Ubiquity's resident dancefloor alchemist John Arnold has developed the energetic experimental sound of his 2003 critically-lauded debut full-length, Neighborhood Science, into Style and Pattern, a comprehensive new album of precisely tuned, devastatingly effective future funk for the club. Created and test-run over a series of live shows around the world, the album, was inspired by direct interaction with crowds and dance floors. “Most of the music for the album was born out of live performances. It allows for true improvisation and I can explore all kinds of rhythms and music," explains Arnold.
John Arnold has developed the energetic experimental sound of his 2003 debut full-length record, Neighborhood Science, into Style and Pattern, a comprehensive new album of precisely tuned, devastatingly effective future funk for the club. Created and test-run over a series of live shows around the world the album was inspired by direct interaction with crowds and dance floors.
Since the release of his debut Arnold has developed a completely live, non-stop electronic show bridging the gap between DJ and producer. This “freestyle” technique was developed with label mate and Detroit neighbor Jeremy Ellis. Both are trained musicians and studio scientists. Performing and creating tracks live allowed Arnold to test run music on the dance floor in front of a crowd. These improvisational moments were the inspiration for the Style and Pattern album. “Most of the music for the album was born out of live performances. These freestyle shows involve creating music from scratch; playing beats on the Akai MPC, looping them and playing keys on my guitar, while constantly looping and building,” explains Arnold. “It allows for true improvisation and I can explore all kinds of rhythms and music,” he adds.
Arnold and Ellis hosted a trio of monthly shows showcasing Detroit talent, called Third Party Candidate. It was there, along with live and DJ performances in Japan, England, France, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Puerto Rico, and all over America that Arnold developed the tracks for Style and Pattern. “I’ve been lucky enough to dj for people from many walks of life and they have shown me what really moves a dance floor,” says Arnold. “It never ceases to amaze me that I am a part of a unified musical community that reaches far beyond my backyard.”
One new track “La Cocina" which was created shortly after the album was turned-in. It does not appear on the promo CD, but Arnold was so excited with the end result we have re-mastered to include it. Its development was typical of the tracks on Style and Pattern. First created at a live session at the hyped Co-Op night in London Arnold developed the track at each gig throughout the rest of his Spring UK/European. It was finished at an impromptu studio session after a gig in Puerto Rico. The resulting “La Cucina” is a monster Latin-tinged club jam balancing heavyweight beats, Puerto Rican vocals and free-flowing percussion.
In addition to his own live dates Arnold has also toured around the world with Amp Fiddler having played guitar all over his debut album. He’s also played with Detroit legends Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison, the latter makes an appearance on “1234” on Style and Pattern. Amp Fiddler band mate Paul Randolph guests on “Rise Up” and “1234”. “Rise Up” was featured on the HVW8 compilation sampler 12” in May. The Detroit Metro Times called “Rise Up”, “Part dance, Latin, R&B and just plain funky, its infectious rhythm is meant to get the can moving… Arnold and Randolph hit home with a musical manifesto”. And Mark de Clive-Lowe recently described “Rise Up” as, “a staple in the box at the moment… a very strong tune.”
Crowned Best Artist at the second annual UK Hip Hop Awards, Ninja Tune recording artist Ty flexes his lyrical dexterity over frantic beats and rude bass line on “Style and Pattern”, the title track. The African vocalist on “Jangal” is Pathe Jassi from Senegal. Moving to Detroit 3 years ago to explore music of the city he has recorded and with Youssou N’Dour, Cheikh Lo and Baba Mall. “"Jangal" means to learn and the song discusses the importance of continually growing which is especially true for musicians,” explains Arnold. “I have witnessed how the music industry at this level is as hype driven as the pop world. I know I need to follow my heart musically because any other way would be a lie to me and the people around me.
John Arnold’s debut album Neighborhood Science turned heads worldwide and earned critical praise and a ton of DJ and radio play. XLR8R magazine called Neighborhood Science, “Slamming sci-fi sunk” and Keyboard described Arnold’s debut as “Decidedly funky…very tight”. Water proclaimed Neighborhood Science is “Intelligent, thinking mans music, as unique as anything I’ve heard in a while” and Black Book praised Neighborhood Science as “Superb”. Demand for Arnold's material has seen tracks featured on popular deejay mixes and compilations like Ian Pooley's Brazilution mix on Ministry of Sound, Slope's Basscheck mix on Crippled Dick Hot Wax, and Terry Farley & Stuart Patterson's Faith mix on NRK.
In addition the last 12” single from the Neighborhood Science album included 2 new tracks and remixes by Mr. Scruff and Henrik Schwarz. The response to this 12” was so hot that the remixes have been included as bonus tracks on Style and Pattern; they were previously unavailable on CD.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
