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| Weally Excellent |
 By: Orr |
Though there are numerous purists who would probably scream “blasphemy” at the prospect of underground music being subjected to the trials of mainstream pop and all kinds of retro irony, in reality it isn’t such a bad thing and in some ways it successfully lifts dance music out of the over serious, chin stroking and cheesy paths that it had taken. Today I’m listening to an album that truly reflects these pop and tongue in cheek influences being effortlessly fused with top-notch dance floor music. The artists are The Ones, the album is self-titled, the label is the intriguing A Touch Of Class -- ATOC for short -- and it is chock full of club wrecking tunes to send your partay into an outer orbit. “Gosh, that sounds weally excellent,” I hear you all gasp in unison. And you’re right, this album is weally excellent, in evewy way.
The Ones are Jojo Americo, Nashom Wooden & Paul Alexander and they handle a lot of the writing duties, the singing and the hard work of performing. A Touch Of Class is also the name of the production duo behind this fine piece of work and it is comprised of Oliver Stumm and Domie Clausen, who had club hits in the ‘90s with tracks like “Nobody’s Business,” and “Satisfied,” as H2O. They are also renowned as being the guys who discovered Scissor Sisters, and they dj all over the place, all the time.
This album is – to coin a phrase from one of their tunes – absolutely flawless right through. It’s a solid fusion of disco, electro and Italo grooves, garnished with a pinch of camp and a lot of vocoder. “Picture Perfect rocks very hard, as does “Flawless.” “Blast” is inspired, “When We Get Together,” is driven on a seriously rocking bass line and has a killer vocal while “Superstar,” is designed specifically for slaying parties. Their cover of Italo and WBMX classic, “I’m Going To Go,” by Jago is excellent, and it features a bass line that recalls Bobby Konders’ mystic, deep house classic, “The Poem.”
Records like this really carry on the tradition of dance music, by accessing the spirit of the classics, utilizing song writing and arrangement skills, while still retaining that energetic quality that keeps the dance floor heaving. It drops on March 4th so in the mean time seek out the A Touch Of Class label compilations, A Touch Of Class Sucks and A Touch Of Class Still Sucks. They’re chocka with kicky tunes that will get your weekend party vibe nicely fueled up.
That’s it from me. Out once again.
Orr
http://www.discogs.com/label/A+Touch+Of+Class+Recordings+(US)
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ones,+The
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Oliver+Stumm
http://www.discogs.com/artist/H2O
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Scissor+Sisters
http://www.discogs.com/release/107983
http://www.discogs.com/release/2092
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