ZENITH CAFE
Taking the instrumental track, Got Carter from their debut
album Caldo/Freddo and giving it a rap makeover, UK dance
duo Airbiscuit have injected a healthy adrenaline shot to
an already impressive track.
As one of the more standout moments of the album, Got Carter
was a blend of 70s sax breaks, funky guitar stabs and squelchy
big-beat breaks. The introduction of a politically infused
rap performance from upcoming artist Rez 1, adds a whole new
dimension.
Rez 1, an eighteen year old rapper from London, makes a fine
debut performance here. The collaboration blending together
with impressive results, the hard edged vocal performance
sitting comfortably against the funky/jazzy backing track.
On the whole, Rez 1 comes across an artist of integrity and
experience beyond his years. While the political message is
undeniable and the lyrical flow comes through crystal clear
and uncompromisingly, theres a few occasions of clunky unpolished
lyricism that while not detracting a great deal from the quality
of the overall track, just make you realise that this is an
artist with potential rather than an artist who is completely
there yet.
Still an impressive release though with an effect similar
to the first Unkle album in the way they collaborated with
various vocalists against fully formed instrumental musical
compositions. Theres a similar comparison that can be made
with, Faithless, but while that band use unbelievably cheesy
trance tracks and some of the worst lyrical raps in the history
of music to
similar effect, Airbiscuit and Rez 1 have crafted a track
thats intelligent, interesting and actually deserves the level
of widescale exposure that Faithless constantly get.
Another Airbiscuit release of undeniable quality and a collaboration
that shows a willingness to take things in interesting new
directions.
Airbiscuit is the brainchild of quirky production duo BooBoo
Johnson and Phillip Stone. Originally from Cambridge, Airbiscuit
were founded in 2001 with a simple mission - to create quality
dance music with widespread appeal, irrespective of genre.
BooBoo Johnson began his musical career drumming with numerous
rock bands across the country, before a chance visit to seminal
London nightspot Turnmills changed his musical vision for
good. Phillip Stone, a succesful guitarist and vocalist, has
worked as a sound engineer and producer before turning his
hand to dance music production in the late 90s. The pair spent
much of last year writing and producing their debut LP Caldo/Freddo,
from
which comes their already acclaimed single Lately. At the
Miami Winter Music Conference, Airbiscuit experienced a phenomenal
response to lead album tracks. Lately and Sublime, the former
being a firm favourite with more discerning Balearic club
DJs. DJ support has come from the likes of DJ Pathaan, Stoned
Asia and Lenny Ibizarre.
By the close of 2003, the band had earned a coveted place
on M8 magazines and Hard To Find Records Unsigned Artists
CD, being dubbed by HTFR as One of the strongest tracks on
the album... In 2004, Lately has already picked up support
from key UK media with playlisting so far on (among others)
Capital
(with play on the Ali B show), Galaxy, AOL, Passion FM, Takeover
Radio and Olympic, plus spot plays across dozens of regional
stations. February saw the media campaign gather pace with
the single being featured in Hit Sheet and Record Of The Day,
while the first public airing of the Lately video went out
on national TV in February, when BBCs award winning Working
Lunch programme visited Zenith Cafe. The video has been playlisted
by MTV and Home Choice/Video networks, as well as being shown
in Top Shop and H&M Hennes stores, while the Daily Telegraphs
Neil McCormick dubbed the single, chill out heaven.
PRESS RELEASE
UK dance duo Airbiscuit are using a track from their forthcoming
album Caldo/Freddo to send an uncompromising message to US
President George W Bush.
The remixed version of the album track, Got Carter, features
a rap by up-and-coming artist Rez 1, a young British Moslem
educated at the American school in Bangladesh. Taking as is
subject recent US policy in the Middle East (and making reference
to President Jimmy Carters policy-defining
relations with Iran in the 1970s) the rap is a visceral attack
on the warped stereotype of Moslem as terrorist apparently
being fostered by certain Western government representatives.
Its really just standing up for Moslems, says 18 year-old
Rez. Moslems are being presented as extremists and terrorists,
but were just like anyone else - we want to get on and live
our lives in peace. I just wanted to stand up and say, Were
not terrorists.
Starting off as a battle rapper while in Bangladesh, Rez 1
threw himself into the London scene after his family moved
back to the UK, winning three out of six battles. He first
came to the attention of Airbiscuit when he turned up unnanounced
on the doorstep of their record label, Zenith Cafe, clutching
a fistful of rap lyrics. Label boss Paul Turner - an industry
veteran who has previously worked with Robert Palmer, Bob
Marley and Dire
Straits - invited him in. So impressed was he that only days
later Rez 1 was recording in the studio with Airbiscuits BooBoo
Johnson.
Rez 1 is a dedicated breaker of stereotypes. You dont have
to be black to be a great rapper. Eminem is white and the
very best. Big Pun was Latino and the best during his time.
His quest seems to be succeeding. His white, middle-class
maths tutor was so impressed by his talent and determination
that he turned manager, and has since become Rez 1s most ardent
supporter.
The message underlying the Airbiscuit/Rez 1 collaboration
could hardly be clearer. No to blind prejudice. No to lazy
stereotypes. And a big No to George W.
CALDO/FREDDO (2004 - Zenith Cafe)
Fibre
Taken
Chinese Candy (House Mix)
Fundamental (Drum and Bass Mix)
Real (House Mix)
21st Century Man
Shine (House Mix)
Still (Extended Mix)
Sublime
Got Carter
Wonderous
Lately (Extended Mix)
Real
Baad
Shine
Chalmed
CONTACT
Email - toby@zenithcafe.co.uk
Telephone - 01223 897 800
LINKS
Airbiscuit - www.airbiscuit.net
Zenith Cafe - www.zenithcafe.co.uk
Zenith Publishing - www.zenithpublishingltd.co.uk
SIMILAR BANDS TO CHECK OUT
Unkle
Zenfo
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