'Double Headed Hunting Arrows' features some spirited vocal work from Sandira over some dirty guitar licks. But the strength of her voice prevents it descending into histrionics -- more like Karen O than Bjork. Closer 'Bella Donna' manages to pull off the trick of sounding introspective and pacy at the same time.

It would be interesting to hear more tracks from Sandira to see just how much range they have. But judging by this selection, there's something about them that's worth investigating further.

0898 Dave
When The River Runs Dry, We Die
Heart & Soul

0998 Dave once had a band. Then they had an acrimonious split. Whether it was over money, sex, drugs, music, or some combination thereof -- who knows? But this made 0898 Dave resolve to go solo and sack off the idea of having a band to drag him down. Thank goodness.

Intro track Meet Me In The Summertime does what it says on the tin -- jazzy and dreamy with a breathy vocal and guitar culled from a 1950's French film score. Ironside invokes the eponymous detective as an icon of truth as Dave lets us know he wants to do the right thing over a loungecore backdrop. The rest of the album is permeated with wit, humour, compassion, and a sense of what life should really be like.

As a bonus, the album comes with two corking remixes from fellow Mancs A Certain Ratio and Homelife. If you like your music to have some heart and the brains to match, this album is for you.

Gertrude
Fetch The Parrot Blanket
Urban Missfits

The Mullah does like Gertrude a lot. Which makes it all the more difficult to write this review. Now don't get me wrong. I think the songs on the album are great. The music is awesome, especially as I've seen them perform a lot of this material live and have that to compare. It's the production that lets the whole enterprise down.

The album starts off with an elegant cello solo and all is good. Then the first track proper kicks in and it sounds like someone has put the hi-hat through some unearthly effect that grates.

Overall it makes the opening track sound like a home recording. This may be partly explained by the fact that part of the album was recorded in a squatted 'social centre'. As the album progresses, things pick up slightly but overall the production is not what it could be.

Crash cymbals are at the top of the mix whilst guitar solos languish in the background. At one point, the Mullah swears he can hear the ghost of legendary record producer Martin Hannett rattling chains and moaning. Just as you think things are getting better, that bloody hi-hat comes out of nowhere again and dominates proceedings.

Upon examining the liner notes, the Mullah notes that this album was self-produced. This is totally in keeping with Gertrude's DIY punk ethos. Having a producer calling the shots is completely the opposite of collective decision making. The Mullah can't help but wonder if principles are obscuring the music.

Gertrude are undoubtedly one of the best live bands that the Mullah has ever seen. It's just a shame that they can't quite get that magic down on record. Go and see them live instead,

Cartridge
Cases
cartridgetheband.com

Artrock is a term that can be lazily misapplied. But for Cartridge -- a band that came together at an art college and are named after a John Cage composition -- the term is appropriate.

While it may be surreal sounding on the surface, but vocals like "When we set out to make a movie about the guy next door / We didn't know that he was making a show for us to see" provide a menacing counterpoint.

Simple is anything but. Starting slowly and building to an epic crescendo, it evokes some of the melancholy of Radiohead without the whining of Thom Yorke to spoil proceedings. Truly anthemic.

Sweat is a slowly fizzing firework of a ballad. Jangly guitar and a summery sounding female vocal segue into a swell of harmonies and it ends up exploding with a bang.

Mesmerized starts off sounding like a performance from the North Sea Jazz Festival, with smooth-sounding piano and guitars topped with a laconic male vocal. Just as you're getting comfortable, the tempo gets ratcheted up before breaking down to jazz-rock.

Or should I say artrock? For sheer musicianship, this has to be one of the best debuts I've ever heard.

Jason Leach
Death to vinyl 001
Death to Vinyl

This one came as a much needed surprise when I found out that it was imminent..
What’s that Lassie? A new techno label? Run by Jason Leach from Subhead? Focusing on proper dance floor ravey gear? - That’s right... sounds good on paper and I can assure you, even better on vinyl.

