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Ceephax
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Radioactive Man
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Hosomaki: Mix 2
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Don’t say we didn’t warn you about Ceephax, because we did a couple of months ago. Back then we rhapsodised about his debut album Ceephax Acid Crew, a charming acid odyssey out on Ed DMX’s Breakin Records on which he established himself as a young master of the 303. Now Andy Jenkinson (he’s Squarepusher’s little brother, remember, and just as prolific) has surpassed himself with Exidy Tours, his second album in as many months, this time for the Belgian label First Cask. Make no mistake, Exidy Tours is an astonishing record, one of the year’s essential albums, and hoists its 24 year-old author into the major league. Kaleidoscopic in its range of styles, and playful and thoughtful too, Ceephax tackles jungle, hardcore rave, goofy 80s pop, celestial disco and mellow techno in an easy-going fashion which will endear him instantly to admirers of Richard D. James and Jenkinson senior. Ceephax goes his own way, however, and you’re advised to follow.
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Those diligent machine funk specialists down at the Rotters Golf Club in deepest Shoreditch have been exceptionally busy of late. Andrew Weatherall’s dark-hearted electro empire enhances its formidable reputation with the second full-length from Radioactive Man, AKA Weatherall’s Two Lone Swordsmen partner Keith Tenniswood. Although Booby Trap brims with the kind of sweaty, stuttering, stubborn electro that pulverises dancefloors, as expected, misty-eyed final track “Fed-Ex To Munchen”, featuring Lali Puna singer Valerie Trebeljahr, offers sweet respite from all the testosterone. On their compellingly bleak “Remotion EP” six-tracker, new RGC signings Remote blend Joy Division with OMD, modelling themselves as classic narcissistic nihilists. Dublin duo Decal, meanwhile, celebrate a decade at the rave vanguard with the “Freekin’ Empires EP”, three slabs of niggling, hypermelodic electro acid. Furthermore, newcomers to the label are recommended to sample From The Bunker: A Rotters Golf Club Mix, an excellent round-up of recent RGC releases selected and mixed by The Chairman himself, Mr Weatherall.
If you’re unfamiliar with Geneva’s Mental Groove, now is as good a time as any to get acquainted with this fantastic label, particularly as they’re releasing a handful of unreasonably fine singles this month. Luciano’s “La Limonada De Pepe Bombilla”, Water Lilly & (P)(O)(L)’s “Sensory Stretcher EP” and “Nothing To Lose” by Gabe Catanzaro provide, respectively, fertile Latin house, fizzing electro-pop and ritzy Italo-disco. Most impressive, though, is the label’s new 16-track compilation, Hosomaki: Mix 2, which introduces a dozen fresh artists (Gunga, Le Coeur, Bauchamp) and covers a bewildering variety of styles, from schmaltzy R&B to John Carpenter-style synth-noir, fragrant electronica to red-raw disco funk. If only all labels could be this open-minded.
The Italo-disco style may be the most fashionable sound around at the moment (see pg. 67), so how about some disco actually made by Italians. Dormant for a year, Rome’s esteemed Nature Records has been reactivated by its boss Marco Passarani, who’s also created a sub-label, Pigna, catering for the more flamboyant and accessible dance sounds. Nature’s latest release is by Roman trio Ambit3, whose Enwrapped mini-album is an engaging example of emotive electronica. But Pigna is properly on the money. The first single, “Tribute”, by Marco’s own Analog Fingerprints persona, boasts a supple Detroit groove, while the second, “Salvation”, is a storming
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electro-disco vocal cut courtesy of Francesco De Bellis, one half of quirky Roman duo Jolly Music. The other, taller member, Mario Pierro, unveils his Raiders Of The Lost Arp alias on “Funk 005 (Drive)”, a soulful, sepia-hued cruise driven by a sublime melody that remains in your cranium for weeks.
VICE has teamed up with Surface Noise for a couple of special Bank Holiday parties in May at The Social (5 Little Portland Street, London, W1; Oxford Circus tube). If you missed the first one on May 4, make sure you head down on Sunday, May 25, when Brooks, Raf Daddy and VICE DJs rule the roost from 6 p.m.-midnight. Tickets are £3 from The Social (tel: 020 7636 4992). Meanwhile, Cocadisco happens for free in the same venue on Friday, June 20. Respect to Frank “Dope” Tope for his killer set in May.
PIERS MARTIN
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