May 20, 2010
Guido
Anidea
Punch Drunk
The announcement of a Guido album was an unexpected delight, much like the Tories failing to secure a full electoral majority, or the delicious taste of dipping fries in strawberry milkshake. Even though the lad has been around since 2006 cutting Bristol grime plates, recently it has been his west-coast luminaries Gemmy and Joker who have established themselves on the production and live circuit. But that means diddly-squat when faced with ‘Anidea’, proving that Guido’s steady ascendency to the ivory tower of purple is within touching distance.
There are strings and pianos and soaring hooks everywhere on this album. His music is built for headphone tingles and deep sound-systems and his penchant for grimy synth beats has not withered away, with ‘Orchestral Lab’ and ‘Woke Up Early’ leading the charge; replicating the sparse textures of early grime peddled by Eski Boy and Roll Deep. Similarities firmly stop there however as Guido unleashes a melting pot of sounds; a folky guitar lick weaves its way elegantly around an array of piano chords on the eponymous title track creating an enigmatic prelude of what is to come. ‘Beautiful Complication’ is minimal and shamelessly catchy, and yet the warm layers thicken up the sound with deep drums, jarring sub bass and vulnerable-tinged vocals courtesy of Araya.
The only miniscule criticism I have is that ‘Take Me Higher’ is on there. Apart from those skin grafting chipmunk vocals it’s as flat as a pancake that’s been brutally stamped on. But all is forgiven with cinematic slow-jam ‘Way U Make Me Feel’ featuring the powerful voice of Bristol’s Yolanda. This leads into the floor filling ‘Tango’, happily subscribing to the purple rule book of certified banger writing (‘Tantalized’ being the other punishing beast). Both emit a humming half-step rhythm and squelchy b-lines that make you want to throw your hood up and skank.
Politics is supposed to be about transcending ideologies these days. With ‘Anidea’, Guido bleeds the party of post-modern purple. Like swirling pigments to create a new colour he artfully mixes a variety of styles, whilst also managing to allow patches of primary constituents through.
Aside from his palpable gift for creating achingly smooth hooks conjuring a wealth of emotions from unbridled joy to tearful torment, Guido uses low-key production methods along with local distribution through the Punch Drunk imprint. He truly is a producer firmly rooted in his local community which is to be commended. I’m just thankful that people other than residents of Bristol get to hear his magic too.
'Anidea' is out 24th May on Punch Drunk
