1.4.2007 von mk.

behind 1luv is canadian jason oculto aka dr. j. who from his homebase in vancouver has been operating as a dj for over 10 years. he is an avid record collector and has a rich background in all things jazz, latin, funk, house and related genres.
not only active as a dj but also as a producer, jason oculto had a couple of productions in the bag which early on won the interest of jazzanova. over a period of years the debut 1luv album neophilia took shape and it was first released on major label columbia in japan. this move put a productions budget at jason oculto’s disposal which allowed him to have the album mixed by daz-i-cue (bugz in the attic) in london. a smart decision that definitely adds to the international character of the album.
12″ releases on suntzu sound (black daylight - a track we also know as a slope remix (sk130cd/lp)) and on especial, the label of kyoto jazz massive followed. while dixon’s edit of above you was received with real enthusiasm in the club context.
and now the album neophilia appears on sonar kollektiv - in a version slightly recompiled and shortened by jazzanova, which is fully in keeping with the spirit of the album and adds weight to the record’s club aspect.
if you are looking for a brand to define the 1luv sound it is above all a deep house vibe that rings throughout the album and makes a connecting thread between its 11 tracks. but the most prominent feature of the album are the congenial vocals by amalia townsend aka miss fuze, which jason oculto’s productions give a very charming pop appeal.
via this release on sonar kollektiv, 1luv, with his feathery light deep house sound, provides a kind of summery freedom in spring already.

Label: sonar kollektiv

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1.4.2007 von mk.

“Ink”is the fifth studio album by The Dining Rooms. It contains 5 instrumentals and 6 vocal tracks. The instrumentals flows through different rhythms to take the listeners to a world of melodious and dark deepness. “Ceremony” and “On the beach” (dedicated to the Picasso painting) mix at best the funk (mid and slow) and the blues attitude while “Fatale”, “Appuntamento a Trieste” and “Etage noir 2″ go really deep in modern jazz. Regarding the vocals, for the first time they go not only with English language in the songs having one track from Brazilian singer Toco and another one by French actor Renaud Chaurè. Toco’s touch in Cobra Coral is really contemporary Brazilian noir-wave while Renaud gives us a monster interpretation in “Etage Noir”, written by TDR and Luca Lezziero, paying homage to maestros Serge Gainsbourg and Katonoma. Going back to English language, Sean Martin, from South Africa, is going deep in blues and soul in “Thank U ?”; for sure a new jewel in his TDR career, with echoes of Marvin Gaye in the chorus. A strong piece with politically conscious lyrics. The Dining Rooms usually have new singers for each new album and in this case we have Afro-German Dodo N’kishi and North American queen Georgeanne Kalweit. Dodo, better known being the singer and drummer of Mouse on Mars ( and member of other interesting combos as NatiMatti and Pet), sings the opening track of the album “Freedom” interpreting at best the instrumentals given to him, to create a meeting point between Nick Drake and Stevie Wonder, Georgeanne then, co-wrote “Hear us Now” and “Ink”, two emotional gems to be intended as a sort of birth of nu folk. As some already know The Dining Rooms touch is a mixture between electronics, samples and live instruments: Leziero Rescigno on drums, Marcello Testa on bass and double bass and Patrick Benifei, Marco Rigamonti and Don Freeman on Rhodes.

Label: schema records

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