Reviews EYE OF THE STORM
(Taken from KEEP THE GRIME ON)
http://www.contactmusic.com
‘Eye Of The Storm’ is the debut single
from London crew Visionary Underground released
on VU Recordings. Visionary Underground consists
of DJ Feelfree, VJ Coco alongside vocalist Damion
Mulrain. Their live shows have visuals to compliment
their unique style of breakbeat music and judging
by this single you could imagine a good night out.
The breakbeat intensity of ‘Eye Of The Storm’
is fast paced and guaranteed to get you dancing.
Mulrain’s lyrics are positive, evoke conscience
thought and are soulful. There is an Eastern feel
provided by Chandru of Bollywood Strings(fresh from
chart success with Britney Spears -Toxic) that takes
us into the ethereal realm. Overall this track is
a pumping tune that is uplifting, highly energised
and is taking breakbeat music forward. Cool.
Tareck Ghoneim
http://www.music-dash.co.uk
Visionary Underground are a London collective based
around the break beat scene. Using the strings of
Chandru (Bollywood Strings), this record is set
against a rustling, tumbling back beat and contributions
on bass from the Asian Dub Foundation. But it’s
the vocal, which all adds up to something like an
extreme dance version of Faith No More. Catchy as
hell, but it’s the edgy melody which really
does make this record stand out.
Parker Knoll
http://www.indielondon.co.uk/music/mu_recommended_cd_single.html
Visionary Underground is a collective of break-beat
upstarts hailing from London who set up in 2000
to herald a new era of audio-visual dance. Their
debut CD single is Eye of The Storm, a lively, fresh
and exciting dance track that features some really
great strings from Chandru, of Bollywood Strings,
that help lend the track an even more epic feel.
VU is comprised of DJ Feelfree, VJ Coco and vocalist
Damion Mulrain. All combine to ensure that Eye Of
The Storm makes a suitably strong impression for
its CD debut, complete with remixes from Shiva Soundsystem
and Asian Dub Foundation. On the strength of this
intro, the forthcoming album will be worth checking
out.
http://www.musicomh.com
Radio 1 DJ's are already playing Eye Of The Storm
and it may well speed up the dance charts. Certainly,
live dance music must be applauded, and this single
relase may represent the more commercial aspect
of the forthcoming LP. We eagerly await its release
to see if Visionary Underground can meet the innovative
expectations promised.
Claire Colley
Sept 2003:
Visionary Underground Tours the West Coast USA alongside
Dhamaal
- San Francisco and Didijtal
- Los Angeles.
“Underground vibe Come welcome the subversive
Brits as they invade from London’s South Asian
Underground, quite an explosive scene overseas for
the past several years. Dhamaal, the Bay Area’s
own electric collective of South Asian masters plays
host to England’s Visionary Underground in
an airtight meeting of the minds at Club Six. VU
members DJ FeelFree and renowned tabla player Aref
Durvesh spin a pulsating collage of drum ‘n’
bass infused with traditional percussion, pounding
breaks and politically charged vocal assaults …”
San Francisco Bay Guardian – Sept 17-23rd
2003
Review from Breaksworld
"Visionary Underground is a hot
new urban breaks posse from London and if "Urban
Uproar" is anything to go by we'll be hearing
lots more from them, so seek out this white label
release offering the blinding original mix plus
two less inspired dubs. The orginal mix features
a smooth ragga style vocal performance by the talented
MC Navigator (best known as vocalist on "Ruffneck"
and other Freestylers tunes) over a deep breaks
& bass groove and a hypnotic touch of tablas
courtesy of Aref Durvesh."
Rating 4/5 - Helix (www.breaksworld.com)
Review
"I have died and gone to jump
up breaks heaven! This versatile band of London
Based musicians have been keeping it down for the
last year and delivered a concoction of ragga style
breakbeat with floor ripping Drum & Bass bass
lines. The 12" also has definite ''old skool''
feel, and on the vocal version with MC Navigator
ragga lyrics worked perfectly over the top. This
a must for any breakbeat DJ ready to drop that illusive
jungle-tinged breakbeat to rock any crowd, and I
will be waiting with baited breath for the album
to drop."
Rating: 9/10 - DJ Dr Prozak (Sound Surgery
Rec UK)
Review from "7"
Magazine
"This London-based
collective of audio-visual technicians, musicians
and MCs have been buried away in the studio for
the past year or so - and are now ready to deliver.
With lyrical pitter patter from MC
Navigator (of Freestylers fame), 'Urban Uproar'
is a devilishly unclassifiable breakbeat science
workout - UK garage, nu skool breaks and D'n'B all
rolled into one with a hefty belch of old skool
flavours for good measure. Straight from the streets."
Rating 5/7 - Kieran
Wyatt
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