Whirl-y-waves
Vol 3 ‘Sounds Imported’
(Whirl-y-music)

Available from the online store at http://www.whirl-y-gig.org.uk or telephone 020 8864 6760

Minnie Mouse

This album is a dramatic pairing under any circumstances – an upcoming rapper and a revered master who created a new music from old traditions. This musical partnership is more meaningful as it unites Emmanuel Jal whose Christianity is his heartbeat, with Abdel Gadir Salim, Muslim from the North in the first ever collaboration between musicians from North and South Sudan. The album is ‘a message for peace and hope’ . Emmanuel Jal’s 5 penned tracks are mostly with pared down keys and beats, but on occasions they are enriched with the rich textures of of Abdel Gadir Salim’s band – the Merdoum All Stars, – oud, saxophone, electric guitar, percussion, accordion and he raps and/or singjays on some of Abdel Gadir’s tracks. There is a tremendous feeling of co-creation on the whole album as the artists celebrate their differing musical roots and generously collaborate, making seamless space for each other. I don’t know how the tracks were created, but I got the impression from talking with Emmanuel that the studio was a real melting pot and he was excited by the opportunity.
Whilst Jal’s overall style is occasionally not unlike Snoop Doggy Dog in its approachable soft voiced style, make no mistake his subject matter is far removed from Western ‘hood concerns – questions about why people resort to violence, how his country’s vast resources can be shared, informed and determined pleas for peace (notably his hit track Gua – no 1 in Kenya for 8 weeks at its peak), and how it might be achieved and a powerful narrative of how education opportunities helped a young girl overcome forced marriage to become a generous leader of her people. He creates an addictive rapscape using the rhythms of his native tongue to create a new genre, with English used to punctuate certain points. His Renborn Warrior crew give ample back up and melodies are carried by voices pitched kinda high dancehall backing style, but simultaneously very traditional call and response sounding.
Abdel Gadir Salim’s 4 tracks are placed amongst Jal’s and use more allegorical subject matter to talk of harmony, lost love and what could be. Ya Salam is a more direct track talking about peace as well with a rap from Emmanuel Jal. Abdel Gadir Salim’s style has that sumptuous seductive multi-textured Arabic/African melodies that are his trademark – North Sudan isn’t that far from Egypt (think Halim) - with the instrumentation already described.. The final track is jointly composed (words Jal, music Salim) and sees Emmanuel sharing his life experiences warmly encouraged by Abdel, and an understanding is also created about their common belief in the one supreme being. It’s all very danceable as the music combats pressure with joyous sounds.

DJ Debbie

Various
"Dusty Nation Pt 2"
Dance N Dust Records

A sumptuously smooth selection of full power morning grooves that push the progressive trance envelope in a psychedelic direction compiled by DJ Asherun. The pumping insistent bass lines, finely crafted percussion and clever use of samples combining to lift your spirits comfortably into the next dimension at a respectable trajectory of around 140 bpm. Check out Ticon's excellent hypnotic remixes of MOS's "Zugstufe" (whatever that means? probably inspired by the abandoned contents of a bag of "stuff" left by a friend nicknamed Zug - I shouldn't wonder) and their very own "Cosmic Bowling" with its dramatic potentially mix friendly epic saw toothed breakdown section. Other high points come in the form of "Lan" by Sonnenvakuum a classy, tongue in cheek groove featuring the samples "I think we should keep moving" followed by "after you" and Sensient's throbbing Noma-esque "Bawak" remixed by tribalistic society a peanut inside an empty coke can among other things. Top tunes - if you want to avoid the formulaic mediocrity of the "trance by numbers brigade" (they know who they are - or do they?) threatening to take over the scene at the moment this would be a good place to start.

Greg "The Soundman" reviews new tunes from Tip and Liquid Sound Design.

TIPWORLD
Red
Various

A continuation of the famed colours series released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Tip Records. What will the purists say ! This is a strong album of floor monsters, not necessarily designed to listen to in its entirety. Starts well with a Hallucinogen remix of "Stimuli" by The Infinity Project from "Yellow". Track 4, "The Inner Visions 1" picks up the pace a bit and gets us going. Sub 6 ''s "" Programme Flies" is a great track, off beat and interesting. Xerox and Psycraft''s offering "Adrenalin Rush" is another good solid track for guitar lovers, with a nice vocal hook and a building feel. Track 9, Froid by Black and White has some big cheesey chords that for me really date it. Track 10, a live mix of "Mescaline" by 1200 Mics gives the album a good solid ending and offers people a storming alternative mix of a great track.

