Guest Le Lotus Bleu Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 Tracklist 1Voice of resurrection 2Progress in happiness 3Little fairy 4Darkeion 5Cosmic flute 6Heavy machine 7Magical sense 8Trace 9Strange voices 10A fresh air in my I would like trying to draw your attention on 'A cup of tea?' the debut album of Kick Bong (Franck Jousselin), a french artist that you may remember due to some tracks released on chill Out Spirit Zone compilations like tracks Vaporum or Chill's. Kick Bong isn't very much known, but he has particularly improved his production since these tracks on Spirit Zone, even if it was already smelling good to me. What impress me the most is the sound & mastering quality in this album, i never experienced such a realistic live musical feeling before. The musical direction is quite electic, i would refer to what's written on the cover for describing the sound as it's quite true: psychedelic downbeats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KakoOlalaJwal Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Franck 'Kick Bong' Jousselin has always been more or less close to the Music.. Drummer since the age of 12, he met the electronic culture in 1995 and quickly dived into it. He will be involved in many projets, bands or associations with deejays (Serious Bass, Tarace Boulba, Yvan Hio, Yop Soma, Marabunta and since 2003 with the Secret Side collective and LDB System, famous ambient-trance crews). Franck started composing in 1996 and five years later seven of his creations were released.. Spirit Zone initialy (eh yeah.. on various chilled compilations), then Candyflip (VA - Mountain High) and Sub Machine' sublabel Clima (VA - Green Instant).. And now, we can enjoy a full length album that has been released by the french label Ultra Vista, much appreciated for its Electr'Oriental Delight serie, and promised to a brighter future if they keep their dynamic. The artwork is made with warm colours and is a montage based on a clock picture. It's looking good, and the font used is hehehe the same as in my website.. Now let's listen to it.. The album opens on a much filtered SfX spoken words sample which leads out onto a nice rise before a 4:4 rhythmics comes. This is already an indication on what we can expect from this album : mid-tempo vibrations, or call it ambient-trance if you prefer.. The musical background is quite complex as usual, combining many elements, but in a clever way. "Progress In Happiness" (T2) starts with a rise on some phat dubbed broken beats.. After a while strikes quite suddenly a steady kick which is rolling a little bit. Later, Franck plays a fantastic loop, that I thought to have heard already in an old Techno tune.. But no, everything is 100% home-made in this album. This track is just stunning. "Little Fairy" (T4) opens on a filtered baby voice and very floating atmosphere. Then come some subtle and soft rythmics accompanied with a kind of xylophone sound..Later I think Franck plays his little string bass on some looped chords raising the hypnotic touch of the song. The next track "Darkeion" starts directly with a bizarre kick + snare combination.. I like the way the sounds are "designed", and the title of the track becomes obvious. The atmosphere goes even a little bit scary, and a fantastic bassline provides a good groove. Later he adds some percussions, ending to make me just love that track.. The "Cosmic Flute" (T6) is now coming.. I've read about it here and there and it looks like many chillers dig this one in particular a lot.. Well they are right.. The way it opens is just great. And Franck leads us to something slightly more celestial with a constant slow progression.. The build-up is as usual very smart, and the track goes up and down to end up in a contrasting darker way.. That introduces "Heavy Machine" (T6) which sounds once again quite dark. In the booklet I don't really understand if the guy called Loic plays bass on all the tracks, but if he is in this one, well I say good job, guy. It's just great and holds up perfectly the complex build-up of the track. Music for some bonged heads.. "Trace" (T7) starts with some piano, used in a minimalist way while the background rises slowly.. Again, smart complexity is the point. Some sounds here remind me the Twilight Zone (don't ask me why..). The flow is quite deep and slow, and the way the ryhtmics are set up in the third minute just mind-blowing. Then, "Strange Voices" (T9) begins with a great introduction and delivers once again the 4:4 structure, here in an exciting way again.. The combination with the sonic elements is quite effective, psychedelic details in the way I love it. Franck adds some percussions (including darbooka here) in the second half of the track. Really good work again. The closing track (T10) is also very exciting.. Unsual sounds with easy easy percussions, and again a great bassline.. The bluid-up is slow.. making the track even more hypnotic That's it.. I was very excited for several reasons when I first read that Franck 'Kick Bong' was about to release an album. One of them was the previous tracks released on compilations that are all worth a listen, definitaly.. An other was that the album would be released by Ultra Vista. A label that is doing some great work. I wish the guys the best for the future, and don't worry, if they keep doing it like that. In my playlist are tracks 2, 4, 9 and 10, but there's not a track i don't like in particular.. http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/ult/ult1cd009.html http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=4623 Thanks for reading ! Enjoy it with sweets, cakes and of course... A cup of tea ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towelie Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 not my cup of tea eh eh .. its too trancey for chill out imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abasio Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Can be a bit too trancey in places dane bbut the overall atmosphere of the album is decent enough. I like it. Not an essential release but good adition to anyone's collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mind.breeder Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 I like this!! Very organic and groovy at places, slightly psychedelic elsewhere, but nicely blend to chilled out positive vibe stuff with enough life and music going on to keep it enjoyable all the way thorugh. Some parts are just hypnotic, almost beautiflul. IMHO the album has a very nice flow and fluent, mature production. Multiple styles all over it success to keep diversity, so needed (at least for me) in ambient/chill. I found it great to listen to while sleeping, while working as background, or just on its own. The sound and beats are just good. I would definitely appreciate more melodies here though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redington Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I have to agree with Joe and Towelie. It's a bit trancey to be fully enjoyable. But there were some tracks that were nice like Cosmic Flute and Trace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graciolly Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 welcome, and fear not - I dont like tea too much either and I seem to get on OK Have a nice, steaming, foamy, frothy coffee? With sprinkles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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