Music review: March 16

This second Soul Jazz Records sampler of German electronic music from 1971-83 takes in more from heavyweights Can, Neu! and Faust but includes a host of other acts that extend themselves beyond krautrock's locked-in, mesmeric jams.

> Various Artists.
Deutsche Elektronische Musik 2.
Soul Jazz Records.

From the psych-prog of Gila to the beautifully ambient works of Hans-Joachim Roedelius, the electropunk of D.A.F and the exotic instrumentation of Popol Vuh, there is plenty to whet the appetite for further exploration of this intensely creative and experimental period.

Platter fiends may wish to track down the double-vinyl edition available in some countries.

Single download: Halleuwah
For those who like: Krautrock, electronica, experimental music
4 stars (out of 5) 

By Jeff Harford


> DJ T-Rock and Squashy Nice.
Getting Through.
Why Records.

American producers DJ T-Rock (Travis Eller) and Squashy Nice (Joshua Montcalm) follow 2005's Techniques and 2007's Outloud with another album brimful of sample-based collages in which they mix and mash funk, soul, jazz and other genres.

Clearly, the pair are music geeks, the types who spend many an hour digging through stacks of vinyl in search of that perfect groove, which they then scratch and manipulate before adding occasional spoken-word narratives, woody double bass and spaced-out organs.

Even the melodica gets a go.

Single download: Loco Motive
For those who like: Avalanches, Beck, De La Soul

By Shane Gilchrist


> Joe Cocker.
Fire It Up.
Sony Music.

People get more conservative the older they get, but does the generation that hung on Joe Cocker's every yelp at Woodstock really deserve this?

The distinctive croak is still in fine form and, with a crack studio band laying down the bedrock, Fire It Up sounds palatable ... for the first couple of tracks. Then, the super polished click track, syrupy backing vocals and processed guitars start to grate.

The lyrics, too, are absolute tripe. While he still packs this much bluster, Cocker would be best advised to kick the slick studio into touch and get Rick Rubin on the phone.

Single download: I come in peace
For Those Who Like: Phil Collins, Shania Twain, Marc Cohn
2 stars (out of 5) 

By Mark Orton


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