Jordan Fields
Risque de Funk Electronique EP
I've made a New Year's resolution to start posting more reviews, so to get the ball rolling here's my first new purchase of 1998. I bought this record on January 1, and believe it or not, there's a 1998 copyright on it. (How do they DO that?) I'll assume it's brand-spanking new.
The cover was the first thing to catch my attention: a two-tone pink photo of a 70's afro-babe in a slinky dress, hands on hips against a psychedelic background. (So far so good!) Then the price tag: $5.98. (I'm halfway there!) Finally, I flip the record over and see it's a new release from Chicago's Jordan Fields. (Sold!)
You may recognize Fields' name from some recent EPs on the SSR label, or perhaps one of the MOVING HOUSE compilations. He's been around the Chicago house scene for some time, recording under various pseudonyms. (Is Jordan Fields a pseudonym too? I don't know.)
This EP is a bit less experimental than Fields' SSR output. In keeping with the French title, this U.S. release features six tracks of funky, filtered house, not unlike Daft Punk or Motorbass or some of the other current crop of French house producers. The tracks are mostly instrumental, with a few vocal samples thrown in here and there. If you're into the Paris scene, you'll probably like this one. --source unidentified
Moments in Dub
The Chicago house heavyweight and boss of the Headphoniq imprint follows up his tasty 12" with a tastier still long player. From experimental beats to warped hip hop to acid to tech house, Fields pushes the parameters with imaginative arrangements, sparkling production and bags of energy. --source unidentifiedCDs
- Moments in Dub (2002) - Jordan Fields [CD Amazon UK]
If you've been following the rich if not slightly chequered musical history of the Mo Wax label from the early proto trip-hop of Shadow and Krush right through to the contemporary indie pop of South, Moments in Dub from Chicago-based DJ and producer Jordan Fields may come as something of a surprise--not because Mo Wax has never "done house" before, but because it's never done it quite like this.
Bar perhaps the opening Rhodes jazz of "Mood Groove" and the Taana Gardner sampling hip-hop funk of "What You Want", this is out-and-out club house, from the deep and techie to the minimal and funky. Take the driving hypnotism of "London 88", the jacking, acid-touched loop and filter of "Paradise Mirage" or the disco-fuelled slap bass of "In Dub with You". None of this would sound that out of place coming from the likes of Sneak or DJ Q. That said, the ever present themes of soul, disco and funk help ensure that this remains a house album with an uplifting difference. --Found Sounds Amazon.co.uk Review - Roy Davis, Jr. in the mix [Amazon US]
Transitions - Roy Davis Jr. & Jay Juniel | Galactic Soul - Roy Davis Jr. | Ladbroke Groove - Kerri Chandler | Jay's Love Vibration Mix - Freedom Group 'Red Hot' | Green Tea - Freemen | Gabriel - Roy Davis Jr. | Bless It - Paul Johnson Club Land | The Rock Shock - Roy Davis Jr. | Beautiful One - Roy Davis Jr. | Watch Them Come - Men From The Nile | Home - Mateo & Matos | Fixation - Johnny Fiasco | Reprezent - Louie Maldonado | Dancin' Revisited - Jordan Fields | Pieces Of Funk - Risque De Funk Electrique
Five of Roy's own material on this comp CD: Watch Them Come (!), The Rock Shock, Galactic Soul, Transitions, Beautiful One. All of this is superbly mixed with other people's material, best of which is Jordan Fields 'Dancin' Revisited'.
Five of Roy's own material on this comp CD: Whatch Them Come (!), The Rock Shock, Galactic Soul, Transitions, Beautiful One. All of this is superbly mixed with other people's material, best of which is Jordan Fields 'Dancin' Revisited'.