We Hear You is one of my favorite albums from 2009. If you think you’re unfamiliar with Luke Vibert, maybe you’ve heard of Plug, Wagon Christ, The Ace of Clubs, Kerrier District or Spac Hand Luke—all aliases he’s released material under. We Hear You is a fun, diverse album blending elements from hip hop, house, acid techno, disco and more contemporary styles like dubstep. Since I already missed the boat on a timely review, I’ll skip right to the tunes. Better late than never.  ~ tom

Buy We Hear You from iTunes

MP3 1: Luke Vibert – House Stabs
MP3 2: Luke Vibert – Belief File
MP3 3: Luke Vibert – Hot Sick

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This has been an interesting year for London based producer, Four Tet. He’s had an obsession with remixing Madlib tracks and collaborated on an acclaimed release with influential dubstep producer, Burial. Now at the culmination of this year, a new track, “Love Cry”, has been released. It’s a preview of the new Four Tet album coming out in January 2010.

“Love Cry” is an epic nine minutes long—however, the time flies by. At the top, we’re greeted by the trademark turning cymbals and fervently individual bleeps and synths. The track crescendos several minutes in with a devilishly subtle bassline that’s easy to miss without a heavy dose of low end pumping through your stereo. This bass alters the entire feel of the track and the listener is suddenly transported to an echoey dark place where the female vocals take on a whole new personality. This switch in mood and ambiance is quite large, yet the length of time taken to fully complete the ‘switch over’ is adequate enough as to not disrupt the flow.

Influences upon the track are house and chilled dubstep, of which remixer, Joy Orbison, is a pioneer. His condensed four minute remix seems very similar, but after side by side listens, both appear uniquely brilliant.  ~ Andy

Check fourtet.net for release info and upcoming tour dates—itunes for previous releases and remixes.

MP3: Four Tet – Love Cry

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Scars, the fourth full length album by vintage UK house music duo Felix Burton and Simon Ratcliffe, leads the listener down a familiar and sporadic trail of buoyant breadcrumbs towards destination unknown. Scars‘ journey starts remarkedly fresh, with an ethereal and operatic promise of modern twists upon their trademark upbeat sound. Sadly, it quickly veers off in various confusing directions. The result is dull and at times borderline annoying to this expectant long time fan of the two music makers.

The Basement Jaxx don’t seem to be navigating their own musical vehicle. With the two figure heads seemingly asleep at the wheel, the album’s many featured artists thankfully take control. While lacking in originality, they haphazardly redeem themselves by their innate talent in song collaboration choice. A literal push and pull between what worked and what hopefully will, is audibly tangible to the ear. I imagined the reliance upon modern hit makers comparable to an aging father desperately squeezing himself into his son’s skinny jeans in hopes of appealing to a undiscovered audience. Keep your dad jeans on gentlemen. But it’s not all gone to pot. The saving grace threaded throughout the album is the ability to strip tracks down—creating a sensual experience. On “stay close,” the group allows Lisa KeKaula’s throaty alto to effectively massage their bounce into undulating breath. Vocalists like Kelis, Santigold and Sam Sparro also adequately do their best with the blips and beeps of yesteryear. Yoko Ono coaxes the listener away from an edge the Basement Jaxx threaten to fall from. Their saving grace will inevitably be the remix album that will supplement the lack of sustenance hungry followers require. Basement Jaxx fans will most likely find enough fuel to keep the fire burning but newbie flames won’t stay lit.  ~ dimes

A Bonus Track Version of Scars is available now at itunes with 3 additional tracks.

MP3 1: Basement Jaxx – Scars (feat. Kelis, Meleka & Chipmunk)
MP3 2: Basement Jaxx – Stay Close (feat. Lisa Kekaula)
MP3 3: Basement Jaxx – Twerk (feat. Yo Majesty)

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I first heard Fukkk Offf from a post on blip.fm a few months ago. No artist was listed—just the title “I’m A Freak Remix.” It was a hard electro house track with attitude. Luckily, after reposting a few times, I found out the artist. This German DJ/Producer, Bastian Heerhorst, has been releasing singles since 2007 with Hammarskjöld and Coco Machete Records. His first full-length, Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me, is a non-stop headbanger which has already started killing the dance floors throughout Europe. The album’s full of addictive melodies, pounding beats, gritty synths, and trance-like arpeggiations.

To hear more Fukkk Offf, check out his Monosurround, DJ Dan, Sidechains, Maral Salmassi and Suicide Club remixes. They’re all sick tracks with a ton of energy. If you live near Germany, you can catch Fukkk Offf at a few clubs this August. See his MySpace page for more details.

MP3: Fukkk Offf – I’m a Freak

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