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Album Review: Vikter Duplaix - Singles (Prelude To The Future) (!K7)
Reviewer: Ike Ikwuemesi
Producer/Singer Vikter Duplaix's compilation of past releases and hard-to-find white labels have been
brought together on one album, and about time too. A boon to frustrated non-DJ/non-vinyl collecting fans of his work,
Singles (Prelude To The Future) effortlessly vies for your listening pleasure, allowing you to hear what makes
Duplaix a red carpet welcome addition to experimental dance music. Productions, vocals, lyrics, and moods all lend
themselves idiosyncratically to his esoteric delivery.
The album is bookended by the new and original mixes of Manhood, both bruked-out, firebrand productions that leave Duplaix
little room to outdo himself. Messages was Duplaix's breakout release: the original and a previously-unreleased
spoken word version both still stand the test of time. The track Soon, a collaboration with nu-jazz producers
Jazzanova, is a stroke of concerted genius: a broken bleep production that allows Duplaix to carve out his own pigeonhole.
Outrageously, the omission of Jazzy Jeff's soulful take (A Touch of Jazz mix) on the same tune has not made the cut on
this compilation. And whilst on the point of oversights, Wasted Time and King Britt's City Spirits mix are
also sorely missed. If Singles (Prelude To The Future) needed to be a double CD then so be it. Denying fans those
production gems is nothing short of aural robbery.
Apart from that gripe, Singles (Prelude to the Future) is a must have if you love your soulful beats explorative and vocals
spaced out. Other standout tracks like the trippy Sensuality and the jazz-funky I'll Do It For You go further
to indulge those whims readily and seemingly without irony.
On the whole, Singles is really for the masses whom can understand where Duplaix is coming from and want to ride
on his brand of cosmic vibes. Indeed, aficionados shouldn't lose any beard-stroking sleep; rather they should appreciate why
the compilation should receive more widespread attention. And it would be a credit to Duplaix to manage to walk that
nigh-impossible tightrope between underground and overground music. He's an undeniable candidate if ever there was
one.
Note: Read the Know The Ledge interview with Vikter Duplaix
here.
RELATED LINKS:
Interview - on Know The Ledge
Vikter Duplaix -
official site
Discography
Buy Singles (Prelude To The Future) at Amazon
UK
(CD /
Vinyl)
| US (CD)
RELEASE DATE: Monday 23 February 2004
PUBLISHED: Monday 19 April 2004
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::: RELATED LINKS
Interview - on Know The Ledge
Vikter Duplaix -
official site
Discography
Buy Singles (Prelude To The Future) at Amazon
UK
(CD /
Vinyl)
| US (CD)
More Reviews
|
