DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

Nookie – Free The Funk EP

2003

We reach the final double 12” EP today with our beautifully packaged gatefold sleeves. The year has moved into 2003 for this series, which saw a much slower output on the Good Looking Records label, before a 2004 pause in the organization and a 3 year gap, prior to the 2007 ‘Black & White Label’ era (my blog has those – GLR067 to GLR076, minus that TP of ‘Atmospherical Jubilancy’). 

   The artist who features on this review is no stranger to the label, or to our scene, even today. To have been so consistently on top of their game, for over 30 years, proves that there a very special gift with this guys abilities. Even if you look around at other musicians in any number of genres, keeping up with the peak of their ideas is something very few have done. Gavin Chueng has been pioneering from the start. Whether as Windy Milla, Cloud 9, Freddy Fuddpucker, or as his one off Second Vision which gave him his first release on Good Looking, Nookie has never been far from the main artery of magic. 

    Artwork for ‘Free The Funk’, falls to Gareth Jones again at the Good Looking Records studio. This gatefold sleeve has some much closer profile shots of Gavin, than any of the others. No protruding nasal pellets or strands of eyebrow hair flicking out of place (which I’d probably have, ha ha)! The backdrop provides one of those moments that I can gaze at, out of airplane windows, forever with music playing. Much like the coastline, it makes sense that there’s more beauty in this world than we sometimes appreciate. The collage of runway, travel markings, the arrowed signs that lineup along the right side of the inside gatefold, all provide this traveling theme. Then  that little red logo of a DJ, on the front and inside left gatefold, is a cool touch too. 

I’ll let Gareth roll the story of this one.

    On a personal note, I want to express not only my thanks for all the additional information from both Gareth and Nick, but also thank them for sealing in this series, as one of this most impressive packages of music and art that were produced, in our scene. The words, video clips and not forgetting their continuing art and music projects of today, all deserve the upmost respect. A huge thanks to you both and keep up the good work. 

     Let’s get cracking with the music. This was Nookie’s final solo production on Good Looking Records after 4 years of working with the label, as both Second Vision & Nookie. He did do a ridiculously impressive collaboration with Conrad Blame in 1997 under the New Balance name on Looking Good Records too, which we will review during that label. We’ll get to it eventually (but I do actually feel like moving onto the next label now…it’s been 7 months of GLR). 

   Record 1 has ‘Heaven’ on Side A, unspooling a pick up in BPM as the scene was sliding toward those liquid vibes. Nookie was keeping those live sounding jazz breaks fresh, the harmonies of sound working and setting the standard for pure acoustic contentment. This is one of those tracks that has the rhythmic temperament to move you while the pads, the airy feels and blissful wonderment send you back into the cosy corner of chilled, calm escape. ‘Heaven’ isn’t one of those pieces that shouts its presence from the rooftops, it’s more a structural necessity which flambés the sounds and serves something a little more enriching. 

   On Side B, we have the track ‘Pet Sounds’ which releases a wave of that Nookie leverage from the first trap being clicked open. Soothing pads, that electro twang, the synth key riff and to be honest, with that in place in the first couple of minutes, the tune you already know, will be something of sheer class. This is a Nookie delight in my view, straddling the secret worlds of the new sound, with the proud magnetism of those classic, deeper sounds. The breakdown will have you sinking further into that state of mind you have been searching for. A devastatingly high end piece of music. Make every moment of your week, a lazy Sunday morning and check this out. Just try and remember it’s not Sunday after you finish listening to it.. or not? 

   That’s our first record reviewed on this ‘Free The Funk EP’. Record 2 is up tomorrow. 

  Blog is here. You know the drill if you want that plunge back into the Good Looking Records catalogue. It’s not over yet either.