Album: Wave Motion
Year: 2000
Label: Mush
Producer: artist
Best song: "Feel The Void" OR "Depths"
Welcome to the surreal world of Fat Jon.
Released before his group's debut album, Wave Motion is an interesting first chapter in Fat Jon's career. It does a good job of introducing his signature sound but it doesn't vary much from one track to the next. With an album like this, that may be a good thing. All of the tempos roll along at about 90 BPMs and many of them progress in the same way, adding change ups and similar effects every fourth bar or eighth bar, etc. Not to say that it isn't a great record, because you'll find much to love here if you already know you like Fat Jon. The beats sound like they were intended to have lyrics set to them and for that reason this record makes good background music but doesn't reveal much upon closer listening, unlike all of his other work.
~Austin
Album: Fat Jon As Maurice Galactica Presents: Humanoid Erotica
Year: 2001
Label: Counterflow
Producer: artist
Best song: "Triple Gold Daytons," "Rain Dance Remix" OR "I. Dee"
Maurice Galactica makes his soulful move.
Wave Motion put no indication of this kind of potential on the table. On that record, Fat Jon sounded unique amongst his peers. But with this record, he sets himself in a completely different category than anyone else. Anyone wondering what the big deal is about Fat Jon, look no further than this album. Besides being very melodic and engaging, the record is a swirl of complex time signatures, sampling acrobatics and just plain impressive ideas. The way he splices in piano solos over jazz bass loops and making it seamless is difficult and takes skill -- just as much as if he were the one playing the solo. Along with the downright obsessive attention paid to the layers of this record, there's a few songs that obtain this kind of soulful emtional quality about them, and it really makes the record an enticing listen. And the diversity that Wave Motion lacked is here in bulk. Songs range from slow, dreamy numbers to more uptemo head nodders. And it works; the record is infinitely cohesive. Not to be missed are the hilarious liner notes. While being sarcastic, Fat Jon's modesty reveals itself and makes the album all the more likeable. Jeep beats for the mind, soul and body. Excellent.
~Austin
Album: Lightweight Heavy
Year: 2002
Label: Dimid Recordings
Producer: artist
Best song: "Talk To Me" OR "Space Man"
Wave Motion meets Humanoid Erotica and a new subgenre is born: space soul.
Humanoid Erotica was the experiment that was a smashing victory but instead of trying his hand at a similar sound this time, Fat Jon returns to a more conventional hip hop sound. Not that I'm complaining because he throws in just enough unexpected things to keep the entire record very solid. Things are more uptempo here for the most part, but it never becomes stagnant once, really going for all the marbles on tracks like "Her" and the brilliant Gil Scott-Heron sampled "Space Man." Again, the liner notes are priceless, offering some interesting philosophies. Overall, it continues in the familiar dreamy and lush Fat Jon vein and it's yet another success because of it.
~Austin
ABOUT ITS ORIGINS...
This was released initially for Japanese audiences only but it was inevitably picked up in the US for import release. A limited edition release, even in Japan. It was a very spendy little item (but well worth it) and I'm pretty sure most retailers are sold out of it by now. Check Dusty Groove.
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