musicXport.nl - Buma Cultuur

eviews
musicXport.nl
52
Flinke Namen
Superstuntwerk
(TopNotch)
Flinke Namen (‘sturdy names’) are rappers Sef, Fit, Murth
and DJ The Flexican. Teaming up in 2004, the posse honed
their skills for years before signing to TopNotch. Their
debut album, Superstuntwerk, made a splash, helped by
the seriously catchy single Als Zij Langs Loopt (‘When
She Walks By’). It proved to be a huge radio hit, made the
charts and was elected as Song of the Year. The rest of the
album flows by in the same relaxed vein, blending smart
raps to latin-, exotica- en jazz-derived beats. The bonus cd
Kunst en Vliegwerk is a mixtape of self-produced tracks
with guest vocalist and rappers. *****
The Mad Trist
Pay The Piper
(PIAS)
After two EP’s, The Mad Trist drop their debut album
to great expectations. Pay The Piper is produced by De
Staat’s Torre Florim and the four-piece from Maastricht
cover similar musical terrain: stoner riffs, laced with catchy
hooks and choruses. The twin lead guitars build a wall of
scalpel-precision blocks of noise, or follow the melody of
the vocals – occasionally at the same time. It makes for a
solid collection of stylized in-your-face mayhem, proofing
there’s still mileage in the classic two guitars plus rhythm
section rock line-up. *****
Awkward I
I Really Should Whisper
(Excelsior)
Playing their first ever live gigs at Eurosonic/Noorderslag
2009, Awkward I already had built a considerable live
reputation when its debut album hit the shops recently.
The fluid band – members vary from gig to gig - is the
vehicle for songwriter and bass player Djurre de Haan,
who divides his time between Awkward I and Excelsior
stable mates Alamo Race Track. I Really Should Whisper
started as a home recording of De Haan’s songs (helped
out by Diederik Nomden). De Haan frequently switches
his guitar for the mandolin, exemplifying the down-home,
folksy vein of this warm and intimate album. *****
Juju & Jordash
Juju & Jordash
(Dekmantel) vinyl only
Israel-born Gal Aner and Jordan Czamanski (a.k.a. Juju
& Jordash) dropped this 8 track vinyl double album (out
via the Dekmantel label) after well over half a dozen club
releases. The Amsterdam-based Dekmantel organisation
promotes techno-related club music, which matches fine
with J&J’s studio concoctions. The album offers techno
of various stripes, from space disco to more subdued
downtempo. Dance stallwarts Laurent Garnier, Osunlade
and Ellen Allien have been raving about it, understandably.
*****
Mdungu
Afro What!?
(Zimbraz/Music & Words)
Afro What!?, the debut album by nine-piece Mdungu,
will appeal to open-minded worldmusic aficionados.
Although Mdungu sounds distinctly exotic, its music is
a virtual genre: a blend of various West-African styles
played by a collective of eight Western-Europeans plus
one Gambian. Mdungu’s sound is defined by its three-sax
horn section and total lack of cheesy synths. And since
the band includes not just one but two percussionists, the
grooves are served red hot. *****
Eric Vloeimans/Gatecrash
Heaven's Above
(Challenge Jazz)
Heaven’s Above is the first studio album of Eric Vloeimans
‘electric’ quartet Gatecrash, following the live recordings
Gatecrashin’ and Live At Yoshi’s. Vloeimans represents the
current crop of West-European jazz musicans who draw
inspiration from both the jazz tradition and electronic
experiments, expanding Weather Reports ‘70s fusion
into 21st century post-jazz. His trumpet sound is crystal
clear, the band fluid and driving. Imagine Heaven’s Above
as a release by the reputed ECM label, it’s that good.
*****