Musical Style Electronic
Influences 808 State, Detroit techno and Chicago house

Item Description
Plastic jewel case, color booklet

Liner Notes, Credits, Other Details
For To All Things What They Need A Guy Called Gerald freed himself from all musical barriers and genre fixations. The groove fundament on which his melodies rest freely varies from track to track, ignoring the common rhythmic formats. Masterly, A Guy Called Gerald fuses oriental harmony fragments with electronic sounds, combining the spoken word poetry of Ursula Rucker with a jazz beat or diving into beat-free musical depths where an intense, soulful sensation reverberates. In short: To All Things What They Need is an album that is shaped by a gentle and deep atmosphere that exudes an irresistible sensuality. Born and raised in Manchester, Gerald was molded by his Jamaican roots; from his father’s blue-beat, ska and Trojan reggae record collection to the Jamaican sound system parties in Manchester’s Moss Side area. Gerald first became known as an original member of the proto-techno legends, 808 State, their groundbreaking first album, Newbuild, and UK techno anthem, “Pacific State”. At the same time “Pacific State” was on the charts, A Guy Called Gerald, influenced by Detroit techno and Chicago house, also stepped out on his own with “Voodoo Ray”, storming the UK and worldwide dance charts at the same time his 808 State track was still in the charts. With two tracks in the charts, A Guy Called Gerald became an international star and “Voodoo Ray” became the anthem that many identify for launching UK’s acid house movement. In the ‘90s, Gerald recorded for Sony and his own Juice Box Records, discovering breakbeats and jungle and releasing a series of genre defining records. He has remixed or worked with luminaries such as David Bowie, Tricky, Herbie Hancock and Bill Laswell. On his new album, To All Things What They Need, which he recorded in Berlin (his new home base) he steps further into freestyle. If there’s a dominant style on his new album, it’s atmospheres. Check out the opening track, “American Cars”, which he leaves beatless. Or “Tajeen”, where he combines tabla percussions with electronic beats and acid sounds. Listen to “Strangest Changes” feat. Finley Quaye, on which he returns to his urban drum n´bass roots. All tracks are soaked with deep sounds, fragments of digital soul music breathing a unique spirituality. With To All Things What They Need A Guy Called Gerald undoubtedly presents an outstanding album. Let’s open our ears for a true sonic pioneer.

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