Flore - Raw

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 9 / 7 / 2010

Label: Botchit and Scarper
Format: CD

intro

Inventive and funky, yet overlong debut album from French techno/dance DJ Flore

Botchit And Scarper Records is known for its many label offshoots and single releases, yet this is only number 29 in their album catalogue which puts them on an average of about two albums in three years. Botchit rose from the ashes of Sounds Of The Underground (SOUR) Records and most of the London dance music styles it embraced at one point are represented on 'Raw', Flore's debut album, which comes after a smashing single, bitched up by Shunda K as 'The Test'. "Absolutely wicked" are the first two words heard on 'Raw' and this pretty much sums up the album. There are more of the excellent Shunda's words and guest contributions as well from Rodney P (twice), MC Chickaboo, Joyce Muniz & Thaistylee, Les Gourmets (who are almost as sarcastic in style as Paris' TTC) and at the end of the album Vale Poher & Scalde. On 'Raw' rap sidesteps and innovative dance find common ground. Shunda's first appearance on the album, 'Cars', indeed nods at the Gary Numan chart biggie, stretching its synthesizer riff to rolling breakbeat proportions. 'Pum Pum Girl' shines a different light on the album. Mock the macho and rock the disco aptly prescribes how it continues and it is here that Flore finds her greatest moments. The instrumental tracks, 'LWFRQ', '# 107' and 'Night Premises', build up to an epilogue of some style, but someone decided it was not enough and the punters may feel as a result disappointed. 'The Test' appears ahead of 'La Folie des Grandeurs' whioh features Les Gourmets' second effort on the album, before Shunda's 'Feel Me' comes on. Saving the most appealing to the last, 'The Overnighters Song' introduces Vale Poher & Scalde in a bubbling mish-mash of pop, club and dub. This should be filed as funky urban bustling.

Track Listing:-

1 Get It In Get It On
2 Do It
3 Cars
4 Pum Pum Gal
5 Raw
6 We Rewind
7 LWFRQ
8 #107
9 Night Premices
10 The Test
11 La Folie Des Glandeurs
12 Feel Me
13 Anyking
14 The Overnighters Song

Label Links:-

http://www.botchit.com/
https://www.facebook.com/botchit
http://botchitandscarper.bandcamp.com/
http://www.last.fm/label/Botchit%2B%2526%2BScarper
https://www.youtube.com/user/MashProducedTV

live reviews

Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 22/1/2010

Russell Ferguson finds discordant all girl trio the Vivian Girls quickly becoming dull and sliding into routine at a gig at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds