Review: The Rurals - Reinterpretations (2003)

For some time now, especially in recent months, the global lounge and deep house scene has seen a rapid growth like no other. Maybe it's going to be the next big passing fad as the endless streams of 'Chillout' and useless 'Ibiza <insert hip name here>' compilations attack record store shelves with trendy packaging, mainstream names and infinite helpings of other useless twaddle that bears no markings on the truth of the scene. It'll probably go much the same way as other recent fads have, Garage, Trance and Punk/Metal to name but a few. It's when a genre gets to this size stage that you become more frustrated in your search for the truth (ie: to find the genuine records that move YOU rather than the garbage pumped out to make a quick buck that we see in all scenes of music).

Maybe these are the musings of an aging music crustie, i don't know. In my years as a DJ and music fan i've spun all kinds of styles at shows across the country and nothing quite touches me or moves me in quite the same way as this genre does. Maybe it's because it's not so impatient with you. It's more mature and grown up, maybe a natural progression from my days in the early 90's sporting a visor, a boiler suit and coked out of my face raving to hardcore and gabba. It's calming it's soothing, it's soulful and jazzy. The Rural's can be generally applied to all of the above, especially in the sense of the last few points raised. Reinterpretations is an album that's so cool, it could freeze ice cubes.

The Rurals are a collective originally founded by Andy Compton and Pete Morris, later enlisting the services of the amazingly talented vocalist Marie aka 'Tweek' and also Pete Middleton, saxophonist Charlie Hearnshaw, and DJ-cum-remixer Onlymatt. This new album from them is not so much new material, rather a best of compilation. And very welcome it is too as for a Rurals fan such as myself, i was unfortunate to miss out on their earlier releases which are difficult to find now without some sort of deep scouring through moth-ridden vinyl racks at the local plastic audio plateer hostelry.

Reinterpritaions gathers together the best of their works since the groups intial formation in the early 90's and features 10 fantastic jazz-fuelled, rhodes-riddled soulful classics delivered in their remix form, but also carrying their unique style. The album does have a great feel to it where it can be played anytime, but they chose the best time of year to release it. For me, i love to listen to this on late Summer evenings, relaxing in the garden with a cold drink taking in the last few rays of the sun. This makes for perfect relaxing music, rather than simply sticking on one of the aforementioned compilation disasters i mentioned earlier. Favourite tracks for me are the simply divine Sweeter Sounds (Cue Kids Dub), which rounds off the CD perfectly and contains one of the lushest pieces of organ work i've ever heard. Also worthy of star status on this CD is the excellent Make Ammends (Harley & Muscle Remix), although a slightly more uptempo and housier beat, it's hard to listen to and not enjoy it. 'Tweek' has a sexy, soulful voice that just melts you in to submission and you find yourself in a state of bliss as the album progresses.

Overall, this album has been expertly put together. Although consisting entirely of remixes of their work, it DOES work, and has been constructed so well that you can actually listen to the whole album in one go rather than pick out a select number of tracks that you like best. This is an album for all you lovers of Summer who want something decent to listen to rather than (again) a nasty mainstream 'Chillout' etc compilation. This Summer you will find it difficult to beat an album of this ilk that can outdo it. Reinterpretations is an album you simply cannot afford to miss.

Check it out.

FINAL SCORE: 10/10

http://www.therurals.com

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Last edited by Mystic Slippers on 07-15-2003 at 12:38 AM

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any album worth writing such a long review for must be worth it.

going dooown...

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