Good Vibrations Music dives straight into 2022 with a bang courtesy of ‘Harold Matthew Jr’ (aka Big Ed) with his long player project; “Peripheral Vision”.
Chicago-based Harold wrote his first releases in the early 90’s with artists like Ron Trent, Terry Hunter, Maurice Joshua and Ron Carroll with songs such as “Ritual Of Love” and Barbara Tucker’s “I Get Lifted”. Throughout the late 90’s he was well known for his songs under his ‘Blak Beat Niks’ alias with production partner K. Fingers on PAN Records, Large Music and his own label Melodious Fonk with “The Sun Will Shine”. The 2000’s saw him move on to further projects with the likes of Slip N Slide, Mark Knight, Peppermint Jam, Glenn Underground, Makin’ Moves and Sean McCabe.
Moving into the next chapter, “Peripheral Vision” is a genre-spanning journey, drawing influences from a multitude of angles and providing a true reflection of Harold’s passion for song writing and spoken word, with a host of guest producers and vocalists.
“Deep Into My Sleep” opens the release and brings Cardiff’s ‘Black Sonix’ to the party and Harold’s sublime vocals provide the narrative to the afro tinged beats. It’s got soulful undertones a plenty with warm rushes of BVs and percussive rhythms to keep feet dancing way into the late night hour.
“Put Your Hands Together” gets serious on the dancefloor with driving beats and an explosion of synth flicks, hits and stabs. It’s Sean’s subtle nod to the Trax era, suggested by Harold, and set to become a firm fave with those that like their groove a little more analogue.
Effortlessly moving through the soulful gears, Harold and Sean McCabe’s “Into You” brings guest vocalist Dawn Williams onboard for a lazy, hypnotic and sumptuous slice of house. Set amongst an uplifting backdrop of smooth chords and lushed out riffs, the vocalists playfully bounce off each other asking questions and telling answers whilst keeping all elements sat firmly in the sweet spot.
Another Cardiff-based producer ‘DJ Fill’ shifts up the groove with “Pause”. Still oozing the soul but with a more Hip Hop-meet-Broken Beat vibe and peppered with smooth Rhodes, niggly electronic arps and a bassline that ain’t letting you go. Harold and Syl Messi go head to head with the lyrics, bringing together a smooth and edgy vocal balance for something truly special and unique.
Proving that all good things must come to an end, the title track “Peripheral Vision” closes things out featuring guest raps and production from Chicago’s own ‘Nickel Slick’ on their mission to rebuild and re-educate through the power of lyrics. It’s a heartfelt track with a strong and relevant message for today’s testing times.
DJ Feedback:
LAURENT GARNIER
Super elegant music. Love it . Yes yesss yessssssssssss.
OSUNLADE / YORUBA
Yes yes yes. ME ALL DAY!! LOVELY.
DAM SWINDLE
True to form stuff here.
HECTOR ROMERO/ DEF MIX
Solid through and through. Really feeling this eclectic EP. Looking forward to it.
DJ AAKMAEL
This is dope! Deep Into My Sleep is my fav on this one.
JIMPSTER/ FREERANGE
This is lovely. Deep Into My Sleep is a vibe and Sean’s remix is bang on too!
BILL BREWSTER/ DJ HISTORY
It’s all good but particularly Deep Into My Sleep x
COLLEEN COSMO MURPHY
Liking this already and only on the first song.
LEFTO/ WWFM
Yes like it.
TERRY FARLEY/ FAITH / BOYS OWN
Hell Yeah!
YUKSEK / RADIO NOVA
I like it a lot!
OLIVER DOLLAR/ DEFECTED
Lovely tunes in here
ART OF TONES / LLORCA
Thank you for this ! Peripheral visions for me – Reminds me of the early De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest tracks, awesome track.
GRAEME PARK/ THE HACIENDA
“Put Your Hands Together” is super cool.
PETE HERBERT
Lovely EP
ASHLEY BEEDLE / WORLDWIDE FM
Killer EP. Absolutely love it.
FRANK BOOKER
Like the house cuts, not so fussed on the downtempo jams. The Sean McCabe remix sounds dope, will play that for sure.
LARS BEHRENROTH/ DEEPER SHADES
Very nice ..Really enjoying “Into You” nice release ..
