'Adventures in Freestyle'
What The Critics Say
American breaks fans may not recognize all of the artists featured on this celebrated duo's contribution to the Fabriclive mix series, but they'll get acclimated soon enough. Recording under the name SCAM, the Freestylers themselves contribute two of the album's highlight tracks, the ska-inflected "Killer" and a nice reworking of Johnny Osbourne's "Buddy Bye" titled "Put Up Your Hands." But most of the program finds them cutting and scratching over the work of other members of Britain's breakbeat scene, including Phuture Assassins (whose "Forever" draws heavily on a vintage Twinkle Brothers track), Azzido da Bass (whose "Dooms Night" is presented here in a brilliant Timo Maas remix), and the Breakfastaz (whose "Kick It" provides a forum for some virtuosic scratching by the Freestylers). While everything here has a generally hip-hop sort of feel, there's a pervasive reggae undertone to many of these tracks; sometimes reggae of the old-school variety and sometimes the secondhand type, like the big chunks of Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives" that undergird the Breakfastaz' "Spit It Out." The result is a rich and heady mixture of beats and moods and a program that works equally well for dancing or just listening. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Since the Rippingtons do Russ Freeman's bidding, he hasn't found it necessary to do a full-fledged, regular solo album since he founded the group in 1986. (There have been duo albums with David Benoit and Craig Chaquico as well as a solo holiday record, however.) But listeners "started encouraging me to 'step out' more and to play more guitar," he writes in the liner notes to Drive, and "hence, this album," his first such release since 1985's Nocturnal Playground. That statement is the key to what distinguishes the disc from a Rippingtons album. Although Freeman has called upon a few guest musicians, with Chris Botti contributing muted trumpet work to "Soul Dance," Jeff Lorber keyboards to "Brighter Day," and Eric Marienthal sax to "Anywhere Near You," the tracks are designed as showcases for Freeman's guitar playing, not otherwise leaving room for other soloists. The Freeman fans who encouraged him no doubt will find the result satisfying, but the overall musical direction is no different from that of the Rippingtons. As usual, Freeman has built a series of bright, bubbly percussive tracks (he and two others are credited with "rhythm programming"), over which he solos melodically on either electric or acoustic guitar for three to five minutes, after which the tunes fade out. A version of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" hews closely to the original, and the take on Grover Washington, Jr.'s "East River Drive" is another homage; the rest are originals. There are hints of R&B and Latin influences, but they never become more than hints as the music rolls along pleasantly. Anyone supposing that Freeman might take the opportunity of the altered billing to try something new would be mistaken; for better or worse, Drive isn't going to change anyone's mind about the guitarist. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Freestylers' second album follows much the same pattern as We Rock Hard, trading on varied Freestyler faves from ragga and rave to old-school rap and electro. Still, this trio of seasoned producers hardly sounds bored by the same old sound, and relatively unseduced by any recent developments in British club life. There's plenty of turntablist terror on the catchy intro, but also on what would've been just a standard R&B tune ("Told You So," with Petra Jean Phillipson). Freestylers again recruit chatters Tenor Fly and MC Navigator for multiple appearances, and find good ways to reuse everything from an old hip-hop standard (Black Sheep's "The Choice Is Yours") to an even older reggae standard (Willie Williams' "Armagideon Time"). One listen to "Bass Odyssey" and it's clear the trio also fondly remember the early-'90s heyday of rave. Pressure Point differs from We Rock Hard in that it doesn't emphasize the anthems/singles, but it's clearly a tighter, better listen. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Electro Science'
What The Critics Say
Though it's more of a run through their back-catalogue than a proper debut, We Rock Hard comes through on the title's claim, with little of the push-button, big-dumb-techno aspects of most big-beat acts. Focusing on electro, ragga, breakbeat and a closing jungle workout ("Warning") with chatting by MC Navigator, the Freestylers up the ante for Britain's old-school big-beat merchants. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
