DJ Alex Corton – Vinyl Reviews

Good Looking Records

Rantoul – System Sylence / The Ladder

1999

For today’s review we have our first review on single 12”, by Ian Rantoul. We did review his track ‘Magnetic’, on the Ascendant Grooves LP, on PHD’s Ascendant Moods label, back many moons ago. This was Ian’s first of about 7 or 8 releases under the Good Looking Records roof, and it most certainly put Rantoul’s name into the circles of the music. It was a big help having 3 Rantoul tracks on Progression Sessions Vol. 4 (both tracks from this plate included), mixed by the master of cosmic journeys, and label head honcho, LTJ Bukem, alongside the late lyrical lord, MC Conrad R.I.P.

  ‘System Sylence’ opened up Prog Sessions 4 and it’s the very swagger and funk that this tune delivers which expanded the vibes of Good Looking even more. Rantoul was always up for pulling each end of the atmospheric band with his work. There was a latch which you were happy to clip on to while the momentum of his work carries you like a monorail into a destination of complete contentment. With ‘System Sylence’ we have this diversity of an atmospheric Jump up tune in a way. It sounds odd to say that, but it pounds and bubbles, kicking up heat and just wants to get you moving. Then there’s the length of the tunes that Rantoul made. He didn’t cut corners or waste any moments when spanning the durations of the work. This in turn, penetrates your soul and leaves you happily saturated with the well wears. 

   For our track on Side an we have one of my top 5 of Rantoul’s, ‘The Ladder’, with an Eastern flavor flowing and then there is the build to the fierce fucking amens. The ‘Jacobs Ladder’ sample adds that chilling tone of the madness and ill judgement, while tears sting the aftermath hollowed by the craters of mankind in the rearview mirror. ‘The Ladder’ spins out that rolling break, bursting bass and all the elements that make the dancefloor move, or let the laid back gaze, up into the heavens that casts the mind off on a journey of its own. Rantoul really punched a double shift on his first day with this release. A stalwart of musical memories and one of the best fast trips, followed by the repercussions of sanity, wallowing within this musical class. 

Any stories behind this cover then, Nick? Nudge nudge wink wink…

    Ian had a release out recently on the Okbron album ‘Will of The Universe’ so we may hear more material from him again soon. Massive respects to Rantoul, and many more will be reviewed on GLR.