Customer Reviews

NYC Sessions 1993-2004

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this album shortly after acquiring a copy of Sweetback's stage 2 CD. Stuart Matthewman is a talented musician indeed, whether collaborating/performing with Sade, Maxwell, Sweetback, or on his own as Cottonbelly. Like his material with Sweetback, his solo efforts on this album are awesome. For the longest time, I had been searching for Sade's remix of "By Your Side" and finally found it through this CD. Other favs from this include "Don't Move" and Maxwell's remix of "Luxury".

Stuart Matthewman released an album by the same title back in the middle 90s, this cd features some of the highlights from the time he started using his Cottonbelly alias to some of his more recent production/remix work. The songs/remixes on this cd vary from deep dub to deep house, yet they all retain Stuart Matthewman's signature sound.

The Cottonbelly catalogue spans beyond what is included on this cd and some of the best tracks/remixes, in my opinion, are not even on this release. For the most part, the really obscure Cottonbelly remixes/tracks are mostly on vinyl, promos, and other hard to find formats, but the following tracks and remixes should be the easiest to find.

"When In Spain", that is the name of track that features both Stuart and Gordon Matthewman, I assume it was done around the same time as "Don't Move", it can be found on Real Ibiza Vol. 4. Another Cottonbelly track not on this collection is "Tempest Dub", it has been featured on various chill/lounge/dub compilations (Dub Infusions, Dub Selector). It is definitely one of the best cottonbelly tracks out there, once you get your hands on this track, you will not regret it, it will leave you smiling. For anyone who is familiar with Sweetback, there is a song available on the import version of their Stage 2 cd, Lama vs. Shaolin, it was on the original X amounts of niceness cottonbelly album.

Now for some remixes, "Tonight Is The Night", Stuart Matthewman gave this Isley Brothers song that special "Cottonbelly" touch, and it is featured on "Taken To The Next Phase", a collection of Isley Brothers songs that were remixed various producers. There is also a remix for the Esthero track ,Fastlane, and it can be found on the cd single of the track in addition, it is featured on Quango's Dub Selector vol 3.

This cd is a real nice collection of tracks done over the years, both the older and more recent tracks blend in seamlessly together, and all the while the songs/remixes retain sound that is truely timeless.

I fell in love with Sade and Maxwell, many moons ago. The love affair continued with Sweetback, and only gets better with the Cottonbelly Sessions. If you are a music lover, this is a must for your collection. It's funky, moody and sexy. Just delicious!

Stuart Matthewman has been the man. Since creating sounds for Sade, Maxwell & Sweetback this musician has virtually been in the background of some the greatest music ever produced. Not to speak of the film scores he has composed for the Polish Brothers. The tracks on X-Amounts are from a true original, God Bless this gifted man. All one has to do is look at his catalog of music to know why Stuart Matthewman is the man. A genius.

I bought this album because I had heard about the Cottonbelly "Night Nurse" re-mix, and figured it was worth the extra cash to but the whole album for the quality rather than download the track from itunes. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, the remix blows away the original classic track. The big suprise was the rest of the album. I love it, my girl loves it, and my girl really loves it. Got that Massive Attack Mezzanine sexiness to it. This album may actually be a "must have" for the collection. Thank you.

buy it and listen to it. I could sit here and write forever on how nice the Composition of this CD is, however i say the best medicine is simply purchasing the joint and enjoying the high.

PEACE!

Matthewman is a FINE producer, and that is more evident in few other places than on this record. Lots of dubby, laid-back grooves, reinterpretations and general bliss pervade this record. Unlike a lot of producer collections, this one seems to work as an album, and doesn't jar you out of the album as a showcase for how diverse the producer can be. He's already done the gigs, so he doesn't have to cajole anyone into hiring him, so this is just a journey through the high points.

A must-have for the reggae, dub and downtempo set.

This cd is HOT. I love it and I can't wait for the next cd to come out.

I think Stuart Matthewman (aka. "Cottonbelly") of Sade and Sweetback fame, is a fantasic producer and has proved himself once again with NYC Sessions.

Its a nice fusion of electronica, funky beats and sombre music.

I highly recommend it. Nice music for a chilled weekend. You wont regret this purchase!

Sade, then Sweetback, and now Cottonbelly... (not to mention the film scores).. Stuart Matthewman is a musical genius... a pure gift to all music lovers!