DJ Alex Corton – Vinyl Reviews

Good Looking Records

GLRLP004 – Record 2: Track C / D

MC Conrad Presents – Logical Progression Level 4

2001

“The way we make you feel depends on what we play” – MC Conrad

 Today we continue on this diamond encrusted, Roman Road of music with the sounds of MC Conrad Presents Logical Progression Level 4. 

    Before we launch into the two vinyl tracks of the day, we need to take a look at the first CD that comes with this Logical Progression Level 4 release. MC Conrad had gathered together with a group of extremely talented musicians and written nine tracks, which had intended to be released as an artist album I believe? Good Looking Records obviously felt that this was an opportunity to keep money rolling in and instead, had this as Level 4 of the Log Prog series. This ‘Words 2 B Heard’ ensemble really deserved a 3 x 12” vinyl LP of just their work to be blunt, as it really was a tremendous collection of tunes. From the musical entrance of ‘Halcyon Voyage’ through the rapid jam session of ‘Energetic Poetry’ and ‘Logical’ with MC Conrad raising the bar yet again with his talents. ‘Cool Vertigo’, Futures Call’, ‘Strategies & Plans’ and the amazing ‘Dawn Of Harmony’ supply the sweetest quadruplet of tracks, all allowing the musicians to extend their unique talents. Chris Campbell had already worked his guitar magic with Conrad and Patrick ‘PHD’ Henry on Ascendent Grooves with the track ‘Presence’, so that bond had already materialized. Then we have the late Ranvir Verma on bass, the highly acclaimed drummer Tristan Banks who has a crazy list of work on his CV, along with keyboard wizard Mikis Michaelides, all joining the talents of Conrad on this expressive and inspiring journey into his extensive and rich forest of ideas. Then we have ‘Malik 1 (One)’ which is probably one of my favorite tracks on the LP, with that mind blowing guitar work and the percussion skills. A real gem! ‘Nadiresonance’ completes Conrad’s LP which fully deserves a lot more attention in my view.

GLR may have thought it needed the labels backing to get it noticed more? Either way, buy this CD and you will not pass one more day of your life, regretting owning it. Like I say, it really needed its own vinyl LP release. There is a Logical Progression Level 4 CD available with a third CD featuring the remixes, but we’ll hit the vinyl edition of that in a short while. 

    Now we move onto the second record within the trio of plates, for today. 

   Simon Murrell and Steve Kite were not artists that flooded the music scene as Nu Moon. Steve was also Moonchild of course, as we did note this in the Cookin’ label and we will be reviewing a few Moonchild during Looking Good Records. Nu Moon brought a very special sound to the GLR label, as we’ve already mentioned during GLR 047 and GLR 051, focusing on a merging of the technical, future abstracts and the space jazz medicines, prescribed through their pharmacy of ideas. ‘Fluidity’ grooves a well thought out bass line, rapid beats and lures you into the desolate wing of the floating craft, reconnecting the wires and resuscitating the controls, reviving the technological life that left the scene. This is a beauty of a tune, and pockets the way these boys laid out their plans to reach out and respond to the avid listeners of this music. 

  On Side D we have the return of the legendary PFM for the track – In Love. The garage mix of this track can actually be found on PFM’s – Val Sinestra EP (GLREP012V) from 2001 which is a must have for PFM fans. We switch to 33 for this side, so judging by the wax and the stretch across it, we are in for an epic story by the Jackanory story tellers of atmospheric drum and bass. Mike Bolton puts the foundations down with the pads and that simple piano riff, hooking in the “iiinnn loooooovvve” vocal and the unmistakable footsteps of that PFM bass line submitting its allure as always. You always knew with PFM that you’d get lowered down into a canyon of regal treasures before being catapulted out into the heavens with awe. The beats begin with a pretty basic arrangement but then in come the high hats and with that huge humming, trademark bass, everything else just seems to magnetically connect and glue its way into this finely sculptured antique of music. PFM knew the perfect tonic to make you feel like a different person when listening to the music. Uniquely styled and crafted with a sound that is only a PFM sound. This raises the question yet again, where are the individual, personal sounds of today? We need more music with its own identity and unique links to artists. Hearing this only highlights just how incredible artists like PFM are. 

    I also have to mention on this, that I love Nick Purser’s photo on the sleeve of this record, one that reflects MC Conrad with that infectious smile of his. It provides us a moment in time that not only presented his jovial character, but also the person who transferred his inner joy of music to this picture. This defines who he was, perfectly. A great picture! 

         You will never leave our hearts.