To All Things What They Need

A GUY CALLED GERALD
TO ALL THINGS WHAT THEY NEED !K7 (Ger), K7I73CD

With his reputation long synonymous with experimentation. Gerald Simpson established a long. long time ago that he had little to prove. Having ridden the acid house wave with 808 State and his solo material. he went on to push the boundaries of jungle with his 'Black Secret Technology' album. This second album for Berlin's K7 reflects Simpson's own move to the city. and a return to his roots in techno. Primarily instrumental, the triumvirate of 'American Cars', 'First Try' and 'Pump' defines the album: one man's
summation of the last 20 years of electronic music; to the more reflective Detroit cuts typified by Jeff Mills or Derrick May.

As ever, it's not just about one genre, dabbling with jungle in the muezzin sampling 'Call For Prayer' and reconnecting with past collaborators in the two vocal tracks - Philadelphia supa sister Ursula Rucker appearing on 'Millennium Sanhedrin' whilst Finley Quaye crops up in 'Strangest Changes.' Although not quite as immediate as 'Essence; this is most definitely a grower from dance music's favourite survivor.

Kingsley Marshall