General Midi
"Operation Overdrive"

In parts as accessible as Depeche Mode, as fly as Justice, as deadly as Dizzee and electro-rockin' like Kissy, General Midi's new album is a future-disco audio assault. Set to lift him beyond breakbeat boundaries "Operation Overdrive" throws electro, punk, hip hop, fidget house and more at the traditional template, bucking the minimal trend to present twelve tracks of Midism with maximum impact.
Emerging from the darker realms of Bristol's club scene way back in the nineties, General Midi has spent over a decade carving out a niche as the go to man if you like your party soundtrack big, bassy and with bollocks. Obstreperous from the start, album opener and first single "4 Million Ways" features Foreign Beggars' Orifice Vulgatron spitting double-time over a heavy electro backing, before "Absinthe", featuring NY singer / songwriter Sean Gill (Passengerz), showcases Midi's ability to also dabble in the art of hooky hit making. "Audio Assault", "Kickbox" and last year's "Milton" take listeners into classic Midi territory, aimed firmly at the dancefloor and already tried and tested in DJ sets from the General around the globe.
Further collaborations come from electro shock rocker Leigh De Vries, first lady of breaks Odissi on "Back For More", ex-Devils Gun vocalist Dominique Woolf on "Misbehave", New York singer-songwriter Von Doom and ex-Prodigy guitarist Jim Davis on "Poker Face" (not to be confused with the offerings of a certain leotard clad chart-topper.) Throw in the downtempo (for GM!) beat-driven rock on "Back For More" and the bounce of "When I Rock" and you have a longplayer that will soon have you following the instructions of LA's Whiskey Pete on "Get It Down": "put your drink down, report to the dancefloor."
General Midi, or Paul Crossman as his mum and bank manager know him, has a reputation as a man with an impeccable ear for a tune, the producer's producer and has been busy criss-crossing the globe DJing since the release of his last album "Midi Style". The past few years have also been spent with studio partner Eelz creating the futuristic sounds of "Operation Overdrive" and constantly fine-tuning tuning the tracks. "You get into that painting the Forth Bridge thing where the whole thing continues perpetually," observes Paul on finalising the album. "We just had to stop and get a record out eventually."
This second full set of Midi originals is a polished collection of crisp beats, big basslines and hooks a plenty, album launch parties are already in place for London, Manchester and Bristol, and there's even talk of a live show and visuals so watch this space.

All tracks written by Paul Crossman & Philip Watson.
Except:
4 Million Way: Written by Paul Crossman, Philip Watson & Pavan Mukhi.
Vocals by Orifice Vulgatron.
Back For More: Written by Paul Crossman, Philip Watson & Hailey Smith.
Vocals by Odissi.
Get It Down: Written by Paul Crossman, Philip Watson & Peter McGowin.
Vocals by Whiskey Pete.
Poker Face: Written by Paul Crossman, Philip Watson & James Davies.
Vocals by Jim Davis.
Out Of Control: Written by Paul Crossman, Philip Watson & Leigh De Vries.
Vocals by Leigh De Vries.
Vocals on Absinthe by Von Doom.
Vocals on Misbehave by Dominique Woolf.
Produced by General Midi @ Lemonworks, Bristol.
Published by Copyright Control.
(P) & (C) 2009 Distinctive Records