Art Bleek - Another Island - LGNCD001 - Video
PUBLISHED:  Feb 07, 2012
DESCRIPTION:
One afternoon in late 2004, the loungin' A&R were flicking through demo's and as per normal every cd they put in the player was the same old formulas of bland broken beats, mixed with VST plug-in's. Then came the last cd, from the cover no one was expecting much but as they put the first track to play everyone in the room realized that this was something very special. Eighty minutes and nineteen tracks later, loungin' wrote to Arthur Pochon and arranged a meeting in Paris the following week and then promptly signed the young Parisian for a two-album deal. The rest as they say is history....

Starting with the already acclaimed first single taken from the album, Wanderers Creek sees Art show his more down-tempo / broken beat atmospheric side, that oozes with musicality and feeling. After laying down the drums, keys, strings and atmosphere, Arthur takes to the horn to create an original piece of modern day Jazz with a French slant. Next up, Another Island is again another standout with the beautiful voice of Aida Khann subtly flowing on top of the acoustic guitar before the Bossa styled groove takes you. Into the title track; Between Yesterday & Tomorrow and Art takes everything slowly deeper with bubbling atmospherics and Rhodes keys taking you into the more upbeat groove and double bass, which leads you to Arthur's unmistakable horn arrangements. Using modern techniques to compliment a more 'modal' style of playing and just when you think the track is done, Art show's you what arrangement can do, bringing a more funk vibe using fretless bass and punchy drums to bring up the pace. moving on into some hip-hop inspired sounds with; Get Your Weight Up featuring the talents of LA rappers DJPudgeMC & Tha Blacknificent. While most producers try to add a stale hip-hop number to their left of centre album, this shows Art is as much at home making hip-hop beats as he is doing broken. Back into Arthur's more true jazz vibe, Phille's Special Delight, is the kind of track made to loungin' too, with once again a superb arrangement and haunting horns running throughout. And after the deepness, it's time to bring the vibe back to laidback hip-hop; Spicy Cinnamon Featuring B.O.B & Synna is underground hip-hop through and though, with that catch line, you'll have it spinning in your head for weeks to come. Five In The Morning, sees Art go into the four / four with his trademark atmospheric start leading to a walking bassline, that works just as well at five in the afternoon, as it does at five in the morning. With Airgasm, Arthur takes the album even deeper using synth action and percussion to create the mood. Into Dangerous Woman and Arthur show's that you don't need to be from West London to make stand out broken beat tracks. This shows off both the talent of vocalist Charlie Sputnik and Arthur's great writing talent, mixed with one of the standout tunes of 2006. And if dance floor broken beats is not your thing, skip to Early Memory for a slice of the beautiful and subdued, that leads into a summer flavoured groove and a mix of Parisian and oriental flavours featuring the talented Benjamin Degrandsart on strings. Nighthawks At Phillie's takes the whole vibe down with one of the most reflective tracks on the album, again showing off Art's skill as one of today's most talented arrangers and composers, as just when you think you know where the songs going he'll twist and turn it. Coming to the closing stages and Art's Mood, is yet another stand out piece of musicianship. While most modern day producers are content with using samples of strings and beat loops, Art has taken the haunting sounds of live classical strings and mixed them to a mellow understated beat that keeps you compelled to the sounds while being driven along with almost K&D styled groove and fretless bassline. Expect to hear this piece of music in a blockbuster film soon. Last in line comes Terrace, one of Arthur's musts for the album. A slice of reflective sounds that completes what must be one of the stand out albums of 2006 and beyond.

Overall Arthur Pochon has proved that Jazz and Classical inspired sounds are as much a part of modern music as they ever have been. Keeping the listen compelled by maintaining a flawless sound and arrangement. With support coming in from the likes of Jazzanova, Bugz in the Attic, Phil Asher and Patrick Forge to name but a few and great support from the worldwide press from the album sampler, this project can only grow further.

Available on Beatport: http://www.beatport.com/release/between-yesterday-and-tomorrow/17499
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