Gary Thorogood reviews

Distributed by
Mango & Sweet Rice

Year: 2002

Rating: 8/10

Cat. No: MFG CZECH

From Japan to Honolulu via the States and the UK, Coppe, has travelled the world garnering a whole host of exotic and esoteric influences which have been brought to bear on her latest album, Peppermint. Described by DJ Swamp as a "mellow, energetic, cosmic love ball", Peppermint probes and pushes at the edges of the nu-dance/downbeat/electronica envelope.

If you have become jaded over the past year or so with bland, homogenised beats, and frustrated as the next big thing turns out to be at best a badly drawn emperor, Peppermint may just be the pick me up you need. In places, barely describable in others, barely believable, it is a sonic swoop of album - multi-layered, multi-textured and mighty, mighty good.

Coppe is a Japanese woman currently residing in Hawaii with her own record label, Mango & Sweet Rice. On this album she has brought together an im pressive range of producers, mixers and collaborators including Plaid, DJ Vadim and Kris Weston previously of the Orb. The result is like listening to a soundtrack of someone's (hopefully imaginary) dreams.

Coppe's extraordinary vocals weave in and out of a heady mix of other worldly sounds. Across the course of the album we are treated to dub, drum and bass, ambient electronica and the trippiest of all trip hop. At times one is reminded of Bjork or perhaps Leila, at others the original Sneaker Pimps if they had been brought up on Alpha Centauri with only avant garde jazz as their musical signposts.

It is hard to point out individual tracks as the album works best as an overall experience although a special shout out must be given to Sea Anemone with its breathless vocals and deep, echoing dub and the veritable whirlpool of sound that is Jan & Jeff & Jungle Curry.

Seriously, if you are interested in the future of dance and like your music to provoke, inspire and challenge then seek out Peppermint. It may leave your breath fresh but your mind will be reeling for ages.

The full track listing is as follows:

1. My Hard Boiled Egg Heart 2. Jan, Jeff and Jungle Curry 3. Jelly Omelette 4. VAD 5. VAD: Orange City Mix 6. Sea Anemone 7. Jelly Dub

8. 240 9. So Brilliante 10. Unticaria 11. Mark B... B... B... Gun 12. Atlantis is Kushti 13. Vicohico 14. Miso

Review copyright © Gary Thorogood, 2002.