20.1.2007 von mk.

The best thing about that SLOPE sound is that it is so hard to define. In their ten year existance as SLOPE, HONESTY and his partner in crime DANIEL PAUL have constantly been eclectic. They have always been about uniting a multitude of influences while always keeping the bassdrum in the right spot. Around a dozen tracks from recent years have been selected for this remix album.
First up is the Bass-check remix by swede FORSS who with his incomparable cut-up technique serves up a deep dub track. On it goes with SLOPE’s remix of the FAT FREDDYS DROP song Ray Ray. There’s also, to name but one or two of the many highlights, SLOPE’s edit of It’s You (DEYAMPERT), the slow but powerful groovy collaboration with MC CAPITOL A In The Mix as well as the HENRIK SCHWARZ mix of Keepin’ It Up featuring the one of a kind DESNEY BAILEY on the mic (this track already came out on the first 12″ taken from this album). The SLOPE mix of the STUDIO-R track Clapz has a real old-school vibe, helped along by the vocals of underground superstar MOCKY. MEITZ bridges the gap to acoustic jazz with Find Our Love performed in a classic trio ensemble and which he has interpreted with his trademark rhodes chords.
Other contributions come from ROBAG WRUHME (one half of the house duo WIGHNOMY BROTHERS), DANIEL MAGG, CHARLES WEBSTER, DAZ-I-KUE & AFRONAUT (BUGZ IN THE ATTIC) and 1LUV.
One glance at this list of artists, as stylistically varied as they are innovative in their respective fields, is proof for the power of the SLOPE sound.

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20.1.2007 von mk.

Berlin got a new show in 2006, Belle et Fou realised by four star chef and events caterer HANS-PETER WODARZ and producer/director ARTHUR CASTRO. Besides dance, theatre and refined culinary delights, this new project from the makers of Pomp, Duck & Circumstance has one very special highlight to offer: the soundtrack is by JAZZANOVA.
The Berlin collective not only made a selection of tracks from the Sonar Kollektiv label catalogue available to director ARTHUR CASTRO, the main theme tune is original JAZZANOVA material specially written for Belle et Fou. And JAZZANOVA where thrilled with the challenge of for once not having to work on their “own” material, rather to work with a director in order to make music which serves the purpose of the concept as a whole.
But of course the music written especially for Belle et Fou has something special. In the tradition of the “orchestral” soul of the 70s, BARRY WHITE, MARVIN GAYE and the Blaxploitation Soundtracks by ISAAC HAYES were the basic musical idea. But JAZZANOVA also takes trips deep into folk, acoustic jazz and classic. And this was part of the attraction of the project for JAZZANOVA: to amalgamate these elements with their own sound. Complex string arrangements and brass sections as well as live guitars, bass and special instruments like harps meet the drum programming that has made JAZZANOVA stars of the worldwide club scene.
As well as this original material especially recorded for Belle et Fou, a selection of classics from the Sonar Kollektiv back catalogue became part of the show. This mainly song orientated material fits perfectly into the Soul/Jazz context. There are contributions from, among others, CLARA HILL, MICATONE, WAHOO, GEORG LEVIN, THIEF, FORSS, OUTLINES and EXTENDED SPIRIT…

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