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STRESS

Leon Phal

Stress Killer

    With his state-of-the-art quintet, saxophonist Leon Phal revisits soul and electronica in an enthusiastic jam, bringing a French touch to his brand of jazz, on his second full length album and his first for Heavenly Sweetness. Picking up from his last album 'Dust to Stars' (Kyudo Records, 2021), 'Stress Killer' delves even deeper into the area between nightclub and jazz club culture.

    As a graduate of Lausanne's Haute Ecole de Musique, he's a key artist within the much spoken about French new jazz scene. He's joined by his faithful quintet of Arthur Alard (drums), Remi Bouyssiere (double bass), Gauthier Toux (keyboards) and Zacharie Ksyk (trumpet).

    Embracing the desire to make people dance by approaching jazz as club music, "F*ck Yeah" highlights that goal perfectly. With its nods to the techno pioneers of Detroit and the deep house of Chicago. On the J Dilla inspired "Idylla", we have the first feature on the album, coming in from Heavenly Sweetness / Pura Vida label mate, K.O.G. A behind the beat groove allows K.O.G's spoken word to sit over Gauthier's keys, intertwining beautifully together with the rest of the track.

    More mellow and reflective moments are to be found courtesy of "Balanced Action", showing just how great Leon's sax lines sound doubled with Zacharie's trumpet.

    TRACK LISTING

    Side 1
    1. Vibing In Ay
    2. Fuck Yeah
    3. Idylla Feat. K.O.G
    4. Balanced Action
    5. Something Inside Feat. Lorine Chia

    Side 2
    1. Stress Killer
    2. Bongo 113
    3. Naima
    4. Same Human
    5. Clarity

    Pretty Sneaky slips deep down the dub-hole for a sweet 4 tracker on Private Stress (Brussels). Refined stuff falling between the cracks of dubstep, digi-dub, techno and slo-mo bass.

    Pretty Sneaky is slowly carving out quite a reputation with a super-solid back catalogue of releases next to some ultra dope radio shows and DJ appearances. 

    STAFF COMMENTS

    Matt says: Tectonic bass movements and trouser shakers to warm up the woofers at your local soundsystem bash.

    TRACK LISTING

    A1
    A2
    B1
    B2

    ‘SEE HOW’ is Pete’s first solo album since 2007’s ‘You, Me and Bill Withers’ (“imagine if Gil Evans and Miles Davis had written for the band in Trumpton.” Uncut Magazine). ‘SEE HOW’ explores the life Pete has lived since then - what it's like to be a divorced, homeless, fifty-year-old father of two with a guitar and a head full of great songs. Pete’s earlier work received much critical acclaim, but ‘SEE HOW’ contains a truthfulness and grit that only a decade of difficult times can produce. Although the album explores themes of emotional upheaval and life-changing events, which should be familiar to many people Pete’s age, his lyrics always manage a wry smile at life’s vicissitudes. All this is set to seductive melodies melded with lilting arrangements. It’s sophisticated songwriting taking in folk, country and pop, amongst which, in the past, has seen Pete compared to Squeeze and The Beatles, as well as vocally compared to Stephen Duffy and Kevin Rowland at his quiet best. ‘See How’ also features some very fine guitar playing – playing that has seen Pete in high demand as a session guitarist. See How’ also includes a cover of Pharrell's 'Happy'. Aside from his solo output Pete has played guitar with the High Llamas for many years and worked with Lee Hazlewood, Petula Clark, Nick Lowe, Shirley Collins, The Lost Ladies Of Folk and Harry Hill among others. 

    TRACK LISTING

    Just Like A Song
    Cold Llamas
    God Bless The Poor
    Rien De Rien
    To His Recumbent Infants
    Happy 
    Blues For Bob & Cliff
    Words Idle Words
    The Complainant
    Baybee Dayz

    Stress is the duo of Alan Rider and Phil Clarke from West Midlands, England formed in 1981. Alan was editor of Coventry fanzine "Adventures in Reality", and Phil was editor of Nuneaton fanzine "Damn Latin." Stress combined electronic rhythms and keyboards with bass guitar, vocals, percussion, and cut-up samples. They created catchy electronic pop songs that fused accessible & experimental elements with a pointed lyrical edge in the vein of Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode and Joy Division.

    Their first two albums were cassette releases on Alan’s own Adventures in Reality Recordings label. "Help Comes Too Late" in 1982 followed by "Restraint" in 1984. In July 1985 Stress released "The Big Wheel" album and appeared on numerous cassette and vinyl compilations worldwide. More gigs and press followed and the album took the Number 1 spot in the NME’s electronic charts. Stress split in September 1985 and reformed briefly in 1991 to record two tracks.

    “Conspiracy Theory” is an 11 song ‘best of’ compilation album featuring tracks from the first two cassette albums with "The Prayer Clock" from Third Mind Records' ‘Life At The Top’ compilation LP and "Tear It Down" from the ’Compulsory Overtime’ compilation LP. Each song has been carefully remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.


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