Dan The Automator (DTA) is a well
accomplished music producer to be sure. His credits include the first
(and, arguably best) Gorillaz album, the last two Kasabian albums,
Deltron 3030, Peeping Tom, and the seriously underrated Handsome Boy
Modelling School among others. The man is undeniably talented and has
some amazing records under his belt to show for it. His latest
project is a collaboration with American songstress Emily Wells and
it goes by the name of Pillowfight. The blending of smooth hip-hop
beats and smokey lounge-soul is nothing new to DTA, he did a similar
trick with Mike Patton and Jennifer Charles under the moniker Lovage
in 2001 (Music to make love to your old lady by).
Pillowfight is a pop album more
than anything else but it has enough of its own style and approach to
stand well apart from the madding top 40 crowd. Lead single 'Used To
Think' is aiming straight for the Kendra Morris / Alice Russell / Gin
Wigmore set and hits it out of the park. On it she gets to play off the ever charming Patton so an absolute winner of a song. Faint elements of trip-hop
(remember when that was all the rage?) are woven into Pillowfight's
DNA. The stuttering jazz beats, samples, turntable scratches, and
moody guitars of 'In The Afternoon' can attest to this. It is a
lovely throwback to bygone era of music that is too easily forgotten
about.
If there is one word to describe Wells'
performance on this album it would be sultry. Just like Jennifer
Charles in Lovage her role on this album is to be sex-appeal
personified, accompanied by a world class DJ all the way. When not
playing the jazz club siren she gets a chance for some light rapping
on the fun 'Get Your Shit Together' and has a P-Funk style throwdown
on 'Get Down'. These songs are subtle variations on the main musical
theme but they breathe an amazing amount of fresh air into
proceedings. DJ Kid Koala and MC Lateef The Truthspeaker show up to
add in a little extra flavour but this is a two man show and we know
who has top billing.
The album closes in style with 'Lonely
City', a heart-wrenching tune that certainly leaves you wanting more
– the last in a near-endless stream of heavenly melodies on offer.
From start to finish, Pillowfight is brilliant showcase for the
talents of one Ms Emily Wells. In DTA she has a sympathetic partner.
He is a bona fide veteran of the music industry and she keeps pace
with him throughout with ease and grace. We can expect big things in
her future, be that in another Pillowfight album or something else
entirely.
Rating: A-
Recommended tracks: Used to Think,
Lonely City, Get Your Shit Together
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