• Good Looking Records

    LTJ Bukem – Mystical Realms EP

    1998

    Today we return to the track on Side B from yesterday, but with the added luxury of MC Conrad’s ‘Orchestral Jam (Vocal Mix)’. Bukem and Conrad were in a league of their own from 1994 to 2004. Proof that this is very difficult to dispute, is on this very record. Conrad adds here, an extra coat of gloss to the music, filling up spaces inside your mind that take you to new places of discovery. Let’s roll out the words and relish how MC Conrad worked his magic. I took most of the lyrics from a website “dnblyrics.com” but I edited it with the correct words while listening to the track (once or twice). Now, sing along kids! 

    “It’s all a matter of opinion.

    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of mystics

    And we ain’t pausing, we’re causing the main logistics
    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of pride

    You love the way that we drift, the way that we glide
    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of fact
    We roll out, that makes you react
    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of mystics
    And you know we ain’t pausing we’re causing the main logistics
    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of pride
    As we push the vibe inside.

    You can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of opinion
    I like our thoughts to be heard by millions.
    Aint no progress without a struggle
    And i’m watching the rats leave the pot to watch the pot bubble
    But quick, on the double it’s down to a simmer
    Cooking up your mind to deliver a winner
    In a… second, a glance, in a flash in a shimmer
    We make you shiver, our sound blessed a sinner

    Sublimity energy just keeps on building,
    God bless the path of the musical children
    Walking the steps of change going forward bound
    Our music’s taking you to higher ground, and
    I have found, the deeper we go the higher then we climb
    Music’s making progress in your mind
    Getting in tune with the powers of the mystical flow
    Something I’ve got to see, got to do, got to know… Yo!!

    When money speaks the truth keeps silent
    But we don’t need no money for the true enlightenment
    Cos, we’re already hyped up, psyched up, ready for combat
    Do something logical, you say “”how they do that?””
    We got mad skills, on the borderline, but we always cope
    And if you take big mouth fulls you’ll always choke
    And I don’t need no daddy to line up my pocket
    Cos logical freestyle profile programmed to rocket.
    Won’t stop it till a man’s begging mercy on his knees
    And baby can’t recover cos she feels relieved and pleased
    I will flip and balance all that is lopsided
    Already decided how the music’s gonna be provided
    Wide accessed worldwide
    Keep it real and the feel’s got to be live
    Thought you were smart in the dark you can’t hide
    Cos your program has crashed and your access is denied.

    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of pride
    You love the way that we drift, the way that we glide
    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of mystics
    And you know we ain’t pausing, we’re causing the main logistics
    Can’t make no judgement, it’s all a matter of fact
    We make it harder like that, hard to hold back
    Harder for you not to react.

    Can’t make no judgement
    It’s all a matter of opinion.

    Our music’s taking you high, taking you low
    Our flows got ripples like H2O
    And you have got to be able and willing
    Filling your mind with rhythm
    Gotta keep you moving keep you singing
    Bringing the message across guiding
    Those that are lost in time and space
    You’re climbing at your own pace
    Bass is your main reactor music the main factor
    We’ve got the knack to make you listen
    Release all that’s within
    Let the process begin, link the yang with the yin
    Now natures doing its thing
    And I pick up my pen and mix my words
    To paint my picture choose the shade of my emotion
    Add the colour to my scripture
    Feed the paper words of rhythm
    Vital to the vision the words are always twisting
    But logical’s the rhyme mission
    Cos logical is, as logical does
    And logical never was a was
    Cos logical is the fixed buzz
    And you can’t make no judgement
    It’s all a matter of mystic
    And we ain’t pausing, we’re causing the main logistics.”

    • MC Conrad – RIEP ❤️ 🎶 🎤 

        Track D on this Mystical Realms EP is a track we reviewed on the ‘Journey Inwards LP’ a few weeks back. You can read it on the album page in my blog. It’s a real gem of downtempo goodness, with a show stealing live bass plucking and snare rolling percussion  you’ll fucking fall in love with.

    Remembering MC Conrad. Every time. 

       The next EP is up tomorrow. 

