DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

LTJ Bukem – Sunrain Feat. Eliot

2000

Today’s review moves into the first of a selection of three 12” releases. The first one today accompanies a track off Bukem’s ‘Journey Inwards’ album, providing not just the version found on the vinyl, but also a remix that’s exclusive to this release. 

    ‘Subrain’ is a real gem, as it not only features one of the most laid back, summer vibed productions to come from LTJ Bukem’s catalogue, but it also has a sleeve that brings forward a homely feel for me personally. While I wasn’t a local to this area of (I think?) the GLR Headquarters in Watford at the time, it’s a picture on the front and back sleeve that reminds me of home a lot. The narrow streets, low sun beams and the Ford Transit sat in the driveway (I used to drive a transit when I worked for Ford from 1996 to 1999). There is a heap of nostalgia. 

    Nick Purser is the man behind the lens, capturing Danny’s pensive demeanor in the street outside. It’s not just the cool shots though, it’s the way the filter then creates the temperature of the picture perfectly. That British sun which provides us daylight but lacks the warmth it seems it should provide. I have to say though, when I’ve been back to the UK and those heatwaves have hit..let’s just say we’d be fucking miserable without A/C here in Texas.

Gareth and Nick both mention, “Man, seeing this one brings back serious memories… the shots of LTJ were taken behind the office on the little back road in Watford. Remember the day well, as Nick Purser worked his magic with the camera. Not sure if these shots were on our ‘massive’ digital camera that took floppy discs (oh yeah) or the manual SLR.”

“Can’t remember mate, but it was the end of the day as the sun was coming down so there were some great shadows and grain in the wood and brickwork. Dan was never very keen on getting his photo taken but you had to catch him on his flying visits to HQ!”

    Side A has the main version, the album version of ‘Sunrain’ featuring Eliot on the vocals. We reviewed this during the ‘Journey Inwards’ write up but I think it’s most worthy of another one here. Simon Vispi (Intense), is the engineering don behind this, as he also sat behind the mixing desk for a fair amount of ‘Journey Inwards’. The collection of musicians on ‘Sunrain’ is a super ensemble including Chris Campbell on guitar, Andy Ross on flute and sax (not at the same time though) and Andy Hamill from Flying Fish on Bass. 

  The whole tempo, takes a promenade down the most beautiful boulevard of contentment, warmth and feel good factors. So much life sits within this track, allowing all the juices and inner succulents to spill into your soul. 

  ‘Sunrain’ takes us into a Bukem VIP suite and rolls us the ultimate in blissed out exhales. Smooth, calm and serenely composed, Danny was dipping the musical ladle into a vintage claret of divine experience, inner spirits and widely appreciated styles. All testament to the man that provided so much to this scene. 

    On Side B, we have ‘Sunrain – Flying Fish Mix’ which is largely due to the fact that Andy Hamill who is the guy on bass guitar for the previous track, is one third of the Flying Fish trio, with Ed Morris (on the Rhodes here) and Malachi Trout (presumably where the whole fish part comes from..). During the Earth reviews on Facebook in 2023, a few words were written. I will be adding them into the blog at some point. This track is a real upbeat, snare-break delight, that’s clean and sharp. It’s a mix that has a more elevated funk diode, picking up that grooving bass, a percussion that’s the epitome of a rolling beat, and a soul slinging wagon that rattles and clatters along incredibly effectively. Flying Fish put together a fucking fantastic production here, which only makes me want to dig out their Earth tracks again. If you have  the ‘Journey Inwards’ album, then this is such a brilliant extension to have with it. A great twist away from the drum and bass and homage to the core of sound that oozes from the roots of many of the ideas within these tracks.