Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

2 August, 2011

Janice Graham Band-Murder

Filed under: Blog,funk,hip hop / rap,post-punk,Recorded Reviews,ska — willmunn @ 09:22

Janice Graham Band are a four-piece band hailing from the musical hotpot of Manchester, the band mix and match funk, ska, hip-hop, post punk and garage to create a unique and intoxicating sound that has already received plaudits from such heavy weights in the music world as Mani (Primal Scream/Stone Roses) and Clint Boon (XFM) among others.

Since the band’s formation they’ve already performed at this years Isle Of Wight Festival along with securing high profile support slots with the likes of Little Barrie, Kid British and Madness among others. The energetic and original sound has found the ears of  the acclaimed Acid Jazz Records, who are currently working on the bands debut, which is set to be unleashed early next year, the long player is set to be something of a concept around love, life, sex and death. Set around one man’s descent into a hedonistic descent towards darkness, self-destruction and ultimately Murder.

The aptly titled Murder is the first taster of the aforementioned full length album and all I can say is wow what a stunning statement of intent, the band lay down a thick, dirty ska bounce complete with a dub like elastic bassline, a subtlibly dark yet infectious vocal, a brilliant trumpet breakdown and the most addictive chorus I’ve heard in a long whilst. Murder is dark, brooding and yet ever so bouncy.

The B-side, Assassiner, cleverly lifts the bass from Murder but showcases the band’s hip-hop influece as lead singer Joe Jones delivers a contagious Manc tinged rap, whilst the band create an intriguing and addictive backdrop.

As introductions go, Murder by Janice Graham Band is pretty damn perfect, the two tracks leave you desperately wanting more, needing to here what else the band manage to stir into the delicious musical stew that’s already evident here. If the band manage to continue in this vein the full length album is set to be very special indeed.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.janicegrahamband.com

8 July, 2011

Great Imitation-The Tao of Polite Crunk (Making Rap Middle Class)/BitterSweetHeartAtacks (All About You)

Filed under: hip hop / rap,indie,pop — willmunn @ 21:45

A couple years back on a warm August weeked in Leicester I stumbled around Summer Sundae looking for new sounds and checking out firm favourites, staggering from tent to tent looking for a new fix to satisfy my musical lust. Over the course of the weekend I managed to quench my thirst through with a wonderfully varied mixture of bands from the big mainstage behometh to the local Leicester heroes.

One such group that really stoked my interest back then were a band called Great Imitation, a ramshackle ensemble that mixed a combination of rapid fire raps, indie gutars and a folky more singer-songwriter influence to dazzling effect. I remember being impressed with the clash of styles, the big indie pop hook, the smooth rap flow and their tongue in cheek delivery and winning attitude. When I witness Great Imitation they easily won over a wele ary eyed early morning crowd with their infectious set.

Now with alot of bands you accidently see at festivals you make a mental note to keep an eye on for them before moving on and pushing them onto something of a backburner and consigning the band to a distant memory bank, well luckily for me, by sheer chance, I’ve been reunited with the music of Great Imitation and I have to say thankyou very much mr PR man.

The double A-side single, The Tao Of Polite Crunk (Making Rap Middle Class)/Bitter Sweet Heart Attacks (All About You) is an absolute corker, two brilliant tracks that showcase what Great Imitation are all about, contagious rap lyrics, collide with  crooned indie pop, over a combination of catchy acoustic guitar riffs and pulsating drum beats creating an intoxicating sound that’s impossible to ignore. The delicious combination of rapper James-Scott Howes and guitarist/crooner Ryan Albut vocals work brilliantly, they compliment each other so wonderfully that you’ll find yourself listening to the two tracks on here over and over again.

Both of the tracks on offer were aired at the aforemention festival a couple of years back (I loved them then and I love them now) among a host of equally impressive tunes in the Great Imitation arsenal, so hopefully the band will follow up this deligtful dual track single with an album in the near future. If you want catchy hooks, acoustic guitars and a bit of hip-hop thrown in for good measure, I suggest you drop whatever you’re doing and seek out Great Imiatation right now before everyone else catches on just how potent, addictive and fun their sound is.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

http://www.myspace.com/greatimitation
http://www.youtube.com/greatimitation

1 February, 2011

Small Morris-Feelin’ Me

Filed under: hip hop / rap — Tags: Small Morris — willmunn @ 17:13

Small Morris was originally born in Harare in Zimbabwe back in 1987, he started writing lyrics at the tender age of 13 with his brother helping him out to master rap. Then his family decided to relocate to try and get away from the troubles of violence in Zimbabwe, they landed up moving to Hereford here in the UK and with the move Small Morris started to creating music in earnest. His music soon started to get played on BBC Hereford & Worcester, Small then found his music finding favour with various club DJ’s and he soon found himself getting signed to Greyeagle Records.

