A Distant View

LOA Records is very proud to present the first album in 7 years by Brighton-based beatsmith Flevans (or Nigel Evans to his doctor). A music industry veteran, there's not much that this man hasn't done - sold a stackload of records (on renowned indie Tru Thoughts), DJ'd across the globe (3 US tours, 1 each in Japan & Australia & countless trips to Europe), had his music used in TV shows & adverts far & wide (Nokia, BSkyB, DFS & ESPN to name but a few), even releasing a side-project album of garage electronica for Jalapeno Records (under the name Aotoa). Despite the temporary hiatus, he is best known & much loved for his Flevans material, and it has to be said that new album 'A Distant View' is right up there with his best.

Starting off strong with 'The Comeback Kid' - a piano-led, heavy-on-the-drums opener, 'I Don't Know Why' then eases you in gently but keeps the funk with its' infectious guitar & sublime keywork by regular Lack of Afro collaborator George Cooper. Slinky bass & big horns then dominate on the uber-groovy 'Wise Men Say', before Flevans proves that what sets him apart from other producers is his ability to switch tempos at the drop of a hat (& make it sound easy - trust us, it's not). Beautiful soundcapes that have the ability to take you elsewhere are rare enough these days, but both 'Stripped' and the title track 'A Distant View' are stunning examples - dreamy hooks and ethereal vocal samples come together to produce little journeys of downtempo loveliness. Punctuating the two is 'Higher Places' - reminiscent of the Flevans of old - chopped up vocals & cheeky samples interpolate to superb effect. "But where's the Afrobeat?!" I hear you cry? Well, it's right here in 'The Sound That Man Made' - horns, drums, guitar, done! New single 'Reach Out' is a blistering funk-filled return to form - a killer bass line, fatback drums & catchy horns combine to create an uptemo ear-worm & guaranteed dancefloor kudos! The tempo is dropped once more for the quite brilliant dub of 'Trials', before 'For Olli, For Eliisa'. Flevans here showing producers everywhere how to perfectly blend the electronic and the organic (the track also being a beautiful ode to his two children). Its business as usual on the neck-snapper 'Be There', before 'One For The Road' wraps things up brilliantly, Blaxploitation-style! Taking no prisoners from the outset, it's a huge slice of rough & ready dancefloor funk with huge drums, relentless wah-wah guitar & massive horns. What more do you need?

So credit where it's due - 7 years since the last album & Flevans still sounds unmistakeably like himself, and no-one else. With 'A Distant View', he's back and back to his best!