Liquid Stranger 'Renegade Crusade E.P.' Review

Artist: Liquid Stranger

Release: Renegade Crusade E.P.

Label: Interchill Records

Released: 15^th April on Beatport and itunes

On the back of Martin Staff's (a.k.a. Liquid Stranger's) recent infusion mix https://soundcloud.com/liquid-stranger/liquid-stranger-infusion-mix which proved to be a journey of perfection, touching on his work in a variety of genres from hip-hop to reggae, from dub to trap and even throwing in some pop re-works. Comes this new release from Interchill once again showing another string to his bow with the exploration of chilled electronica and low frequency bass.

This E.P. begins with 'Spawn' a pleasant instrumental trip-hop number which springs off some deep bass breakdowns. This is followed by 'The Gargon' which with it's similarity to 'Gorgon' made me think of Medusa. However, it appears it was perhaps more likely coined from an alien lobster from a 1950's sci-fi flick of the same title or from a planet featured in Star Wars. Either way this is the track they've propelled into cyberspace alongside a stunning video by Andy Thomas that's caught everyone's attention. The track itself unfolds slower than the opener but works in a similar vein contrasting some beautiful electronica against growling dark bass lines and slow thumping kicks.

Next up is an alternative version of the Strangers smash hit from his 'Arcane Terrian' album 'The Molecule Man' it's a stripped back and lighter edit in places, which drops the vocal and concentrates on dubbing the vocodered chorus. Then all of a sudden the E.P. takes a twist with 'Brace For Impact' and not in the manner I expected as soulful vocal from Canadian Saratonin is dripped over Honeycomb's beatbox. Last by no means least Martin's switches the mood back with sci-fi vocals from Razza and some down-right dreamy electronica and just about nails it as my favourite on a very fine release.

Review by Woodzee.

Links …

http://liquidstranger.com/

http://www.interchill.com/

Download the Gargon free from Liquid Stranger's Soundcloud page https://soundcloud.com/liquid-stranger/the-gargon-original-mix-2

Dr Trippy 'Invasion By Osmosis' Review

Artist: Dr Trippy

Release: Invasion By Osmosis

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

The album is due to start pre-orders on Saturday 3rd May from http://drtrippy.bandcamp.com/ and then will be out digitally on Monday 12th May and physically on Friday 16th May.

All new to me and shrouded in an air of mystery Dr Trippy landed in my e-mail and sounded somewhat like a supervillian from a comic book. However, it's not really the name that counts it's the musical content and from the following blurb it sounded promising … 'Sounding like a clash between India and Jamaica at an English festival, the album is underpinned by the rhythms and resonance of dub, awash in Indian vocals and fuelled by a battery of synthesisers and effect units. Add to this several seasons in Goa, live shows at a bevvy of festivals and the tutelage of Banco De Gaia, and you have the perfect ingredients for an ‘Invasion by Osmosis’!

The album opened up with 'Dr Trippy meets the Mad Professor' which took the supervillian image away slightly and conjoured up more of secret meeting in the dub laboratory. Despite the pedigree of the Mad Professor (a British pioneer of Dub with his 'Dub Me Crazy' album series of the 80's and probably best know for his dub re-work of Massive Attacks 'Protection') this was a fairly non-chalent track for me. But by the end of the second track 'Cistern Chapel', Dr Trippy had began to grab my attention and by the next track 'Let Me In I'm a Doctor' I was hooked.

The heady mix of old skool samples, Indian vocals and dub reggae basslines vary from summery horn filled chuggers like 'Bollywood Boulevard' to rump-shaking dance floor destroyers like 'Granny Takes A Trip To Hebden' with a barrage of fx. It transpires that Martin Corbett the man behind the mysterious shroud of Dr Trippy is about to release a form of world domination not to be feared but rather to be rejoiced. In short I'm loving this and can see myself playing it time and time again throughout the summer.

Reviewed By Woodzee

Links

https://soundcloud.com/martincorbett

https://soundcloud.com/discogeckorecordings