Mark Farina Fabric 40 Review

Recent Fabric quality has been on another level. Bug, MANDY and Pearson explored the popular sound of now whilst the other month Robert Hood blasted his way though your senses with his refreshing take on the minimal techno sound. This month Fabric flips the series on its head with Mark Farina approaching the CD series from the other end of the dance music spectrum. Like that timeless bit of art deco furniture round your Nan’s, Mark Farina is a timeless piece of furniture of the Chicago/US house. Farina is house and this release is the epitome of house in the form of a reflective plastic disc.

I have to say this CD makes you wiggle and bop from the very first beat to the last traversing the US house sound from the deep and jazzy right through to the jacking and acid. Like the Robert Hood CD this is a refreshing change from the usual Fabric Room 1 sound. Although refreshing Farina flies in from a completely different angle to Hood, laying down chunky beats, laidback grooves with plenty of funk. The CD just oozes summer time and no better time than the present for this CD to come out. Well Fabric First members would have had the recent mini heat wave to enjoy the CD with but unfortunately normal shoppers on the release week have a plenty of rain ahead. Maybe this CD will help the listener transport to warm climes?

The CD kicks off upbeat with a classic Chi Town vibe with Giom’s Together and JT Donaldson’s Why not Rock? It’s also good to see the Inland Knights on this CD representing the Nottingham/UK scene. I’ve found the Knights have always managed to find the right balance between deep and jacking. Their track “Where Ya At?” acts as a pivotal point as it kicks back into a laidback lounge sound as the round basslines suspend the listener in a hammock of dubby beats and warm synth lines. Johnny Fiasco’s Last Word adds a jazz element as you swirl around the wash of soulful mellow rhythms and melodies.

James Curd’s Pick Up What I’m Putting Down launches the listener out of their hammock as Farina makes his final onslaught to finish the CD on a high. Farina begins to lay down the future sound of house with some abstract sounds, strange samples and quirky acid lines. Carter’s mix of Make Dat Shit, Sneak’s Mumbler and Farina’s Das Shihaya an interesting take on Kraftwerk’s Trans Europe Express squelches and crunches its way through the final furlong of frenzied peak time.

Personally I do love this CD, my only minor gripe is that I wished Farina had released the peak time abstract sounds a little earlier as the last 20 minutes or so of the CD I enjoyed the most; granted this is coming from an electronic minimal house and techno lover. To the die hard Chicago/Deep house follower this CD might not upfront or groundbreaking. I for one can’t comment in that respect as my exposure to this genre isn’t what it used to be. But in terms of the Fabric series and what I’ve been listening to recently this CD is fun and interesting with a particular knack to make you move. With the summer sunshine now here this CD is a must. 8/10



Release Dates:
fabricfirst Members: 05/05/08 UK/R.O.W. Retail: 12/05/08 USA: 06/10/08

Tracklisting
01 - Giom – Together - Amenti
02 - Chuck Love – Yellow Truth [Atnarko Mix] – Onethirty Recordings
03 - JT Donaldson & Uneaq – Why Not Rock ? – Uneaq
04 - Ricardo Rae – Lead The Way – So Sound
05 - John Larner & Slater Hogan – Gettin’ Ready – Muzique Boutique
06 - Inland Knights – Where Ya At ? – Drop Music
07 - Homero Espinosa - Got This Feeling (LNS Disco Dub) - Yerba Buena Discos
08 - Alexander East – Believe En Me – Nordic Trax
09 - Frank Solano – The Blues Line [Tommy Largo Remix] – Kolour Recordings Digital
10 - Kris G – Feel My Love [Bobby Valentine Remix] – Union Recordings
11 - Non Believers – Stasera – Hudd Traxx
12 - Johnny Fiasco – Last Word – Dae Recordings
13 - Mood II Swing – Closer [Oliver Desmet & Fred Everything Mix] – King Street Sounds
14 - James Curd – Pick Up What I’m Putting Down – A Second Smell
15 - Rylan White Ft. Olly Brunton– There Goes The Neighbourhood – All House Music
16 - Lawnchair Generals – Broke Acid – LCG Music
17 - Jeremy Joshua – Make Dat Shit [Derrick Carter Mix] – Digital Disco
18 - DJ Sneak – Mumbler – Blu Funk Productions
19 - Prztz – Brutality – Jamanta Crew
20 - Mark Farina – Das Shibuya [Cheeba Mix] – Great Lakes Audio21 - King Kooba – Hoose Musik – King Kooba