DJ Alex Corton – Vinyl Reviews

Good Looking Records

Greenfly / Omni Trio & Deep Blue – Blue Corvette / Station To Station 

2003

As we embark through 2003, we have an updated overhaul of graphics and label design, which to me signified the dwindling of the mighty power that Good Looking once held. Before I get pelted with rotten eggs and flour though, the tunes remain pretty damn good.  

   The label management was however hitting a messy time. The label seemed to struggle to maintain the consistency and flexibility within a new digital market, and artists had issues with music being released without a return of earnings and the marketing became a problem. Other labels were enticing the artists that once reigned supreme on Good Looking. I’m sure a few of you have some more details to add regarding this period. 

     We have about 4 more releases to go until the hiatus between 2004 and 2007. Let’s pull up to the curb, open the door and get rolling. 

   For the artwork on this release we have Ben Brewiss from Firesnake. He also designed the Deep Rooted covers on GLR, and Earth Volume 7, and worked on a couple of John Graham’s Boz Boz label. 

    Lawrence Green is back with his jazz soaked swagger and another of his live sessions of freestyling freshness. Greenfly made some incredible tunes, unwrapping the covers of drum and bass and exposing this core resin of masterful jazz funk. Everything about this track comes straight off the stage to be honest and that down tempo section in the middle showcased the brilliant guitar of British Jazz musician, Hugh Turner. It’s that guitar that stands under the hot spotlight on this tune. The only qualm I really have is the speed this plays at. Stick it on -4 and you’ll get fucking all the feels. There’s your sweet spot. Even the bass guitar spreads its wings with this drop in tempo. Go roll it out and thank me later. 

   On Side AA we have a really special collaboration from two of the big hitters from Moving Shadow. Rob Haigh and Sean O’Keeffe both made some of the most recognizable pieces of music in the history of drum and bass. Rob was of course, the mighty Omni Trio, releasing 10 volumes on Moving Shadow and a host of dynamic and blistering remixes across the label. 

    Sean, is not only half of the rave duo, 2 Bad Mice, with Si Colebrook, but a legend in his own right as Deep Blue. Deep Blue had many quality releases, such as Helicopter Tune, Staircase and his collabs with Blame. Recently, ‘Close Your Eyes’ was released on Over Shadow which was a previously unreleased tune from around 96/97, with a VIP mix of Destroyer (from Partisan), on the flip. Deep Blue has that extremely unique style, as does Omni Trio. The bar and expectation was extremely high even before the needle dropped. The result? Well it is, as follows. 

   Deep Blue’s influence really pulls apart the ratio on his one. The simple beat, yawn swallowing gulps of bass, the Detroit techno synth loop and addictive, hypnotizing endurance, send this particular Good Looking track into a territory that stretches the sounds. ‘Station To Station’ typifies Deep Blue’s vibe. I do find it hard to pin point the Omni Trio sound anywhere though? To say this tune delivers so much more than when I first heard it, is an understatement. Simplicity made fucking incredibly creatively. 

   A treat of a disc this one. Well worth grabbing off the shelf again and simmering the Good Looking talents with pride.