Akabu - The Phuture Ain’t What It Used To Be (Album Review)
Friday, 29 October 2010
Written by Andy Droid
Akabu is the deep house pseudonym of UK Producer/DJ/Remixer Dave Lee. Better known by some of his other monikers (Joey Negro, Jakatta) he has been instrumental in the disco house scene since 1990, being one of the pioneers in using original disco samples and live instruments to fuse a totally new house sound – funky, dancefloor friendly and chilled. Described as “retrospective yet futuristic” and featuring collaborations from such diverse artists as Boomclap Bachelors, Andre Lodemann, Tony Momrelle and Tanya Michelle to name a few, this album is a real tribute to a love of house music spanning decades, and it shows its respect beautifully.
The album opens with the title track 'The Phuture Ain’t What It Used To Be' and straight away comes in with a curve-ball – Sitars set the bed of the intro before Celtic sounding violins join in with the harmony, all of which lead beautifully up to the first drop... And the dancers would love it! Hypnotic, up-tempo and with vocals provided by Joel Edwards (MJ Cole/Chicane/Lamb) this track has a really old school feel, neatly capturing the vibe of the early 90s Detroit & Chicago house scenes.
Guest vocals from Foremost Poets (aka Johnny Dangerous) bring 'Crystallized' alive, providing well timed and well placed stabs and hooks over this acid and analogue inspired dancefloor weapon. Conjuring up images of glitterballs, smoke machines and lasers this track has a massive big-room vibe about it, if it doesn’t become a stalwart of Xmas/NYE house sets I’ll eat my impressively large hat collection!
My next highlight has to be 'You Want It All', an impressively catchy tune featuring Norway's Boomclap Bachelors on vocals that starts very minimally and build to a climax currently being touted by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Laurent Garnier & Groove Armada to name a few! This track is an apt demonstration of the updated Detroit sound – funky and huge. Keep your ears out for this one, it’ll be massive...
Then a switch in tempo with the beautiful ambience of 'A Little Bit Of Kaos'. From the opening sample and pad lines it’s obvious that this tune is going in a different direction and, as it does, it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Trippy ambience structured around filtered synths playing recognisable house rhythms really add to this tune and, for a while at least, it was my favourite on the album.
The next one to grip my ears and brain was 'Feelin’ Nervous'. A true 3am house tune with slight nods towards the more modern house sound this track is more than enough to get a party flowing. From the more traditional synth sounds and structured drops, through the accentuating guitars and out into the touches of new school bass, this piece flows like the smoothest ocean and provides a perfect lead up to what, in my opinion, is the best track on the album, 'Another World'. Featuring Berlins own Andre Lodermann this track is a stripped back, minimal feeling, almost 4-Hero-ish late night beauty. From the moment it starts this tune pulls you forward, leading you towards the most sublime drop on the disc and then on through to the other side. Probably more accessible to most after a few listens it’s worth bearing with – this, to my mind, is the stand out piece of music on the album.
The mood of the album turns for 'Life Is So Strange' featuring Tony Momrelle – front man of Incognito and often compared to the likes of Stevie Wonder. Although there isn’t a lot of variation in this track it does provide a solid, chilled out atmosphere in the mode of Zero 7 and Jazzanova and is still eminently listenable! It provides a welcome intro in its own right to 'Another Generation' which, after its great intro and smooth bass drop, quickly establishes itself as, although formulaic, a bubbly, acid-tinged house tune with one of the most retro saxophone lines I’ve heard in a while...
Wrapping the album up by revisiting 'The Phuture...' in a more modern feeling mix (The Final Chapter), Akabu show that just because you’ve been around a while doesn’t mean you’ve lost it! It has been said that, “...Akabus journey encapsulates the highlights of the history of house in a new light and mesmerising narrative.” And I agree, this is a great album that will appeal to purists and experimenters alike.
Akabu's 'The Phuture Ain’t What It Used To Be' is out now on Z Records, catalogue number ZEDDCD020.
Stereoboard Album Rating – 9/10
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My next highlight has to be 'You Want It All', an impressively catchy tune featuring Norway's Boomclap Bachelors on vocals that starts very minimally and build to a climax currently being touted by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Laurent Garnier & Groove Armada to name a few! This track is an apt demonstration of the updated Detroit sound – funky and huge. Keep your ears out for this one, it’ll be massive...
