- See all the Ratings
- Add my Rating now
(Om Records/Stomp/EQ)
Kaskade (aka Ryan Raddon) is a San Franciscan music producer and DJ. Relatively fresh on the scene, Kaskade is gaining much respect as force in deep house and down tempo music with multiple 12” releases on Om, Hed Kandi, Naked Music, Inspirit, and Afterhours. Late last year Kaskade put together Om’s Sounds of Om: 3rd Edition, and has since been signed up by Om for a three-album deal.
It’s You, It’s Me is Kaskade’s debut album. It’s a mostly deep house release, which also draws on more down tempo electronica. Kaskade creates a soothing groovy atmosphere by his use of mainly electronic instrumentation and vocalists Joslyn (with her R&B feel), Rob Wannamaker (with his soulful sound) and Amy Michelle (with her deep sensual flavour).
Standout tracks on the album include Seeing Julie, which offers a bongo flavoured minimalist texture greatly suited to a candle-lit lava lamp moment. The album’s title track then bursts on in. A recent one-sided 12” release, this track has a funky Eastender’s theme bounce in its guitar riff and poppy movement with Joslyn’s R&B vocals – a solid catchy house tune. Tonight features a nice break-beat, Amy’s catchy vocals and blue-sounding chords on the synth.
Charlie’s Plight is a more introspective track with its metal-brush-on-snare-beat, mellow flangy chords and ambient tones. My Time has Joslyn in a more soulful mood with an interesting Drum and Bass tripped out movement.
The other tracks on the album are pleasant but fail to really make an impression. You’ll often feel like you’re presence of a person who is really nice and polite but seemingly lacking depth and substance. I particularly dislike Rob’s vocals on What I Say and Get Busy, which are somewhat cheesy (sorry Rob!).
It’s You, It’s Me is fun and interesting album in parts, but lacks in feeling and novelty in others. If you’re a fan of the genre it’s still potentially worth a look, but there’s nothing groundbreaking here.
A complete track-listing and audio samples can be found at www.om-records.com.
