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√ √ k l a n g w e r k
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artist : underwolves
title : under your sky
year : 2001
genre : lo-fi
label : jcr (015)
website : www.compost-records.com
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rls-date : 04/29/2001
encoder : fhg radium mp3 codec v1.263
quality : 192kbps/44,100hz
source : compact disc
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01 stay awhile 3:55
02 unexpected days 5:02
03 prema redentor 9:20
04 thin 2:53
05 shaken 6:13
06 lay down 3:41
07 so blue its black 3:53
08 under your sky 6:09
09 68 moves 3:41
10 comin home 4:47
11 bird song 5:23
12 inbetween 3:59
12 tracks (00h 58m 56s)
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there are a couple of reasons why ned kelly and six foot three
professor stretch decided to call themselves the underwolves. both
are unusual and, more importantly, are clues to understanding the
london û based duo's unorthodox but compelling music. the first
concerns american author cormac mccarthy, since the pairs 1996
debut single was called "the crossing", after the second book in
his border trilogy. wolves feature heavily in that particular
instalment, as survivors not just scavengers, and a shadowy
counterpoint to it's damaged hero. secondly, the duo began working
together just as the british dance music scene was having it's
horizons abruptly narrowed by the introduction of criminal justice
act, which directly targeted parties, raves and any gathering
outside licensed premises. shortly after the now infamous
legislation became law in 1994 there was a brief period of
resistance, with illegal festivities continuing regardless of the
potential penalties (which included heavy fines and possible prison
sentences). at the time, ned was particularly impressed by a
newspaper article that described these revellers as a rebellious
underclass. they were individuals who refused to accept their lot
and bit back instead. he felt the same way, hence the name
underwolves, an amalgamation, like the band, of apparently
different but actually related influences.
idiosyncratic figures with roots in different sections of the uk
dance scene, ned and stretch were united by the desire to make
music so well wrought it spreads beyond any sub-culture that may
have originally spawned it. "we want," says stretch, "to create
something timeless."
their debut album, "under your sky", may have its roots in drum and
bass but it also absorbs soul, jazz and hip hop into a sound
bristling with power (shaken), sophistication (in between) and
above all fine song writing. consequently, you don't need to be an
aficionado of hard step, jump up or any of the genre's sub
divisions to embrace the passion of the tracks like "68 moves".
"you've got to give people something to catch hold of," says ned.
"i don't think you can just say, here's our smoky instrumental
album. a lot of people aren't going to accept that".
unwilling to churn out a dozen hammering club tracks, they brought
in jeb loy nichols (behind an acclaimed album of it's own, the folk
rock of 1997's lovers knot) to both provide vocals and song writing
expertise. other vocals are provided by madeline edgehill of all
female reggae band acabu and ghetto priest from african headcharge,
who stretch remixed for 1998's drums of defiance project on dub
guru adrian sherwood's on-u-sound label.
the underwolves have been attracting attention ever since early
singles like 1996's "nine lives" on filter and remixes, such as
their elegant approach to bim sherman's "can i be free from
crying". both showed they are one of few artist to truly grasp the
potential of drum and bass to do more than just fill a dance floor
or disintegrate into over û blown concept albums. in part, this
comes from their eccentric approach to making music. stretch,
classically trained and a self û taught engineer, handles all the
technical details, while ned, former dj and jazz obsessive,
cajoles, listens and generally points developments in the correct
directions. its not how most people do it but it works for them.
"our heads are in exactly in the same place music wise," says
stretch. "his taste is so important and we like similar things.
jazz folk and soul with drum & bass".
it's ned and stretch's varied, wandering backgrounds that make
'under your sky' a work of great emotional depth as well as
eccentric beats. it's an album that doesn't fit any obvious pigeon
hole other than that marked 'great record'. and that's all that
matters.
expect new remixes by earthbound, fauna flash, intega (sonar
kollektive) as well as the already existing remixes by restless
soul, peshay vs. photek, spacek and juryman (many versions were
only available on promo release) on forthcoming 12inches.
-- compost-records.com
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greetings to sweetbeats, quadrophenia, sour, mindscape, deephouse
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