Page 63 - Zone Magazine - Issue 033 - Jan Johnston

Albums // Compilations
Albums - Dance
Albums - Dance
\\ TUNES
Kouncilhouse – Digital Addiction [Dirty Lemon]
HOUSE
In these uncertain times, a ray of hope comes through to the offices here at Zone Magazine. UK based producer Simon Tagg, or Kouncilhouse as you may well know him, drops his new long player, and it’s a joy.
Moving on from his last album “Tick till friday”, his knack at turning his hand to any genre and running with it is in full effect here. Whereas the previous album was a collection of tracks ( that worked wonderfully as a collective piece of work) this album has been thought through, and is an experience best listened to from start to finish. It’s the old cliché, but it's true, it's a journey.
We begin with the sunrise neo soul of “Eivissa”, a gentle trip through soothing pads, ethereal vocals and a delicate male vocal. Switching things up immediately with the synth-wave bass and arpeggios of “Commando”, the vocals repeating, yearning for the answer to their question. It’s straight out of the 80s and its a great roller. First of many collaborations next, with Freak Power, on the laid back, yet groove laden “Voices”. A joyous road trip soundtrack in the making.
“Blunt rolls” brings things back down, with its lamenting piano, sitting with saxophones and brass, over the hip hop beats.
Lead single from the album, “Crazy about you” is an ode to lost love whilst maintaining a positive feel. The reverb soaked backing vocals and strings are definitely a nod to Moby, but it’s definitely in now way a mere copy. He's made it completely his own. Next is Koucilhouse's very own tribute to the dearly missed Andrew Wetherall. A pumping break and layers of synths combined with rave vocal stabs all rolling along at the 100bpm mark mean this is definitely a track the great man would have played out.
Next collaboration, with Marley and Poppy Holiday is the Sneaker Pimps-esque “Come with me”. A haunting hark back to the mid 90s. Current single “Cold” with its string lead and its soulful vocal, combined with a very well known break sample, combined with dub style guitars and dial tones in the mix, mean on paper it sounds like it shouldn't work, but boy it does.
"Bones” takes us back to 90s hip hop with its chunky break and samples, before once again the neo soul feeling returns with the vocals. “Everything to me” is the only track that could really be described as for the dance floor. Its drum and bass tempo and rhythm, once again combined with the strings and gentle female vocal, mean it could easily fit in a club, the car, or at home.
Finally we have “Coffee”. Bringing us to the conclusion of the journey. As the sun sets, you can feel this being the soundtrack to the thought “this was a good day”. Uplifting and melancholic at the same time, it’s a reflection of what's gone before and what's next.
Kouncilhouse should seriously take a bow with this one. An amazing exploration of sounds, textures and styles of music that only he can make fit together. As said at the beginning, this is an album that genuinely deserves to be given a proper listen to. Get a glass of wine, a beer, or whatever your poison is, and let the album take you to somewhere else for an hour.
After all, we all need a break at the moment don't we. Digital Addiction is out on August the 28th on Dirty Lemon.
Words John Ricketts
https://www.beatport.com/release/in-my-heart-ep/2885780
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