Breaks & Soul, Beats & Soul
bordersj2 | Boston | 12/06/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is another in the string of fantastic cd's released on the Trust the DJ series. This one done by master of the Break Beat, Phil Asher. The Restless Soul man kicks it up with this tribute to some fantastic urban underground sounds and beats with his debut issue in the franchise. It's interesting; following this type of music you get to know some patterns and the type of artists that like similar sounds and music. Patrick Forge, Gilles Peterson, Buscemi, Rainer Truby, Bugz in the Attic, 4Hero - in most of their cd's you'll find at least one of the other mentioned in their notes.
This cd was fantastic and loaded with soul and funk. It starts out smooth with "The Truth pt 2" by Beatless, and follows up nicely with a funked up version of Da Lata's 2000 club hit Pra Manha", mixed by beat/urban gurus, New Sector Movements. You've also got a cut by Japanese DJ Muro with a remix to Bohemian. On donw the line you've got some more quality cuts - check the Isolee track with a smoothed beat and dancing electronic keys and tips. Sweet stuff - frightfully basic and a throwback to the sound. Follow that one up with Nathan Haines "Earth is the Place", remixed by Restless Soul and woah... talk about some attitude! Got that strung background and that beat that makes you want to move. Not only that, it's got a sort of Feminina twinge to it in the lyrics. But not to be outdone is Modaji's incredibly smooth "Into Something" followed up with Restless Soul's own "Beautiful". Seiji kicks it up with some fresh breaks in "Second Nature" and the cd finally closes out with Agent K's anthem with that 80's feel to it - "Ladies".
I definitely recommend this. If you've heard Patrick Forge's PF01, you won't be totally blown away as a few cuts from that one are on this one... you listen to Agent K's "Ladies" and then expect to hear "Lazy Days" mixed in after it. Actually... PA's "Ladies" version has something a bit awry in the cut - it dips in sound and pace if only momentarily, but that's not enough to knock it much. And both cd's were released in 2002. But there's loads of attitude in this and it'll remind you of some mad urban underground soul, whether you're from the UK or the USA. If you dig this, check out all three of Patrick Forge's Trust the DJ cd's (Patrick Forge is also of the group Da lata), check out Phil Asher's follow up to this one - PA02 (admittedly, I didn't think it was nearly as strong as this one), try Mr. Scruff's Solid Steel project and last but certainly not least, be sure to give a listen to Gilles Peterson's GP01-GP05. I'd have to say between Gilles and Patrick, this one is stronger linked to Forge's TTDJ series."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