Red -Track List
The Infinity Project -Stimuli ( Hallucinogen Remix )
Nisimyani V''s The Melovskys - Fir Cough
Logic Bomb - Datalinks ( Remix )
The Inner Visions # 1
Astrix - Junosis
Sub 6 - Programme Flies
Dynamic V''s Z Machine - Energy State
Xerox & Psycraft - Adrenalin Rush ( Melicia Remix )
Black & White - Froid
1200 Mic''s - Mescaline ( Live on Mount Fuji Remix )

LIQUID SOUND DESIGN
Youth
The Secret Language of Ordinary Objects ( A New Chapter in Dub )

With Youth's interest in everything dubby, this release, Chapter 2 of the Dub Sessions comes as no suprise. Unlike the title, the album flows very smoothly. Opening with an Orb track " Apple Trees In My Backyard ", which has a deep and dubby early "Cafe Del Mar" kind of feel with a wowed out american chick vocal sample. Track 3," Celtic Sufi " by Dub Trees feat. Ronnie Barrac really grabbed me from the intro with the plucked sitar. A great tune, deep but not heavy. Track 4, co-written with Pete Lazenby and 5 & 6 have a nice dubby psychedelic mood to them. Light tunes layered over reverb treated percussion and deep basslines. The last 3 tracks on the album also stood out for me. Electric Earth by Pitch Black has a cheeky guitar sample and running snares that gives the track a fluffy feel and puts a grin on your face. " Stealth and Cunning " by The Gentle Revolution has a really meaty keyboard hook that combines nicely with wobbly dub percussion to create a deep psychedelic mood. " The Golden Legend " by Dub Trees is a great last track, faster around 145 BPM and rolls on insistently, developing excitement as it picks up. A bubbling dubby psychedelic mixing pot of an album.

Youth - Track List
The Orb - Apple Trees In My Backyard
Lost At Last - Reggae Raga ( Youth Remix )
Dub Trees - Celtic Sufi
Youth & Pete Lazonby - Lifesong
Youth - The Liquid Room
Baraka - Luna
Youth - Spectral Beach
The Gentle Revolution - Stealth & Cunning
Pitch Black - Electric Earth ( Youth Remix )
Dub Trees - The Golden Legend

Various (best and finest)
This is Afroart
Afroart Records

AAH you lot (selector/producer/remixers – Paul Murphy, Marc Woolford et al) please come and spin at my party! This is a fabo mix of club classics you can’t fail to have heard out somewhere – from Carnival, West End to Conscious Parties. It’s where afro style meets broken house, batacuda, lounge going from a harder stompin sound through sheer goodtime latinesque tracks to chill without missing a beat.

There’s a spooky hiphop version of 60’s singer/songwriter Donavan’s ‘Season of the Witch’, a township jazz meets industrial beats track (Luke Howard’s ‘Hi Life – previously big in South Africa), the genre bending latinesque/loungey Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (remixed) and those spacey yet super tight favourites like Black Science Orchestra’s ‘Headspace Lullaby Part 2’ with that Ashley Beedle touch and the huge carnival hit Frogsnatcher’s ‘Dream Rabbit’ where the dub undertones comfortably share space with an itchy won’t let you go shufflebeat. And of course the utterly almost too goodtime broken descargo of London’s leading afro/latin remixer/club nighters Spiritual South’s ‘Green Gold’. There’s more, but you’ll have to get your own copy!

Visit http://www.afroartrecords.com for more information

Gaudi
Bass, Sweat and Tears
Interchill

London-based Italian DJ/producer/… Gaudi’s special. He’s been most visible as half of Orchestra World groove with Pathaan –packed events at Cargo, and recently at Synergy where global fusion bands play live and Pathaan plays mega sets of dance beats from all over the world and Gaudi plays the theramin which makes eerie sounds without being touched. This is his 5th album, 3 _ years in the making, recorded as he travelled globally simply listening inventively and forging partnerships with musicians, recording music and sounds you might otherwise never hear. Like the 76 year old ‘last of the Sardinian Cantadores’ extemporiser, or the Ayahuasca (rain forest) Shaman and Huli mountain people from Papua New Guinea.

Gaudi sometimes uses original recordings, sometimes just their essence alongside traditional/professional musicians from all over (all 42 are named graciously) and his layered studio skills. His love of dub is clear as is his respect for the source. Each track from the most commercial – an Ojos de Brujo (Spain’s top digital and roots band who really know how to fuse acoustic/dj and tech) remix to the most outerglobal – featuring the ‘Orgue a feu’, an unique 2 ton instrument that transforms flame heat into sounds from from African flutes to whale song, has both a mystical secret festival feel and a down and dirty dance touch with a variety of riddims as the original roots and the wizard elements weave in and out of each other. It’s an album you’ll find new things in each time – partying or treating yourself.
Interchill is one of my favourite labels which sources chill out and innovative artists and remixers from its Canadian HQ and inspired a glorious stage at Glade.

www.interchill.com, www.gaudimusic.com

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