Sach O is currently wearing a purple T-shirt.
Reactions to Joker’s debut album haven’t matched the thunderous of his early singles but this isn’t necessarily as dramatic as some would have you believe. Yes – he took a risk and it didn’t quite work out but why release an album otherwise? Underground dance music lives and dies on singles so if you’re going to bother with a full length release that isn’t oriented towards DJs, you may as target it towards those most likely to buy it – hence signing to 4AD and the big-room vocals. The problem is that while underground dance music is often the product of a solitary genius banging away on a computer, that formula doesn’t usually cut it in Pop unless you happen to be Prince and despite the purple vibe and funk synths, Joker is not Prince.
In any case, sometimes a critical thrashing is what an artist needs in order to get back to his roots. I don’t know if giving away the instrumentals to The Vision’s vocal tracks is damage control or was part of his plan all along but it’s a magnanimous gesture – and a middle finger to those questioning his taste in songwriting all the same. Granted, this isn’t a game changing maneuver and those questioning the grandiosity of the production will still find plenty to gripe about but for those looking for a little more Dub in their Dubstep, this is a goldmine. Throw in a new vocal version of “Back in the Days” with a furious Ghettz and seperate remix of that track by rising Bristol Producer Khan and you’ve got one hell of a peace offering. Plus look at the album cover – THAT’s the Joker I want to hear from – the motorbike riding street kid, not the creepy dude standing in the middle of a CG landscape.
All is forgiven Joker. Now let us never speak of that Tiesto remix again.
Download:
MP3: Joker – The Vision (Instrumentals)
