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Well we know he was keen from his reports of the Worldwide Award show but could Dorian Concept be better than Jazzanova? Just in case you missed it, what Peterson actually said was, “I call him [the new] Joe Zawinul of Austria!”; has he lost his mind or what?

This is the “fantastic” debut album of 2009; this year’s Diary Of An Afro Warrior by Benga or Burial’s Untrue, not forgetting The Long Lost, as it’s coming from the leftfield. So it needs a couple of listens (O.K. perhaps four but no more) and then you will believe Vienna has a new Zawinal and Dorian Concept is a one man Weather Report of sonic fusion sound.

Get into weird spaceways beats that Sun Ra would have been proud of, ‘Freehand Monkey’ is so simple yet busy, ‘Mesh Beam Splitter’ is manic and the previous single, ‘The Fucking Formula’ is so dope! You know this is for fans of Dabyre, Madlib, J. Dilla and Flying Lotus. And if you’re listing these guys as a Fantastic Four, up the anti with Dorian Concept as a special plus one.

Like most overnight sensations, he didn’t get this good overnight. Friend of FLY and long time supporter Mamiko (who was hangin’ out with Mr Peterson for his show last week!), has been triumphing DC (and Hudson Mohawke) for some time now. Dorian not only is a wiz on the Microkorg synthesizer (which features heavily on the album) but he’s also an accomplished jazz musician. Like his recent hip-hop remixes (see HERE), there’s too much unpredictability going on - that’s why you get drawn in to his world; free avant-beat with little respect for standard looping. If you use your imagination, the title track could be some mutant Italo-prog rock experiment and I just love how ‘Her Marshmallow Secret’ could have been a Clangers hip hop unearthed by Jonny Trunk!

And Kindred Spirits know a good thing when they hear it, just check out some of their past works with Otis Jackson, Jr (aka Madlib) and Ivan (Mamão) Conti, Build An Ark, Rednose Distrikt, Byard Lancaster, Singer/Gilson, Heavy (who have new album out soon) and their lastest signest, Sound Species to name just a few. So there’s no surprise this we’ll find that When Planets Explode is the bomb for the beat generation.

The album is instrumental (save for some background vocal samples) and it’s a shame the only mellow track, ‘Two Dimensional’ that ends the album, is so short. Which got me thinking about Carlos Nino (who has his own album coming out on Kindred Spirit’s called High With A Little Help From very soon now) and you wonder what Dwight Trible (Build An Ark, Life Force Trio and more and a big fan of Joe Zawinul) could do with When Planets Explode; not much with the head nodding ‘Clap Beep Boom’ but possible some of the others.

Anyway, expect to hear these tracks all throughout the year (especially ‘Freehanded Monkey’, ‘Fort Teen’, ‘Her Marshmallow Secret’) and enjoy experiencing new superstar. Heavy plays from Benji B and Peterson guaranteed and I can’t believe Dorain Concept is not going to be at Bloc Weekend. Next year for sure but if your are going this year, don’t forget to pack your mesh beam splitter.

Reviewed: Dorian Concept - When Planets Explode (Kindred Spirit) Cat. No.KSNN7LP Release date: 9th March 2009
Tracklisting:
A1 Clap Beep Boom (4:09)
A2 Freehanded Monkey (3:02)
A3 Color Sexist (3:45)
A4 Mesh Beam Splitter (3:35)
A5 The Fucking Formula (2:46)
B1 Fort Teen (3:23)
B2 You Tiresome Thing (4:02)
B3 When Planets Explode (2:06)
B4 Her Marshmallow Secret (4:07)
B5 Two Dimensional (1:59)

Links:
www.myspace.com/dorianconcept
www.kindred-spirits.nl
www.myspace.com/kindredspiritsrecords
Gilles Peterson 5th March 2009 :: Original Soundtrack Material - Absolute Beginners (1986)
Ramsey Lewis - Sweet Rain (Chess Masters)
Carlos Nino & Miguel Atwood Ferguson - Fall In Love (Stones Throw) “he’s just come up with just another brilliant project. In tribute to JD, Suite for Ma Dukes; mother of. And he’s come together with Miguel Atwood Ferguson, great conductor and he’s done cover version of ‘Nag Champa’, a couple of others and this one ‘Fall In Love’, Slum Village”.
Bob James - Westchester Lady (CTI Records)
Jules Chaz - Yes I Do (Test)
Sound Species feat. Ahu - We Call It Love (Kindred Spirits) “That’s a big one”
John Coltrane feat. Shaunice - Naima (Test)
Dorian Concept - The Formula (aka The Fucking Formula) (Kindred Spirits)
Martyn - For Lost Relatives (3024)
Dobie - Good Will Hunting (Test)
Tatsuo Sunaga - Fanble Bee (Tri4th)
Original Soundtrack Material - Absolute Beginners (1986)
Gil Evans - Absolute Beginners (EMI)