  • GLREP001 – Side A / B

    Good Looking Records

    LTJ Bukem – Mystical Realms EP

    1998

    For the next few weeks we are going to be working through the Good Looking Records EPs that spanned from 1998 up until 2004. During the six years of these double vinyl releases, there featured 11 artists, providing a total of 19.5 releases (nothing familiar To Good Looking fans at all with that decimal number is there? Uh hum…). We have every single one of them to enjoy and plenty of  words and pictures to load up into your lives. 

       Now, you may wonder what on earth the “.5” bit is? Well, the last EP was in the Test Press process when the Good Looking label took a dip out of operations and thus, the last EP only managed one disc, before reaching the main release stage. It was around the same time as GLR 066 and LGR 052 that this took place. 

        For the posts on these EP’s, I was going to try and write up all four tunes, per post. However I am going to cover each EP over two successive days, which means we’ll review two tracks per day instead. Some of these write ups require a little more substance, usually based on the epic proportions of the music. It also gives me a chance to focus on the quality of the connections between the music and the words, which a lot of this music deserves.  Without further ado, let’s get this section of the label, rolling.

        LTJ Bukem had been reasonably quiet on the drum and bass, production front following Horizons (or Horizions as first press labels stated), on Looking Good Records (LGR 001). The gap between 1995 and today’s release some three years later, had been focused mainly on the many down tempo pieces he had been building for the Earth compilations within Volumes 1-3. While his absence may have been missed by many, the gap for Danny to revisit some different styles, paid dividends in the end, as his return to his own label, was a godsend. Today’s EP contains the perfect springboard into the production quality and ideas that Bukem was now focused on. It also began this incredible series of EPs. Interesting that it’s the only catalogue number, without the “V” for the vinyl. Maybe it was not originally intended to be a series? I do know it could buy the CD of this EP. 

      Of the four tracks on the EP, one of them we have already reviewed as it eventually made its way onto LTJ Bukem’s LP of the same name, ‘Journey Inwards’. What is interesting is that none of the other tracks made it onto the LP. For this reason, I feel that this EP is a very special release, as it not only kept these other tracks exclusive to this release, we also have a vocal version featuring MC Conrad, which personally makes this a collectors item in its own right, for any die hard, Good Looking Records fan. 

       The design work on this release was from the Propeller Studios who worked on a few of the GLR and LGR sleeves between 1998 and 1999. We also have one of the lost souls of our scene on the engineering duties for this EP. A Mr. Olly ‘Artemis’ Lomax. This must have been just before Simon Vispi from Intense, took over the engineering for Bukem. You have to admire how fucking exquisite the music sounds on here, and the way that both Olly and Simon could bring out the best with the mixing desk. This release showed a Limited Edition of 5000, which didn’t really make it that limited, however this is No. 3688.

       Track A is the superb ‘Twilight Voyage’ which holds a real true flavor of the guy behind engineering this, Artemis. Those pads kicking off the track have been taken straight out his toolbox. The slight change in key welcomes in the beautifully polished and well oiled beats, leading up to a fine, soft bass line, designed to glue the composition together with true elegance. Bukem was redirecting his focus into the change of the music, but keeping the traits of that metronomic and sedate progression which funnels every synopsis of tranquility into the music. I think it’s really important to realize here, how his downtempo work had carried the ideas into this era of his drum and bass work. You had a selection of material on Earth which shifted the musical plates which Bukem then harnessed into the tracks on here and the Journey Inwards LP, which also incorporated the Suspended Space EP (up soon). The overall package of deep, floating and brain nourishing music, along with the most crystal clear production, made for a most welcome and exciting return to the studio from the concrete back bone of the Good Looking Records stable. LTJ Bukem. 

       Track B is a real belter of a track which can be heard as the final track on the very first Progression Sessions. While we have the instrumental of ‘Orchestral Jam’ for you here, you also have the Vocal version, on Side C (reviewed tomorrow). This track has so much raw and pulsating rhythm dessert that you’ll just keep ingesting it until the very last second. Every fibre of your being gets into that beat and as the orchestral sections glide their resin waxed bows nimbly and gracefully over the stings, the music gyrates, dips and rises and makes your whole soul come alive. For me, this signified that Bukem was hitting his return in such a refined and personal way, that his compass needle had found its true North. Listening to the work involved with this track, the hint of that Shogun style, rapid beat firing up the drum work (bass b-bass drum), the brooding undercurrents of the bass line and then with Bukem’s deft ear for the strings and pads, proving his unique talents and classical background with the piano, melt together for this extremely treasured musical theatre. 

