Atjazz - Looking Glass [Reincarnation 003]
A Looking Glass
B Looking Glass (Astro Dub)
Music \ˈmyü-zik\ -noun An art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.
When Derby-based producer Atjazz (Martin Iverson) makes music, he is attempting to “make you hear what he sees everyday.” And while that sounds simple enough, anyone who calls themselves a musician knows that meeting that goal is far from simple. Atjazz is the true definition of doing what you love for a living [And the fact that he's actually making a living at it is pretty rad too. — JM].
If we use the definition of music up there as a starting point, Atjazz absolutely uses sound to express (his) ideas and emotions, and it can be heard from his diverse, groundbreaking, and genre-defying rhythms and melodies. As one of the top 5 records I own, the Looking Glass EP on Reincarnation Records is a true example of just damned excellent music, house or otherwise.
Seriously, if I was going to put a record into a time capsule and launch it into space for beings of the future to hear beautiful music, then this would be the record to do it with. As I sit back and listen to this, I can’t help but picture an old Star Trek episode: the Enterprise flying triumphantly away from an epic battle, with shit blowing up all over the place and Captain Kirk cupping the left breast of some Romulan chick he picked up on Degobas-48-B. So yea, this track truly tells a story to the listener. OK, on to the tracks.
On the A-side, Looking Glass begins with a really nice filtered synth melody that growls and builds in intensity with wiggling analog effects. Starting a track out dark and deep is signature Atjazz, and this tune is no exception. As the track progresses, he beefs up the drums with some shuffled rhythm bits, adding a little more flavor to the mix. Atjazz loves to work Afro-Cuban elements in to his tracks. Live bongos, claves, tambourines, shakers, you name it. As I explained to a friend recently, whatever he uses for percussion always seems to sound alive, crisp, and fantastic. The sheer recording quality of those and all the other instrumental elements of his music is one of the big things that sets him apart from his peers… as far as house music go, the level of professionalism is pretty unparalleled. His keen ability to layer multiple instruments and build energy throughout the track are rivaled only by a few, and again suggests a mind that would be equally at home composing jazz tunes or classical concertos (we’re talking serious business here, folks!). After the buildup, he drops a beautiful verbed-out xylophone/vibes melody, bringing us right in to the epic battle part of the track. He changes things up a bit halfway through and finishes with the a new synth melody that reminds me of the old Mozart symphonies I used to hear on NPR (representing the retreat from the battle). If you’re playing late night, the people are… um… feeling the vibe… this is serious dancefloor ammunition!
Flip the record over for the Astro Dub, which pulls what might be an actual African percussion ensemble in to the studio, and lays that organic element in contrast beside a mean-sounding dubby Moog Bassline that punches and fills ot the low end. Subs are required to appreciate the full scope of Moogy goodness. The gorgeous xylophone melody from the original is back in this mix, and he stretches, bends, and delays the hell out of all the synth melodies from the original, making them sound “dubby” in the true Lee Perry sense of the word. This mix is definitely true to its name, and does indeed take you to outer space — so prepare yourself!
The original mix of Looking Glass made its way on to my latest mix, Pieces & Expressions, that I will be releasing later this month on CD and of course in downloadable nerd-friendly form on both my podcast and the Sizzled Chicago Podcast as well. Keep an eye out for that and go out and support this amazing artist!
-John Miles (DJ Remedy)
Introducing Stu Clark in the mix...
Listen to: Keeping It Deep 12
Stu Clark in the mix...
One of the UK's best undiscovered DJ's... Keeping It Deep!
01. Jeru The Damaja - Ya Playin Ya'self
02. Q-Tip - Let's Ride
03. Erykah Badu - Soldier
04. Cro-Magnon - Black Mahogani
05. Chemise - She Can't `Love You
06. Ame - Tonite Dub
07. Theo Parish - Chemistry
08. Lil Louis - The Story Continues
09. Omar Ft. Stevie Wonder - Feelin You (Henrick Schwarz Remix)
10. Marcel Wave - 27 Holton (Serafin's Black To New York Re-Interpretation) / Osunlade - My Reflection Accapella
Live From Palma Mallorca With Nacho Velasco In The Mix
Listen to: Keeping It Deep 11
Tracklist:
01. Grant Green - Hurt So Bad - Blue Note
02. Ettienne De Crecy - Prix Choc - Different
03. Arto Mwambe - Btwo - Brontosaurus
04. Mark E - Fazer - Sonar Kollektiv
05. Dan Electro - Look Around - P-Vine
06. Move D - Untitled
07. Guy Cuevas - Obsession (The Nassau Mix) - Island
08. Soundstrem - Soul Train - Soundstream
09. Telespazio Telemetric (Arto Mwambe's Guitar Down Remix) - Tiny Sticks
Keeping It Deep Special Featuring Exclusive Boddhi Satva Mix
Listen to: Keeping It Deep 10
Tracklist:
01. Season & Sigaire Feat. Randolph Matthews - Open To Love (Remix)
02. Version - The Brighter Side (Jimpster Remix)
03. NU Frequency Feat. Shara Nelson (Version Remix)
04. Poussez vs Demarkus Lewis Feat - Passin' Thu (Atjazz Remix)
05. Martina Accuna - Dance Dance Dance
Boddhi Satva Exclusive Mix
01. Atjazz Feat. Dawne B - Parallels
02. Platinum Pied Pipers ft. Tiombe Lockhart - Stay With Me
03. Dwele - Chittin
04. OlivierDaySoul - Soul 4 U
05. Deemi - Catchin Feelings
06. Peter Hadar - Painted
07. Linton Kwesi Johnson - It Noh Funny
08. Toumani Diabaté - Wasso
09. Canon Star - Show Biz
10. Ferre Gola - Qui Vivra Verra
11. Bako Dagnon - Bounteni (Boddhi Satva Ancestral Soul Remix)
12. Ezel ft. Fredy Massamba - His Presence
13. Rocco - Someday (NJ Mix)
14. House Of Rhumba - Baba (Roots Mix)
15. Djinji Brown - Sweat Shop (Boddhi Satva's Ancestral Soul Treatment)
16. Culoe De Song - The Bright Forest
17. Boddhi Satva & Abel Tabu - Moina Ya Mokili
rss -http://www.atjazz.co.uk/podcast
For his fans, this Atjazz album has been a long time coming, though thankfully not as long as Derrick May takes between records! The epic state of flux in the life of Martin Iveson (aka Atjazz) while writing the album frequently adjourned and ultimately shaped the songs you hear.
“The album is simply stunning, absolutely Beautifull soul music” - Laurent Garnier
"Atjazz, one of few to excell in infinity and sophisticate dance music vision in movement and harmony of now and then" - Rapheal Sebbag, UFO
Lesson in contemporary musical production, part one: “Underlined,” the third track and first minor masterpiece on Martin Iveson’s new album under his Atjazz moniker, Full Circle. Vocalists Ernesto and Cee Rock do a none-too-shabby job lending soulful hooks and Native Tongues-style rhymes–par for the course on this album of collaborations with a series of vocalists from the pan-nu-jazz multiverse. But it’s Atjazz’s ability to layer droplets of subtle tones like archaeological strata that makes these tracks bump-worthy for the dancers and discussion-worthy for the pundits. Where nu-jazz has gone complacent, Atjazz has delved deeper into the technology’s organic possibilities, allowing for both “I Forgot You,” which ticks and tocks with bass-heavy club appeal, and “With You,” which fits neatly into both your iPod’s ‘back to mine…’ and “Blue Note” playlists. Subtly complex, danceable, and gorgeous: Even three years in the making, Full Circle appears not a moment too soon.
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