“'More than Music' - it's a vibe, it's a consciousness... it's good times... it's life!
Great to finally work with you again, but on the other side of the planet this time, Goo. You are a true master".
”
—
Brian Jackson (Gil-Scott heron's music architect), Brian Jackson (Gil-Scott heron's music architect)
“The premiere B-Boy from Switzerland, formerly known as Le Gooster, returns with new material and the abbreviated moniker of simply 'Goo'. This CD gets off to a rousing start with some very high energy hip hop tracks sure to make your body rock, and Goo gets to show off some dramatic SL1200 pyrotechnics on the aptly titled "Double Trouble."
Musically, Goo alternates between a rootsy hip hop esthetic with some cosmetic updates, and midtempo atmospheric tracks such as "Weekend A Brive" and "Amour Bleu." An untitled bonus track at the end is also
sweet. Goo only slips up on a couple of tracks where he really overuses his samples, "The Greatest," and "Devils On Mind." Otherwise Goo gets good marks for the solid material and artistic growth he demonstrates on Elements.”
—
Brad Yost, New York Post
"Straight-mix jive for beat junkies and Swiss DJ Le Gooster is the pusherman! an array of fantastic beats, samples, scratches. Destination: jazz, hip hop and breakbeat future.
—
John Perry, Orbit Magazine N.Y.
“ "Switzerland isn't usually considered one of the world's centers of experimental hip-hop and turntable artistry.But give Goo(aka Le Gooster)some time, and maybe it will be." -"Very impressive,and highly recommended."”
—
Rick Anderson, AMG review N.Y.
"Le Gooster establishes himself as a beatsmith extraordinaire. "Zig Zag Zen"Album should establish him as a leading figure in the exploding post hip-hop movement."
—
Tim Haslett, CMJ New music report N.Y.
“I'm hesitant to attach a "post" label to this unique hip-hop, because post-anything gives a record a hipster reputation that it may or may not be deserving of.But in the Gooster's case, these Elements are the just the exhumed resources needed to revitalize my faith in such experimentation.Elements is an uptempo saga featuring all the heavy-hitters in the industry, hip-hop, funk, jazz, electro, dub, and country (just kidding)."Shot"literally smokes your psyche with its Meat Beat Manifesto meets Miles meets HerbieHancock sound. As cuts like "Double Trouble"and the choppy "BBMQ 2001" provide more than enough muscle to support the record.
Forget "post"this or "experimental" that. These Elements are just plain-old essential
for your progression, whether you're a listener or an aficionado.
”
—
Kiran Aditham, INK magazine N.Y.
“GOOSTER a slowed down sample of "we shall overcome" pops us,and it sort ot catch you off guard.
It's one off those (too) rare moments when djs point comes clearly across and catapults you into that warm,fuzzy realm where the is perfectly funky,the heavy, happy bass gets you movin' and vocals-in this case a tweaked chant of "freedom" along side MLK snippets - get you open.
Geneva-based LE GOOSTER declares his other set of roots on "In effect" with an out horn loop (via Pete Rock and C,L's T.R.O.Y) and a bouncy,Public Enemy - style bleep.
From there,he gets dubby "La contagion du fascisme" "Evidemment" jazzy " Elements","Le funkster"and freaky "How many dj's".”
—
BR., URB magazine L.A-Goo.- Zig Zag Zen
“Goo - Zig Zag Zen
Le Gooster, a trip-hop artist from France, spins a midtempo vibe that has both its peaks and pitfalls.
The pitfalls are the meandering tracks that move slowly around a creepy beat; Le Gooster just can't pull off the deep,
soulful experience other trip-hop artists like DJ Shadow are capable of.
However, Le Gooster does spin more than his share of great hip-hop tunes, such as the exhilarating "Le Funkster" and the
turntable magic of "How Many DJs."”
—
Mike Pfeiffer, All Music Guide
“Synchrovision rend sa meilleure copie!
En peu de temps, le label genevois Synchrovision s'est forgé une belle réputation.
Dans le domaine du jazz dopé à l'électronique, de soul passée à la moulinette des scratches et des atmosphères sorties des films de Kubrick,
« l'écurie » de DJ Goo a su allier qualité, découverte, inventivité.
Afin d' enfoncer encore un peu plus le clou, il sort une compilation qui regroupe ses « meilleurs espoirs ».
Ainsi on retrouve outre le maestro lui-même, l'intriguant Stade (projet du pianiste Pierre Audetat),les Nyonnais de Mobile in Motion, le speedé Andrès, etc. Que des choses intéressantes !
Et en écoutant Synchrofiles, on se dit que le scène musicale helvétique ne manque pas de créativité.”
—
PHS., RecRec
“Fractal Abstraction-cd
Goo is the Geneva-based DJ/producer Le Gooster, who helped promote the Swiss hip hop scene by forming the Five Star collective with Rollercone.
His tracks were first presented in the States in 1997 on the Five Star Galaxy compilation released by Shadow Records, who also released his subsequent debut, Zig Zag Zen.
Le Gooster's downtempo instrumental hip hop displayed the kind of creatively arrangements associated with DJ Krush and the early Mo Wax crew.Several years on he now runs his own label, Synchrovision, producing high quality tracks bringing together filmic strings & beats, warm acoustic vibes and layers of voices.
