DJ Alex Corton – Vinyl Reviews

Good Looking Records

Commix / SKC & Bratwa – Brass Eye / Solitude 

2004

Welcome back to the Good Looking Records conveyor belt of music. I hope everyone had a good weekend and managed a few moments of musical medicine to infiltrate their soul. 

    Today, we move into the realms of uncertainty with Good Looking. The format of the label saw the regular sleeve removed and the label design move to black & white. The Test Press of this release kept the regular GLR064 catalogue number but this particular release (labelled as Project: Good Looking, as though it needed a special title), was stamped up as GLR064W. This was the dawn of the Good Looking ‘W’ era which became a short lived concept, for now. It did return for GLR080W but had a hiatus from GLR065 onward. 

     Sometimes there is a moment of most fitting circumstances surrounding things. Good Looking Records was struggling to keep its head above water. With the first artist on today’s release on its way, the same could be said for George Levings. For someone to have the history of so many amazing tunes, turn and take a great deal of money from people who looked up to him, seek guidance in the ways of the studio, and not return the service, is something that alters so many emotions. When I write this up, the music is my focus. Nothing else. At the time of this release, many of us loved hearing Commix. We still admire the tunes. That’s my focus. Even though his future is all but done in the field. At least until his names changed (which I heard had turned into a woman’s name? I kid you not).

Let me click fingers and retrieve you back into the real world..3..2…1 and your back. So, where were we. The music. Let’s stick to it. 

    Commix on Side A sends a spark along the circuit boards with ‘Brass Eye’. The luring swirls of those pads and the tech stab, throw down the tracks and then we get a seriously addictive bass line moving this along. While the beats hold a steady course, it’s the mesmerizing assortment of electronic gadgetry that you find yourself constantly listening too. Commix had a real knack for composing tunes you never want to end, and this highlights just how impressive his work is. It’s this that saddened me the most with ripping off so many fans of his that trusted him. The hub of this scene is built on togetherness and expression. We open doors of trust which can be closed, if needed. 

    Now, on Side AA is Gábor Nagymáthé Who is a Hungarian producer, SKC, and Steve Bratina, AKA Bratwa. The label has “Ska” written instead of “SKC”. Personally, this is the only tune of theirs I’ve heard, although I know they had a small number of other tracks released. ‘Solitude’ drifts along the fog balancing banks of time. The way this tune moves and permeates the soul is just fucking magical. There is so much originality and unique ideas in here, you get the feeling of so many influences across the world. The vocals, the strings, the chopping and chilling beats and the wind instruments only add another layer of magic.

I cannot advise you strongly enough to put some quality headphones on, drop this tune and just turn that volume up. It is truly one of the most incredible tunes I’ve listened to in a while.