From here Small Morris has moved from strength to strength, he landed up supporting Lethal Bizzle on his Back To Business tour, he has also found airplay across Europe and the US via a number of different music channels. Currently Small Morris is recording his debut album, The Beginning with a number of high profile producers, Feelin’ Me is the first single to be taken from the album and I’ve got to say it’s a bit of monster. Feelin’ Me showcases Small’s effortless rhythmic flow whilst the producers create an infectious almost an orchestral background with the obligatory deep bassline and pounding beats to bounce from. The lyrics introduce what Small Morris is all about hooking in the listener with his rapid fire rap and contagious banter that any lover of hip-hop will devour hungrily with glee as Small actually has a story to tell.
As with most releases of this nature the single is backed with various remixes, you get a single mix, an album mix (my preferred version) and a beat friendly club mix not to mention a very worthy instrumental version that I’m sure will all help Small Morris gain more attention in one way or another, though personally I’d prefer another original rather than all the different mixes, but hey I understand why they do it and the track is a banger in whatever format.
If you like hip-hop and you’re looking for someone new then I suggest you checkout Small Morris this guy ain’t going to be small for long, expect him to be massive by the time he’s set to release his album and deservingly so.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 8
www.smallmorris.co.uk

26 May, 2009

Gipsy.cz-Reprezent

Filed under: hip hop / rap — Tags: gipsy.cz — willmunn @ 19:27

Title: Reprezent
Artwork:
Type: Album
Record Label: Indies Scope Records
The regular readers of this website will have already perused my recent musings on this years Eurovision song contest and those observant folk among you will have read about my new found love for a Czech Republic band by the name of Gipsy.cz, a band that may have fallen in the semi=finals of the aforementioned competition but has this viewer glued to the TV whilst bouncing all over his sofa.

Gipsy.cz are an intriguing bunch, a group that weld together traditional gypsy folk, hip-hop, pop and a punky attitude to create an infectious and compelling sound that will appeal to not only the native Czechs but music fans the world over.

Now obviously I don’t speak a word of Czech but when the music is energetic and fun like the fourteen tracks on the band’s second album Reprezent, language proves to be no barrier.

From the opening number, Benga Beating, the band had me on my feet dancing, swaying, clapping and generally acting the fool, the track is a swift sub three minute gypsy hip-hop frenzy that sets the tone for the rest of the album wonderfully.

As the album progresses tracks such as Dokud Dejchám, the title track and the brilliant Love Love had me smiling from ear to ear as the group create a wonderful mash-up of musical genres, creating a unique and inspired sound all of their own.

The smooth hip-hop flow collides brilliantly with a combination of violins, beats, guitars and pop hooks to form a contagious playlist from start to finish. if you like Gogol Bordello or left-field hip-hop you’ll love the creative sounds of Gipsy.cz.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/gipsyreprezent
Rating: 10

3 March, 2009

Metis-Chameleon

Filed under: hip hop / rap — Tags: metis — willmunn @ 12:51

Title: Chameleon
Artwork:
Type: Single
Record Label: Self Released
Those of you are regular readers of this site should have stumbled across my previous review of hip-hop warrior/ spoken word poet Metis (if you haven’t check it out on this very site now for all the background info), well now he’s back with a brand new single, his first to be lifted from forthcoming album Plan B.

Since we last encountered Metis he’s been busy playing numerous high profile shows, released a documentary (Power Of The Word) and has also been cast in the lead role of a feature length film, The Dazzler, which is due to start shooting in the middle of this year.

With his busy workload, how Metis manages to find time to record new tracks is quite beyond me, but Im pleased that he does as once again Metis has released something of a masterpiece.

Over the various formats of the single Metis features six stunning and varied tracks, from the piano led hard hitting hip-hop of Like This (two versions, one featuring Aynzi Jones the other featuring Bobby Zion), the title track, to Chameleon a gorgeous jazzy track featuring soulful female vocal harmonies, piano, horns and a wonderful smooth vocal flow from Metis himself.

Brand New Day ups the funk factor with infectious elastic bass riffs, contagious horns, catchy beats and an addictive chorus that forces you to get up and strut, whilst singing along gleefully.

Elsewhere, Stay is a deep fried hip-hop track featuring another silky smooth vocal, whilst Strictly For Love throws another curve ball by adding strings to a piano loop to create a wonderful backing, whilst Metis delivers with his addictive half-spoken, half-rapped delivery.

Once again Metis show’s why he’s so highly regarded, his intriguing arrangements and lyrical flow put him head and shoulders above the competition, if you like hip-hop you’ll love Metis.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/wordsofmetis
Rating: 10

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