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Album Review: 4 Hero - The Remix Album (Raw Canvas)
Reviewer: Sanjiv Ahluwalia + Claire Etches
The Remix Album kicks off with Nu Yorican Soul’s version of Rotary Connection’s I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun. The first
three and a half minutes are a note-by-note replay of the underground classic. Nothing different, nothing new - even
someone au fait with the original couldn’t tell the difference. But then there is a touch of magic: the vocals fade,
some light Rhodes piano is introduced, two violins and a cello moodily ‘pull their strings’ (as in a Fifties Hitchcock
film), followed by what is the most soulful, painfully unplifting of percussive breaks. The duo responsible for this
wizardry are 4 Hero. And this second part of the track shows why the musical capital of the world is arguably not Nu
Yorican Soul’s hometown of New York but 4 Hero’s London.
This album comprises two CDs. The second of these contains 4 Hero’s own material, remixed by others, which is often very
good. The first CD, however, comes close to a work of brilliance. It consists of 4 Hero remixes of other artists' work,
all post-1998 apart from I Seen A Man Die by Scarface (1995) and the spellbinding I’ve Known Rivers by Courtney
Pine (1995). Highlights include a summery jazz/breakbeat version of Goldie’s Inner City Life, the epic soulfulness
of Ultra
Nate’s Twisted, and Yellow Magic Orchestra’s jazz-tinged, organic Indo. Being only an occasional broken
beat fan, Shade of Soul’s Give
In To Me and Focus’ Having Your Fun are not in the same league for me as some of 4 Hero’s classic early mixes, but both
have enough musical worth to expand upon what at times can be quite a predictable genre.
Despite this slight dip in the middle, the first CD takes a dazzling turn in the closing stages. The last four tracks speak
volumes of the duo’s talents and disregard for musical categories: master folk-soul singer songwriter Terry Callier’s
slow, moving Love Theme From Spartacus is re-brushed as a jaunty sunny anthem, complete with tight drums (from ace drummer
Luke Parkhouse); Shaun Escoffrey’s Into The Blue is turned into a soul-infused, celestial ride; and Marcos Valle’s
Escape
is repainted from a light bossa nova groove to a pitter of Brazilian rhythm and nu-jazz. The sparkling jewel in the crown
is a masterful version of John Coltrane’s Naima (this version is actually based on an obscure cover by the Grubb Brothers)
offering beautiful saxophone cries dancing over soft Latin percussion, delicate piano chords, and the ever-rich 4 Hero
strings. Originally made as a spiritual ode in the sixties in America and now re-made with love in Dollis Hill, it is
truly incredible.
New 4 Hero fans will be happy with this new release. Others, looking for the kind of rare, unreleased mix that appears on
their first album In Rough Territory, or something from their work with Juan Atkins will be disappointed. As this is a
4 Hero album there are no tracks under their pioneering pseudonyms Nu-Era, Jacobs Optical Stairway, or Tek 9. However,
we do get a track from Visioneers (a new alter-ego, consisting to date of three exquisite seven-inch releases).
Called The Action, with its live drums, touching Rhodes, and easy-on-the-ear rap, it is typlically brilliant 4 Hero.
RELATED LINKS:
4 Hero - offical site
Discography
Buy Remixes at Amazon
UK
(CD /
Vinyl)
| US (CD)
RELEASE DATE: Monday 12 April 2004
PUBLISHED: Monday 3 May 2004
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::: RELATED LINKS
4 Hero - official site
Discography
Buy Remixes at Amazon
UK
(CD /
Vinyl)
| US (CD)
More Reviews
|