      

       

       

     

      

      

      

  • Good Looking Records

    MC Conrad – Logical Progression Level 4 (Remixes)

    2001

    Today, we reach our final plate on not just the last record in this Logical Progression Level 4 LP, but also the last two tracks in the whole series. It’s onto the next project tomorrow. Let’s live for today though and wallow in the memories, the music and the future sounds of a time that still holds a very proud and immortal foundation of the music of today. We had come a long way, in a short time, from those early breakbeat beginnings into the organically created worlds and imaginations of the soundtrack for the rest of our lives. 

        We have two artists featured here, that continue with as much vigor and status in today’s scene, as they did back during this era, 24 years ago. Makoto had energized the music world in a big way, not just by ingraining his style in the drum and bass world, but by opening up doors to the world and spearheading the global acceptance and love for the sound, across to the East. Good Looking knew the way forward came from taking the sound out to other countries other than the UK. With Makoto on board, the plan built momentum. His connection with Conrad needs no introduction either. A friendship and bond formed, which lasted right up until MC Conrad’s untimely death in 2024. 

       We begin today’s review with Makoto on remix duties. 

       Side E on Plate 3, is ‘Futures Call (Remix By Makoto)’ which holds such a perfect balance of Conrad’s vocals and Makoto’s way of composing. You infuse a jolt of high octane drum and bass here, taking that funk pepped jazz ride out for the ride of your life. You don’t only get that vivid image in your mind, of Makoto’s musical performances, you also have the clearest image in your mind of Conrad doing that body dip, the mic held right up to the mouth piece and his sweat dripping all over the place. It’s the sort of tune that brings to life every aspect of both of these legends, jamming the fuck out, the vivid moves and film that plays in my head is fucking strong picturing MC Conrad doing what he loved and bringing something that will never leave me. In my personal matter of opinion, he really was the best to ever connect the music with words. Truly one of a kind. 

       On Side F we have ‘Energetic Poetry (Remix By Nookie)’. If there’s one producer who had the music made for a Conrad fountain of words, it was Nookie. The nourishment and groove that bleeds its way around the senses, splashes a decadent spray of finely cut sounds in this track. This era of Nookie’s work held a candle that burned with a vast expanse of experience and some killer funk. He tended to either reach into the mighty pads for a mind drift, or take things for a jive on the stage. The range was 150 things in between. Gav was definitely one of the essential components to the Good Looking history. Nothing but the upmost respect as always! 

       That’s the Logical Progression series complete. Tomorrow we move onto the next Good Looking project. There are a couple more LPs to review, a few special 12” singles and then we’ll also hit a scan over Points In Time, The Producer series and whatever else we have left on the shelf. Next up..the EP’s 

    I can’t wait to get going with them! 

       My blog is building the Good Looking stable of music in one place, minus the very few I don’t own, so I hope you get the urge to read back through some of them or you are working your way through them, and enjoy them. It’s a pure joy and honor to put them together! 

  • GLRLP004X – Plate 2: Side C / D 

    Good Looking Records

    MC Conrad – Logical Progression Level 4 (Remixes)

    2001

    Welcome back to another week of music reviews on the Good Looking Records label. I hope everyone enjoyed some precious time listening to the music that endlessly satisfies your every need and is always there for you in some way or another. The ultimate support network. 

        Today we continue the Logical Progression Level 4 – Remixes LP with two more of the highest end producers in the scene. Conrad Blame and the Nu Moon boys, Simon Murrell and Steven Kite. 