ANDY WILSON/ SONICA
What a beauty.
STEVE PARRY/ SASHA
Retro jackin mix is great
CHRIS COCO/ MELODICA IBIZA
Lovely lovely deep sounds.
STU PATTERSON/ MI SOUL FM
Lovely stuff here form Sean.
DAVE JARVIS/ FAITH
Wicked Ep love it.
FISH GO DEEP/ SHANE JOHNSON
Strong vibe going on here with great vocals and a refreshingly wide range of grooves. Deep Into My Sleep standing out for the dancefloor but all tracks working for me.
VINCE WATSON/ EVERYSOUL
Into You and the title track im really digging…VIBES!
FRED EVERYTHING / LAZY DAYS
Some very nice stuff here!
CRAIG SMITH/ 6TH BOROUGH PROJECT
Real nice selection of cuts, dope soulful bruk/house rhythms. Deep in my Sleep and Peripheral my faves on 1st few listens
NICK V / LA MONA
I’m a big fan of anything Sean touches and this is no exception. Very much into all tracks on this one 🙂
SOULDYNAMIC
Excellent release from Sean’s label 🙂 ‘Deep into my sleep’ and ‘into you’ are our fav mixes but the whole package sounds great . Full support from us, for sure our next radio show the 5th February, on Universal Rhythm radio
TRIPLE DEE
Lovely -PROPER Deep house!
HIFI SEAN
OMG Sean’s mix is the bizz …..sexy mutha funking house music ….all over this !
ROCKSTEADY DISCO/ PETER CROCHE
Really polished release right here. I’m definitely going to be hammering “Put Your Hands Together”, what a tune!
SIMON HINTER/ FREERANGE RECORDS
Really cool EP! Track 4 “Pause” is my favourite. Reminds me of Slum Village and old Dilla tracks
MR V/ SOLE CHANNEL
Super dope and YES!!!
MAX P/ HELL YEAH
What a tasty sampler, I can’t wait for full release now. ?? Track 1 e 2 are pure dynamite for the dancefloor.
MARC ROBERTS/ FMLY ASIA
Retro Jackin mix. All over that.
DANNY DUBBED / MOODY MANC
Really cool as expected, but particularly liking the hip hop cuts!
WILL MCGIVEN/ SOUL AND JAZZ MAG
Really liking these vibes. You know me well and anything in the Ron Trent ball park is normally loved by me! Would love a copy of this please.
AFTERLIFE / DATA TRANSMISSION
This is seriously cool and very uplifting 10/10! x
STUART PATTERSON/ MI SOUL FM
Great EP, really diggin’ the first three tracks especially track 2 which i’ll include on next weeks’ mi-soul show.
WILL NICHOL/ TOTALLY WIRED RADIO
Great to have new music from Harold – I’ve bene a fan back to the Blak Beat Niks stuff on Pan and Large BITD. And this keep that deep soulful vibe alive but brings it bang up to date, especially on the opening track which its heavy. Thanks!
RUSSELL FORMAN/ PIKES IBIZA
Aw Shiiiit, these are ace.
MOSKALUS
SUPERB/ funked up sound.
LES CROASDAILE/ FREIGHT ISLAND
Nice EP this, T2 put your hands together is the one for me, love those drums
BILLY SCURRY
YES! Beautiful rhythm and production which has that ability to sound classically old and very new at the same time.. heat!
STEVE LAMING/ COR/ 1BTN
Into You is really nice, definite player. Deep Into My Sleep is pretty cool too.
CHRIS ROCK/ DICE RECORDINGS
I will be supporting without a doubt. I have a section in the show where I play R&B/Hip Hop/Broken and the Sean McCabe tracks are perfect for the show. Very nice selection of tracks.
HIGHER LOVE/ 1BTN FM
Phooooaaarrrrr, proper proper house.
NEIL DIABLO/ EL DIABLOS SOCIAL CLUB
Loving this release. Sean’s remix version is the one I’d play out but every mix is a belter.
TREVOR FUNG/ THE PROJECT/ GRAFITTI KINGS
Loving this sampler. The first two tracks are I can’t wait to play them.
JAMES KUMO/ WAYOUT RECORDS
Loving this release! Right up my street deep n soulful! Thanks!
