Posted by Budgie at February 5, 2006 02:10 PM

The Return Of The Jedi's...

It's been just over 8 years since the release of new material under the Global Communication name. A name that hides the talents of 2 of the UK's finest dance music producers, Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard. It's also been nearly 5 years since the pair of them went their seperate ways after the release of their infamous "Jedi Selector" album under their equally infamous, until George Lucas put a stop to it, Jedi Knights moniker.

Mark and Tom have been around and shaping the dance music landscape since 1991. Under numerous different names they've covered, invented and reinvented numerous genres. From Ambient to House to Drum & Bass to Techno to Old Skool Electro these guys have been able to rethink and breathe new life into these tried and tested formulas.

Since 2000, Mark has been off on a musical journey thats taken him through house, hip hop and broken beats released under names like Harmonic 33 and Troubleman. Tom carried on the ambient vibe from their earlier works and melted those sounds onto luscious dance tracks under the name of Cosmos. Both were reaping in plenty of acclaim, but people wanted to know would the pair of them ever hook up again?

To be honest, I didn't see it coming and I was taken aback when Fabric announced that Global Communication were next in line for their series of mixes. Mark and Tom back together again?

Well, yes and no. The mix was put together over the course of a few weeks with Mark working from Sydney and Tom working from London. The mix does seem to be a game of two halves, what with the first being more downbeat and hip hop influenced and the other more housey with some fine deep moments peppered with slices of Detroit Techno. It could be easy to say that Mark was responsible for the first half and Tom for the second, but after a few listens it does become apparent that the sounds, chord structures and ear for production that they have been displaying for the past 15 years is evident throughout.

It is a Global Communication mix.

Sadly, their are no new Global Communication tracks but you do get to hear some things by Mark under his Harmonic 313 style (his "Arc Light" track is stunning) and Tom shows up and closes the mix as Amba.

Maybe one day the pair of them will produce together again, but for the time being we'll have to make do with this recent set courtesy of Fabric.

I've pulled a couple of my favourites from the mix, both from the house-ier end of the CD. The pair below are actually mixed together on the CD, but they are here in their full versions.

Enjoy.

Track : AUDIOMONTAGE - "VISION 2 VISION"

This is the work of the prolific Jimpster aka Jamie Odell and member of live dance band The Bays, a band that Middleton gets involved with every now and then. Instead of his jazz leanings he normally shows, he's veered more towards house. I love the Chicago style bassline on this - which compliments the similar one on the Vince Watson track below - but I also love it's sort of minimalism. I say sort of, as it does have quite a bit going on in it, but he's been able to space it out and just add the right vocal snatches, shimmers and lines atop the backing when the track needs them. Nice quick breakdown too at the 4 minute mark...

Track : VINCE WATSON - "THE WAY IT'S MEANT TO BE"

As mentioned above, this too goes for a Chicago style bassline, with a great 303 style touch about it too. Where this track differs from Audiomontage's is that the elements that make up the track owe a lot to Detroit Techno. Not surprising really as Vince Watson's Techno credentials are impeccable what with his tracks being picked up by people like Stacey Pullen, Dave Angel and Colin Dale. Great sweeping and swirling chord progressions and intricate percussion programming coupled with great Detroit inspired melodies. And not forgetting the most important element, The Funk. Not bad for a guy who hails from 20 minutes down the road from me in Erskine, Scotland...

Go Visit : Reload Online (site dedicated to the music of Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton)
Go Visit : Audiomontage @ Freerange Records
Go Visit : Vince Watson

Go Buy : FABRIC 26 / Mixed By Global Communication

Feel free to leave a comment about these tracks in The Pipe section of the forum.

Ta,
Budgie.