| Author
|
Kick Bong ::: A Cup of Tea ? (Ultra Vista rec. - 2005)
|
KakoOlalaJwal
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
116
Posts :
2565
Posted : Apr 14, 2005 15:18
|
Kick Bong ::: A Cup of Tea ?
Label: Ultra Vista Records
Catalog#: UV09
Format: CD
Country: France
Released: Feb 2005
01- Voice of Resurrection
02- Progress in Happiness
03- Little Fairy
04- Darkeion
05- Cosmic Flute
06- Heavy Machine
07- Magical Sense
08- Trace
09- Strange Voices
10- A Fresh Air in My Head
Franck 'Kick Bong' Jousselin has always been more or less close to the Music.. Drummer since the age of 12, he met the electronic culture in 1995 and quickly dived into it. He will be involved in many projets, bands or associations with deejays (Serious Bass, Tarace Boulba, Yvan Hio, Yop Soma, Marabunta and since 2003 with the Secret Side collective and LDB System, famous ambient-trance crews). Franck started composing in 1996 and five years later seven of his creations were released.. Spirit Zone initialy (eh yeah.. on various chilled compilations), then Candyflip (VA - Mountain High) and Sub Machine' sublabel Clima (VA - Green Instant)..
And now, we can enjoy a full length album that has been released by the french label Ultra Vista, much appreciated for its Electr'Oriental Delight serie, and promised to a brighter future if they keep their dynamic.
The artwork is made with warm colours and is a montage based on a clock picture. It's looking good, and the font used is hehehe the same as in my website..
Now let's listen to it..
The album opens on a much filtered SfX spoken words sample which leads out onto a nice rise before a 4:4 rhythmics comes. This is already an indication on what we can expect from this album : mid-tempo vibrations, or call it ambient-trance if you prefer.. The musical background is quite complex as usual, combining many elements, but in a clever way. "Progress In Happiness" (T2) starts with a rise on some phat dubbed broken beats.. After a while strikes quite suddenly a steady kick which is rolling a little bit. Later, Franck plays a fantastic loop, that I thought to have heard already in an old Techno tune.. But no, everything is 100% home-made in this album. This track is just stunning. "Little Fairy" (T4) opens on a filtered baby voice and very floating atmosphere. Then come some subtle and soft rythmics accompanied with a kind of xylophone sound..Later I think Franck plays his little string bass on some looped chords raising the hypnotic touch of the song. The next track "Darkeion" starts directly with a bizarre kick + snare combination.. I like the way the sounds are "designed", and the title of the track becomes obvious. The atmosphere goes even a little bit scary, and a fantastic bassline provides a good groove. Later he adds some percussions, ending to make me just love that track.. The "Cosmic Flute" (T6) is now coming.. I've read about it here and there and it looks like many chillers dig this one in particular a lot.. Well they are right.. The way it opens is just great. And Franck leads us to something slightly more celestial with a constant slow progression.. The build-up is as usual very smart, and the track goes up and down to end up in a contrasting darker way.. That introduces "Heavy Machine" (T6) which sounds once again quite dark. In the booklet I don't really understand if the guy called Loic plays bass on all the tracks, but if he is in this one, well I say good job, guy. It's just great and holds up perfectly the complex build-up of the track. Music for some bonged heads.. "Trace" (T7) starts with some piano, used in a minimalist way while the background rises slowly.. Again, smart complexity is the point. Some sounds here remind me the Twilight Zone (don't ask me why..). The flow is quite deep and slow, and the way the ryhtmics are set up in the third minute just mind-blowing. Then, "Strange Voices" (T9) begins with a great introduction and delivers once again the 4:4 structure, here in an exciting way again.. The combination with the sonic elements is quite effective, psychedelic details in the way I love it. Franck adds some percussions (including darbooka here) in the second half of the track. Really good work again. The closing track (T10) is also very exciting.. Unsual sounds with easy easy percussions, and again a great bassline.. The bluid-up is slow.. making the track even more hypnotic.. The thing is.. It does not end like that hehe.. Franck brings us a great rise, bursting into some Jungle rythmics at the beginning.. and then even adds a quite fast big kick. The whole is full of contrasts and easily enjoyable with some boogie in the bones.. Great ending !
That's it.. I was very excited for several reasons when I first read that Franck 'Kick Bong' was about to release an album. One of them was the previous tracks released on compilations that are all worth a listen, definitaly.. An other was that the album would be released by Ultra Vista. A label that is doing some great work. I wish the guys the best for the future, and don't worry, if they keep doing it like that.
In my playlist are tracks 2, 4, 9 and 10, but there's not a track i don't like in particular..
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/ult/ult1cd009.html
http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4623
Thanks for reading !
Enjoy it with sweets, cakes and of course... A cup of tea ! 
Cheerz
  .
.
"Get your dose of BoOgie !"
http://www.bunkum-records.com
http://www.myspace.com/zekakoo |
|
|
|
Mr.Hanky
Ace Ventura
Started Topics :
21
Posts :
1088
Posted : Apr 17, 2005 16:12
|
Quite an enjoyable Downbeat album indeed...
I like the "organic" and sometimes abit dirty feel in the sound and production.
the whole album flows seemlessly and has some good and memorable melodies.
some tracks with a 4/4 kick are slow yet actually quite danceable.
some tracks are more jazzy oriented and have a sexy groove.overall there are alot of kinds of chillout here ,but it still sounds like one complete package for sure.
Only one complaint i have:
The OverUse of "Distorted Reality" samples,which are present in many of the tracks or at least in the first part of the album.
It just pisses me off a bit, because everything else in the album has an original style and sound,so i do think it could have managed without the Distorted bank ,and thus maintaining a 100% original feel.
Nevertheless it really is a minor complaint which i doubt many listeners will even notice,
and i sure recommend this album  |
|
|
|
jaramogi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
918
Posted : Apr 18, 2005 09:45
|
aaah, i love this cd  cant wait for more kickbong tracks |
|
|
|
frankee
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
67
Posted : May 5, 2005 13:10
|
|
The Green Channel
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
1025
Posted : May 12, 2005 23:54
|
Booouuuuinnggg, that what this music does to my head, wonderful, 8/10... Original.
"Love is a way of life"
(Gaia, Love, Nature, Shamanism (.2A.y.0a.hu.1a.sc.2a.), Terence McKenna) |
|
|
|
|