       The camaraderie that occurred during the Good Looking artists time together between 1995 and 2000 was probably the strongest in its entire life span. The gigs, music and tours led to bonding that now looking back, stands the test of time. Things eventually spilt in all sorts of ways but the Conrad Thompson and Conrad Shafie antics seemed like a hell of a lot of laughs combined with two visionaries on a mission to test the confines of the music. They both took things further from their Good Looking Records life and excelled in the projects they both created. 720 Records became Blame’s personal label away from the politics of GLR, helping in form his own sound with a bit more freedom, and MC Conrad, having been cast aside basically, began his own quest with ConNatural and his own label Resonanace in 2020. While things bloomed for both after their GLR years, it is today that we get both artists involved for our track on Side C. 

       ‘Logical (Remix By Blame)’ is a track that showcases Blames sound with a veer from his Good Looking mode and into his unique look at the light years ahead he was projecting back to us. He was taking the soundscapes into a realm that could only come from his visionary mind. The projectiles lit up here with those electro hungry bass keys, the recoiling and rapid firing of all the technological sounds and that mood sweating elect-tech style of beat programming. Hearing this again has made my fucking day. I have so much appreciation for the path and work ethic that Conrad puts into his music. This is another prime example of his exemplary brewery of creations. Music that will outlive all of us, fueling the mind for the ones who live, breathe and worship the sounds of our very special and minuscule moment in time, on this planet.

       Our track on Side D is ‘Cool Vertigo (Remix By Nu-Moon)’ and, as with the finest sounds that these guys produced, the results are quite incredible. This has something viral within it, a drug jammed with the purest and most scientific concoctions that you’ll hear in a long time. Nu Moon have a place in our scene that may seem like needles in a haystack at times. These needles however, shine like a lit strip of magnesium, torching away half the fucking barnyard. How this tune isn’t recognized with the anthemic status it deserves is a sacrilege in my view. It’s not just your standard slab of atmospheric drum and bass, ‘Cool Vertigo’ gets dropped into the Nu Moon hot pot and is simmered until you are able to ladle out the richest and most delicious concoction of detailed and bountiful music that you’ll hear. This track is an absolute percy of mine on this LP.  The only thing you have to do now is go and listen to it. 

       Now, your Monday has been improved already hasn’t it? Two essential remixes by two of the best on Good Looking and the best in the business. Plate three is up tomorrow. 

       My blog is continuing to collect all these Good Looking reviews so if you fancy darting back to the early days, and make yourself feel older, this is a great place to start. Ha ha! 

       Have a good day! 

  • GLRLP004X – Plate 1: Side A / B 

    Good Looking Records

    MC Conrad – Logical Progression Level 4 (Remixes)

    2001

    For our last tune of this week, we begin the final Logical Progression LP, with six exquisite remixes of tunes from MC Conrad’s music, found originally on the format of CD 1 of the Logical Progression – Level 4 LP we have just reviewed. You only need look at the remixers on this LP to wave any hesitation in snapping it up. I mean, holy fucking god. Big Bud, PHD, Blame, Nu Noon…do I need to continue? You asked for it.. Nookie and also Makoto. Six big league artists that had established their unquestionable talents on Good Looking Records. Needless to say, like a starving wasp trapped in a jam jar, we will be overdosing on the good stuff. 

        It mentions this as a Limited Edition. But I don’t know how many were pressed up. It wasn’t really doing exactly what it says on the tin, most of the time back in those days. My one shows No. 001722, so now like me, you can sleep easy knowing that. Nevertheless, those digits imply a large quantity of releases but I’m sure there’s a psychology to it that I’m missing, even being a Psych major. 

        Photography on this LP remains the same prints used for the last Level 4 LP, by Nick Purser, taken at the offices of Good Looking at the time. I had thought, how cool it would have been to have had similar personal pictures taken for the GLR EP’s that were released. The photos of Conrad hold such a dear place with so many of us, of a time and a place and now the fondest memories of such a vibrant and free flowing era. 

