DJ Food aka Strictly Kev – one of Ninja Tune’s true veterans and powerhouses – returns with the next installment from his forthcoming, long-awaited album, “Stolen Moments.” And while the personnel of “DJ Food” has changed over the years, as has the musical vision, the name is always a guarantee of the utmost quality.
“Sentinel (Shadow Guard)” is the first ever studio collaboration between Kev and longtime DJ partner and Solid Steel producer DK. A track of contrasts - harp, acoustic guitar and ringing electronics versus filthy bass, heavy drums and rattling percussion. All held together by Ninja labelmate King Cannibal working the mixing desk, the results are driving and sinuous, but subtle, too. “Extract from Stolen Moments too” is a further peep at the creepy piano theme which will be visited and revisited across Food’s forthcoming EPs and woven throughout the album that will follow. “Brother John” is a tribute to the great John Rydgren, now sadly deceased, a pastor from the Lutheran church who subtly blended the word of God with the music of the day back in the 60s and 70s via his radio shows. This is classic Food – a seamless blending of vocal samples and musical goodness. “GIANT is voiceless cover version of the closing track from the classic “Soul Mining” album by The The. Literally! years in the making and still not finished, The The’s main man Matt Johnson has given it his blessing and will be providing a new take on the original vocal for the album next year. “Sentinel (Lunar Defence)” We end where we came in - kind of - a completely different take on the opening track transforms it into a brooding guitar-led theme that delves into dark afro-percussion without warning – beautiful and unsettling in equal measure.
We hate to be the bearers of bad tidings, but there are difficult decisions for Food lovers to make. The 12” single once again comes with an A2 poster cover of exclusive artwork by 2000AD artist Henry Flint with colours and design by Openmind aka Strictly Kev. On the other hand, the download comes with three bonus tracks, the “All Covered In Darkness” Mr P remiix suite. Ex-DJ Food veteran and sometime Cinematic Orchestra member PC (Patrick Carpenter aka Mr P) returns from a musical hiatus to deliver not one but three versions of “All Covered In Darkness.” A favourite from the last Food EP, it features the dulcet tones of Ken Nordine and harmonies from The Dragons. He twists it from 4/4 to 6/8 time and back again, making it his own across an epic 13 minutes.
Maybe get both
?!
5 Track 12" vinyl with poster cover
Side A
1. Sentinel (Shadow Guard) DJ Food & DK
130 bpm 6.32
2. extract from Stolen Moments too
86 bpm 3.47
3. Brother John
86 bpm 2.53
Time: 13.12
Side B
1. GIANT (instrumental)
108 bpm 8.10
2. Sentinel (Lunar Defence)
97.5 bpm 5.55
Time: 14.05
Total running time: 27: 17
zencds252p
1. Sentinel (Shadow Guard) DJ Food & DK
2. extract from Stolen Moments too
3. Brother John
4. GIANT (instrumental)
5. Sentinel (Lunar Defence)
6. All Covered In Darkness (Mr P remix)
7. All Covered In Darkness (Mr P remix in3)
8. All Covered In Darkness (Mr P beats remix)
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DJ FOOD - The Shape Of Things That Hum EP (Ninja Tune)
Fink - See It All / Q&A - Single out 19th October (Ninja Tune) inc remixes