Apache Tribe

So you’ve got a hip Northern Irish clothing company, a host of unknown acts making urban underground music and you’ve got a beer company that will sponsor an album. Geronimo! Welcome to Apache Tribe Part 2.

The plaudits that the first volume in the series received from such luminaries as Steve Lemaq and DJ Magazine are legion, and happily this volume is more of the same. While sometimes the reason that unknown acts are unknown is that it’s best for everyone concerned, in this case, the quality of the acts is often first class.

Bungalow are as good a breakbeat act as I’ve heard in this country, combining beats and the cheekiest steals (Prince’s ‘Alphabet St’) in a manner that suggests that it’s as much fun for them to make as it is for us to hear. Clifford supply ‘Anything’ a sort of souped-up, slowed-down, soul bossa-nova, again using fantastic vocal sampling and a killer guitar line. Touched and Crazy, Audiosyncracy and Cappo Regime offer slightly funkier, flowing takes on the urban groove, while Graheme L introduces elements of drum ‘n’ bass into the equation.

Other standouts over 19 tracks are Earwhackz ‘Wasp In The Jungle’ and an irreverent intro track by Desiato.

By the evidence on offer here it seems that Northern Ireland has an urban scene that beats anything currently happening in the South. It’s not just that the tracks are well produced and executed, but there’s also present a flair and often a sense of humour that defies you not to get on board.

If you’re interested in appearing on further releases, contact Apache Tribe @ 16 Wellington Place, Belfast, BT1 6GF. You’d wanna be good, though. To find out how good, download @ apache-tribe.com or pick one up at the shop.