Review: Clyde Beats - Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman) (Atjazz Record Company)

There was a 'Hyper Reality' back in 2008 so we've had quite a wait for Clyde Beats to link up with the neighbourhood Atjazz master for 'Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)'

Naming the difficult 2nd album, 'Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)’ didn't take much energy and adding 'Beats' to Clyde didn't take a mere 16 years, but the sense of funk for these 15 tracks might have.

'I Love Your Sound' (aka 'ILVURSND') Is a great place to start and a real marker for beats meets house.  As with the post brkn-beat origins, 'Dark World' and 'Snapped' both featuring Jakka Blakes and Manny Mark gets the hip-hop heads a nodding and the bass-bins a-wobblin'; in a Japanese Garden in 'Snapped's case. 

You'll recall OVEOUS from Peacey's 'Play It By Ear' album see review HERE and possibly the deep spoken vocal on Afefe Iku's 'Mirror Dance) and talking of Peacey, he turns up on 'Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)' on a track called 'Better' which echos some 'golden era' Peven Everett. 

Talking of which, horns are provided by Octavio N. Santos on 'Better', 'Hold Me Back' and 'I Quit' (featuring 5vvanky in explicit and clean versions) and give it that authentic back in the day original sound.

As always, exciting times for all things Atjazz and the album is eagerly anticipated and I can imagine the switchboard buzzin' with remix offers as they used to do back in the day but, I'd say, "Hold Me Back" and lets enjoy this album as it's close to beat perfection.

Artist: Clyde Beats

Title: Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)

Release date: 22nd May, 2024

Label: Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number: ARC247ADS1,Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Clyde Beats - Rising Up (feat. Amalia) (Atjazz Record Company)

All rise for single of the week, Clyde Beat's 'Rising Up' featuring Amalia on vocals that's out now on Atjazz Record Company.

Last week Atjazz released Peacey's album 'Play It By Ear' (see review HERE) and they don't seem to have taken that advice themselves as they've blugeoned themselves with a post-Prince mega funker with 'Rising Up'.

But Mr. Beats is no stranger to such adulation, albeit it's been 21 years since his big hit 'Serve It Up (featuring Capitol A.- last seen here on Joseph Malik's 'Album Of The Year', 'Proxima Ebony - see review HERE) and 16 years since since debut album 'Hyper Reality'.  Clearly, it's not that he's had problems with the title of the "difficult 2nd album" as it's going to be called; wait for it... 'Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)’.

As always, exciting times for all things Atjazz and the album is eagerly anticipated.

Artist: Clyde Beats

Title: Rising Up feat. Amalia

Release date: 12th April 2024

Label: Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number: ARC247ADS1,Digital / Bandcamp