|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LP
|
|
BEWITH 051LP
|
Alan Hawkshaw (piano/Hammond) and Shadow's drummer Brian Bennett are responsible for some of the slickest, funkiest and most sought-after library records ever made in the UK, particularly ones recorded on the legendary KPM label. Their work has now become the go-to place for sampling in music today. Artists such as Dilla, Nas, and the xx, right through to the billion-selling Kanye and Drake have taken Hawkshaw's and Bennett's immaculate beat-driven soundscapes for their own usage. Their new album, Full Circle, in a full, iconic KPM cover, is a return to the laidback jazz-funk that helped Alan and Brian demonstrate their library chops. The album is classic Hawkshaw/Bennett. It swings, it grooves, moves, and thrills with a flair these two have perfected over years. Standout tracks such as "Hole In One", "In The Clouds", "Interchange", "Oasis", "On The Nile" and "Corcovado" are no mere excursions in nostalgia, for they carry lots of deft studio work for which many a producer would give their right arm. Hawkshaw's arrangements allow the drums, guitar, bass, strings, Hammond, flute and brass to swirl elegantly around the 12 original tracks; a masterclass in recording. Cut by Pete Norman, housed in a beautifully designed Richard Robinson sleeve and pressed by Record Industry in Holland, this release has been afforded the care and attention it rightly deserves. Essential. 180 gram vinyl.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
BEWITH 046LP
|
2022 restock; Be With Records presents a reissue of Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett's Synthesis, originally released in 1974. The "vivid contemporary sounds for a fresh visual image" make up the now-canonized Synthesis. These two greats go deep; the end result is a synth concept record of sorts. It's an essential companion piece to their Synthesizer And Percussion LP (1974). Like most of Be With's favorite library records, Synthesis has that gloriously funky "weird electronic music" vibe without ever being inaccessible. With the ARP Odyssey at the fore, Hawkshaw and Bennett have created a blissed-out soundscape laid back in all the right places and somehow also heavy on the funk. It's a throbbing, proto-G-Funk sound that's found on many of these low-lit basement workouts. Take the ice-cool "Alto Glide", a sunset-funk highlight with an electro-flute refrain that conjures those dreamier Dre/DJ Quick instrumentals from '91 to '92. Stereolab, Koushik and all those Ghost Box artists were clearly listening closely. The equally relaxed "Mermaid" glides effortlessly with soft, shimmering piano, understated percussion and kaleidoscopic synths. With these two soft-focus closing tracks allowing the LP to float away over the horizon, the preceding ten tracks have a more insistent, neck-snapping rhythm section to back the synth overload. Highlights include the head-nod funk of "Getting It Together" and the synth break in "The Executive", which informed classic video game soundtracks. For once Be With really is stuck for words to describe just how good this record is; best just to listen. Be With has worked with the hallowed KPM to re-issue ten of our favorites from across the KPM 1000 Series and the Themes International Music catalogue, currently under KPM stewardship. Whether it's killer soul-funk, sweet jazz-samba, scuzzed-up guitars or accidental Balearic beauty, these records include some of the most innovative work from some of the most talented composers and musicians of the 20th century. These records were never readily available, being originally released as a ready-made, affordable alternative to commissioning music for television and radio. Consequentially the originals have been unobtainable for decades by all but the most dedicated collectors. The audio for all ten re-issues comes from the original analog tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. The same care has been taken with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity. 180 gram vinyl.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
BEWITH 050LP
|
Be With Records present a reissue of Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett's Synthesizer and Percussion, originally released in 1974. Released in the same year as Synthesis (BEWITH 046LP, 2018) on KPM, 1974's Synthesizer and Percussion is its companion piece. "This record features the many distinctive sounds of the ARP Synthesizer plus percussion in various moods and tempos" is the even-more-underwhelming-than-usual library record sales pitch for Hawkshaw and Bennett's second collection of what is basically minimal G-funk, with overtones of primitive acid house. This is ridiculously good. Synthesizer and Percussion is one of Hawkshaw and Bennett's wilder joints and eons ahead of its time. Bennett's tough drums provide the underpinnings for the prominent bass, keys and bubbling synths high up in the mix, alongside Hawkshaw's deranged clavinet-funk-rock. There are heavenly break loops galore. Opener "Mon Amour" is ultra-smooth funk, all inter-weaving melodic lines whilst the seminal "Oddball" is an incredible hard electro strut with a knocking break. "Mile High Swinger" is a tranquil Spaghetti Western whistling theme over double tempo rhythmic movement and the pulsating "Auto Pilot" has a percussive groove elevated by electric piano and synthesizer. Check "Driving Force", "Home Run" and "Pacesetter" for electroid prog-funk dripped in acid squelch. All five final tracks are beatless synth workouts, because they can. Be With has worked with the hallowed KPM to re-issue ten of our favorites from across the KPM 1000 Series and the Themes International Music catalogue, currently under KPM stewardship. Whether it's killer soul-funk, sweet jazz-samba, scuzzed-up guitars or accidental Balearic beauty, these records include some of the most innovative work from some of the most talented composers and musicians of the 20th century. These records were never readily available, being originally released as a ready-made, affordable alternative to commissioning music for television and radio. Consequentially the originals have been unobtainable for decades by all but the most dedicated collectors. The audio for all ten re-issues comes from the original analog tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. The same care has been taken with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity. 180 gram vinyl.
|