Tommy Mandel
Music For Insomniacs

A1 128 / A2 130 / B1 127 / B2 130

Emerging young producer and DJ releases new EP. Louder Than War’s Paul Scott-Bates reviews.After a string remixes for Blancmange it must have been an inevitable question: “Dad, do you fancy collaborating on a single?”“Believe you me Son!”And so, Father and Son, Joe and Neil Arthur (aka Kincaid and Blancmange), recorded Big Fat Head.One hopes that the Single Edit receives airplay. The interest of the connection between one of the UKs emerging producer/DJs and an iconic 80s star currently enjoying an staggering second wind, is enough in itself but, Big Fat Head is a cracking track. One of those tracks that becomes more and more addictive with each listen.Starting with a brief panpipe riff followed by Neil Arthur’s unmistakable vocal and tabla pecusson maybe tipping a hat to Blancmange’s first coming, it is catchy and intriguing to say the least. By all accounts, the track was a long time coming and to be fair, it sounds as though ideas have been many before they were all slotted into place in a complicated but clinical sounding piece.A wonderful driving bass underpins the track as the words “In your big fat head” are constantly re-iterated. The Club Mix introduces hand claps and adds a subtle dance beat as reverbed effects echo gently in the background whilst the Dub Mix contains a few further bits of understated electronic wizardry and innocuous echoes whilst the elongated Instrumental Mix does exactly what it says on the sleeve.The Nucat Remix by Disco Halal head honcho Moscoman collaborating with Portuguese musician Trikk takes the track on a different slant by adding further percussion and experimental effects which lift the track even further. A new bassline is introduced which rises and falls in tone alongside a vocoder vocal and fluttering key changes.An exciting partnership but more importantly, an early sign of a great talent appearing in the shape of Joe Kincaid. You’ll hear (and hear) more of him undoubtedly and, quite rightly so.

'Objet Melodie' is a combination of analogue instruments, synthesizers, drum machines and samples, involving elements from different countries of the world.It's like being on a surreal oasis, where music is eclectic but also meditative or just for a dance. Interconnecting with the whole planet, imagining or living in different countries and trying to relate with diverse cultures and experimentation.Lorenzo-Giulio Morresi, 'Objet melodie’ producer, combined real instruments like Roland TR-707, Roland JUNO-60, a Gibson Memphis guitar, marimbas and steel drums with percussions samples taken from his personal record collection.The other musicians involved are Stefano Ubaldini who plays the intro in 'Rituel’ with an amazing hand-made guitar called 'Slitar', inspired from an Indian Sitar made with a broken metal window he picked up in a London backyard.Fabio Mina is playing flutes on several tracks, like the Hulusi from China and the Nose Flute from Hawaiian islands. Giuseppe Diamanti plays tenor sax outros.'Objet melodie' is inspired by sounds, technologies and traditions from planet earth, with the hope of staying interconnected as much as we can.