Cooly G At Juno Download

Review: Round 6 of the Dub Organiser series finally surfaces from the Cooly G vaults for digital consumption! Lead track "Dis Tribal Boy" is an obvious highlight, presenting a more luxurious flex between house and UK Funky than the Scratcha DVA remix that preceded it last year thanks to the interchange between the pressurised trombone and her sultry vox. Just as crucial is the jagged thrust of "Last Night" as schizoid percussive rhythms thrillingly duke it out with darkly harmonised vocals to a backdrop of brooding square bass. Elsewhere "Let U Deep In" also indulges in the trombone sound, laying deep horn parps and rattling UK centric syncopation across a viscous backdrop of cinematic washes.

Review: The promise of Cooly G's releases for Hyperdub et al turns into maddening anticipation as the first taste of her forthcoming album sneaks out months ahead of the game! First up it's "Landscapes", co-produced with Simbad, and utterly devastating in its use of simple elements for maximum effect. A broken beat ticks steadily away under glossy, undulating streams of pads while Cooly herself enchants with her Neneh Cherry style vocal delivery. "It's Serious" sees Cooly linking up with Karizma for a more chunky, beat-driven offering that will slay floors in the same way that Altered Natives' "Rass Out" did some years back.

Review: Hyperdub's year of excellence continues apace with the release of Playing Me, the long awaited debut album from Cooly G. Emerging as a key figure in the UK funky scene some four years ago via some highly prized Dub Organiser CDrs, Cooly's musical progression has been charted via a series of EPs for DVA Music and Hyperdub. On this thirteen track album what is most apparent is the confidence this South London producer has in her own singing, a voice that sounds dipped in pain and anguish at times. At others Cooly utilises her vocal delivery as an integral part of the music, which draws from all manner of UK music history of recent times whilst very much sounding part of her modern house template. Oh and there's a Coldplay cover to end the LP too...