Rando Arand - Aru EP (Album Review)

There's something unexplainably cool about a man who arrives at a venue with a suitcase full of electronical music devices, which he uses to produce smooth sounds which you can both chill, relax, move your feet and make weird dancing motions to. But that's what Rando Arand, an experimental glitch jazz composer and sound designer based in Tallinn, exactly does with his music. After the well received outsider techno tracks he released in 2019 on the LIITHELI imprint, we seem him returning to the downtempo, ambient and future jazz roots, just like his debut on Asphalt Soliloquies.

Breezy atmospherics, sounds from the nature with chirping grasshoppers, chimes and tubular bell like sounds. What is this? A new age soundtrack from the 80s? But then the percussion and beat kicks in and I'm quickly reminded I'm listening to "August Nights", the folktronic melody vibes of a musical artist, whose whole concept could be summed up as a mixture of electronical versus natural sounds.

The abstract and free flowing approach continues with "Utt" and its companion track "Pea Peal". Broken beats with a nordic nu-jazz element (think of early Nuspirit Helsinki, the more experimental side of Jaga Jazzist, Uusi Fantaasia's first album, or Karl Lindh on Strange Life Records), the phat double bass sounding low end is slapping and eccentric synth stabs keep you alert.

But wait! There's more! "Sepia" offers trip hop beats, fuzzy and pulsating electronical keys with some subtle hints of glitch. In my mind, I'm envisioning this as a fine addition to the legendary "lo-fi beats to study/relax" Youtube channel.

If you're a fan of classical japanese ambient, you can find beauty and melancholy tones in the finishing track "Rohujuuretasand".

Check out "Aru EP" on the artists Bandcamp page

https://randoarand.bandcamp.com/album/aru-ep

From Rivera's Groove Box #443: Uku Kuut - Free Free-e-e-e AO (Admix_M)

An unreleased track from Estonian musician Uku Kuut together with her mom Maryn. They're both deceased now, they had a rough life - with Maryn being exiled and non-favored from Estonia during the Soviet Union occupation. She went with the maiden name Marju Kuut back then and was an established estrada singer (she did an amazing bossa-nova album you can find on Youtube - Marju Kuut & Uno Loop FULL ALBUM, Bossa Nova, 1971, Estonia, USSR). They travelled from Sweden to the US and tried to start a career as soul-funk-r&b producers. They actually owned a super-sweet studio, but because of being foreigners in a total different culture, they did not have the success they hoped for and eventually came back to the freshly independent-gained Estonia in the early 90s. Back home in native land they worked with different projects, including pop music and being studio musicians, producers. Uku Kuut developed ALS and almost full body paralysis, dying in 2017. Maryn resided mostly in Sweden and was really reclusive in her last years, dying april 2022. I ripped this track from an Estonian radio show. I think it's amazing and I hope whoever has the rights to release it, will do so someday in the future. Hopefully! 

From Rivera's Groove Box #442: Giuseppe Scarano - In Your Own

Really loving the latest Giuseppe Scarano EP, it takes skill to flip a sample in such a nice delicate way (Zhane's 1994 cover of Evelyn Champagne King 'Shame').

From Rivera's Groove Box #441: Blankk Transit - Peace Touch

Another alias of talented Chicago deep house producer and musician Darren Brandon. Some of his best works have been recorded under the names of Club Ice ('Manhassett') and Nature Love ('Dance Traxx EP' together with Black Ice Productions).

From Rivera's Groove Box #440: Soundstudio - Track 440

Banging modulations and thumping drums on this 127 beats per minute acid house stomper, produced by Frank Timm, who is best known for his Sound Stream alias.

From Rivera's Groove Box #439: Embezzlement Society - Say Yes

Say yes to good music. 

From Rivera's Groove Box #438: Creative Swing Alliance - In My Arms

Great underground goodness from the Strasbourg duo. So minimal, but very well crafted track, where the strong groove carries the whole track and it grabs your attention. These kind of tunes are the best.

From Rivera's Groove Box #437: Todd Edwards - Steal Your Heart

Todd Edwards brought his unique cut-up style samples and grooves into house music and influenced many, particularly in the UK garage house scene. Absolute legend. This track was released on a 1995 various artist vinyl sampler from New  Jersey's i! Records - 3rd Avenue Project EP. I feel Todd's tracks are the best from his early days.

From Rivera's Groove Box #436: Conspiracy Dubz - All I Need

Conspiracy Dubz is an upcoming hot UK garage talent who is mostly known for his very limited vinyl releases. Very nice tracks, which definitely need a wider release, so all garage heads worldwide can enjoy his music. His productions are serious heavyweight ammo for the crate!

From Rivera's Groove Box #435: Greg Cash - Trax Of Joy

Greg Cash played an important role influencing the funky and deep garage house sound and making it bigger in the UK and US scene, especially with his label Bumpin' City Records. Even when being semi-retired from the music biz, he is still loved by many. But I myself discovered his music from a second hand records yard sale. It was a good day.

From Rivera's Groove Box #434: Barrio Debajo - I Need Ya

Early New York house influenced cut from Phil Asher, most people probably went for the A-side main track, "Gotta Let Yourself Go", which sampled the fabulous "Get Down On Saturday Night" from Oliver Cheatham. Overall described as a sleeper hit from active DJs from that era.

From Rivera's Groove Box #433: Soul Mass Transit System - Feelin Fine

Massive deep bass rumbler from the Warehouse Rave crew who are currently coming very strong in the UK garage house scene. Everyone into the sound definitely need to keep an eye on them. Keep the party going!

From Rivera's Groove Box #432: K-LONE - Snyders

Really enjoying some of those new school UK garage house tracks, super nicely put together skippy beats and sweet chords. Some producers push the sound in a interesting way, although some labels release 100s of tracks sounding rather identical. Still, garage house being strong and alive is one of the best reasons to be alive for a music lover like me!

From Rivera's Groove Box #431: Industry Standard - Justify

Industry Standard produced one of the best UK garage house tracks of all time - 'Shine Bright In The Night'. But this one, which was released originally under their another alias Deep Impact, in 1998, comes very near. I'm really digging the resurgence of the 4x4 US house influenced garage sound in recent years. It's true to the soulful roots of house music spirit.