Phoenix G レコード& CD

Review: Phoenix G reaches its 50th release in its fifteenth year of business and finds Colin McBean in irrepressible form on this Long Time Coming EP! Should you want some compelling evidence for why so many people regard Mr G as one of the most distinctive production voices amongst the UK house and techno cognoscenti, spend some time with the four tracks here. Lead track "Mandiba" is machine Funk at its most potent, whilst the functional drums of "Distortion (Rita's Soul)" have to contend with the soulful impact of the tear jerking vocal hook and that resonant, earthy synth line. "Zam Zam" is Martian techno at its most sinister, whilst the Mango Boys Red Eye mix of "Where I Feel It Most" is a simple yet very effective DJ tool.

Review: So far in 2013 Mr G's Phoenix G label has proved a healthy outlet for his unstoppable flow of new music and some timely represses. The VFM EP belongs in the former category and ably demonstrates Colin McBean's masterful understanding of no nonsense club tracks. Despite their stripped back nature, there's something inherently distinct to each of the four impeccably produced tracks here; the warbling diva stuck deep in the machinery of "Let Down (Badly)" will remain in many memories long after it's dropped in a club for example. "Getting There... Detroit" seems quite simple on the surface, gradually revealing it's numerous elements but it's done with real skill and is a worthy DJ tool along with the basement primed "Mangos In Season".

Review: Life's Changing Face finds Mr G in similar form to the tracks that made up Still Here (Get On Down), last years album for Rekids. Relentlessly driven by bass it may be, but beneath there is a fragile musicality and a soulful edge. This is captured perfectly on "For Those Who Feel (For Lex)" which pounds at your senses with raw , industrial thrust of rasping kicks, hi hats and bass drums but gradually draws out a haunting refrain of soaring pads and vocal loops that flush the track with real emotion. On the flip, "Raw Emotionz" takes a darker turn, drowning a heavily delayed sample deep beneath menacing synth turns and an ever changing surfeit of layered percussion. "Be Free" ends on a lighter note, filled with Mr G's repeated titular refrain, heavenly chords and a bubbling undercurrent of acidic bass.

Review: Mr G knows how to make a record, but even more so he knows how to make a club track. But for this Remote Viewing EP MR G offers up three productions of his own for the Mango Boys to dub-out and remix. First is a 'Sunday dub' to "Newmerique" which is straight up, chord-driven, club house, while the 'Hurting dub' to "Mac (Daddy) RIP" is woozy, deep and very danceable with a bassline to boot. For a third option there's a linear 'Red Eye' mix to "Tollgate PO" completing a great selection of DJ tools.