Customer Reviews

You've Been Spiked

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chris Joss delivers some serious blaxploitation inspired grooves that will wisk you back to the times of bell bottoms, afros and platform shoes! Joss' "You've Been Spiked" is a retrospective piece of marvellously produced tracks that pays true homage to an era that gave us some of the funkiest music ever! In fact, this music sounds so authentic you would think they came straight out of the 70's...but it's all circa the 21st century. It's good to know that there are still modern cats (especially on the ESL Record label)who know how to recapture music from days gone by.

Play this cd, and you'd swear you're listening to a beautifully remastered funk treasure from the 70's---Chris Joss captures the "blaxploitation" style better than any artist I've come across. The 2 "Wrong Alley Street" movements are pure "Shaft" material, with a bass line groove that is just nice---a cheesy B-movie police-car chase scene, ridlled with afro-donning cats comes to mind with these, as well as with most of the other tunes here..."Drink Me Hot" captures the mid-tempo funk straight out of a (dare I say) 70's "adult film", with sick drum loops, and a fly-a** bass line, along with all of the other elements that Curtis Mayfield would be envious of.
Amongst all of the other exceptional tracks on this cd, "Discoteque Dancing", "Sheila V" and "That Show" pick up the pace with thick beats, more incredible bass lines, and fender rhodes, etc. that will absolutely move you if you like real "black music".
There are a couple tunes that delve in the "lounge/bossa" territory, that are a bit weak, but this cd captures the magic of another era, where "dig this" were the words to say, and nappy afros were the coiffes of choice. But, again, this is not bland imitation---Chris Joss has created a groove that is undeniably real, and will kick your soul in the a**. My album of the year thus far for '05.

'You've Been Spiked' is a swirling stew of soul, jazz, and lounge music. The two opening tracks are stunning Medeski Martin And Wood-meets-DJ Logic jazz romps, groovy instrumentals that almost entices you to hear more. Generally the rest of the CD is a combination of the smooth soul of 70's blaxploitation soundtracks and jazz/lounge electronica, eg, Zero 7 and Air. There's also the kitsch of sexy-spaced-out scores like 'Shake Sauvage' and 'Beat At Cinecitta'. Chris Joss opens with a powerful punch, and after the high, allows you to chill-out and hang loose. Images of lava lamps, vinyl, and polyester bell-bottoms not included. 'You've Been Spiked' is a strong album for it's musicality and ability to capture the spirit of another time. One of my favourite albums of the year.

Chris Joss really scored big with this one. From beginning to end there is a variety of modern twists on early 70's funk, jazz, "cheesy" disco, and lounge and there is not a weak track to be found. Many in fact, are as close to perfection as you'll find. The flow of YBS is without peer also, veering effortlessly from get-down-wit'-it to post-romantic psychedelia, and everything in between.

If you "get" this type of music at all, you will absolutely love this set. I can't think of a single album of its type that tops it, even though there are lots of good ones out there.

Great stuff, this. I am eagerly hoping that Mister Joss will grace us with a YOU'VE BEEN SPIKED II.

I am not going to beat about the bush. Either you have heard of ESL or you haven't. I obviously have and checked out the ESL web page and started exploring artists other than Thievery Corporation. And that was a master stroke of genius because ESL has so much to offer.

I had heard of Chris Joss before but was more into the sound of other French counterparts, namely Kid Loco and Air. The first thing that grabbed my attention about this album was the album cover (never judge a book by the cover, but a CD, well that is something altogtether completely different). Love the artwork, might even make a poster out of it yet.

More importantly the music. May I suggest someone gets a copy to Quentin Tartantino ? OK the influences are obvious but they work and the album is extremely consistent. A bit lightscale for top heavy funketeers to be honest but then if you like your lava lamps bubbly, your pernod on ice and believe that ADIDAS stands for All Day I Dream About Scoring then get this as your party soundtrack, dust off the old kangol, polish your girl's platforms (or better yet, lick them clean) and think progressively.

Some would say this album is cheesy, I disagree...or rather, if it is cheesy then Chris Joss has produced the MasterKraft. Think about it...

The negative reviews, particularly "Harper's," are off base. Comparing this music to D&K and other related electronica is like comparing apples to oranges. Listen to the funky, groovy clips Amazon offers for this album, then listen to any that Harper characterizes as "retro," and be the judge for yourself. This album is very good.

A very groovy release that could easily be passed off as an obscure 70's blaxpoitation soundtrack (and in parts, especially with the hammond, it reminds of the 70's soul-jazz releases of artists like Jimmy McGriff or the the Beastie Boys "The In Sound From Way Out"). Anything on the ESL label is always quality and this is no exception.

I've been searching quite a bit of music that has that retro flair with modern means of production for a while now. It seems that many artists end up not really knowing how to accurately catch that vibe and their watered down remixes and mashups are overproduced and overkill. This guy, Chris Joss, he knows where the funk lies and he digs it up and serves it on a hot platter. The drum sounds are just RIGHT ON; grooving and crusty and the toms just sound like cheap crappy kit that was recorded in the 70's. No, serious, that's good!! The bass grooves are locked in and the wah-ed guitar is just dripping in greasy funk. Greasy. Funky. There is but one time (a part in one song) where I thought it might be sinking into the electronica and DJ zone, but it's merely an affect that doesn't detract from the overall release. If this guy is a DJ or just samples stuff and works on his computer, he seriously has me fooled. You can smell the smoke filled recording studio with ugly 70's wallpaper that this was recorded in. This CD is just comfortable; it slips in and out of classy funk-ness and porn groove and puts a smile on the face of anyone that I play it for that digs the fine line created and crossed over of spy groove, 70's funk, bell bottom soundtracks and hot black chicks. Nothing that I've found comes close to capturing exactly what it intended like this CD. Like hip music? This is your stuff!

Chris Joss seems to come from a place where the 1980s never happened; his album YOU'VE BEEN SPIKED goes straight from the 1970s to today. "Disctotheque Dancing" plays that funky bass right over some disco breaks. The cinematic influence here is unmistakable; Joss channels blaxploitation as easily as he does Bollywood: "You've Been Spiked" has sitars humming throughout, while "Riviera 69" has a mysterious, icy feel suitable for an Italian giallo. "Waves of Love" heads into dreamy, romantic territory, a sun-drenched track; "Waking Up in the Park" shares some of the romanticism, but seemingly with a more urban vibe. This album is proof positive that 10 years just isn't enough for a good decade.

This is the type of funked up, high qu. production that I have been looking for. The other reviewers accurately synopsize the album, I just wanted to add my applause!! Nice work Chris!!!!