Please enter a search term to begin your search.

No documents found.


Whats New?

Gorillaz Video Screening : Gathered in a small studio in London’s Soho, you have to wonder what could possibly be so impressive about the new Gorillaz video that Britain’s journalists have been shepherded together for a screening. New single “On Melancholy Hill”...
Introducing : Glass Animals : www.4ortherecord.com hit fever pitch this weekend when not 1 but 2 new tracks from the incredible Glass Animals graced our inbox with their presence...
David's Lyre : Masked troubadour, David's Lyre is, like his semi-hidden aesthetic, somewhat of a mystery at present. Although if fairness exists in the world at all...
Frankie & The Heartstrings : Interview : Sometimes, (not often mind), you go to see a band with a vague sense of expectation, born from nothing more than early releases and odd pieces of press, only for, by some twist of fate, this band you considered “fairly decent” until now to prove one of the...
Lunar Youth : Interview : Lunar Youth make the kind of music that makes your heart skip a beat as the emphasis on romance engulfs you in a warm flurry of emotion. It’s really rather lovely. Their nostalgic take on pop, reminiscent of the 80’s penchant for...


Shapeshifter – Soulstice LP

Shapeshifter – Soulstice LP

I’d like to set things straight before I even start to review this record. I am a huge fan of electronic music, whether it be techno, electro, dubstep or house. Drum and bass, however, is not something I’m terribly keen on at all. In fact, I usually tend go out of my way to keep my distance from it. So, as one can imagine, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic upon setting out to listen to this album sampler from New Zealand drum and bass act, Shapeshifter.

Controversially, what promptly burst forth from my speakers was nothing at all like I was expecting. The key is in the title of the album, “Soulstice”, and the album is full of just that, Soul, making it stand out from the usual d&b dross I hear kicking around from time to time.

It strikes me as a very liquid record, full of pacey yet laid back rhythms, ambient synths, Brazilian percussion, rolling and hypnotic basslines and great vocals. Even the MC-ing on the record is acceptable, as they plump for a laidback and rhythmical style, which compliments the music and makes the vocals audible whilst they bounce along with the pace of the music.

Imagine it as Adam F’s Colours updated for a new generation, and with a flamenco twist, in the vein of the opening 5 or six tracks of Marky’s “The Brazillian Job” of several years ago.

Frankly, I was expecting to be bored rigid, and instead have almost had my faith in drum and bass restored after losing it many years ago now. This promises to be a brilliant record for fans of all genres, even potentially those who look down their nose at drum and bass as a whole.

 

Review by James Hoste

 

Write a comment

  • Required fields are marked with *.

If you have trouble reading the code, click on the code itself to generate a new random code.
Security Code:
 


-->