        Track A on this Plate 1, is ‘Dawn Of Harmony (Remix By Big Bud)’ slicing its way through the machines of the workhorse of one of the most prolific producers we have the honor of hearing. Robin keeps that smooth glide of the original and garnishes the inner core with those lavish and luscious Big Bud auras. The double bass layering of live electric  guitar and electronic sub bass, stacked in a holding pattern while the beautiful guitar work cools the soul, let the deep chords and pads carry you over the horizon with the biggest smile on your face. That constant synth that stabilizes your equilibrium, sends a viscous maneuver out, rotating your mind in all sorts of directions, searching for the relics and forgotten dreams of a future bound voyage of discovery. A fucking seriously impressive remix, and justifiably our intro to this LP. A big shout to Robin as always.

        Track B is ‘Nadiresonance (Remix By PHD)’ taking its place at the center of the shuttle’s controls and reeling off one of those powerhouse atmospheric gems to eject you out into the orbits of our thought control. Patrick Henry works up something that totally blows my mind right here. He puts this supremely edited percussion beat out, along with the sounds of the stars, a million voices harking the secret codes of a musical manifesto, fit for the gods. There’s a liveliness, a pulse, bouncing throughout this track, dancing between the strands of a deeper level of momentary unconscious flashes within a world that only the genial talents of someone like PHD can reach. If you do one thing today, promise me you’ll revisit this absolute diamond of atmospheric wonder. It really does not get much better than this. Utterly transfixed, is the feeling you’ll be guaranteed on hearing it. 

       Patrick was a huge part in Conrad’s path with his music, having worked together on ‘Reminiscent Rhythms’ and ‘Presence’ on the first Ascendant Grooves release in 1997 (AG 001) and then again on Looking Good Records also in 1997, with ‘Progression Session’ & ‘3 By 4’ (LGR 011). The bond between them was a most valued one. 

        Have a great weekend and make sure that you get some quality time to do the things you Love (such as listening to music perhaps?) and that you are able to join me again for more dives into the history of our wonderful music. My blog has several articles about Good Looking Records releases so if you want to have a break, and a Kit-Kat, while taking in some words and pictures of the golden oldies, you can find them here. I hope you enjoy them.

    Bless up! 

  • Good Looking Records 

    MC Conrad Presents – Logical Progression Level 4

    2001

    “And I know now you can see clearly, through the mystic” – MC Conrad

        Our last plate on this Logical Progression Level 4 LP, has Makoto on Side E and Big Bud on Side F. These two had been stalwart artists on Good Looking and also profound, down-tempo artists across the Earth volumes too. Both incorporated a splash of jazz that spread from the blues tinted melancholy up into a funky bubbling, body twisting groove session, all done in a way that pushed the live band sound out to us, the listeners. 

        The photo on this third sleeve was clearly taken in the studio offices, up on the first floor (yes my American friends, floor 1 is upstairs as we have ground floor), of the GLR studios with the files (we’re talking hard copy folders here kids), and the GLR/LGR records up on the shelf. It looks like Conrad’s heard someone knocking on the door with this one..maybe Tony’s on one of his door kicking sprees down the hallway? Ha ha! Big up Nick Purser as always. 

       Let’s get these tunes rolling. First up is a piece of music that caught my attention in a huge way when I first heard it. We have already reviewed the remix of this tune, as we covered Makoto’s LP, ‘Human Elements’ from 2003, where that was featured. It was, however, this original version that really set the needles on the gauges, flicking the highest level of bass-line riffed infections. Makoto dropped one of the funkiest, jiving pieces of music, that the Good Looking label had released. ‘Take My Soul Baby’ finger clicks that intro as the faint background mingling (that featured at the end of the remix) gives that impression of the integral building atmosphere, of a drop dead gorgeous piece of music. The snare lined beats and that catchy brass and smooth keyboarding, spiral up a dynamite session that hold you in place before that bass. That bass. That BASS! ‘Take My Soul Baby’ has a live swagger unlike any other. Makoto provided one of the most memorable and infectious tracks here, and with the volume cranked up, filing my head on the headphones, it’s pure indulgence of the sweetest kind. Drop this track again and the party will only push the roof off a little more. One for the real movers and jazz cartels of our scene. “Woooooo!” You can instantly understand why MC Conrad was a big lover of this track and why the partnership between both Makoto and he, became so very special. 