Goo's arrangements also bring a new psychological angle to a ragga rap,contrasting reverberant vibes with alien electronix while MC JP flips on the patois in "Offishall Chamberlain."”
—
Eric Alper, Koch Canada
“-Erik truffaz revisited./Blue Note
"The surprise is DJ Goo who extracts a smoky Kind of Blue- plus-hip-hop flavour from the tune "Siegfried".
His "Zig Zag Zen"hook is catchy and adds a much needed downbeat funkiness to the proceedings."”
—
Maurice bottomley , POP MATTERS
“Carl Craig /Onsumothasheeat-Shadow NY
"...Thankfully, Craig keeps such detours mercifully brief before appeasing the listener with intricate nu-jazz tunes such as Goo's "The O.G." Goo's cut, all distorted bass and ominous droning tempered by warped drums and twisted
piano chords, creates a foreboding backdrop of sound that's twisted and stabbed, Squarepusher style."”
—
christine hise, cd now N.Y./Onsumothasheeat-Shadow NY
“STEP OFF!: A COLLECTION OF TRIP HOP
Step Off! collects ten tracks by underground trip-hop and dub artists like Le Gooster, DJ Krush and Sub Dub. DJ Krush
contributes two tracks: "On the Dub-ble" and a collaboration with Toshinori Kondo, "Ko-Ku." Le Gooster's "Evidemment" adds
a slinky French flair to the album, while Jammin Unit (one half of Air Liquide) provides an icy cool blast with "32 Degrees
in the Shade." Step Off's deep, dubby grooves make it a magnetic, hypnotic compilation.”
—
Heather Phares, AMG -All Music Guide
“Dubmopetry-Spooky's
"..while DJ Goo masterfully reworks the loose, bloated “Optometry” into a crisp slab of inebriated hip-hop on “Bomb Massive”, replete with decayed synth bursts and a bassline that tops any of Spooky’s upright work. .
Goo’s take on “Ibid, Desmarches, Ibid” is equally successful at injecting fresh beats under the jazz-bop skin..."”
—
T., pitchfork media.com
“Coming at you from the new skool of Swiss cool is GOO (aka LE GOOSTER),
the master of the MK2. His album FRACTAL ABSTRACTION is packed with atmospheric, jazz-steppin' beats and breaks”
—
Koch-Canada
“This is the second Shadow release by Goo, a European turntablist who
also runs his own label, Synchrovision, out of Switzerland.
As with his previous effort, the mood is dark and funky, slightly downtempo but never afraid to kick things up a notch when the spirit directs. One might not normally associate Switzerland with experimental hip-hop, but after listening to Elements you'd swear there was a thriving scene.
Goo has certainly absorbed a ton of influences somewhere along the way -- on "Bomboclat Elements" he draws onjungle, reggae, and jazz to produce a piece of atmospheric and dub-inflected funk; "The Greatest" (here in a version remixed by DJ Cam) is a breakbeat tribute to Muhammed Ali; "Amour Bleu" takes lazy, jazzy beats and marries them to a ragbag of samples and virtuosic turntablism.
The end result is a constantly fascinating album that dances lightly on the boundaries between acid jazz, breakbeat funk, and abstraction. Highly recommended.”
—
Rick Anderson/All Music Guide, AMG N.Y. EXPERT REVIEW
“Taken from the full-length Dubtometry, this 12" carries the fusion of jazz with hip-hop and electronics to the next level.
DJ Spooky- Optometrix
Featuring the skillful lyrical stylings of J-Live and hard-hitting beats from DJ Goo.
Entertainment Weekly Mag gave Dubtometry an A-,saying,
"The results are downright spooky."”
—
Albert King, Talking Blues
“_"Si vous avez deux oreilles,comme je le souhaite,ceci vous concerne."
Ainsi commence l'immersion dans "Deeper Shades of soul"album somptueusement touffu à l'image du coin de forêt qui rempli la pochette."
_"On aura rarement entendu une version aussi fluide,pertinente et mentalement
jouissive.
Aprés avoir été célébré comme un funambule des platines,Goo se révèle içi un
virtuose de L'arrangement."”
—
Nic Ulmi, Tribune de Genève 24/4/03
“Après sa participation à l'excellent maxi-anti-guerre "Not in our name" sorti au côté de Coldcutdj Spooky et Saul Williams,le prodige Dj Goo revient sur le devant de la scène avec un nouvel album sur son propre label Synchrovision records.
On y retrouve le groove hip hop éléctronique,ludique et parfaitement produit du Genevois,toujours autant bourré de samples,d'appproches soul originales et de trouvailles musicales.
Pour l'occasion Le Gooster s'est entouré de Killa Priest,un des membres du Wu Tang Clan,la légende Dj Spooky, le rappeur Nya que l'on a souvent entendu avec Erik Truffaz,Erik Truffaz lui-même,la chanteuse Jamila ou encore le Français Dj Cam.Une belle brochette d'invités de prestige pour un des artistes suisse qui fait partie des plus exportés.Et des plus méritants.”
—
CC/TLC, Party news mag-july.03
