In addition to the Platinum Pied Pipers’ Triple P (ironically coming third in the Album Of The Year section), they released John Arnold’s ‘new’ sound.

I’d like to know where Style & Pattern did come in album of the year category as it included one stonker of a percussion-based house tune with Paul Randolph belting out the chorus. Perhaps including ‘Rise Up’ on a 12” and on the HVW8 Compilation stole some of it’s thunder but Mark de Clive-Lowe described it as, “a very strong tune” and if Mark de Clive-Lowe is playing it, you know it’s good. But don’t skip over the opening title track on which Ninja Tune’s Ty appears with some characteristically upbeat quirky lyrical rap; not many in hip hop can get away with including a line about a cheese sandwich.

Funk groover ‘Geminade’ is featured on his ‘myspace’ site (see links below) and ‘Suppadupe’ is a modern take on The Brothers Johnson / Headhunters sound with a touch of ‘Starksy & Hutch’ theme.

Pathe Jassi is from Senegal and appears on the part-broken-bollywood-ragga of ‘Jangal’ whilst ‘Cabin Fever’ is more firmly in the Bugz In The Attic studio Efx box of tricks. Arnold has appeared all over the world including the broken Mecca at Co-op. In fact, ‘La Cocina’ was ‘created’ at Co-Op and has a very Latin-jazz feel to it (apparently finished late at an impromptu studio session after a gig in Puerto Rico!) Similarly, ‘Show Your Love’ is a little broken but is augmented with acoustic Spanish guitar.

Helping John develop as a live artist has been label-mate and Detroit neighbour, Jeremy Ellis (aka Ayro), who has been described as “Detroit’s broken beat Stevie Wonder”. Ellis appeared on Carl Craig’s seminal album, The Detroit Experiment and features on ‘Show Your Love’ and the jazz-funky ‘Separately Together’.

In addition to DJing, Arnold has been in Amp Fiddler’s band (as has vocalist Paul Randolph) and he’s also played with Detroit ‘Vibes From The Tribe’ legends Phil Ranelin (Build An Ark) and Wendell Harrison. Harrison and Randolph guest on the street funking, ‘1234’.

I’ve been carrying around this CD for a couple of months now and it’s getting a beat up look about it. Time to get the vinyl version but check it includes the bonus remixes of ‘Inside’ by Henrik ‘Chicago’ Schwartz’s and another Ninja Tune guest, the irrepressible Mr. Scruff on the disco-Afrobeat-funk groove.

Impro was all the rage back in August on Worldwide as John and Jeremy were in session showcasing the album (Schwartz was on the Peterson show the week after with an improvised ‘laptop’ mix). Back to John and Jeremy, they have developed a live “non-stop electronic show to bridge the gap between DJ and producer.” By performing and creating tracks ‘freestyle’ live, Style and Pattern has been test-run on the dance floor in front of some of the most knowledgeable crowds for the past two years. The wait was worth it and Arnold and his collaborators have produced a strong multi-dimensional album that’s of the highest Ubiquity standard.

John is also a busy remixer and I’ll be getting to grips with his dub version of Mojo Projects’, ‘In My Life’ soon but if you’re at a New Year’s Party this year without ‘Rise Up’, get it on the decks when you get home. Party anthem.

Reviewed: John Arnold - Style and Pattern Ubiquity (URCD/LP180)
CD / 2LP - Release Date: October 11, 2005
Tracklisting
1. Style and Pattern (Nuff Version) feat. Ty
2. Geminade
3. Rise Up feat. Paul Randolph
4. La Cocina
5. Suppadupe
6. Jangal feat. Pathe Jassi
7. Cabin Fever
8. Show Your Love feat. Jeremy Ellis
9. Separately Together
10. 1234 feat. Paul Randolph
11. Inside feat. Malik Alston (Mr. Scruff remix)
12. Inside feat. Malik Alston (Henrik Schwarz Remix)

Links:
Ubquity Records www.ubiquityrecords.com
John Arnold on myspace
Platinum Pied Pipers - ‘Triple P’ @ www.therecordroom.co.uk VY LPx2 / £9.75 : The Platinum Pied Pipers are a two-man dynamic musical duo with an essential new twist on modern hip hop and soul. Producers Waajeed (a founding member of Slum Village) and musical sidekick Saadiq have their fresh-faced approach to music on their debut album, “Triple P”
Gilles Peterson : Tracklisting 21/08/05 : Jeremy Ellis & John Arnold In Session
16) Jeremy Ellis - Freestyle 1 “Drop it like it’s Popcorn” (Live in Session)
17) John Arnold - ‘La Cocina’ (Ubiquity)
18) Jeremy Ellis - ‘Cortaron a Elena’ (Ubiquity)
19) John Arnold - ‘Jangal’ (Ubiquity)
20) Jeremy Ellis - Freestyle 2 ‘Dilla Report’ (Live in Session)
22) John Arnold feat. Ty - ‘Style and Pattern’ (Nuff Version) (Ubiquity)
23) Jeremy Ellis - Freestyle 3 “A Brown Supreme” (Live in Session)
24) John Arnold - ‘Geminade’ (Ubiquity)
25) Jeremy Ellis - Freestyle 4 ‘Drums and Horn Hits- Fingerstyle’ (Live in Session)
Gilles Peterson : Tracklisting 03/06/04 : John Arnold - ‘Inside’ (Henrik Schwarz remix) (Ubquity)
Various - ‘Message From The Tribe’ (Soul Jazz)