- See all the Ratings
- Add my Rating now
(F Communications/Creative Vibes)
There must be something in the water over at the F-Communications headquarters in France, because this label and its artists are so fresh on the money. Their tagline is ‘electronic with no limit’ and they could not have nailed it any truer. Together, the artistic minds of Aqua Bassino, Avril, Del Dongo, Elegia, Fabrice Lig, FCOM, Frederic Galliano, Jay Alansky, Jori Hulkkonen, Laurent Garnier, Llorca, Ludovic Navarre, Mr. Oizo, Nova Nova, Ready Made FC, ScanX, The Youngsters and Vista le Vie create one hell of a forward thinking and diverse label. Tied in with the F-Communications package is garcon Alex Kid.
In 2001, Alex Kid released his first album – Bienvenida – and now, in 2003, he has produced this immaculate second long-player, Mint. What is striking about the album is its ability to fuse the more chilled side of electronic music with a syncopated dance floor aesthetic. Even more striking is the ultimately crisp, thoughtful and affluent production (and this can be applied to many of the F-Communications artists).
If I was to try and label this album with anyone tag, I honestly don’t think I could. It covers too much territory to place it under one umbrella term. From jazz, house and electronic funk to sultry French vocalism, glitch, dub and reggae. Alex Kid has commented on the album, and his words aptly summarize the nature of this album: “I’m looking for a pure, global sound. I hear voices in precisely defined and pure locations to be able to appreciate them better. I want to experiment and to be surprised.” Needless to say, each turn on this album injects a new perspective, a new musical element, and you will be surprised!
Where, the first track on the album, starts the experience, of what is a blend of raw and traditional (instrumentally) musicality with electronic depths. The blend of synthetic strings, percussion and saxophone tips over into a jazz-like world. It is spacious, and driving all in the one breath, but don’t get too comfortable. Come with Me swiftly changes the mood, introducing the beautiful vocals of Lisette Alex and a more upbeat house-style tempo. It’s almost guaranteed to become an anthem this summer! And if you were swept off your feet by Lisette’s ultra sexy voice, never fear, she returns with rivaled gusto on Don’t Hide It.
In terms of vocalists, Alex Kid has stretched the bounds to include a few more additions of equal radiance. On Pick it Up the assistance of Hanifah Walidah on vocals creates a dubby atmospheric, complete with deep, slap bass and resonant guitar chords. The dub/reggae affect is taken to a new dimension with the inclusion of Ian James Whitelaw, a Scottish vocalist of Jamaican heritage. Whitelaw appears on Turn it Around Again, which you may have heard on the F-Communications Megasoft Office compilation of a few months ago. The warm tonality and depths of Whitelaw’s voice is amazing, and coupled with a few simple instrumental chords, this track is a beautifully moody landscape. On Love we Have, Whitelaw resonates a Marvin Gaye style. Kid’s underlying music structure is equally spatial, yet the droplets of sound are very heavy, and synthetic. This is proof of Alex Kid’s remarkable ability to blend chilled, song-like compositions with the electronic realm.
This album is a bag of emotions, and no track captures this more than the title track – Mint. It dives back into the melancholic, deep, moody and somewhat experimental world of jazz. To herald the moment, the talents of trumpet player Jon Hassell have been brought to the fore. Day 3 really tests the instrumental waters, but it also adds a new dimension with DJ Seep laying down the scratches over the passive and emotive composition. As is usually the case with most albums you touch there are a couple of tracks that tend to captivate you. Tracks that you can’t seem to move passed. On this album it is definitely – Fleur Bleue and Palma. These are probably two of the most dance floor orientated tracks on the entire album, but they are still of the deep, textured, chunky, percussive and moody and the attention paid to the placement of each sound is so precise it cuts deep.
Alex Kid has captivated me with the entirety of Mint. Every moment passes through a different feeling. It is great to hear a fresh perspective on music, and to see artists constantly reinventing themselves and their music. This album never once rests on borderline. In fact, it surpasses it with every turn. Hit play, now.
