Album Review: Cope - Freeland

Freeland, Adam Freeland's "band" project, originally launched off the back of the rather awesome 'We Want Your Soul' back in 2003. The harder, rock influenced sound was a departure for Freeland (the man rather than the 'band') from his nu-skool breaks origins but the ideas just seemed to run out over the length of the album, ending up like a breakbeat version of the abysmal Kosheen.

When 'Under Control' dropped a couple of months ago it got BlackPlastic a bit excited. The vocals clearly wished they were LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy but the overall package had enough attitude to make it work, particularly on Alex Metric's mix. Incorporating 'Under Control' as a starting point and recruiting a number of successful musicians an producers (Tommy Lee, the Pixies' Joey Santiago and Jerry Casale of Devo amongst others) things looked good for Cope...

...And on the whole, it delivers. Whether it is on the dread-soaked, paranoia drenched 'Strange Things' or the melancholic M83-esque downer 'Mancry' Cope is likely to have moments that appeal whatever your taste. The variety of styles and techniques that Freeland has obviously picked up through DJing and remixing really pays dividends here - BlackPlastic has long sung the praises of Freeland's mix of B-Movie's eighties track 'Nowhere Girl'. The distortion and shoe-gazing sounds on that remix and his Global Underground disc it featured on are all over this.

So it's not perfect. It's a little long and there is a little bit of padding plus BlackPlastic can't help but long for the faster, harder remixes. But the best things often aren't perfect: in a similar way to Evil Nine's They Live! from last year, Cope is likely to keep you coming back regardless.

As a faster check out the free mix Adam put together for Discobelle. It encompasses a number of Cope's tracks in a more dance floor focused mix.

Cope is available to order now across a variety of formats from Freeland.fm.

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Single Review: Under Control (Alex Metric Remix) - Freeland

When BlackPlastic first heard this mix of Freeland's Lead single from the next album on the radio whilst making dinner it wasn't long before focus was abandonned, the volume cranked up and arms were flailing all over the room in something that may or may not have resembled dancing.

'Under Control' continues Adam Freeland's move towards a more rock orientated sound and features a vocal from someone who sounds very much like (but presumeably isn't) one James Murphy. It's quite good...

...But dammit, this is better. Alex Metric's remix jams a square peg in a round hole and whacks it with a mallet several times and the resulting mess is lovely. Featuring the kind of frictional, discordant synthesizers that make BlackPlastic get hot and sweaty over anything that comes out of the Soulwax stable in combination with a jagged, fuzzy rock edge, this mix takes the original to new heights. All it needs is a little more length and a more climatic finale.

What's more, it's available as a free download over at Freeland.fm. All you've got to you is give up your email address.  You can also download a digital version of the single there or get a vinyl / MP3 bundle (with FLAC options).

Do it.

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