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Artist - Various
Title - Alex Dallas & Jazzanova - Secret Love 4
Label - (Sonar Kollektiv)
Released - 29.10.07
Posted 22.09.07
PRESS RELEASE
Folk music is by definition an expression of the life of people in a community; and the wonderful people at Sonar Kollektiv certainly seem to share the same philosophy, where listening to music is a pleasure that relaxes the mind and refuels the soul. With the release of the Secret Love compilation series, Sonar Kollektiv have successfully tried to encapsulate this spirit shared amongst friends and fans of the label, and delivered a very personal vision of what folk music is. Given the success of the previous volumes of Secret Love, Sonar Kollektiv faced something of a challenge: renewing a definition that is more emotional than based on an actual music classification - for the 4th time - and writing a new chapter in their adventures in folk music without betraying the work already done is a Herculean task.
With Secret Love 4, Alex Dallas and Jazzanova present various artists that share with them the belief that folk music is a genre that transcends all predefined categories. Folk music refers above all to a certain spirit - a particular way of understanding and feeling the world around us - that every artist expresses
and relates to his people in its own way.-This definition is linking the concept of folk and soul is at the core of every song selected for the compilation. Moreover, every artist shares a love for organic orchestrations and vocals sung with a mellow and delicate voice. They all challenge the stereotypes that come with folk music without betraying the singer/songwriter tradition where the message conveyed is as important as the music played.
Many new talents in the field of folk and neo-folk such Findlay Brown with "Losing the Will to Survive" or Jamie Woon and his "Wayfairing Stranger" are here gathered to refresh our ears alongside more experimental artists such as multi-instrumentalist and singer Andrew Bird with "Imitosis", taken from his critically acclaimed album Armchair Apocrypha or the 5-piece american neo-folk band Midlake. Their tune - "Roscoe (Beyond the Wizard Sleeve's Mix)" - with its contemporary grooves taken from their critically acclaimed album called The Trials of Van, has a beautiful definition of what modern folk is all about. From Clara Hill with "About You" via Thief with "Down, down", over to A Race of Angels with "Afrika Displaced", every artist gives his personal meaning of the word love. Minimal-techno producer Kalabrese will astound more than one fan with the tune "Hide" taken from his latest album Rumpelzirkus, featuring
reggae soul singer Guillermo Sohrya with his soulful and deep voice. Radio 1 hip
hop Dj Zane Lowe reveals his soul and folky side through his band Breaks Co-Op and a beautiful piece called "Duet" (which some may remember was expertly remixed last year by Atlantic Conveyor).
Adding icing to the cake is singer/songwriter legend Paul Weller. Alex Dallas and
Jazzanova have decided to pay homage to his career by releasing the beautiful ballad "The Loved", where his voice finds the perfect harmony between light acoustic guitar riffs and flute melodies for the happiest end you could possibly think of.
REVIEW
The Lawries ' Sailboats' sets the scene perfectly for this little voyage into
'Neo Folk'. Gentle keys, haunted strings and light drums compliment the vocals
very well. All important 2nd track is Beyond the Wizards Sleeve remix of
Midlake's 'Roscoe'. It's a glorious builder that would sound great as the sun
comes up. A lovely arrangement that should make the hair stand up on the back of
your neck after a few plays.
Clara Hill's 'About You' really kicks things off with abstract vocals and a truly leftfield feel. A lovely break opens Andrew Bird's 'Imit Osis' which has heads nodding from the off and is the kind of track that helps you get your groove on. Breaks Co-OP's ' Duet' is ace. When I heard this version my jaw dropped. Think Jose Gonzalez and the Cinematic Orchestra getting together.. Awesome.
Roe Beck's ' Atlantic' is a string laden gem - think Midnight by Uncut with better drums and more folky soul. We get the beautiful 'Africa Displaced' by A Race Of Angels, its one of those that creeps up on you then melts your heart with it's brilliance - Great lyrics about love.
There's a dubby strung out 'reanimation' of the big Beyond's The Wizards Sleeve remix of Findlay Brown's ' Losing The Will To Survive' - brilliantly arranged to rock it!
Choice Of Young get dramatic with 'Believers Riot'. Thief show us how to fuse it all together on the massive 'Down Down'. Little Dragon lay down a gorgeous piano and string based killer forged with another great song.
Kalabrese wake us up with a techy house 80's thing called 'Lide'. We get the much played Nostalgia 77's 'Little Steps' from our friends at Tru Thoughts. Jamie Woon's vocal harmonies are stirring on the stripped down minimal soul number that is 'Wayfaring Stranger'.
It's the Secret Lover remix of Eva Be that I keep going back to - 'She walks alone' featuring Pegah Fewrdoni - it's a pure acoustic folk version, and a great alternative to the much loved and more electronic take that is on the Beats Bites and Oxle LP. Moves me without fail and gives me goose pimples every time.
Paul Weller rounds things off in style with excellent 'The Loved', placed at the end as if to emphasise just how eclectic this LP really is.
Rating - 10/10
Reviewer - PT
