Various The Bali Sessions: Living Art, Sounding Spirit (Ryko/Outside)
DJ Rap Learning Curve (Higher Ground/Sony)
Moby Play (V2/BMG)
Mad Max Mad Max Product Live at... (Hybrid Structure) This collection of simple, heady tech-funk is probably some of the most brilliant music I've heard in a long time and certainly some of the best this city has ever produced. According to the liner notes, Live at... served as a form of emotional therapy for local boy Mad Max, but he has emerged as master of the creeper groove. Tracks like "I Love You" and "Why Did You Leave" start off in that sparse tech-house vein and build into mind-bending loops of vocal snippets and synth pads. I've said it before, less is more. 9/10 (Krista)
Styles of Beyond "Easy Back It Up" b/w "Part 2 (Endangered)" 12" (Bilawn/Mammoth)
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I'll admit I'm biased--the traditional gamelan music of the Indonesian island of Bali has long been a favourite of mine, even before I clued into the influence it's had on everyone from Tortoise to Steve Reich. The ever-evolving rhythms, complex melodies and scintillating chimes make for a glorious sonic rainshower every time. One problem has always been finding quality recordings (Bali's steambath climate is hell on the reel-to-reel). Kudos to onetime Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart for his pilgrimage to Bali, capturing three discs worth of material. One is a solid intro, one an hour-long detour into the vocal hailstorm of the Kecak style and one a look at daring contemporary pieces. Beautiful packaging and exhaustive notes complete the affair. 9.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
This ain't jungle music... DJ Rap conquered the world as drum & bass DJ fatale, and now she's moving into the pop music mainstream--move over Geri and Alanis. Learning Curve features Rap cooing feminist lyrics in a breathy voice over breaky-beats, swirly keys and yes, even electric guitars. Think Madonna circa Like a Virgin, but with a whole lot more attitude. "You gotta be a bad girl in this world/You've got to make waves/Gotta be a bad girl to be heard/Assert your wicked ways." Grrrr. 8/10 (Krista)
Oh dear, now he's really done it. Electronica's preeminent puritan Moby, drug-free, meat-free and high on Christ, has gone and tinkered together an alarming mix of white-kid klubmusik and sad ol' negro blues 'n' spirituals. Every bit the recipe for disaster, Moby nonetheless pulls it off (as exemplified by the shuffling Christian rap of "Everloving"). Some help from upstairs, perhaps? More like studio confidence in tandem with moral humility and perspective--check the heavy wisdom in the liner notes. Knowing full well that Bible-thumping makes for lousy drum samples, Moby plays the club culture Jiminy Cricket responsibly. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
When Ryu and Takbir won 1997's Wake Up Show award for best new group, all eyes turned to Styles of Beyond. On this single, the franticly--paced, 106 bpm "Easy Back It Up" grabs all the attention once again as the art of storytelling is explored to the fullest. Also featuring a slower, more dance-focused remix, these beats are worth a good listen. My favourite cut, though, is the last song, "Part 2 (Endangered)" that has a beat produced for nobody else but me. Check SOB for some original flavour. 8.5/10 (Scott C)