CD REVIEWS
In an industry crowded with artists, connecting with an audience on a debut album is an admirable feat. To gain supporters, energize a community and land a record deal after one release is truly remarkable. This is the position Lawrence-based emcee Approach finds himself, and he hopes to solidify that status with the forth-coming twelve-inch Funk Reaction, set to drop November 18th on the New York label Coup d'etat. Featuring a re-mix from Dan "The Automator" Nakamura's Rondo
APPROACH - FUNK REACTION Releases Nov. 18
Brothers, as well as a re-mix of his LP's title track "Ultra Proteus" by Nezbeat of the group Archetype, Approach attempts to elevate his career to the next level.
"Coup d'etat heard 'Ultra Proteus.' We ended up doing a joint 50-50 deal for it. They're putting it out on a national level. They brought the re-mixers in, and we're going to release it together and see what happens," says the Kansas City native, who with Brent Lippincott, owns the local record label Datura. "We've got the Deep Thinkers release in November, and the Coup d'etat re-release of my album in January 2004 - we're just establishing ourselves." While most fans of hip-hop would consider collaborating with Nakamura, whose work on Kool Keith's "Dr. Octagon" project made him a legend, to be the apex of a career, Approach's faith in his producer Ben the Scratch Rat has both artists' focused on the future.
"We're branching out," says Approach. "We've got cats like Johnny Quest affiliated with us, Mac Lethal, who is working on a record...we're just trying to build the name, build the unity and expand who is under our family tree." Datura records and Project Groove will host a CD release
party on Nov.14 at The Pool Room.
—Josh Powers
Host of "Obscured by Beats"
Every Saturday night, 7-9 PM
Grade: A+
BEULAH - YOKO
Released Sept. 9
San Francisco-based Beulah has been maintaining their balance on the wave of the ever-changing indie rock tide. Yoko, their fourth full-length album, is a moody blend of toe-tapping melodies, alt-country-tinged ballads, and darker, introspective lyrics — a distinct change from the sunny pop sound that made their last album, The Coast is Never Clear, so popular. Yoko is definitely a more diverse attempt for the group of six, and a better orchestrated one as well. Fans of the cheerier-sounding Beulah will be tempted to stick to the first half of the album, but don't overlook the more mature and elegant Beulah that is emerging throughout.
*Natalie Yeh*
DJ, 3-5 pm
Grade: B+
KRAFTWERK - TOUR DE FRANCE SOUNDTRACKS
Released Aug.19
Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider, along with a rotating cast of others, make Kraftwerk, one of modern music's most revolutionary bands. For four decades these steely Germans have been experimenting with electronic music, paving the way for hip-hop and techno, and forever changing pop music. Tour De France Soundtracks, Kraftwerk's first new album in 20 years, celebrates the cycling event's 100th anniversary, and revisits their 1983 single of the same name. The album is a wonderful return to Kraftwerk's lush, machine-obsessed style and subject matter. It is beautiful, and essential listening for fans of hip-hop, electronic music, and all things modern.
—Chris Shively
Host of "Superdisco Galactica"
Every Friday night, 7-9pm
Grade: B