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| Powercut Productions Presents... Clyde Built CD [Powercut Productions] |
Along with putting out wax from the likes of Spin Cycle 50/50 and running radio shows, Steg G and the Freestyle have been performing live with the likes of Busta Rhymes and the Freestyle Master has once again lived up to his name by being crowned the 2004 BBC 1Xtra freestyle Battle Champion. Now you can hear these skills on the Clyde-Built LP, a name which the group explain, "is a familiar phrase to the people of Glasgow. It's meaning is synonymous with success gained through endeavour, skill and hard work". Additionally they go on to explain the meaning I am familiar with, "[Its] used to describe something that is 'built to last'", and judging by how the crew have sustained themselves since the early days it becomes apparent it is the best metaphor you could find when speaking of Glasgow Hip Hop label Powercut Productions. Apparently this LP was originally planed as a compilation album featuring a couple of new songs from each artist intermingled with some of the now un-available back catalogue and a couple of unreleased tracks, but as we all know, in the music business things don't always go to plan. Powercut explain that, "Through fate, fortune or sheer luck the album evolved over a period of about eight months until it went past the point of being a compilation and became a solid body of work in it's on right". The LP kicks off with a short scratched intro which expresses the sentiments stated above before the title track Clyde Built rumbles in and re-enforces this strongly built metaphor with a hefty use of the 808. The Freestyle Master can not be mistaken with his easy flow and the whole crew are included on her with a sung chorus by Kim Wilson. The Pressure brings a whole load more funk with its hand clap pattern and echoed piano stab. The Shadow takes turns with the Freestyle Master for a link up which offers diametrically opposed vocal tones. Is This You? is a skit using an old accordion to play out an Eminem riff and vocals dedicated to Irn Bru and Buckfast. No Mean City features Big Livi and a fantastic bass guitar loop which drives the song. A repetitive piano adds to the backing on which the MCs tell us about their manor. You could have heard The Realm before as it is plundered from the previous Universal EP and features Gamma members Juice Aleem, Blackitude and Lord Redeem for a high octane package of electronic fury. Stolen Smile is Kim's solo track where she flips the vibe for a more abstract jazzy track. The experimental beat allows her to drop some proper soulful lyrics with a bluesy edge. For Brainwaves it is back to the classic Hip Hop for a track which hits all the right spots in terms of production from Steg G. A platter of samples including some squeezebox are selected for Damaged Goodz to drop a talked commentary. Brainwaves again is taken from the previously released 12" which also included Hustle 2003. The Missing Link gets a remix and brings in a man who seems to have worked with everyone - Junior Disprol. Vocals are high in the Mix, but Disprol hits heavy and comes correct. The Big Beat sample is twisted by Steg G for a head repetitive nodder which really thumps. Powercut do have a distinctive sound and I would say that Trouble-Maker is typical of this. Steg throws a whole load of sounds into the pot and produces quite a quantised sounding effect which perhaps sounds a bit dated now. Terri2orial is a re-working of a track from one of their earliest tracks. Throughout the LP shines the spotlight on new Scottish talent and Terri2orial links up CAD who delivers a tale of venturing onto someone else's patch or turf for whatever reason, but if you don't take precautions and act correct you could end up getting fucked up by Mr Stanley. For Sex, Drugs & Hip Hop Steg powers up all the electronical equipment for a track with a club vibe and hard beat which Jack Benny spits over with his tales of under age raving and drinking all night in a club. Another Scots MC who is smashing things is Loki, and Bombin' smashes it all over the shop with a heavy strings and stab driven track. For me this is one of the best on the whole LP and sounds fantastic. It has everything including cuts in the chorus. The guest spots keep coming fast and Joey Brainzini adds his own style on the minimalist 1988 collaboration Hold Your Breath with a set of rhymes which on the surface have one interpretation, but additionally have a whole load of other complexities which you only catch after a couple of listens. The penultimate track Rich Or Poor features Toastie Taylor another bumper to which he adds a whole reggae vibe just through his lyrics and vocal inflections. What has been a successful LP is finished off with The Last Laugh a two minute phone call which sets straight some local beef.. Artists like Juice Aleem, Gamma, Braintax, Junior Disprol, Toastie Taylor and Shadow have all had times of intoxicated madness with the crew over the years, as well as many memorable experiences on a rap level, recording tracks, doing shows, or simply freestyling for fun. Loki, Cad, Jack Benny and Big Livey are some of the Scottish guests and each of these artists crossed Powercut's path in different ways but each impressed enough for Powercut to let them loose on the album and bring with them a new twist to the Powercut sound. 'Specialist in Quality Hip Hop' has been the the Powercut motto from day one, and that motto rings true throughout CLYDE-BUILT, in every capacity from the beats to the rhymes, the evolution of the label is in full evidence, and hopefully this album will serve as another fine chapter of the Powercut Legacy.... 'CLYDE-BUILT TO LAST' Related links:
Contact Powercut: Email: [email protected]
or [email protected] |
| Intro |
Early Doors: 1979-1985 |
False Dawn: 1985-1990 |
Underground Years: 1990-1995 |
The Renaissance: 1995- 2000 |
The Future: 2000 & Beyond |
Artists & Discographies |
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Send all comments, suggestions, & questions
to: (QED) |
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![Powercut Productions Presents... Clyde Built CD [Powercut Productions]](../images/powercut-clyde_built.jpg)
