Customer Reviews

Between Here & Now

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

People who know their stuff expect a certain quality from Chicago-based Guidance Recordings. For fans of deeper-sounding house music Guidance is the label that's always top on the check list. Since starting in the mid-nineties it's earned itself the kind of reputation that's synonymous with quality. It's a rep that money simply can't buy because, as with this outing by LA duo Simon James and Danny Hastie, the music speaks for itself.
As Projections this is James' and Hastie's first album and, in keeping with the vibe of the imprint, what you get here is an immaculately produced, svelte collection of tracks that is remarkable not least because it's actually their debut. Smooth, jazzy piano, live guitar and lazy, soothing vocals are underpinned by a gentle 4/4 beat on 'Backbone' (check the reprise of this added as a bonus at the end of the album) setting the mood for this album. It's laid-back music. The kind of thing you could play at any time of day to just wind down or simmer under.
Their hip hop sensibilities contribute to the album, nurtured from a past spent playing in reggae-funk bands Orgone, Sounds From The Ward and Loa Rhythm and supporting and touring with Pharcyde and Styles of Beyond. On 'Inner City Sides' these influences bubble to the surface. Broken beats, jazzy melodies, funk-fuelled guitar, percussion and a soulful male vocal take you cruising along Sunset Boulevard, sun-roof down, wind in your hair. All twelve pieces on this album have been written, produced and in most cases played-in and sung by themselves, with a little help from friends. Stewart Killen handles percussion on 'Inner City Sides' while on spanish-vocalled 'Escaping Sao Paulo', the hip hop beats, brooding bassline and cinematic melody are accompanied by percussion from Joachim Eckberg. 'The Nutcracker' and 'Half Pint' will also appeal to fans who appreciate a hip hop beat but this is hip hop for lazy days. It's Joachim Eckberg's percussion that gnaws gently over the soft, broken beats of 'Luminate' and 'Luminate 2', both tracks that shimmer and glow, with the added sheen of crystal clear production. Heart-jerking vocals from 'Mai Doi Todd' on 'Luminate' add to the live cello, drums and percussion that make this beautiful song literally float out of the speakers. The gentle groove of 'Stillness In Me' is another song that levitates; a slow-funk jam with an airy female vocal and a beautiful melody. Meanwhile the moving strings, eerie piano and sparse hip hop beats on interlude 'Dangerous Blues' add a pinch of bitter-sweet seasoning to this
lush, organic-sounding debut.
Anyone looking for a soul-soothing, winter-warmer should buy this album and watch out for this pair when they emerge with some new music next year.

This is one of the greatest albums that I have ever heard. All of the other reviews I've read have done a great job describing the music, but the only way to truly do it justice is to just sit down and listen to it. Prepare to be blown away.

In my mind, it truly leaves all others in the dust. Nightmares on Wax, Bonobo, Tosca, Nuspiriti Helsinki, even (dare I say it) St. Germain are just not on the same level.

If i could five-star a single track, Backbone would get six--one of the greatest simple piano hooks (not in either sample!) since Mr. Scruff's "How Sweet It Is," which I can only find on Mark Farina's Mushroom Jazz 2. I diverge.

With a few exceptions, the tracks are long and may at first seem repetitive. But they have well developed, laid back grooves on top of meticulously placed drums. My only advice is make no judgement based on the first track--it doesn't seem like it belongs at all, with its pulsing brainwash feeling.

Projections has found a solid home in my stereo since I purchased it a couple of months ago. Very stylish downtempo music with a touch of funky house as well. This cd is a must have for the chilled out party, romantic dinner, and the bedroom as well. The whole cd is smooth and features a few tracks that are a must have and justify the purchase alone. GET THIS CD!

The cleanest production quality I've heard in years!! It sounds so good on a big, club system, and you don't even have to touch the EQ. Aside from the amazing technical aspects of this album, the music is a perfect blend of deep house, funk, vocals, downtempo, chill out and lounge. These guys have 'raised the bar' exponentially. I bought this album twice--vinyl and cd! You will be blown away. . .every single song is better than most music out there.

From the deep, pulsating dancefloor bass on the first track, Rival Cruise, to the soulful vocals and electric piano on Inner City Sides to the popular Mia Doi Todd sung masterpiece, Luminate, this album has everything I love!
I have played this in the car, at home after work, on the weekends, when I wake up! I'm in love with it!
DJ's of organic house will find deep cuts and people ready to get down will easily find their fat dance tracks!

...but am stil very happy that I made the purchase. 4 stars is a little high in my opinion, I would give it about a 3.25-3.5 stars, but don't want to get verbally flogged by other reviewers here.

It wasn't quite as great as I thought it would be after reading the highly rated reviews posted here, but it is still a solid listen, especially considering I only paid about $2.50 for a new copy from an Amazon seller.

This is very mellow and enjoyable. Lower to mid-level tempo electronica with limited to no lyrics. Great for background music or mixed into a playlist for a dinner party or low-key gathering. I do agree with some of the other reviewers that you need to listen to it a couple of times for it to grow on you, as it does seem to eventually slip its way into your unconscious.

Check it out, you most likely won't be sorry. Just don't get overly psyched based on the reviews for this, like I did, othewise you may end up slightly disappointed.

"Between Here and Now" is the inspired debut album from Projections a.k.a. Los Angeles based duo Simon James and Danny Hastie. Card carrying members of Southern California's thriving music scene, Simon and Danny both earn their keep in local reggae/funk/ska bands Orgone, Sounds From the Ward, and Loa Rhythm and have toured and recorded with hip hop legends the Pharcyde the and Styles of Beyond. Following a fortuitous encounter with a member of our A & R staff at a Club Med Discotheque in Ixtapa, Projections joined the Guidance roster and have since made some serious waves with their "Kingsburg" and "Inner City Sides" singles which inject house, downtempo, and broken beat grooves with a refreshing dose of uncut Hollywood G-funk flair. For their debut album, Simon and Danny employ energetic live musicianship, lazy Dr. Dre approved west coast hip hop beats and pulsating electronic rhythms to concoct a savvy fusion of past and future funk stylings. Digging deep in the proverbial crates, Projections churn out a comprehensive pan-global journey through the sounds of the inner city, expertly referencing NY Electro, Paradise Garage Disco, Motown Soul, Kingston Dub, Nigerian Afrobeat, Brazilian Bossa Nova, LA Gansta Funk, and Chi town hits and dusties along the way. A seamless program of cosmopolitan funk grooves crafted with a sense of style and soulfulness seldom heard in

From the moment I heard the first two songs, I stopped to write this review (and I never write reviews). Immediately hearing the first song, started to move and got right into the beat... this music just does it for me.

For a while there, Guidance Recordings was getting as well known for their downtempo as their house. BETWEEN HERE AND NOW, from the Projections duo, slipped under the radar, but still has all the hallmarks. "Backbone," in particular, has a Latin vibe to it, but maintains its own groovy identity. "Leaving Sao Paulo" shows off more of those Brazilian roots, however. But it's not all south of the border: "Inner City Sides" brings out the funk, while "Stillness Meets Me" eases into the electronic blues. Elsewhere, the jazzy interlude of "Half Pint" naturally leads into the smooth jazz of "Kingsburg." "Luminate, Pt. 2" is much more dreamy, brought down to earth with the vocals in "Luminate." A strong debut.