes the
piss out of three of SA's 80's pop "sensations". It's the most hefty track on
the disc and my favourite. I just feel that they could've cracked more power in
some of the other songs, but hey, we need some midway in our lives as well, I
guess. The hidden track on this one is a lekker doped out silly phone message
ek sê, my broe. The live shows I happened to catch at the Purple Turtle had
more energy than these songs, but when performed live I suppose they would take
on a new form. For everyone waiting for the next Dorp
CD, this ep could serve as a transitional soother until such time. If it seemed
like I'm knocking this release, that's not the case - in my fussy old age I suppose
I just expect something a little different...a few surprizes would also be welcome
nowadays. [Since then Dorp has relocated to the UK and evolved into something
completely different to their roots] - PB 4 / B
DRIE VAN DIE BESTES - Danie Niehaus, Mathys Roets & Kevin Leo (BMG)
Three Afrikaans singers band together creating a new sound which their original
fans could find appealing. - PB 3 / C |