DJ Alex Corton – Vinyl Reviews

Good Looking Records

Nookie / Pariah / Makoto & Akira / Intense – Catch 22 / Confessions / Mind Vision / Black Ice 

2002

Today we get the second plate in this release, with the Japanese duo of Makoto & Akira hitting one side and then a return for one of the best in the business. Intense. 

   For the A Side of this plate, it’s the collaboration of the Shimizu brothers, Makoto and Akira. There’s a real hypnotic drive turning the core of this tune. This was one of the higher points of both of their work in my opinion, combining the riff bass work and the harmonious pads and pitch changes that stamp the seals of both artists. I always found that this style of sound, fit the Good Looking label a little more than the later Makoto sound. It still had this soothing and atmospheric flow rather than a live jazz band. 

    On Side AA is one of those tunes you probably need to revisit, if you haven’t heard it for a while. The work of Intense will never cease to amaze and fulfill listeners. I notice on the credits that Dan is not mentioned, so I take it he had gone onto other projects in the house side of things by now? This was actually their penultimate release as Intense on Good Looking. It’s a little more experimental with the sounds, more techno influenced, dropping a frantic amen break over these gyrating guitar sounds and an eerie vision of the future. You can imagine driving at 100 mph and hitting patches of black ice in the night, sliding wheels, losing control and this tune playing suspenseful and uncertain connections in the scenario. Maybe not one of the immediate Intense tracks you go to but mighty effective in its story behind the title. Big up Beau, and Simon on this one. 

   The next double 12” release is heading our way tomorrow.