Artist: Carl Craig and Green Velvet
Album: Unity
Label: Relief Records
Release date: 23/03/15
When a pair of dance music titans come together to release an album of brand new material without any warning it’s a cause to sit-up and take notice. When it’s the mouth-watering combination of Carl Craig and Green Velvet it’s a cause to get very, very excited.
Out on Relief Records, long-time home for Curtis Jones’ recordings under his Green Velvet guise, is this seven (well, six really, the intro doesn’t count) track LP which dropped completely by surprise. In a move that is becoming increasingly common lately, Carl Craig announced Unity’s release via his twitter page rather than through traditional channels and appropriately enough, it’s an unexpectedly playful affair from the typically more serious-leaning Planet E boss, although it’s fully in keeping with his green neon-haired collaborator’s sensibilities on this occasion.
The opening track, Intro, sets the tone of what’s to come through its voiceover; get ready for sounds from the “not-so-distant future with multiple galaxies and intercosmic cosmo cities”. What does this mean sonically? Sci-fi bleeps and bloops dotted throughout and a light-hearted bounciness to most of the tracks. This does make the record fell less weighty but hey, sometimes dancefloors these days need a little fun injected into the relentless, thumping tech-house.
The tunes themselves are a mixed bag, first track proper, So What, is a defiant statement of intent and perhaps the “spaciest” sounding. Rosalie features a catchy, floor-shaking bass line and heavily-filtered, suggestive vocals. Party is probably the most dancefloor friendly track (oddly enough) with a restrained build and staccato stabs throughout. Murder of the Innocent is the most unique, with ethereal synths and a Tangerine Dream-esque lead line. How is more sparse, showcasing its individual elements but with a bass line similar to elsewhere on the album. Finally Let It Go is a neat exploration of the lower-end capabilities of the soundsystem it’s being played on, with a deep, drilling bass line and the familiar bleeps that pepper the album.
Clocking in at just under 40 minutes, 'Unity' doesn’t outstay its welcome and there’s plenty to enjoy here if nothing truly mind-blowing. Both artists have produced superior material in their long and distinguished careers but it’s nice to see they’re still willing to take some risks and have a little fun at the same time, long may that continue.
WORDS | Andrew Fulker
Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. So What
03. Rosalie
04. Party
05. Murder of the Innocent
06. How
07. Let It Go
