BubbleTease Communications At Juno Download

Review: With little in the way of fanfare, Maurice Fulton's masterful Bubbletease Communications releases Umbeya, a second Fulton produced album from Sheffield dwelling Tanzanian singer Mim Suleiman. The singer was introduced to the world via a couple of Fulton produced 12?s and the full lengthTungi - all released on Gerd Janson's esteemed Running Back imprint in 2010. If the combination of Mim and Maurice sounded strange on paper, it sounded glorious in full flow, with her distinctive singing voice ducking between English and Swahili over some of Fulton's most effortlessly effervescent productions which veered in typically diverse directions. Umbeya follows in this manner, with the deep basement vibes of "Chuki" and the flatulent disco of "Msimamo" standouts among the ten track set, while the title track evokes the rhythmic spirit of some of Fulton's work as Ladyvipb for Nuphonic. Highly recommended.

Review: For the latest chapter in Maurice Fulton's BubbleTease Communications Classics series, the Sheffield-based maverick unfurls a pair of previously unheard remixes of soul chanteuse Nicole Willis. Unlike his shamelessly celebratory remixes of Willis' previous single, "Holding On", these "Feeling Free" versions offer deeper, more dubbed-out thrills. Where those were built around one of Fulton's typically rubbery electric bass riffs, these versions wrap dub-laden soul guitars and dreamy organ chords around hefty analogue bass pulses. It's the combination of sub-bothering analogue bass and the tight, cowbell-heavy percussion that makes these mixes so attractive - check the Dub for the full wonky dub disco effect.

Review: Trust Maurice Fulton to surprise us. Having seemingly abandoned his Syclops pseudonym following the critical and commercial success of the superb 2008 full-length, I've Got My Eye On You, he's resurrected it for a surprise sophomore album. Predictably, A Blink of An Eye is a bit good. Picking up where the previous album left off, it delivers a warped fusion of titanium-plated electronics, leftfield acid jack, freestyle jazz flourishes and intergalactic mutant disco. Formidably twisted but hugely enjoyable, it gleefully charges off in many different directions, mixing shirts-off anthems (see the brilliant "Sarah's E with Extra P"), with curious percussion jams (the afro-centric "Jump Bugs") and curiously blissful, Boof-ish excursions ("5 In"). Stellar stuff.

Review: In the dim and distant past, Tamara Barnett-Herrin formed part of Freeform Five, Anu Pilai's "anything goes" freaky funkateers. Since those days, she's fallen off the radar a little - presumably because she was penning this debut solo full-length in cahoots with BubbleTease main man Maurice Fulton. Born To Burn will please those who enjoyed Barnett-Herrin's work with Freeform Five. Musically, it places her evocative, emotion-rich vocals at the centre of an unusual and interesting mix of sounds and styles. There are delay-laden moments of downtempo brilliance, squishy synth-funk workouts, jazz-flecked contemporary trip-hop hits, smooth jazz-funk cuts and fuzzy, dancefloor-focused jams - all bearing the sonic trademarks of that most innovative of producers, Maurice Fulton.