The Crazy Serum - kat-man-don't
This is an album you can relax to - definitely! Lie down somewhere comfortable and float away...
The album is a journey through atmospheric sounds and cultures. It falls in the realm of ambient chill out dance music - think Cafe Del Mar/Buddha Bar series influence by The Ozric Tenticles to get an idea.
My favourite tune is Raja than Life which has some brilliant sound effects and atmosphere. The first track on the album sets the mood, slowly building with keyboards and some nice delay guitar into a bluesy rhythm. Track 3 is the title track which changes tack a little into a folksy style whilst It's Up to You is a mellow hip hop beat.
The songs are quite long - the longest is 6.16 mins (Track 1: "Live a Little (Anyway)". The album transists from the mellow ambient tracks through bluesy moments to quite moody ("It's Up to You") and on from that the rave beat in "So Lonely".
The main feelings that come across are dreamy/funky/flowing and interesting!
Rebecca Fludgate --- www.dolfinmusic.com
"From Here To There (The Journey)
- kat-man-don't
This album is the second from Gary (aka Kat Man Don’t) and it shows how his creativity has evolved over the last 2 years or so. The songs are full of subtle instrumentation with Gary playing most of the instruments and producing the album himself.
Synthesisers, spainish guitar, (Road to Kantara,) semi-acoustic and electric guitars, acoustic and electric bass and percussion all feature on the album and Gary also does all the vocals. There is a distinct change in direction from his first album “The Crazy Serum” with more focus on funked up grooves than on the chilled out style of before although there are still elements of Buddha Bar style production throughout the album. The songs are based around funk/jazz riffs and rhythms with excellent sound effects thrown in for good measure. To me it is chilled out funk with the odd twist here and there…
What is notable is the skill with which Gary orchestrates, arranges and produces the music, which are skills he is now offering to other musicians through his own studio www.KMDstudio.co.uk
Track 5 on the album, “Cool Smoothy Blueness” is one of my favourites. It has a strong bass hook and the message of the song poignantly reminds us of the simple wonders of the world.
The album is true to its title and carries you to far off places and back again. The artwork on the CD also deserves a mention – original and well produced – visit Pentangled Designs www.pentangled.co.uk
Rebecca Fludgate - October 2007 --- www.dolfinmusic.com