A Guy Called Gerald - Black Secret Technology

Mid-90s high water mark brings voodoo magic

Manchester’s Gerald Simpson is one of the undisputed pioneers of UK electronic dance music, leaving the earliest line-up of 808 State to produce one of acid house’s biggest anthems with Voodoo Ray, the biggest-selling independent single of 1989, before laying down the template for the early 90s drum’n’bass uprising with his Juice Box label. A Guy Called Gerald’s tunes were distinguished by the man’s diligent homaging of roots stretching back to African rhythms, the musical depth of jazz mixed with the symphonic electronic soul of Detroit innovators such as Derrick May and his own brilliant visions.

1995’s Black Secret Technology could be considered Gerald’s masterpiece, still sounding like nothing on earth, as the opening So Many Dreams establishes a haunting near-beatless flow topped with ethereal female vocals, before Alita’s Dream introduces the breaks, cut and diced into startling new funk mutants. Finley’s Rainbow is hands-inthe- air heaven twisted into something new and remarkable, as is the new version of his hit, now entitled Voodoo Rage. By the opiated dreamscape of Life Unfolds His Mystery the drum’n’bass benchmark has been set, rarely to be topped as the music got mangled and diluted for mass success by lesser talents. Genius at work.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

A Guy Called Gerald | 01

Reviewed by Kris Needs
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