FuturePrimitive

Karin Krog- Raindrops, Raindrops In 2003 studio virtuoso Matthew Herbert remixed Karin Krog’s “Meaning of Love” for independent label Crippled Dick Hot Wax. A year later that label compiled a hefty amount of Krog’s tracks from a slew of rare Eps and LPs entitled “Raindrops, Raindrops”. Karin Krog is a Norwegian jazz vocalist who is versatile singing anything from jazz standards, improv, eastern sprituals to abstract jazz compositions. “Rain Drops Rain Drops” makes a compelling case for a vocalist who made some great recordings that were ahead of their time. Working with American Jazz greats Dexter Gordon and Archie Shepp reveals that  commercial success was not a priority. The original version of “Meaning Of Love” opens this compilation. It’s all at once a break out funk jam and an ambient ride that's mellow and spacey with Krog’s vocal to guide you through her sonic backdrop of longing and loss. If you can find this it’s well worth it. The music is as fresh and relevant now as it was in the 60’s and 70's. Coldcut- Sound Mirrors Since Johnathan More and Matt Black had not delivered an album in almost 15 years the expectations ran high for their sophomore turn, so high they were bound to be snuffed by the press when it was finally released. Most will know them for their orchestrated driven seminal cover of Autumn Leaves or for helping break Lisa Stansfield into the mainstream with “People Hold On”. Considering their resume goes beyond LP releases they have been very much ahead of their time. Mavericks of electronica mixing genres from Jazz, Hip Hop, House, and Techno.... In the early nineties they kick-started Ninja Tune to help them release and nurture projects from artist with a similar penchant for music and creativity. They were also one of the first to incorporate visuals as part of the musical package. To sum it up the Ninja Tune crew are a full blown embodiment of the DIY ethic churning out sounds and visuals. Sound Mirrors is more than a sound bed with collaborators that range from the alt rock to classic club crooners. It’s very much a political stance and declaration of the current world climate we live in. It’s a call to arms for us to wake up , take accountability and be our own focus for change. The album is a sonic platter that's all over the board from Bhangra beats, Down tempo, Hip Hop, Afro Beat to House. It’s very eclectic. Once you get past the sounds and you start to catch the themes of self preservation, the real purpose of the IMF, Big Brother, the optimistic human spirit, pharmaceutical slavery you realize, though not pleasant, it’s an evaluation of our Western culture worth listening to. Tracey Thorn- Out Of The Woods Tracey Thorn returns from a long hiatus and resumes where the last EBTG album “Temperamental” left off. This time out she comes full circle with productions that drop her back into the 80’s decade that spawned her. What you’ll come to welcome is a rediscovery of great sounds that were offered by Yaz, Depeche Mode, the Cure and productions that are reminiscent of early House music (think Def Music Productions). "Out Of the Woods" is not a straight club banger. It’s a nicely varied LP that rummages through all the styles and influences that Everything But the Girl have traversed. Her gender bender cover of avant-garde cellist/composer Arthur Russell’s “Get Around To It” is a stand out. It recalls the Acid/Jazz House movement of the late 80’s throwing in some Cure like synths as the track builds and live repeated horns sneak in. The melancholic piano on “Easy” dubs out ushering in warped electro bass lines and old school sensibilities. “Falling off a Log” could have easily fit in with any Frankie Knuckles production with it's slow late night 4/4 track. The Charles Webster produced “Nowhere Near” holds onto the early acoustic styles of EBTG while adding electronic flourishes. “Raise The Roof” is an excellent album closer with epiphanies on life and falsettos that bring to mind Annie Lennox. In the context of a pop album, its just as good as anything EBTG have ever done. It' a great album that sounds all at once retro and modern. Hope she doesn't wait so long to deliver the goods next time.