Category Archives: Switched On

Let’s Dance: Abel – Cosmic Law (Atjazz Record Company)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Steve Butler‘s brief is to deliver polished music under his moniker of Abel, for which this is his second album.

To do it, he has enlisted a team of live musicians, who are well worth name-checking as they are some of the best in the business. Lloyd Wright, who plays regularly with Smoove and Turrell, plays guitar and bass, while extra bass is added by Stan Woodward a member of Knats along with trumpeter Ferg Kilsby. Meanwhile Ross Hillard (Magic Number) gives out bass on Traveller. Vocals are supplied by Rona Ray and Sabrina Chyld.

What’s the music like?

This is an excellent and classy dance music album, and the live musicianship is the cherry on the top, right from the sultry introduction with Kilsby’s muted trumpet before the beat drops on Traveller. The instrument also takes the lead in the smooth grooves of In My Dreams.

The vocals are excellent, both Chyld and Ray complementing the hot weather grooves with effortless ease. Ray’s regretful vocal on Can’t Let You Go is an emotive one, while Sabrina Chyld’s pair I Just Can’t Wait and Come And Save Me are very nicely done.

The instrumental numbers are great, too – Glasshouse, Jazz In The Room and the percussion-rich Latin Love are all very nicely done.

Does it all work?

It does. Whether chilling by the pool in Mediterranean heat or ready to hit the floor in a sultry club, Abel’s music is more than fit for the job.

Is it recommended?

It is. Cosmic Love offers up sunny vibes from Abel to brighten up the dreariest of days.

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Published post no.1,993 – Sunday 29 October 2023

Switched On: Sofia Kourtesis – Madres (Ninja Tune)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

The story behind Sofia Kourtesis‘ debut album is an inspiring one. It is dedicated to neurosurgeon Peter Vajkoczy, for the life saving surgery he performed on the Peruvian DJ’s mother. Following the sad loss of her father, Sofia’s mother had become gravely ill, but she sought out Vajkoczy, dedicating a track to him, and rather wonderfully he agreed to treat her mother – who is now better and living in Berlin.

Madres, the Spanish word for mother, is a musical depiction of the emotions Sofia has gone through in the course of her own mother’s illness – but also represents Vajkoczy’s part in the album, for he joined Sofia on nights out in Berghain. As well as documenting her mother’s recovery, Madres is a document from Kourtesis to her home country, containing percussion and field recordings from her homeland, as well as documenting the pain of being ostracised for her queerness.

What’s the music like?

As uplifting as much of the story told above, but with deep emotional fluctuations. Kourtesis writes fluently, making richly expressive house music that has attractive twists and turns. The voice of Kourtesis complements her warm synth registrations. Only one track has guest vocals, but it’s a cracker, Estación Esperanza harnessing a strong percussion soundtrack while featuring the voice of Manu Chao. Lead single Si Te Portas Bonito is an absolute beauty, a hot weather treasure with full bodied synths and the voice of Kourtesis herself.

Vajkoczy – a tribute to the man himself – has a persuasive rhythmic lilt, while true euphoria is reached from the wonderful How Music Makes You Feel Better, an ode to the power of recovery at the hands of our favourite art form. Meanwhile Funkhaus goes more for the jugular, a propulsive dancefloor winner.

Does it all work?

It does. Madres is a beautifully executed album, its ebb and flow ideally managed so that Kourtesis hits all the right spots.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. A fine debut from a bona fide dance music talent.

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Published post no.1,992 – Saturday 28 October 2023

New music – Sofia Kourtesis: Madres (Ninja Tune)

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by Ben Hogwood

Tomorrow sees the release of a highly anticipated new album from Peruvian DJ and producer Sofia Kourtesis. Arcana has been getting to know Madres, and can confirm the anticipation is definitely worthwhile – as you will read in a review soon. For now, here is one of the album’s standout tracks, the sultry Si Te Portas Bonito, a summer beauty. Listen and enjoy!

You can listen to clips from Madres, and explore purchase options, at Sofia’s Bandcamp page:

Published post no.1,990 – Thursday 26 October 2023

New music – Universal Harmonies & Frequencies: Multidimensional Transformation (Yeyeh)

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by Ben Hogwood

Here is a striking track from the team of Hieroglyphic Being (aka Jamal Moss) and his collaborator, saxophonist, producer and composer Jerzy Maczyński. The two are to release their Tune IN album on Yeyeh at the start of December under the banner Universal Harmonies & Frequencies, and if this single Multidimensional Transformation is anything to go by, it is going to be quite a melting pot of beats and ideas. The signs are good!

Have a listen below and see what you think:

Published post no.1,984 – Friday 20 October 2023

Switched On: Mary Lattimore – Goodbye, Hotel Arkada (Ghostly International)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is an album about change and the lasting effects it can have on people. Its title bears the name of a beloved hotel in Croatia visited by American harpist Mary Lattimore, and closing for renovation. She takes this as a stimulus for six pieces that explore the theme of change and how nothing can ever be the same again.

The musical material has its roots in improvisation but Lattimore honed the album over two years, both in a solo capacity and in the company of a host of collaborators. To that end she was joined by The Cure’s Lol Tolhurst, Meg Baird, Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell, Ray Montgomery, Samara Lubelski and Walt McClements.

What’s the music like?

Beautiful. It is worth studying some of the stories behind Lattimore’s work, for it reveals something of her sense of humour as well as a softer side to her thinking. And Then He Wrapped His Wings Around Me – featuring Baird and Clements – is about a moment where she got to meet Big Bird with her mum, and he gave her ‘an incredible hug with this scratchy yellow wings’. The resultant track has a similar effect!

Arrivederci, with Tolhurst, is an intensely calming experience – written by Lattimore when she was at a low ebb after being let go from a project. It is styled as a round, a repetitive chord sequence where the harpist adds more and more melodic substance. Blender In A Blender goes on a compelling journey with Montgomery, becoming gradually more distorted and separated from a traditional harp sound and harnessing considerable power.

Lattimore’s titles are always eye-openers – so to speak – and Music For Applying Shimmering Eye Shadow gets music to match in the form of wonky, wobbly lines that falter over a much steadier base. It is as though one hand is faltering, the other an immovable object. There is a different kind of pitch variation in Horses, Glossy On The Hill, the idea of bells jangling together made by the clashing of semitones and microtones on the harp, before the instrument swirls in a gorgeous torrent of sound.

Yesterday’s Parties is a highly effective coda, the vocals of Goswell and Lubelski swooning as the harp plays delicate lines.

Does it all work?

It does. Lattimore’s imagination with the harp is key, producing some extraordinary sounds from the instrument in her manipulations and with studio trickery without ever becoming gimmicky or taking things too far. The underlying power in the music is also most impressive, as the likes of Arrivederci illustrate.

Is it recommended?

Wholeheartedly. This is music of beauty and inner resolve, and a powerfully moving album – arguably Mary Lattimore’s best yet.

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Published post no.1,988 – Tuesday 24 October 2023