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Utterly magnificent, sublimely soulful survey of the Gospel Roots label, subsidiary of the mighty TK Records at the height of the Miami Sound. Beautifully presented... the LPs with a 12"-square, full-colour, sixteen-page album of photos and original artwork. Check!!
A&R was co-ordinated by Gospel legends Ira Tucker — from the Dixie Hummingbirds — and Ralph Bass, veteran producer with Savoy, King and Chess. The label was run by Timmy Thomas, who had recently smashed with Why Can't We Live Together, for another TK spin-off, Glades. Operations were overseen by Henry Stone himself, unlikely King of Disco, who had recorded a young Ray Charles, and pushed forward James Brown. They drew in artists from all over the US, from St. Louis, Columbus, Memphis, Brooklyn, Cabrini Green in Chicago: unknowns like Camille Doughty, reluctant to jeopardise her job at GM ('Generous Motors') in Detroit, and huge-sellers like the revered Brooklyn All Stars, who started out on Peacock in 1958.

Choral belters, deep ballads, harmony quartets, epic city-blues, gritty funk, powerhouse female soul... Killer-diller Philly like a scorching version of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' Wake Up Everybody, and Jean Austin's raw Spirit Free, co-written by Ronnie Dyson, produced by Jesse James at Future Gold. Chicago Sound like The Fantastic Family Aires — named after the family's furniture store on North Cicero, but reminiscent of the Staple Singers at their best — through to the full-blown glory of The Fountain Of Life Joy Choir, led by Marvin Yancy from The Independents, and featuring Natalie Cole... Singers like Versie Mae Gibson, from the Jordans, by rights up there with Irma, Etta and Ree... Bangers 100%-guaranteed to find their way into Theo Parrish sets, and mortal delirium for the prissiest of soul and gospel purists.

Let's focus on Ricardo Tobar: Born in Chile and now residing in France, Tobar picked the "creative border crossing" as the common thread for his album "Collection". Musical experimentation and crossing musical borders - Tobar refers here directly to the style and sound of the great new-wave-bands of the 80s and 90s. With the help and influence of their new electronic instruments (that often met classic rock guitars) the post-punk-electronic-movement turned almost everything upside down. No matter if the result was moody and mysterious or romantic and hedonistic, all sounded new and different back then and paved the musical path for a whole generation - the reverberations of that episode are noticeable until today.
Tobar plays with the musical approach of the post-punk-era, he mixes, merges and experiments fearless with styles and moods. He creates a wide range of "own styles" and even dives into abstract sound fields - listening electronic in best form! Ricardo Tobar breathes the air of his own musical universe and is not refering to the typical styles of this genre - you won't find any Detroit, Berlin or Sheffield reference here. Although produced in France, Tobar's album doesn't have anything of the sweet and lovely french listening touch. It also won't beam you into the north of England and the grey and cold Sheffield winter like so many other electronic albums try to do.
"Collection" contains full compositions, sound collages, experimental sounds and even proper beat based tunes. Tobar rather creates than produces and is presenting a bigger picture with his collection. Many electronic music artists are trying to do this however Tobar delivers a collection with an impressive range and it seems he did all this in an almost nonchalant way. He plays and combines his instruments and sounds at the same time very sensitive and harmonic but also brave and dissonant without risking to be inaudible at any point. He creates atmospheres by using electronic sounds and layers. Listening to the sound of "collection" almost appears like reading an acoustic book. This album is full of interesting sounds and ideas and is far from being boring or even too demanding.

Dan Deacon, der vollbärtige Wunderwuzzi des Popgeschäfts, meldet sich mit seinem neuen Album "Gliss Riffer" zurück. Das selbstsproduzierte Werk ist ein 'back to the roots' für Dan Deacon. Nach seinen letzten Ensemble-lastigen Alben "Bromst" (2009) und "America" (2012) findet er wieder zu einem einfacheren Schreib- und Aufnahmeprozess zurück. Und obwohl "Gliss Riffer" größtenteils elektronisch produziert ist, ähnelt die Klangpalette doch auch wieder den letzten beiden Alben. "Gliss Riffer" umfasst alle gewohnten instrumentellen Spielereien und hyperventilierenden Nuancen, die wir von Deacon erwarten, aber er legt ein größeres Selbstvertrauen an den Tag, was den Gesang betrifft, wie man auf "Feel The Lightening" hört. Und ja, auch die "weibliche" Stimme ist Dan Deacon. Wie schon sein 2007er Werk "Spiderman Of The Rings" ist "Gliss Riffer" ein musikalisches Erlebnis, das vor Ekstase und Energie wahrhaftig sprührt. Der klangliche Übermut wird nur von den Lyrics gedämpft, die den quälenden Ängsten der menschlichen Existenz trotzig die Stirn bieten.

It's only early July, but 2013 has already proven to be a landmark year for production/DJ duo Deep'a & Biri. With a couple of their tracks being released on Transmat Records and appearing on Derrick May's mix compilations on the one hand, while on the other, getting signed to DJ Hell's International DJ Gigolo Records, where they released a single in April and have a full album forthcoming mid-September - it seems that all corners of the techno diaspora are ready to catch up on their sound. But it doesn't stop there, as they now launch their own Tel-Aviv based label, Black Crow. With a successful series of parties operating under the same name, bringing to Tel-Aviv a tasteful selection of the world's top class techno DJ's and live acts, Black Crow, the label, is set to counter-match this high standard with its musical output. Inaugurating the label is the imminent release of 'Redshift", produced in collaboration with their long-time partner and excellent producer on his own right, Gene. 'Redshift' has the signature Deep'a & Biri sound, a pumping Detroit-indebted roller, with shout snippets riding in & out the keys-led workout. Keeping it in the Mediterranean, Greek producer Argy provides the remix, accenting the baseline and adding a spoken vocal that takes 'Redshift' all the way to Chicago. Rounding off the package is 'Blueshift", which demonstrates the team's melodic tendencies, with its more spatial arrangement perfect for those deep space moments.