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Pleasure From Precision started out as an instrumental album but luckily for us, five of the tracks feature the vocals of Sarah Michaelson. There are some tracks where she sounds like Dani Sciliano on a Herbert track and on others in more of a Break Reform downtempo style.

In fact, favourite tracks have been fluctuating on every play, which is always a good sign. The house-reggaeish ‘Could Me’ has just taken over from the dreamy ‘Anti Animosity’ (check out the sound clip links on the tracklistings below). She also features on ‘Lost Touch’, ‘In The Meantime’ and ‘Nightime In El Canton’. It seems in addition to Ms. Michaelson jazz and classical training, her other talents include being an accomplished DJ (aka DJ Mama Cutsworth) and Radio presenter on Winnepeg’s CKUW.

Whilst all are very good (particularly ‘Nightime In El Canton’ with Henrik Schwarz on the metaphorical bongos) this is not just a 5-track Michaelson showcase.

The ten other tracks are more than a ‘bonus’. Solidaze (aka Luis Francisco Cardona) is originally from El Salvador, he then moved to Winnepeg aged 10 with his family. He’s worked under other pseudonyms so he is no shirking beats maker even though the album took four years to make.

Stick with it as there’s more to it than just the downtempo start. There’s jazziness in there with funky hip hoppin’ house. ‘Just Talk’ and ‘I Too Call Myself I’ get funky on the synths and ‘Still Waters Express’ picks up on Voom:Voom’s Peng Peng Kraftwerk-Troutman tribute sound.

The casternets on the ‘Darker Lines’ are a great touch and it’s a track that wouldn’t be out of place on Jesse Rose’s Presents More Than One with ‘Mood Quartz’ as a percussive broken dub workout.

Some tracks could have been saved for next time thus giving room for some expansion. For one, ‘Just Talk’ could have been a little longer as it seems to be aching for some Bob James type soloing. That apart, what a great find!

The label had their 5th Birthday Party in April, at which Solidaze and Sarah performed live. That must have been a great night out. Also worth checking is the Balanced Records podcast, ‘Episode 1: Solidaze - Profound Rhythms’, which you can find on their website.

Hectic Mix nomination: ‘Darker Lines’ (watch out for that quick ending)

Solidaze - Pleasure From Precision (Balanced Records) feat. Sarah Michaelson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9) Cat. No. BCD2006-09 Release date: 28 April 2006
Notes: The release is available at all good record shops or directly from our site. Digital downloads are available on Apple iTunes, Karma Download and Emusic.

Tracklisting:
1. Anti Animosity (4:52)
2. Could Be (5:44)
3. I Too Call Myself I (4:32)
4. Lost Touch (3:47)
5. Just Talk (3:38)
6. Late Night Movement (3:42)
7. In The Meantime (3:16)
8. Curve Seven (3:35)
9. Nightime In El Canton (4:45)
10. Still Waters Express (4:25)
11. Memory Stain (4:51)
12. Darker Lines (6:00)
13. Mood Quartz (3:07)
14. Condor Quarry (2:38)
15. Different World (2:42)

Links:
www.balanced-records.com
Sarah Michaelson @ Balanced Records + Stylus Radio Show CKUW 95.9 FM Winnepeg Manitoba [Tues 2.00-3.00pm]