Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

First off, don’t get the idea that Daedelus was talking about me when he said this. He actually said to B+ and Eric Coleman last year, when I was interviewing them about their future plans after the Keepintime gig at Cargo.

When you hear the opening track to Denies The Days Demise, you wonder what he meant by that statement. He didn’t give anything away at the time. ‘At My Heals’ safely follows on from the high standard of Exquisite Corpse with the hip hop mix of 50s film score.

However, it’s ‘Sundown’ that is the turning point. It moves into an anthemic theme (with Daedelus aka Alfred Weisberg-Roberts on vocals), with stadium rock sound effects and wait for it… he’s gone south of the border. So far south it’s in Spiritual South’s territory. Not Brixton, Brazil! So this is what he was on about. The next episode of Keepintime is Brazilintime (as featured on Gilles Peterson’s show recently when he bumped into B+ et al at their the Hotel in Sao Paulo).

The other about turn on this album is that it’s a true solo album. No guests at all. This just goes to show off his wealth of musical talent. With his electro wizardry, some of the tracks get a bit techno along with the Brazilian beats, such as, ‘Nouveau Nova’, ‘Samba Legrand’ and ‘Our Last Stand’. He’s as leftfield as ever. Remember, it’s all about the cowbells.

‘Bahia’ gets the ‘Come Dancing’ brass section out and Alfred leads the cuicas with the bass clarinet, it’s awesome. As he’s on tour with those Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines masters, Zero dB, I’d like to see them all do a jam session on ‘Bahia’.

‘Like Clockwork Springs’ puts all this samba goodness in a clock-shop (which is a little reminiscent of the throb of Tunng’s ‘Engine Room’).

Not sure what he’s saying on ‘Lights Out’ (sounds a bit like a distorted ‘Red Army’ terrace chant?) or about the significance of the album cover art of a young lad waking up in bed infront of a London skyline. ‘Petite Samba’ and ‘Sunrise’ slows down the pace and gradually leads us back into the romance of a 1950s picture house.

There’s not a bad track on this album (Ed. You would say that). I’m sure Alfred would admit he’s not got the strongest voice in the world, but even so, the wistful ‘Viva Vida’ is very moving. Mr. Weisberg-Roberts has astounded this reviewer (once again) and I’ve failed to do it justice.

Hectic Mix Choice: ‘Sundown’ - this is my favourite Daedelus track now (just ahead of ‘Just Briefly’) and it’s on included on N-E-X-T-W-O-R-L-D #3 to be broadcast 4th June live on TROG.

Reviewed: Daedelus - Denies The Days Demise (Ninja Tune) Cat. No. ZENCD118 Release Date: May 2006
tracklisting
1 At My Heels (3:20)
2 Sundown (3:18)
3 Nouveau Nova (3:36)
4 Viva Vida (3:20)
5 Samba Legrand (5:46)
6 Like Clockwork Springs (2:46)
7 Lights Out (3:12)
8 Bahia (3:34)
9 Our Last Stand (5:2)
10 Patent Pending (2:35)
11 Sawtooth EKG (2:53)
12 Dreamt Of Drowning (2:42)
13 Sunrise (2:56)
14 Petite Samba (1:57)
15 Never None The Wise (3:39)

Links:
www.ninjatune.net
You can see the video of ‘Sundown’ and watch the man himself.
www.myspace.com/daedelusdarling
“And so it is “Denies the Day’s Demise” newest LP for 2006 and just recently released, I do hope that these few songs selected spurn listening to the others, but no bother here is the run down…”Sundown” with the vocal stylings of Amir Yaghmi (of Jogger), this is the thermometer of “Denies…” and perhaps a good lead into,”Nouveau Nova” flourishing a bit of synthesized melody, at odds meter, and impatience for,”Patent Pending” soaked in bossa beats and cha, my greatest hope that perhaps you see it all unfold by,”Samba Legrand” a tip of the top-hat to samba, electronicus, and meaningless words that name other genres. I do hope you enjoy these few and other sounds to follow in the future”. Daedelus, Saturday, May 13, 2006.
Daedelus @ en Wikipedia