from i-D Magazine
Making music for "cute ladies working at the office, girls from fashion school... and underground music nerds," Force Of Nature - aka DJ Kent and KZA - have built an awe inspiring reputation since Kent released his first breakbeats 12" in 2001. Since then, production work with the likes of Nigo, UNKLE, Rhymester and Shakka Zombie, a regular radio spot on Shibuya-FM and a series of masterful mix CDs have held up the release of their debut album, The Forces Of Nature, until now. Oh, plus the fact that the 11-track LP is entirely sample based, from brooding, bombastic opener (and single) A Dark Nebula to the blissful closing track A Light Source. Listing Afrika Bambaataa, Mad Mike, DJ Shadow, DJ Harvey and Italian label Jolly Music among their influences, Force Of Nature refuse to be restricted by genre.
Contamination, for instance, is the second track in a month (after Grand National's Playing In The Distance) to put The Police back on the dancefloor. Yes, as in Sting. Their catholic tastes are thanks in no small part to KZA's vast record collection. "He is just a music maniac," gushes Kent. I love music and I think I know about it too but KZA... his knowledge is just amazing. I stil learn new things from him." It's not for nothing they've named one of their tunes LoopAddiction. As for Kent, when he isn't putting mixes together for clothing labels (to listen to the music he recorded for the Qwo Laboratory label, see www.sarcasticclothing.com) he just busies himself with earning a reputation as one of the most respected DJs on the Japanese circuit. Force Of Nature: addicted to loops and proud of it. --MALIK MEER
The Forces of Nature is out now on Exceptional Records.
