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Cat: (CRCD030) |
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Producer and vinyl obsessive David Borsu's musical journey has reached a milestone
with the release of his debut album, 'Insight'. As a child of the 'fiery city' of Liege in Belgium,
Borsu's musical influences mirror those of the diverse cultural aspects of this paradoxical
metropolis. Situated at the crossroads of Northern and Southern Europe, Liege is a place
where old meets new, and historical influences sit comfortably along side modern
developments.
Borsu's musical heritage reflects this. Inspirations range from 70's fusion, soundtracks,
house, drum'n'bass, and broken beat. Consequently his heroes are as diverse as fellow
countryman, and pioneering jazz-fusion keyboardist and producer, Marc Moulin (of Placebo
fame); film score genius John Barry; US house stalwarts Blaze; drum'n'bass turned future jazz
duo 4-Hero; and fractured beat don Kaidi Tatham. Borsu has successfully combined all these
great influences to deliver his own unique sound. Much more than just jamming with bass and
guitar over electronically forged beats, he has created a subtle live feel within fourteen very
fresh sounding and electrifying cuts.
As the opening track suggests, 'Insight' is a collection of 'records of varied character' which
benefit not only from Borsu's understated production methods, but from some highly choice
collaborations too. The lush, 40's style vocals of Damia Da Costa kick things off perfectly
on 'Late Night Swing' and convey a more broken soul flavour on 'Syncopassion'; Olu
Butterfly delivers her own brand of politically charged 'urban juju poetry' on 'Mama
Nature'; and Fertile Ground's leading lady Navasha Daya drops her trademark vocals on the
electro-funk of 'Move'.
Elsewhere splintered break beats combine with well-honed trumpet solos, sax riffs and
dirty bass-lines. 'Nocturne' has a South American feel and features Billy Holiday style
samples; 'Reminiscent' is steeped in a Placebo influenced fusion sound; 'Hosanna' is a gritty
funk workout with gospel-tinged vocals; 'East Beaumont' takes its cue from afro and broken
beat in equal measure; 'Mannequin Mankind' is a heavy, twisted dance floor bomb; ' Hustle
The Funk? is a scratched up club killer; 'Coltrance' seems to be part LSD experiment and
part Alice Coltrane tribute; and 'Way Of Life' comes off like a lost Maigret soundtrack. And
after all that there are still the remixes of the single, 'Move', to shake your rump to courtesy of
New Zealand's Mark de Clive-Lowe and Borsu himself!
'Insight' offers just that into one man's musical history, and a joining of dots between past,
present and future. Fans of fusion, funk and forward thinking dance music will be equally
elated by an album rich in diversity and not afraid to push boundaries. |
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| Tracklisting |
- Late Night Swing
- Nocturne
- Reminiscent
- Mama Nature listen
- Hosanna listen
- East Beaumont
- Move
- Mannequin Mankind listen
- Syncopassion
- Hustle the Funk
- Coltrance
- Way of Life
- Move (Mark De Clive Lowe Remix)
- Move (Bruckells Remix)
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