- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- - Artist: Crooked Man Album: Crooked Man Label: DFA Playtime: 56:36 min Genre: Electronic URL: http://dfarecords.com Rip date: 2016-09-14 Street date: 2016-09-16 Size: 103.26 MB Type: Normal Quality: 242 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo - Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- - See that man on a far off hill, working his dog while attempting to find shelter from the howling wind and driving rain? ThatÆs the Crooked Man, the very antithesis of the modern dance music producer. He lives a simple life, dragging his world-weary soul across the moors in an endless bid to escape the fallout from 30 years spent at the forefront of SheffieldÆs electronic music scene. Once regarded as one of the Steel CityÆs greatest selectors, he now admits to being gripped by fear at the idea of DJing, and refuses to spend any time in nightclubs. He may be ill at ease with the darkroom throb of 21st century clubs, but the house music the Crooked Man produces is as weighty, alien, raw and left of-centre as anything youÆd get from many a hyped young producer. HeÆs assisted in his studio endeavours by two other Sheffield survivors: former Clock DVA man Michael Ward, and David Lewin, once the other half of Bleep & Booster with former ABC and Vice Versa man Stephen Singleton. The Crooked ManÆs music blends wonky electronic rhythms, heavy bass and razor sharp, politically aware lyrics, often delivered by the honeyed tonsils of Pete Simpson. For proof, check out the banker-baiting ôScum (Always Rises The Top)ö, or the bittersweet social commentary of ôFools & Fanaticsö. The Crooked Man may be world weary, but heÆs still brimming with rage. Few could have foreseen a link between this jaded recluse and New YorkÆs militantly forward-looking DFA Records. But then again, the Crooked Man does have history. Raised a farm boy, his life changed when he first heard the industrial funk and futurist electronic pop of local bands Cabaret Voltaire and the Human League. Bored of having no decent parties to go to, he became DJ Parrot and began promoting the soon to be legendary Jive Turkey events in 1985. Alongside his DJ partner Winston Hazel, he united SheffieldÆs disparate dancers by joining the dots between Northern Soul, disco, hip-hop, electro and the emerging underground dance sounds of Chicago, Detroit and New York. In 1987, an early foray into music production accidentally created a hit record, the major label-signed ôHustle (To The Music)ö by Funky Worm. The commercial desires of a large, conservative label proved hugely frustrating, and he soon yearned to break free and head back underground. Salvation came from within Sheffield, with the launch of Warp Records. He teamed up with Cabaret VoltaireÆs Richard H Kirk under the Sweet Exorcist alias, delivering the peerless ôTestoneö in 1990, one of the landmark records of the bleep era. The pair went on to release the first album on Warp, C.C.E.P., in 1991. Many records under different aliases followed, for both independent and major labels, before Parrot once again found himself chart-bound as part of eccentric Steel City trio All Seeing I. Their debut album, 1999Æs Pickled Eggs & Sherbet, featured contributions from some of SheffieldÆs finest, including Jarvis Cocker and The Human LeagueÆs Phil Oakey. Since then, Parrot has kept a low profile. When not working his sheepdogs, heÆs quietly produced for Roisin Murphy, Add N To (X), Richard Hawley and Toddla T, amongst others. His decision, some years back, to revisit his love of raw, bass-heavy house music merely marks another twist in the winding path of the Crooked Man. - Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- - 01. Coming Up For Air ( 6:45) 02. This Machine Kills Me ( 4:25) 03. The Girl With Better Clothes ( 3:30) 04. Scum (Always Rises To The Top) ( 8:21) 05. Preset ( 5:25) 06. Fools and Fanatics ( 6:02) 07. Try Me ( 6:34) 08. I'll Be Loving You ( 6:25) 09. Happiness ( 9:09) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -