At last somebody is making a concerted stand against the way technology has been sucking the soul and fun out of dance music. The way nice, meaty vinyl and all the excitement a 12-inch could bring once it was snared on a Friday afternoon [then the damage it could cause on the decks] being replaced by hearing some track you haven’t even seen or held, created on a laptop and sounding like a ringtone. By all means incorporate but don’t eliminate. It’s lazy, which is half the reason I can’t be arsed to review off downloads. CDs are bad enough! Top Irish DJ MR Spring records onto tape with no overdubs, just triggering a sequencer, mixing live and bouncing on to DAT. The results on these four tracks taken from his Not For Sale album speak for themselves in terms of sound quality, depth and the rampant sonic innovations running riot, often purely by accident. MR Spring also has no time for categories, which is no bad thing either. The opening ‘Bootleg’ eases in on a 70s disco loop on which he builds an evergrowing lush, sexy Salsoul Orchestra mutant with strings, funky guitar and breathy female vocal. Somewhat reminiscent of Ashley Beadle’s disco workouts, it’s a cool homage whose feel is continued on ‘Huff’, which sets up a funky, percussive boogie groove, topped with swishy efx and laced with driving guitar before the soulful male vocal comes in. ‘Your Future’ departs into an atmospheric bass-driven space-funk vamp laced with mystery vocals and rippling piano then booted into the stratosphere by big stately synth theme. The stunning ‘High Times’ kicks up churning funk groove with a boogie-bass flavour, bubbling acid, Ohio Players-style chanting and more of that panoramic themic melody. Absolutely grand and magically inventive; hopefully the start of a much-needed revolution.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs