Welcome to the 8th edition of All Gus No Fuss. Despite the world appearing gloomy, desperate and dim, I have entered 2021 with a real sense of hopefulness. This might be an optimistic take, but soon the world should begin its journey back to normality, and some of the club focused music I write about will have much more concrete context. That being said, maybe It is just within my sphere of musical consumption, I do feel that the output of music from artists I enjoy most has slowed compared to the burst of releases we felt a few months back, I am hoping many artists have a formidable selection of newly produced tracks and are ready to unleash them upon the world when clubs begin to reopen.
This month I went back and listened to Madvillinany, to take a moment to honor the late MC and producer MF DOOM. I also checked out a seductive new set of singles by ISAbella and finally the remixes of Adam Pit’s; International Wafter on Costal Haze.
Madvillany – Madvillian – Stones Throw Records
The death of Daniel Dumille at the end of 2020 shocked and saddened me. I have never been a die hard fan or devote lover of his music, but I have a great deal of appreciation and respect for MF DOOM’s impact, success and inspiration. Madvillany, his collab with producer Madlib is one of my favourite hip-hop albums ever and I would like to take a few words here to explain quite why. It is a record which lacks any clear commercial singles or even sounds, and yet has reached a level of underground but commercial acclaim few records can achieve.
Madvilliany was released in 2004, 22 tracks long it is a slow burner, filled with interludes, random extracts and broken instrumentals. Before the albums first of many bizarre instrumentals alongside the soothing grunt of DOOM, ‘The Illest Villains’ presents the subsequent story, introducing ‘America’s two most powerful villains’. ‘Accordian’ opens with the medieval instrument taking center stage, before a moody and magical verse by DOOM.
“Villain: a mixture between both with a twist of liquor, Chase it with more beer, taste it like truth or dare, When he have the mic, it’s like the place get like: “Aw, yeah!””
Every track within this album is short but punchy. Sudden changes in instrumentals, tone and total atmosphere are a constant feature. The grumpy tone of ‘Meat Grinder’ is quickly swapped by the groove ridden, Biggie inspired; ‘Bistro’. The sensual vocal alongside the host and supervillan’s words of wisdom.
Live on the beats, we have the one and only Madlib, We also have King Geedorah on the mix, Yesterday’s New Quintet’s here, Viktor Vaughn, Quasimoto, And I’m your host, ‘The Supervillain’
Other highlights from the album for me would be ‘Money Folder’, Quasimoto’s second feature on the record; “Shadows of Tomorrow” and finally the song ‘All Caps’.
The magical production levels within the track; ‘All Caps’ are unforgettable. Just as are DOOM’s lyrics, gutsy, gloomy and groovy lyrics.
And he won’t stop ’til he got the masses, And show ’em what they know not through flows of hot molasses, Do it like the robot to headspin to boogaloo
Took a few minutes to convince the average bug-a-boo, It’s ugly, like look at you, it’s a damn shame, Just remember ALL CAPS when you spell the man name
One can’t overlook the value of one of hip-hops greatest producers; Madlib, meshing his off-key and bumpy melodies with DOOM’s fantastic lyricism. An album for the ages, one which I am sure has inspired many and which hopefully continues to do so.
RIP DOOM
ISAbella – That Thing/Do It Now – Self-Released
Fresh of the tip from Trommel, Colombian born and Barcelona based producer and DJ ISAbella released her two debut productions last month. The package contained two party ready pumpers, desperate to see the light of day at a festival or dance floor. This release an essential one to highlight the importance and significance of upcoming producers placing confidence in themselves and self-releasing their music.
“That Thing”, has a slow and resenting first 50 seconds, before two perfectly placed vocal samples lift the whole mood, flow and sound of the track. A simple sounding clap interrupts the drone of the opening, building before the injection of ever bouncy breaks. Once the three minute mark is crossed this combination of all, simple but effective, instruments comes together with a 4×4 kick drum. It is a somewhat confused and crazy compilation of sounds throughout and yet in that confusion I found myself dancing away.
My Neck. My Back is potentially one of the most well known tracks of the century, the infamous Khia vocal being shoved into as many half arsed garage and gabba edits as is humanly possible. Despite my feelings towards its use in many dance music bootlegs and edits, it’s place in this track by ISAbella feels considerate and weighted perfectly. The corny and catchy “Shake your body, don’t stop, don’t miss” is placed alongside a thumping kick and is mixed down perfectly to accompany and assist in the tracks success, the vocal is not too loud and prominent to take charge and overpower what would be a great track without the sample.
These two tasters of ISAbella’s producing potential are extremely exciting, her talent as a DJ known to many after such a steller feature for Dimension’s mix series. The term “OnE To WaTcH” is thrown around these days more often than it should, but I am with Trommel on this one.
https://isabella8.bandcamp.com/track/that-thing-2
https://isabella8.bandcamp.com/track/do-it-now
Adam Pits – International Wafter: The Remixes – Costal Haze
Adam Pits release on Costal Haze last year was a standout, the Leeds based producer showed his lighter side and provided the inspiration for the first record I would write about with All Gus No Fuss. To my surprise, and to my intense satisfaction, 2021 has begun for Costal Haze with a ruckus set of remixes to the release. Ciel and Roza Terenzi on A side duty, and label bossman Seb Wildblood taking care of business on the B side.
I applauded International Wafter for allowing Pits to portray a relaxed and ambient atmosphere of his music somewhat unheard of prior to its release. Ciel presents a breaky and woozy remix of the track ‘International Wafter’, swapping out big room bass for soft and subtle lurches, channeling a fresh vocal through an aquatic electro journey.
Roza Terenzi, alongside Pits, is a favourite producer of mine operating right now. I am struggling to keep this feature from becoming her unofficial fan club. The combination of a Terenzi take, on top of an already stellar Pits track is sensational. Her remix of ‘Motion Sensor’ feels like a collaboration more than a remix. Their styles are so similar, unique and perfectly compliment one another. The subtlety of an acidic hint, balanced by the signature Terenzi boom, alongside Adam’s melodic and magical chimes. This is a stupendous remix. Another added to the list of tracks, I am at this point desperate to hear in a dark room and on a big system.
Final remix duties are given to the man in charge of Costal Haze; Seb Wildblood. His remix of ‘Magenta’ is bright and mystical. Providing a wonderful fresh new breakbeat inspired flavor to a deep, tech house beat.
All three of these remixes do their originals an enormous amounts of justice, and still have something exciting, special and new within them. A balanced and brilliant line up to set Costal Haze off in the right direction, in a year hopefully where their music will find its appropriate settings once again.
https://coastalhaze.bandcamp.com/album/international-wafter-the-remixes