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| What's
on Disc by Thomas Schulte |
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| FEBRUARY
2000 REVIEWS >>>>>>>>>> |
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 Supreme
Beings of Leisure
Supreme Beings of Leisure
Palm Pictures,
4 Columbus Circle, 5th Fl., NYC, NY 10019
http://www.islandlife.com
http://www.sbleisure.com
Supreme Beings of Leisure is an example of that
modern meeting of mellow, neo-psychedelic beat music and wistful,
detached, sexy songs. They call this formula trip-hop and other
names in the genre include Portishead, Massive Attack and Morcheeba.
The voice of seduction on this modern style of soul is Geri Soriano-Lightwood.
Backing her is a trio of rap musicians that clamp down and get groovy
in framing Geri's steamy lyric. An alluring vocal delivery and post-hip-hop
funk music make this self-titled debut a memorable, instant classic.
(4) |
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 Takako
Minekawa
Fun9
Emperor Norton,
102 Robinson St., Los Angeles, CA 90026
http://www.emperornorton.com
E-mail: info@emperornorton.com
http://www.marchrecords.com/takako/
http://www.polystar.co.jp/takako/
The good folks at Emperor Norton assure me that
the "funk" is the pronunciation of the album title. I may never
understand that. But I do understand from listening to it that Takako
takes a languid and trip-hop approach to her funk. Former Japanese
child-actor and Kraftwerk-influenced, Takako loves all things French.
Her Francophile attitude is discernible in a smattering of French
pop allusions scattered throughout the album. Breakbeat and industrial
music make inroads into Takako's work, as well. Four of the twelve
pieces join Takako with Keigo Oyamada. On another three DJ Me DJ
You joins her. "Fun9" is an international side dish to have with
your Stereolab course. (3) |
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Audrey
Becker
Where I Draw the Line
Turnabout Records,
POB 20811, Ferndale, MI 48220
Is Audrey Becker bitter about a manipulative significant
other in "Putty in Your Hands?" Or, is she having fun with metaphoric
word play? Is she taken the initiative and ridding her life on a
no-account loser in "Outside!" or is she singing about unwanted
household pests. While a second listen may easily give these answers,
the point is that Audrey's charm is a wisdom and art beyond her
years. She finds humor and poetic imagery in travail. Audrey is
an ace songwriter with a radio-ready AAA format voice. The album
offers cheerful and clever lyrics, bountiful in bouncy acoustic
guitar rhythms. "Where I Draw the Line" is a smart and entertaining
collection of original songs. (4) |
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 Ani
DiFranco
To the Teeth
Righteous Babe,
POB 95, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
Call: 1-800-ON-HER-OWN
E-mail: info@righteousbabe.com
Ani DiFranco continues to bring contemporary alt-folk
out of the coffeehouse and to ever increasing platforms. Here the
arrangements are eclectic and seldom sparse. Horns often show up
in the mix and there are plenty of extra guitars and even a boy's
choir on "Wish I May." Still, Ani does not take any of this over
the top. Her warm personality and cut-to-the-quick honesty ( marked
by occasional swearing) come through clear. Also the instrumentation
is kept back in mix, keeping the soul of the album pure, that is
the idea of the album as a personal message from Ani to her fans.
Maceo Parker toured with Ani when she went out to support this album.
His presence on this album adds to the melodic content, as the saxophone
on "Back, Back, Back." However the horn-backed rap with Maceo's
son Corey is unfortunately incongruous. Ani keeps her vocal delivery
on the piece more hip than hip-hop, however. (4) |
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_________________________________
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DID
YOU MISS ANY OF TOM SCHULTE'S REVIEWS?
BACK ISSUES:
| JULY | AUGUST
| SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
| NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
| JANUARY | |
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_________________________________
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Outsight
brings to light non-mainstream music, film, books, art, ideas and
opinions.
Published, somewhere, monthly since July 1991. Feel free to re-print
this article.
Ratings are (1) = :(, (5) = :)
"Don't be normal, be natural!"
Visit or Join Outsight's Web ring: http://d.webring.com/hub?ring=music1432
Outsight Radio Hours Webcasts
Sundays 6pm-8pm EST @
http://www.outsight.mu
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Tom 'Tearaway' Schulte,
5224 Shoreline Blvd.,
Waterford, MI 48329-1670
E-mail Outsight at: outsight@usa.net
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