Various
Fusion Global Sounds 1970-1983

Une rencontre amicale, celle de l’amitié entre les percussions de Denis Fournier et les voix de Renata Roagna et de Pascale Labbé. C’était en 2011 au festival Jazzèbre à Perpignan.Une rencontre ce n’est pas quand on se croise, que l’on se parle, même si cela se fait avec sympathie, une rencontre – et celle-ci en fut une véritable – c’est quand on ne se reconnaît plus. Ou, plutôt, lorsque chacun devient une part de l’autre. Ici, que l’on ne s’y trompe pas, l’auditeur ne devient qu’à la mesure de ses moyens l’acteur d’une telle rencontre. Celle-ci se joue entre les musiciens. Et ce qui fait de “Paysage de Fantaisie” une “expérience” exceptionnelle et fascinante, c’est que les voix et les percussions deviennent indistinctes, non pas que les unes recouvrent les autres mais parce que les percussions sont comme les voix, elles chantent. Et les voix, elles, elles frappent, claquent, soulignent. Pourtant chacune – les percussions et les voix – demeurent inlassablement ce qu’elles sont, percussions et voix. On comprendra peut-être qu’il y a là de la magie à proprement parler.

“In The Thick Of It” is the brainchild of Spencer Kenney under the moniker SPK, marking the 2nd release from JT Donaldson’s New Math Records. Hailing from Dallas’ famed Booker T Washington High School (read Erykah Badu, Norah Jones, Edie Brickell & Roy Hargrove), Spencer has been fine tuning his craft in several bands since graduating and is now releasing his debut EP for New Math Records. “In The Thick Of It” is parts Psychdelia, Electronica and Indie Pop, mixing Surf’s Up-era Beach Boys, Mac Demarco and Flying Lotus on a sonic journey spanning 7 songs. This release has already been recommended by Flying Lotus.

Double sider 12" including the bubblegum club track ''Let's Make a Deal'' by Linda "Babe” Majika, which was originally released on the rare 'Don’t Treat Me So Bad' lp in South-Africa, 1988. On the flip, you’ll find the deep late-night saxophone driven tune ''Step Out Of My Life'' which includes Don Laka on the keyboard and is produced by Ray Phiri, who also founded the popular South African group 'Stimela'. The song was originally released in 1989 and finally sees a reissue, pressed as a loud DJ-friendly 12-inch.

For fans of Mayfield, Redding et al, this is an unmissable set of rough-edged soul. North Carolina's Lee Fields has had a long career with some dramatic pauses, but the last few years have seen him stronger than ever with LPs on Truth & Soul and now Big Crown Records. "It Rains Love" is his second LP with The Expressions, and it strikes a classic Motown note that sounds utterly timeless in its execution. The production definitely has some of the warmth and grit of Motor City classics from back in the day, but Fields' conviction and power in his delivery sounds bang up to date. For fans of Mayfield, Redding et al, this is an unmissable set of rough-edged soul.