Spacek Sound System

Music:

Member Since: 5/17/2005
Band Website: myspace.com/stevespacek
Band Members:
Digging through my crate of clichés, I think of the perfect one for Spacek's sophomore album, Vintage Hi-Tech: absence makes the heart grow fonder. Not that it's been very long since their debut, Curvatia (Island Blue), came out just two years ago. Instead what makes Spacek's latest so sublime is what isn't there.
With calculated use of empty space, the trio of Steve Spacek, Morgan Zarate, Edmond cavill have managed to etch a moment of R&B that is both utterly modern and completely devoid of trend. While more beat focused than their earlier efforts, Vintage Hi-Tech retains the trademark soft, floaty vocals front and center. Around them Spacek weave a gossamer web of careful clicks, ghostly guitar loops, and points of bass that pick out a sleek skeleton of soul. From the swinging hip-hop of the aptly named "Motion Control" to the delicate, glitch groove of "Starz," the album is a study of minimalist restraint.
A year or so ago, South London trio Spacek were described by some bright British journalist as the "Radiohead of soul," following their epochal UK only debut album Curvatia. Nearly two years on and they are back and finally coming to America with Vintage Hi-Tech, an album, that once again, furnishes evidence of their visionary vibes and musical uniqueness. In short, it is a new opportunity for everyone with taste to discover the wonderful band that is Spacek.
The incredible hypnotic sonic architecture on which Steve Spacek and Morgan Zarate- together with Edmund Cavill- have been working with since the mid-90s has never been so defined. Spacek's stripped-to-the-bone brand of R&B, harmonious downbeats and the soft, but strongly evocative, floating style of their vocals have earned Spacek comparisons to everyone from Massive Attack through to D'Angelo, but their sound essentially remains beyond explicit classification. The ten tracks on Vintage Hi-Tech emphasize Spacek's exceptional artistic perspective. In a world of their own, the boys have cooked up some real treats: delayed, swinging tracks rooted in hip-hop, groovy cutting-edge thrillers, and songs where the beat gives just the slightest suggestion of funk. In between there is space, within which the vocals and swing make themselves right at home. At times, threads of incandescent strings shine through and that's that.
Ultimately, what holds Spacek's fascinatingly fragile song structure together, how such an intense complexity evolves from their restraint in the studio, and why everything- even the programming- sounds so lushly organic, remains unclear. Timeless and futuristic at the same time, Spacek's magic won't jump up and slap you in the face, but once you've seen the light, you can't do without it.
""Spacek sind die Radiohead des Soul."" - STYLE and the family tunes, 03/03
""South London's sonic soul scientists are back and sounding better than ever on this their far from tricky second album". "Vintage Hi-Tech' transcends the soul genre with its deep dark and edgy sounds and is all the better for it. Respect!" 5/out of 5" - iDJ, 04/03
""Make love to it, get mashed to it........whatever but just listen to it" "If you're yet to experience the Spacek Magic this is a fine example of what you've been missing"" - Breakin´ Point, 01.03.03
""They once again provide evidence of just how much visionary vibes require musical uniqueness"" - DJ, 07.02.03
""The way forward."" - Jockey Slut, 01.02.03
""A blinding return!"" - iDJ, 01.03.03
""Vintage Hi-Tech is a downtempo musical masterpiece that draws no comparison"" - DMC Update, 09.04.03
"this is a group that gives new meaning to the phrase space funk." - Rolling Stone, 2003
"the most futuristic soul group of our modern age." - the FADER Magazine, 2003
"stitching classic R&B melodies, slightly roughed up by some classic Jay Dee-style hip-hop beats, into the folds of a delicate electronic tapestry" - XLR8R Magazine, 2003
Influences:
B.Marley,All Reggae Sound Systems,S.Wonder,Q.Jones,M.Gaye,F.Kuti
Red Alert,flash,Marley,Lord Finese,Pete Rock,Rza,Jazzy Jeff,Jay Dilla,Timbaland,
4 Hero,all Drum+Bass Crews,Rapheal SaddiQ,Waajeed,Up Hygh,
Nicolay,9th Wonder,Neptunes,West London Broken Scene.
Sounds Like: Check Out thursday night Bassboulevard radio session!
www.m945.afk.de Every Second Thursday Of The Month! Bassboulevard Good Music Show
Guests So far on the Show: Arrested Developement Little Louie Vega Pharrell Williams Roots Manuva Jazzanova Ursula rucker Joesph malik LL Cool J Dwele The Foreign Exchange Daz I-Kue Platnum Benny Sings Beastie Boys Chateau Flight Break Reform Spitkingdom Crew (Killa Kela Beni G Mc trip) Check The Interview: http://www.beatinfusion.com/ pages/sound.htm Ben Mono + Many MoreGuests 2 Come: Dynamo Productions Dabrye Rjd2 Capital A Psychic Phenomena Bahamadia A Guy Called Gerald Dimlite Diesler Platinum Pied PipersPast Mixes on these sites:: + Many More
Record Label: www.soundincolor.com
Type of Label: Indie