Nhu
Golden Era
CD SD 090 -2
Release Date: 14.10.02
After his debut success
with "Fusa Riot" the Bobby Hughes
Combination returns with their brand new album
"Nhu Golden Era". Stereo Deluxe are
very proud to present the most elaborate piece
of work by the norwegian multitalent.
As we know from his predecessor, Bobby Hughes
is a true nordic renaissance man. He not only
can look back on to a career as a professional
soccer player, sheppard and nordic funkateer,
he is also able to hold a lengthy report on
scandinavian design of the sixties or a top
recipe for moose-filets. He's a real allrounder,
and added to it all produces great music. However
the only thing is: Bobby Hughes is an alter
ego - of a man with no lesser talent, the DJ
and producer Espen Horne.
But let's continue as if Bobby Hughes would
actually be a living person. He's one to look
up to - because of his unique talents and his
musical skills, but also because he comes from
the small town of Bergen and despite of this,
is doing a damn good. You may know: Bergen is
situated on the west coast of Norway, considered
by some to be the end of the world, and thus
not really a culturally inspiring place to be.
But if you've been to Bergen before, when you've
seen the Fjord, enjoyed the delicate fish or
climbed one of the beautiful mountains, you
may know why Bobby Hughes hasn't left….It's
a very special place.
But let's look at Espen Horne, the man behind
the alter ego of Bobby Hughes and find out more
about the man and his music. 1993, after finisihing
his studies in graphic design, he returned to
his hometown Bergen. The coastal town didn't
seem to offer much for the young, energetic
post graduate.
Nevertheless, the young Espen started his own
club night. Within a short space of time , he
learned the multi-facetted skills of the emerging
club culture and succeeded as DJ, club promoter
and designer. His musical mix of jazz, funk,
latin and hip hop beats was then unheard of
and very exciting and pushed him first into
the forefront of Bergen's then emerging music
scene and then into cross nation fame. While
djing, Espen first got into contact with live
musicians and with these contacts began his
musical career. Over the years Espen has perfected
his skills to morph old and new records with
the help of percussionists and other muscians
into his very own individual sound. During these
sessions between djing and jamming, the tracks
for his debut album "Fusa Riot" developed,
and with this the figure of Bobby Hughes. The
rest of the story is well known.
And know it's time for "Nhu Golden Era".
An album, that demonstrates that during his
three year abscence, Espen Horne has matured
musically. The arrangements are on point, the
beats have a contemporary feel, the melodies
have become more complex, and the characteristic
melange of jazz funk,pop and easy listening
that is played by the Bobby Hughes Combination
is more defined.
Similar to his debut album, sampled sound fragments
and the tracks from great scandinavian jazz
records from the seventies have served as the
basic layout material onto which guest musicians
played their arrangements. For "Nhu Golden
Era" Bobby Hughes collaborated with a well
sounding list of guest musicians. It's almost
a who's who of the contemporary norwegian jazz
scene:
Erik Holm (drums - Beady Belle/Bugge Wesseltoft),
Marius Reksjo (bass-Beady Belle/Bugge Wesseltoft),
Jorgen Munkeby (flute/harp-shine/Jaga Jazzist),
David Wallumrod (Fender Rhodes/Hammond), Per
Willy Aaserud (trumpet - Silje Nergard) und
Celio de Cahvallo (percussion – Jorge
Ben/Black Rio). All under gudiance by Bobby
Hughes.
With his last album, Bobby Hughes was considered
a nordic retro funk phenomenon, including long
sleeves, facial hair and jammed up arrangements,
he's today the front man of a tight, masterful
between styles switching, modern combination.
The use of vocals include partly sampled, partly
live sung on "Nhu Golden Era" resemble
singers such as the Novy Singers, Ian Carr &
Nucleus and Anita Kerr and not forgetting Karin
Krug
Enough talking now, let's enjoy the music. Stereo
Deluxe is very proud to present: Mr.Bobby Hughes
and his fabulous Combination.
