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This is a long-awaited follow-up to the debut album My Sound, which led onto the electro dancehall booty of the Stereotyp vs. Al Haca series of 12”ers that were absolutely hammered at Hectic Villas last year.

Strangely, the first sign of his electro dark mushy bass is on a re-work of Megablast’s ‘Over’. Sensibly, he keeps Cesar Simpson’s vocal, which is pure soulful house.

The single ‘Big Flows’ features a rap by Coppa (with a mention of Xzibit), this is the one that turns on the dancehall bass exterminator. And another one on the hip-hip flow, ‘Do Dirt’ has some experimental percussion (listening to Steve Reich’s ‘Handclapping’?) but the scary ones are the collaborations with RQM. ‘Nothing But Love’ and ‘Slices’ are right dark and dirty while ‘It’s On’ is softened by Cesar, Sandra Kurweil’s and Hubert Tubbs vocals. ‘It’s On’ is creepingly becoming a favourite.

‘Keepin’ Me’ is big gospel house with great rhodes solo along with Kurweil’s lead vocals. It’s such a huge track, I don’t know why it wasn’t the single. And for one halfway between ‘It’s On’ and ‘Keeping Me’, try ‘Blinded’ with Kurweil doing the soul diva. There’s definitely something special on with the firm Stereotyp, Kurweil, and Tubbs and a special edition SKT 12” might be worth thinking about.

Fans will instantly get ‘Not Afraid’ with classic vocals by Cesar Sampson and for dark nu-soul downtempo tribal, ‘Satisfied’ will not disappoint. And talking of soul, Mr Tubbs takes the lead on the last track ‘Fool For You’, who is so on form, it reminds me of Joe Tex’s classic, ‘Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby)’.

On the Hectic hobbyhorse of covers, nothing to gripe about here as it’s another great cover from the visual mörth-master. Perhaps not as striking as the cover of My Sound, but still very effective and loads better than most.

This album is certainly varied but there is a consistency, like a particularly good compilation album say. It certainly took me a few listens before I got it. What with Makossa and Meglblast project and the rest of the Viennese co-op, Keepin’ Me is a testament to Stereotyp’s important role in the city’s musical present. This is another brilliant album, it’s on alright.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Keepin’ Me’, ‘Nothing But Love’, ‘Fool For You’, ‘Slices’ [and the other ten tracks!]

Reviewed: Stereotyp - Keepin’ Me (G-Stone Recordings) Cat. No: G-Stone CD 028 Release date: 30 Oct 2006
Tracklisting:
1. Keepin’ Me (5:02)
2. Not Afraid (3:27)
3. Ladies Do (3:09)
4. Over (4:01)
5. Do Dirt (3:21)
6. Big Flows (4:26)
7. Slices (2:55)
8. Take The Weight (5:47)
9. It’s You (5:08)
10. Satisfied (5:58) feat Daniela Bauer
11. It’s On (5:20) feat. Hubert Tubbs, Sandra Kurzweil
12. Blinded (5:00)
13. Nothing But Love (3:19)
14. Fool For You (6:50) feat. Flute - Jay Lee, Rhodes Solo - Dieter Kolbeck, Lead Vocals Hubert Tubbs

Links:
www.myspace.com/stefanmoerth
www.megablast.at
www.myspace.com/huberttubbs