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Originally intended to be part of a double album with Scars, Basement Jaxx instead chose to release their more experimental 2009 effort, Zephyr, on its own merits, a wise decision considering its collection of downtempo and ambient self-described "soundscapes" would more than likely have gotten lost amidst the manic cut-and-paste vocal house of its more commercial alternative. Recorded over a two-year period across Berlin, New York, and London, its ten tracks still adhere to the usual "anything goes" Jaxx approach, but apart from the acoustic folk loops, hypnotic beats, and bilingual childlike melodies of "Walking in the Clouds" and the chaotic arcade game electro of "Dark Vale," it's an altogether more reflective affair that allows Buxton and Ratcliffe to showcase their unique interpretation of a chillout album. Indeed, only "Where R We Now," a string-soaked collaboration with U.S. jazz baritone José James, would sit comfortably next to the coffee-table arrangements of Zero 7 and Morcheeba, as Jaxx instead revel in their more globetrotting influences, fusing twitchy sitars and brooding Leftfield-esque atmospherics on "Hip Hip Hooray"; blending sci-fi sound effects with flamenco guitars and bossa nova beats on the seductive lounge-pop of "Alkazaar"; and combining their love of ragga, dancehall, and Latin jazz on the melting pot of sounds that is six-minute closer "Ascension." Elsewhere, there are flashes of vocals from Yoko Ono (who appeared on Scars' "Day of the Sunflowers") on the new age-inspired "Sunrising," "Peace of Mind" combines skittering Balearic breakbeats with shimmering '70s Fleetwood Mac guitar hooks, and "Check the Fuse" is an all too short 54-second slice of hazy Americana. The latter's "blink and you'll miss it" running time presents Zephyr's only real problem, as clocking in at just under a rather measly 30 minutes, Buxton and Ratcliffe never really give themselves the opportunity to explore their more ethereal nature. Which is a shame, as while it certainly doesn't contain any potential hits, it's a creative and playful curiosity that adds yet another string to their genre-straddling bow.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
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Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - B.J. Cole, AssociatedPerformer - Channi Singh, AssociatedPerformer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Mona Singh, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer - Mulata Astatke, AssociatedPerformer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - David Gunther, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer - Khader Ahmed, AssociatedPerformer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Sam Meredith, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Benjamin, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Dwayne Ellis, AssociatedPerformer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - David Gunther, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer - Khader Ahmed, AssociatedPerformer - Monica Bermudez, AssociatedPerformer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Everton Nelson, Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Laurence, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra - Chris Elliott, Arranger - mary Scully, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Lale, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, AssociatedPerformer - Emlyn Singleton, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Kiernan, AssociatedPerformer - George Robertson, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Leaper, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Loveday, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Piggott-Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Engineer - Boguslav Kostecki, AssociatedPerformer - Maciej Rakowski, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Daniels, AssociatedPerformer - Jackie Shave, AssociatedPerformer - Rita Manning, AssociatedPerformer - Caroline Dearnley, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Pleeth, AssociatedPerformer - Jose James, AssociatedPerformer - Gaby Lester, AssociatedPerformer - Dai Emmanuel, AssociatedPerformer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Leila Stacey, Orchestra - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer - Bridget Masque, AssociatedPerformer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - B.J. Cole, AssociatedPerformer - Lil' Louis, AssociatedPerformer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Yoko Ono, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Noble, Engineer - Lil' Louis, AssociatedPerformer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Basement Jaxx, MainArtist - Simon Ratcliffe, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Felix Buxton, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - Adam Noble, Engineer - Ben Edwards, AssociatedPerformer - Oli Savill, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chico Chagas, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Gene Calderazzo, ComposerLyricist - Lisa Kekaula, AssociatedPerformer - Andreas Moses Schneider, Engineer - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Howard Rider, Engineer - Jack Nunn, Engineer - Ricardos Santos, ComposerLyricist - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Ricardo Dos Santos, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Lindon, Engineer - Rudyard Lee, Engineer - Bernd Laubner, Engineer
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Albumbeschreibung
Originally intended to be part of a double album with Scars, Basement Jaxx instead chose to release their more experimental 2009 effort, Zephyr, on its own merits, a wise decision considering its collection of downtempo and ambient self-described "soundscapes" would more than likely have gotten lost amidst the manic cut-and-paste vocal house of its more commercial alternative. Recorded over a two-year period across Berlin, New York, and London, its ten tracks still adhere to the usual "anything goes" Jaxx approach, but apart from the acoustic folk loops, hypnotic beats, and bilingual childlike melodies of "Walking in the Clouds" and the chaotic arcade game electro of "Dark Vale," it's an altogether more reflective affair that allows Buxton and Ratcliffe to showcase their unique interpretation of a chillout album. Indeed, only "Where R We Now," a string-soaked collaboration with U.S. jazz baritone José James, would sit comfortably next to the coffee-table arrangements of Zero 7 and Morcheeba, as Jaxx instead revel in their more globetrotting influences, fusing twitchy sitars and brooding Leftfield-esque atmospherics on "Hip Hip Hooray"; blending sci-fi sound effects with flamenco guitars and bossa nova beats on the seductive lounge-pop of "Alkazaar"; and combining their love of ragga, dancehall, and Latin jazz on the melting pot of sounds that is six-minute closer "Ascension." Elsewhere, there are flashes of vocals from Yoko Ono (who appeared on Scars' "Day of the Sunflowers") on the new age-inspired "Sunrising," "Peace of Mind" combines skittering Balearic breakbeats with shimmering '70s Fleetwood Mac guitar hooks, and "Check the Fuse" is an all too short 54-second slice of hazy Americana. The latter's "blink and you'll miss it" running time presents Zephyr's only real problem, as clocking in at just under a rather measly 30 minutes, Buxton and Ratcliffe never really give themselves the opportunity to explore their more ethereal nature. Which is a shame, as while it certainly doesn't contain any potential hits, it's a creative and playful curiosity that adds yet another string to their genre-straddling bow.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:33:16
- Main artists: Basement Jaxx
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: XL Recordings
- Genre: Electronic
2009 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
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