Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Review time! Zoot Woman, Blaze and d'n'b

Hi all!

Time to review some records I just got and borrowed from library. And let´s start with electronic pop music of Zoot Woman


I gotta admit, I´ve liked Zoot Woman´s previous records too, but this just might be most mature and best one yet. It´s just killer in every way. Not too long clocking 44mins and that suits album perfectly. 12 tracks mainly bit uptempo, danceable electronic pop which Zoot Woman is known for. It´s not too electronic to be sterile luckily, the vocals soften things up and make this very accessible cd. It reminds a bit of Kitsune comps, but it feels more organic. Good tracks, few slower ones thrown in too and the cocktail works like a charm. Might not be anything groundshaking but still recommended for lovers of electronic pop with melodies and vocals.

We won´t break

Memory


Next up is another killer from Hospital record´s cannon. Ok, this one is bit old but still worth mentioning, since it´s excellent cd. As for Hospital, you know the score: liquid Drum'n'Bass is the course here with disco influences. Only minus for the cd is that it´s mixed. I prefer to hear songs in their full length and separately. Cd is mainly discofied, melodic d&b but wanders off sometimes to more bass-heavy jump up which suits the album quite well. I don´t like those wobbly tracks without melody, but this one has got the package right. Diane Charlemange features her beautiful vocals on Don´t Follow and album also featrues Logistics and Matrix. This one goes well in home as well as in club, which can be said of most Hospital records releases.

Ghetto Blaster

Don´t Follow


Solar Flares

Cover Story feat. Matrix


And let´s venture to the world of house music for a change. Here we have legendary duo from New Jersey, USA, Blaze. They´ve been making their mark to the house scene from day one and here we have a compilation of their older material. It is a good compilation, but it´s not near to the best Blaze have made. It´s good, quality house with one acappella track thrown in and another one with rap influences. It is good showcase of their older material and so worth mentioning here. If you expect their usual jazzy/soulful take on house, you might be disappointed with this one. Tracks are old and sometimes you can hear it. Some were bit odd additions to the compilation, especially the acappella of Funky People guise Accaliberation. It is quite varied since included are offbeat gems of Seasons Of Love and My Beat.

Klub Family feat. Sybil when I fall in love

Seasons of love

Funky People Funky people

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Upcoming gigs special

Hi all!

Time to see what´s going on in Finland. In Tampere, things look like this:
1.9. The Mutants, Death Letters (Bel), The Vivisectors (Rus). from 6,50 € (door 10 €)
2.9. Acid Symphony Orchestra
from 11,50 € (door 16 €)
4.9. All Age -S- Sunday: One Morning Left, For the Imperium. from 6,50 € (door 10 €), -S-
7.9. Circle, Motelli Skronkle, Keuhkot from 11,50 € (door 13 €)
8.9. The Irrationals, Jo' Buddy & Down Home King III. from 6,50 € (door 10 €)
Pe 9.9. Jukka Poika ja Raappana & Sound Explosion Band. from 11,50 € (door 16 €)
La 10.9. Circus meets Burlesque (Klubi)
from 11,50 € (limited amount) normal price 17,50 €
La 10.9. X-karnevaalit (Pakkahuone)
from 11,50 € (limited amount) regular 21,50 €
Circus meets Burlesque + X-karnevaalit - yhdistelmälippu. from 21,50 € (limited amount )regular 31,50 €

In Helsinki:

Milow 15.10.2011 Helsinki, Tavastia 24,50/26 door
Marissa Nadler 14.10.2011 Tampere, Klubi
tickets from 10,50 €, K-18
Su 16.10.2011 Helsinki, Kuudes Linja
tickets from 13,50 €, K-18

Also on tour is Amorphis, finn metal band and a good one too!
31.8. Helsinki, Tavastia-klubi
24,50 € (ovelta 25 €), K-18

8.9. Pori, Bar Kino
19,50 €, K-18
Turku, Klubi
23,50 € (ovelta 25 €), K-18
10.9. Eura, Osmantupa
18,50 € (ovelta 20 €), K-18
7.10. Helsinki, Nosturi
Liput alk. 24,50 €, no age limit
14.10. Tampere, Pakkahuone
26,50 €, K-15

24.8.2011 Helsinki, Kuudes Linja
11,50 € (door 12 €)
Linkki
Tickets to all these events are sold by Tiketti

Also this friday is Night Of The Arts The program can be found here in english, Swedish and finnish. There´s too much going on to be listed here, for example book shops have special events, at club YK is Helsinki dubstep+Drum´n´Bass conference, art exhibitons, photography comptetion, performances and so on.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Sade and Hurts to Helsinki

Hi all!

I just heard that Sade will be performing in Helsinki for first time! The date is 3.11.2011 and place is Hartwall Arena. Tickets are pricey though 78/82/89€ and can be bought from Lippu.

Another concert news is that Hurts returns to Helsinki! This time gig is at Ice Hall and there´s no age limit. Sade should also be without age limit. Hurts tickets start at 40,50€ and can be bought here.

Have a good week and more stuff coming up here at All About music!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Bertine Zetlitz, Moodymann, jamiroquai

Hi all!

Again we start off with female artist:


Bertine Zetlitz from pop´s promised land, Sweden. Here we have her most radio-friendly cd ever. Other ones were lyrically darker and here lyrics are lighter and sunnier. The main course on this cd is electronic, partially danceable pop music which has enough hooks and singalong chorouses to appeal to mass audience. Album is good and enough short (40min) and that keeps the cd tight. Eventhough I liked this cd, I still prefer her older albums, where she sang you´re here just to adore me:) Still worth checking.

Fake Your Beauty

Ah Ah

Keeping things electronic, next up is Moodymann


Time to go all the way to the house genrer with Moodymann´s Black Mahogani. Moodymann is a legendary figure in house genre and he hails from the deeper end of things. He produced for example Norma Jean Bell´s classic I´m The Baddest Bitch and has I think 3 albums on his own. This one has strong jazz influences and that hooked me into the album, since I love jazzy house music. It also has more jacking stuff which is more in typical Peacefrog records vein. I gotta say I have respect for Moodymann eventhough I don´t like all his productions. This one is a good album if you like your house jazzy and funky. This one grooves well and has hints of 70´s disco. Highly recommended!

Black Mahogani


I Need You So Much


Holiday


And off we go with funk. This album is not as good as the older ones. It sounds pretty much similar to albums before, especially later ones. I felt like they are losing the edge. It´s not completely bad album, it´s just too poppy for me. And sounds more commercial than ever before. I found it to lack soul. I hate giving bad reviews, but gotta be honest. This is just ok album and had few boring tracks which were fillers. This time influences are drawn from old soul which seems to be the trend at the moment. It is listenable, but far cry from their best albums. All I can say, not bad but nothing new. Nice tracks which work and groove, but still bit of a disappointment.

Lifeline

White Knuckle Ride

Blue Skies

More reviews comng as soon as mailman delivers my cds:) At least coming up is Blaze, Nu energy 100 the final chapter, Xtravaganza records compilation, new Tori Amos hopefully early next month!

Have a great weekend, peace!