Search - Steve Lawler :: Viva London - Renaissance: Mixed By Steve Lawler

Electronic Darwinism - An artist evolving

LexAffection | Philadelphia, PA USA | 12/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have always seen Steve Lawler as one of the truest pioneers of dark tribal house, though in recent years I have witnessed a profound metamorphosis in his musical philosophy. Whilst "Dark Drums" and "NuBreed 4" will forever be the defining albums of his career, Lawler has proven that he has the ability to branch out, balancing successfully on even the thinnest branches. Clear examples of this experimentation can be found on Lights Out 2 & 3 and Viva - which were all well and good. But now, enter Viva: London - A sensible album, not only as a tribute to Lawler's earliest residencies in London but also as the next logical stepping stone between Viva and the future. Despite repeated listens, Viva: London illustrates how Lawler continues to draw the curtains ever more tightly around his artistic progression, leading to releases that elude expectations. It can and has been argued to death that Steve's last three albums were dishearteningly mainstream (off the record, I happen to mostly disagree). This album, however, is undeniably off-kilter - and, in this reviewer's humble opinion, exemplifies what truer Lawler fans want to hear from him after Viva.



I have difficulties pinpointing this album as tribal; the first four tracks project minimal tech-house like radio waves. Gone are the ditzy vocal blemishes that tainted portions of Lights Out 2 and Viva. Gone, too, are the fat sinister bass grooves and resonant tribal kick. Instead, Viva: London embraces a foggier, deeper and shockingly cerebral funk that can only be loosely attributed to Lawler's past. For instance, sizable portions of each disc could legitimately be compared to a Satoshi Tomiie / John Digweed hybrid. Atmospherically, the album is very heady, as if one were caught in a cloud of smoke. `Paparazzi' plays right into the confusion, painting the mix's motif a delightfully spooky dive into deeper waters. The key to appreciating this album is to pay strict attention to the carefully orchestrated progression of the music behind the beat. Doing this took me a bit of time and persistence; Lawler seems to have so thoroughly abandoned his dark tribal moniker that not until `X-Rated' do I begin to detect hints of his tribal roots. My interpretation of the first mix finds Lawler bringing just enough tribalism to fuel the funk, but it is softer and more intelligent than the type of tribalism NuBreed 4 made famous. In this regard, musing over specific tracks is pretty pointless because they all seem to be lacking any type of percussive dominance. Lawler lays down thick and premeditated progressions and layers that need to be carefully dissected. In this regard, my patience with Lawler reveals a fantastic mix album whose direction seems to lead one more into the mind rather than the jungle. Two-thirds tech-house and one-third seductive deep house draped in satin, disc one is not likely to be easily forgotten. Deetron's `Life Soundtrack' gently rears its head with a `90's synth loop and block percussion. It's a particularly nice track because it suspends me for a brief moment between the gradual crescendo during `To the Bone' and `Infrared,' which to me is decidedly the powerhouse track of the first mix. Conclusively, Viva: London's first disc replaces heavy and mesmerizing darkness with airy and cerebral minimalism that is worth one's patience in order to appreciate.



Disc two has the same general vibes happening - lack of sinister tribalism, lack of excitingly dominant percussion, et. al. Despite these caveats for the die-hard Lawler fundamentalist, disc two is without argument the superior of the two discs, and it does represent a sizable chunk of that Lawleresque aggression and composition that one would expect to find on a Steve Lawler album. It also boasts a heavily impressive tracklist alongside a treasure trove of talented artists. Beginning impressively with the honorable Joel Mull's `Fluffer,' deciphering the pace of the rest of the mix is elementary. Ole & Polygon's `Instinto Primario' segues excellently into Dubfire's recent beastly hit `Ribcage,' whose luster is then compounded by a succession of absolutely enjoyable tracks; case-in-point, the succession from Simon Baker's `Confused' > Bushwacka!'s `Long Distance' > Adam Beyer's energetic and addictive `China Girl' is my favorite part of the entire release. Admittedly, I was not too impressed by `Violet' (one of two brand-new tracks produced by Steve Lawler for this disc). The track simply doesn't lead anywhere - by itself. It does find Lawler back in classic tribal mode with some wicked bars of frenetic tribal drumming, which happens to be light enough to mesh well with the other tracks but is heavy enough that realizing it's a creation of Lawler's isn't too difficult. I found redemption as the track fades into `Plutonium,' and I discovered a little piece of personal bliss from this point onward due in large part to a surprisingly aggressive bass riff that extends into the next two tracks by artists whom I am not familiar with. `Steel 24' is a standout track, packed with latent energy that dips the listener back into the vat of 3-5 A.M. madness that Lawler loves to exploit. Viva: London closes gracefully with the finale track - Steve's second (and as far as my ears go, the more agreeable) exclusive new track `Courses For Horses' which managed to claw its way on to the charts several weeks prior to the release of this double-disc set. While I may never fully comprehend the title of the production, I do know that it peaks the second disc on an appropriately energetic note before abruptly fading into obscurity.



Most Steve Lawler fans wouldn't trust that he actually mixed Viva: London if it weren't for his name imprinted on the disc. But that is far from a reason to avoid the album. Watching Steve's artistic preferences warp and twist over the past few years has not been the most pleasurable of endurances for me, but this is enough of a comprehensive mix that it is worth picking up - especially for disc two. A fan of Kiss 100 would get a bit more out of the first disc. I had struggles with accepting this album, but quickly realized that was merely based on the reputation of the DJ who mixed it. Lawler produces a fine work that showcases, perhaps better than most artists can, the general direction and the next level his future work will likely lean towards.



~Lex"

Steve Continues to Re-Invent Himself

M. Khan | USA | 11/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My initial listening to this album ended in confusion. I realize now why...Since Lights Out 1, each Lawler album, be it on GU, Harlem Nights or Renaissance label, has been unique with its own personality. This album is no exception. To listen to this or any of Steve's previous albums with the expectation of the last cut will leave one puzzled.



The direction from Renaissance on this as well as the current Satoshi Masters album is "3D sound". This album does in fact deliver on this curiousity, yet at the same time, you are also compelled to listen a bit deeper for the underlying emotion, that albeit less raw and intense on this album, is nevertheless still cheeky in character.



The real genius of Steve Lawler is in his ability to adapt truly to a movement within House/Tribal, and that, makes this music more cerebral and sexier than any other genre I have ever encountered. His compilations are not pretentious or gratuitous. Indeed, Steve delivers the same sinister undercurrent to all his albums.



This may not be your favorite Steve Lawler album today, and arguably is not the most potent mix he has put out to date, but you cannot deny that this is a significant contribution to the currents that keep this movement alive.



On my second listen, I dropped all expectations and was rewarded with a rich experience. This album deserves 4/5 for its currency, classic Lawler touch and for keeping me interested.



Steve if you are reading this, thanks for keeping it real and don't stop."

Nowhere close to his GU Nubreed

Progressive/tribal music lover | 01/09/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is definitely not similar to his Nubreed. Bad, as Nubreed was in a class of its own and was the benchmark for tribal. This is not tribal nor does it reach any of the dizzy heights of Nubreed. Good in that its something new. But its not great - the 2 cd's can be compressed into one good cd. For your money's worth give Lee Burridge's Balance12 a listen/buy first."