        Our final tune on this LP provides us with the grace and magnetic draw of the musical legend, Big Bud. Robin seemed to churn out tune after tune on Good Looking, each maintaining such a high quality result. ‘Indian Summer’ has Big Bud departing from the depot of his studio wizardry with this hooked guitar loop, cementing with it that pumping beat, those drifting pads and fucking beautiful techno blinks. The belching bass regurgitates a heaving chest cavity of depth which has this cross between a drowning bullfrog with a cold, and a Martians last breath.

    Big Buds sounds hold you in a stunned state, as you listen to this. It’s one of those unforgettable tunes which takes you into the breakdown and as with nearly all his breakdowns, it’s here that the music transcends the boundaries of possibilities. Slip into the atmospheric addicts coma and lose yourself.. it really does not get much better. Robin had the Crown Jewels of music making and shared them with the world. The words will never do this piece of music, justice. 

    Listen and learn…

       That my friends, is the last tune on Logical Progression Level 4. Tomorrow we have a real treat though, as we have six of the best artists in the business, remixing some of Conrad’s original material from Level 4. Then we’ll spin into grouping a few of the CD’s together, before hitting the Good Looking EPs. How about that? 

       Onwards we go. 

  • 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. 

  • Good Looking Records 

    MC Conrad Presents – Logical Progression Level 4

    2001

    “The message in the music, is to move you” – MC Conrad. 

        Among the many lyrical lines and words that came from MC Conrad’s illustrious and inspiring career on the mic and in the studio, is this one above, that typified what it was all about. For the next three days I’ll post a lyric, as today we reach an LP that pays homage to Conrad Thompson who devastatingly left our world at the age of 52, on April 30, 2024. 

       When news of his departure came through, I was shaken in a way that still hurts today. Not only had he been a voice of the early 90s with his scratching style of MCing that I had the privilege of hearing on a few occasions, he then joined the partnership with LTJ Bukem that set up the journeys of a lifetime, through the mid 90s and permanently leaving the mark of the unmatched story teller that connected us with the music.

        While it was Bukem who selected the tracks on this LP, Conrad had worked with Bukem long enough to have some say as to why these tracks were chosen. These are tunes that you know Conrad could expel his mastery in words and poetry. A couple of tracks on CD 2 would have been good to have on vinyl though, Intersperse – ‘High Moon’, and Future Engineers – Merge. Nookie’s – Solstice came out on his ‘Oceanic EP’ in 2001.

        The six tracks on this LP continue the exceedingly high level of artists that we had become accustomed to on the Good Looking label. We will work through one record per day starting today with J Laze & Nookie.

       J Laze reinvents how music can transport you with the first piece of enlightenment on Record 1, Side A, with ‘Miles & Miles From Marz’. Rob Blayze seemed to be fueled on something no one else could find in the studio. Proof sits right here with a belter of a track, that has the strongest, pounding bass, spiritually encompassing pads and a few threads that you’d usually hear sauntering on Big Bud’s work. Once the lunar module lands at the breakdown, every single object that feels the gravitation of this sound is held and then silently, and with the most minuscule of maneuvers, arranged to balance the sources of energy with an invisible drift network, signaling the passion and resonance of this tune. J Laze had that gift of producing work with a little panache and zing. An After-Eight Mint in the connoisseurs pick n’ mix of our music. 

       On Side B of Plate 1 we have the man like Gavin Cheung, AKA Nookie, back with ‘Think About It (Instrumental Mix)’. Nookie brandishes his barreling bombardment of drum funk like a fucking trooper on this track. Then we fuse in that raw and crater cracking bass guitar for a trip into the most satisfying helping of funked up jazz flavors. There’s also that element of cliff hanging suspense in here, sweating the palms and raising the heart rate. Nookie’s standard of production really flashes an abundance of supremacy, following the years and years of talented music making he has provided. If you’ve been in the game as long as he has, you always know that the end product will be stretched further than expectations. 

      If you are after the ‘Think About It (Vocal Mix)’ we will be reviewing that one when we reach the Good Looking EP’s as that is featured on Nookie’s ‘Oceanic EP’ – GLREP013V from 2001.

