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Fingathing - Wasting Time [Grand Central]
Fingathing
Fingathing - Wasting Time
Fingathing
I don't know why, but over time I seem to have built up several misconceptions about Fingathing. The first for some reason I thought they were from Scotland. Well, mark me down on that they are in fact from around th Manchester area and have been down with the Grand Central label there for quite a while now. The other thing which I was expecting was some rapping, but upon spinning the record I quickly discovered this is an instrumental duo. 

This release Wasting Time is the second single to be dropped from their second album - Superhero Music. Wasting time is a real tranquil track, a bit like a lullaby that floats past you as you rock on a hammock in the sun. The tune which is largely based around the easy sounds of a double bass performed by Sneaky, one half of the duo. There is all sorts of other instrumentation here too including a ticking clock and some snoring which is apparently Sneaky's girlfriend.

The press describes this track as, 'this deep orchestral sweep is an interpretation of the feverish dreams you have in the final minutes of slumber between the alarm going off, - when you hit Snooze and fall back asleep waiting to be driven from your slumber by the final bell'. Well there certainly is that feeling as the ticking clock remains in the background almost throughout, in part replicated by the hi-hats. The dreamy feeling is perpetuated by a cello being gently bowed and moments of flute allude to the weirdisms of those unfinished dreams. There is a whole load of bongos and triangles to pad out the instrumental until the end when the clock returns even louder and the alarm goes off to raise you from your slumber.

There are a few different versions of the track included on the 12", the first one being a remix by Ninja Tune's Homelife, who offer up their own take on the track. This is definitely a remix, rather than a reworking, the main differences being a wandering Polynesian guitar and some extra drums which add an increased live feel, although the original sounds quite live too. This version could be a touch darker than the original, with a touch of a bad trip in the middle breakdown and towards the end a sense of restlessness and tossing and turning, before returning to the more mellow Hawaiian vibe the track opened with.

The final mix takes up the whole of the B-Side and is by Treva Whateva, another Ninja Tune inmate. This is the hardest of the versions with each of the elements amplified more, but still retains much of the original. This is also the most straight up Hip Hop mix with the drums being more metronomic and the whole arrangement more regimented. This version also has a clear chorus made up from a whole pile of US rap samples all of which make some reference to time. Two thirds in a piano builds and a series of alarms break out, including a cuckoo clock! This part of the tack is almost unbearable as it takes me to those painful moments when you have to get out of bed and go to work knowing that you haven't had enough sleep. There is a bridge and the final few minutes of re-activated snooze before the track simply fades out. On this mix the alarm got soundly slept through!

Overall then, a nice mellowed out tune for relaxing to in the summer months. A little unvaried perhaps, each version only gently re-arranging the elements rather than breaking new ground. Fingathing have recently been on a 30 date European tour to promote their LP, so there should be a good chance you can get out and see these guys perform should you wish to.
  

Visit Fingathing on the web: www.fingathing.com
Grand Central Discography :: Grand Central Article.

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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