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Freddie Cruger: Soul Search

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He's back… and just in time for Halloween. But don't be scared! This Freddie Cruger is a friendly old-school Swedish B-Boy with a penchant for crafting breakbeat-laden sample-heavy instrumentals that make for dancefloor anthems, catchy downtempo nu-soul, jazzy hip-hop head-nodders and blazing latin mash-ups.

Most of Cruger's music has previously been available only as limited edition 12" vinyl singles on the Swedish Raw Fusion label. Soul Search is his first full-length album as Freddie Cruger (he released an album earlier this year as 3 Foot People on his own Homegrown imprint), and is available in the U.S. exclusively on Ubiquity Records through a deal with Raw Fusion.

Freddie has also released countless remixes, mostly on the GAMM label, using the alias Red Astaire, including the underground classic "Follow Me," a remix of D'Angelo’s "Left and Right." Quantic liked Cruger's version so much, he recorded a live remake of the remix (possibly a historical first), with Alice Russell on vocals.

Soul Search draws from Cruger's characteristically wide range of styles. Two songs with frequent collaborator Linn (mentioned previously in "What's Going On Pt.2: Swedish Soul Food') are some of the best. "Over the Ocean" is another standout, with an original sounding blend of reggae harmony vocals and a raw drum loop backing track.

Listen or buy at Ubiquity or purchase from Amazon.

by DJ Scribe

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