      The photo of Conrad with pen in hand, ready to capture that expressive moment is a beautiful picture on this sleeve. One that showed his constant need to fuel his art and provide the world with the words of a musical hero. As Gareth Jones comments; “Always loved the artwork’s warm tones for this one. A classic slice of Nick Purser. Remember the day Conrad came into the GLR offices to do the shots. It was a super laid-back hangout out and the shots were done in the artwork department itself as we sat chatting. At that point, the artwork dept was upstairs next to Tony’s office (you can well imagine the banter) 😉 Lovely memory. ♥️” – Thank you to Gareth & Nick.

       Record 2 is up tomorrow, as we continue through this Level on the Log Prog series. 

    My blog is here, I hope you enjoy reading it: 

  • Good Looking Records

    Intense Presents – Logical Progression Level 3

    1998

    For our last record on this third level of the Logical Progression series, we’ll feature our last two tracks following a brief talk about the CD tracks on Disc 2. I hope the weekend was enjoyed and you managed time to let this beautiful music, engulf you?! 

        Of the two tracks that did not make it onto the vinyl cut, we have Tayla – Resolution (which I think should have been released on Nexus in my opinion, although the label had not put anything out, following the Soul Survivors LP in 2000. It is on his Producer 04 CD too), and then a track that I didn’t really feel slotted into the frame of GLR. 2 Bob Soundsystem – ‘Get High Fiona’. It’s one I didn’t really feel we missed out on, not being pressed onto vinyl.

       We also have a track that you’ll find on MC Conrad’s – ‘Vocalist 01 LP’ from 2000, with Words 2 B Heard Collective – ‘Sonic Weapon’ that sweeps up the last track on the CD, which leads us nicely into the next level of Logical Progression albums. We will elevate up to Level 4, tomorrow, courtesy of the sadly fallen, but mighty MC Conrad. 

        The vinyl today has two more incredible pieces of music from this rhodium era of mind blowing music. The artists are yet again, straight from the top drawer of the Good Looking Records stable beginning with the one and only, Olly Lomax. Artemis. 

       Artemis was Olly’s alias for the label, with his Shogun name locked into Renegade and remixes mainly. We have already reviewed ‘Elysian Fields’ and ‘Desideradi’ on GLR 020 and ‘Inner Worlds’ / ‘Sun Stars’ on GLR 025, from 1997 and 1998, respectively. The sheer dedication and attention to detail of his work was nothing short of perfect. We have here with this track ‘Sun Voyage’ another helping of just how dynamic and skilled he was in the studio. 

       I’m actually astounded how short this track seems. Maybe it’s not really that short and it’s just the impression it leaves, being the soaring level of brilliance it is? The track grabs you straight away, jetting you up into the thin icy air while the citizens on the ground unbeknownst to them, have a whirling wind of alkaline sounds and tepid undercurrents keeping the vibes rising into a ceiling that soaks the evaporating vapors. Artemis produces this marvel of music with a torrent  of pure, spell binding luxuries, designed to engage your emotions and release the deepest, unlocked dreams. 

       I could listen to this tune over and over again. In fact, I’m just going to do that. 

       Fucking beautiful! 

       Ahhhh… back to the land of the living…now we have played ‘Sun Voyage’ twice and taken a short break (some tunes just hit you like that), we move onto our final track on this 3 x vinyl release. It’s back to the work of Robin ‘Big Bud’ O’Reilly, for this one with a track called ‘Mystique’. 

       If you ever had a ‘Name that tune in One’ moment, you’d have no trouble putting Big Bud’s name in the running, based on that crystal clear snare break from the get go. Big Bud continued flying his flag with immense pleasure at this time and the work was a powerhouse of the atmospheric scene. He stirs in here those elegant keys, a resonating bass and the raindrop fragility of the chimes, with the subtle horns, laying the path of love and chill, covered by a thin layer of the punctured soul with swollen dreams. Robin made up such an important part of the music, he will forever be one of the biggest contributors to not just Good Looking, but to the cosmic, mystics of the scene. 

       A legend of our lifetime, and no doubt those that connect in the many years to come, through his majestic sounds. 

