MOCEAN WORKER
Mixed Emotional Features/Aural & Hearty
(Palm Pictures)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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I may not be, in fact I'm probably the not, the first to tip you to Mocean Worker. Neither of these discs is exactly brand new, and Mixed Emotional Features is less brand new than Aural & Hearty, but I've a chance to recommend them and I'm going to take it.

Mocean Worker is, of course, a pseudonym. In other contexts, he's Adam Dorn, the son of legendary producer Joel Dorn. It was Joel that first told me about the digital mixes his son was putting together when he wasn't busy co-producing one of the most important jazz re-issue projects of the 1990s, the Muse Records catalog project on 32 Records. The folks at 32 gave Adam what he calls "kindergarten hours" to put together Mixed Emotional Features for the Palm Pictures label, and he used the time well. It reflects is knowledge of and love for jazz and shows off a bit of pride in his heritage with a sample from the Joel Dorn produced Fiyo On The Bayou by the Neville Brothers.

That's might not be the kind of sample you'd expect on a contemporary dance mix, but it's exactly that kind of unexpected touch that differentiates Mocean Worker from the turntable pack and makes these albums as listenable as they are danceable. Aural & Hearty turns to Gabor Szabo for a sample, and features a vocal appearance by Bono. Both feature great beats that are never only beats - this is music that can appreciated on many levels.

So these are only brand new if you've never heard them, but they're fresher than next week. Check 'em out.

Track Lists:

Mixed Emotional Features: Rene M * Detonator * Jello Dart * Dukes, Counts & Strays * Mycroft * Heaven * Wonderland * Motion Booty * Times Of Danger * Boba Fett

Aural & Hearty: Lighten Up Francis * Hey Baby * Air Suspension * Tres Tres Chic * Intothinair * Thick Interlude * Cha Cha Cha Cha * Velvet Black Sky * Astroglide * Waiting For Verdeaux * Step * Lighten Up Again

© 2001 - Shaun Dale