      Tomorrow we venture into the lift and head up to our next floor in the Logical Progression series. While it may not be one that holds the historical museum of work like the last three levels, it does hit us with a nostalgic moment as we pay tribute to one of the best in business, with a fine assortment of tunes from artists of the the time.

       My blog has 92 out of the 95 Good Looking Records 12” single releases on there, and the ‘catalogue MA’ LP’s along with the Logical Progression LP’s 1-3. I will be putting in the 720 Degrees, Ascendent Grooves, Blue, Cookin’, Deep Rooted, Diverse, Earth and we still have Looking Good and Nexus to follow. There are also some other projects to add in there too, so I’m hoping it’ll be a solid hub to have.

       Thanks for reading! 

  • Good Looking Records

    Intense Presents – Logical Progression Level 3

    1998

    Moving along with Logical Progression Level 2,

    we now get to a couple of artists who excel in the music game. 

        For our first track today, on Record 2: Side 1, we have the Swedish superhuman songwriter, Sebastian Ahrenberg. Seba. 

       At this time in his career he had already established his presence on Looking Good Records with Lo Tek in 1996 having worked his way with several projects through the Swedish based Svek label, and then beginning his solo career in 1997. This was also the time he set up a night in Stockholm called Secret Operations to promote the sounds he was immersed in, eventually becoming the name of his well established record label. 

       Now, I am sticking my neck out here, but I think that the record label on this release may be the first time that the Secret Operations logo appears? Seba’s label did not begin until 2002 and before that, there is a CD (Various artists – Case One from 1999) that had the logo on it with several great tunes including tracks from Alaska, Future Engineers, Lotek and Seba under his Forme guise, that I’ll be reviewing when we reach Secret Operations. So, if anyone has an image of this SecOps image on a label or sleeve earlier than this one from 1998, let us know and I’ll place it in. For now I believe this may be the first sighting of the Secret Operations logo. I wonder if at this time, Bukem had the idea to give Seba his own offshoot from Good Looking back then, or it was just a chance to promote the artists own identity? Seba, you may be the best to ask. 

        ‘Remedy’ has every atom of that Seba seduction within it. As the ancient gods of Odin and Thor cup their ears toward the Northern territories, closing their eyes and feeling the waves of this irresistible piece of music, they too must succumb to the pure form and function of the echoes that drift toward them. Seba unleashes sounds of pristinely edited Apache breaks, electro bass, pitch bending pads of devine luxury along with those unmistakable sound effects which extract the wilderness and mysterious stories from the Lyktgubben flickers on the horizon. Seba was such a highly flammable commodity with his output in 1998, his work ignited life in a whole new way for so many of us. I, for one, will never forget these early roots, as he continues to this day, to be one of the ultimate purveyors, andone of the most creative legends of our scene. A big big shout as always to Seba! 

        For Record 2: Side 2, we have the return of Blu Mar Ten, with the track ‘She Moves Through’. The record label here has the same grid image that you can find on their Looking Good Records release, ‘Global Access’ / ‘Myriad’ from 1998 which was their fifth release (fourth under the Good Looking family of labels). The design lifted the grid away from the world underlay and maybe it was the idea that they would be handed a sub label at the time? 

    A big shout as always to Chris Marigold and Leo Wyndham who may have more background on this. I hope that we hear more work from the BMTM stable soon. 

        The track ‘She Moves Through’ enters an electric force field of circuit boards, sparking pulsations and flickering sources which generate the canvas for the wondrous pads and that rolling break. The Blu Mar Ten boys were firing on all cylinders around this time and having this exclusive number on the Level 3 LP is a fucking little gold mine of music. The tune builds and flows, nurturing the composition into the many degrees of one’s distant flecks of thoughts and feelings. The breakdown turns off the switch momentarily while things stir up the tides that wash in the purest infused liquids and retreat with the worries and woes. A heavenly dose of the BMT talents and decadent wonders of their creativity. Absolute heaven. 

       That concludes the second plate on this LP. We return to end with the third and final plate on Logical Progression Level 3, on Monday. 

      Have a wonderful weekend and don’t forget that my blog is here with all the Good Looking Records reviews from my shelf, so far. I hope you get to gander through the ones I’ve posted so far.

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