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US/Canada: Reviews |
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Tuesday 31 August 2010
V/A - All Your Beats Vol. 3 EP
If you know All Your Beats you’ll be estatic to know that we’re up to Vol. 3 and it’s out now.
Friday 27 August 2010
Darkstarr - They Live By The Night (Compiled by Ashley Beedle & Cosmo)
One thing you can say about Ashley Beedle (actually, there lots of things but without contradiction), he is possibly the most polymath of musicians around today and he never lets us down; bring on the Darkstarr!
Monday 23 August 2010
Vijay Iyer - Solo
Solo is Vijay Iyer on Steinway piano playing five orginal pieces and six cover versions of tracks made famous by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Steve Coleman and Michael Jackson, this is going to be one of the Jazz album’s of the year!
Monday 9 August 2010
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Webster Hall, Manhattan (live review)
After hustling my way past the bouncer and a cluster of inebriated Long Island party girls, I found myself in the VIP section of Webster Hall, where I was able to stare at the yellow brick road that led to an emerald city perched upon a hilltop. Laid before this backdrop was a cluttered stage with spots for eight musicians and two vocalists. This was the world of Edward Sharpe and his beautifully bizarre Magnetic Zeros. A traveling circus of sorts that specialize not in entertaining the masses, but in placing them on a pathway to musical transcendence ![]()
Monday 2 August 2010
Walter Gibbons - Jungle Music - Mixed With Love: Essential & Unreleased Remixes 1976-1986
If you’ve got a touch of “disco droop” here’s some 12” madness from the golden era as lovingly extended by master DJ Walter Gibbons. ![]()
Sunday 1 August 2010
Herbie Hancock - The Imagine Project
So if you can imagine giving jazz legend a 70th birthday party and got a load of his favourite International music stars to join in on ten of his favourite songs, The Imagine Project would be such a star studded present!
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Michael Leonhart & The Avramina 7 - Seahorse And The Storyteller
Still coming to grips with Michael Leonhart & The Avramina 7 debut album Seahorse And The Storyteller? Now the summer of love 2010 is here, time to give it another go - Peace.
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics
When I first heard about this one, I admit that I was a little excited and the combination of Lloyd Miller and The Heliocentrics is just that, excitement. ![]()
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Baths - Cerulean
When I were a lad, going to the Baths was the highlight of the week but this week Baths is the album of the week; and probably a lot longer than that!
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Earth Wind & Fire - The Greatest Hits
There’s no argument that Earth Wind & Fire were a great band with a great live act with a great catalogue of albums so you know that the latest The Greatest Hits compilation is great to say the least.
Sunday 4 July 2010
V/A - Disco Discharge: Disco Boogie
Hey it’s Sunday Nite and Robbie Vincent and Greg Edwards have provided the soundtrack to the weekend and it’s time to Disco Discharge with some Disco Boogie!
Saturday 3 July 2010
Nnenna Freelon - Homefree
In the long tradition of not judging CDs by the cover, Grammy nominee and esteemed jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon has re-interpreted the jazz vocal of the great American Songbook.
Friday 2 July 2010
V/A - Nervous Nitelife: David Tort
It’s Friday so this is the time of the week that we get up and party. This week we are guided by the Nervous Nitelife signing David Tort who is going to be spinning House this summer somewhere near you.
Thursday 1 July 2010
Los Lobos - Tin Can Trust
Hard to believe that their worldwide hit ‘La Bamba’ came out in 1987 but they are there still going strong and their new album Tin Can Trust sees them all set for their Hop Farm Festival set this weekend.
Monday 7 June 2010
Build An Ark - Love (Part 2)
Last year we showed Build An Ark some Love (Part 1) and leader Carlos Niño showed us some love back. Now it’s time to do it all over again as Love (Part 2) is now in the air!
Sunday 6 June 2010
King Britt - The Intricate Beauty
You’ll have spotted that there’s loads of fantastic CDs coming out at the moment but it wouldn’t be right to miss out on the latest intricate beauty by King Britt; so we won’t!
Wednesday 2 June 2010
V/A - Bustin' Out (New Wave To New Beat Vol. 2: 1982)
You wait 30 years for the first Bustin’ Out compilation and then, like a London bus, before you know it, Vol.2 is upon us with 15 more killer New Wave To New Beat tunes solely from 1982.
Friday 28 May 2010
Sun Ra - The Antique Black
It’s nearly two decades since Sun Ra left this planet but he is still constantly in our thoughts and is a relevant today as ever, hence the latest re-issue by Kindred Spirit of this classic album The Antique Black.
Saturday 22 May 2010
Dexter Gordon - American Classic
Dexter Gordon’s American Classic is as cool as the cover and now re-mastered, it’s better than ever.
Friday 21 May 2010
Renée Fleming - A Dark Hope
Can you image one of the most celebrated soprano voices hanging out with Arcade Fire, The Mars Volta, Muse or Leonard Cohen? Neither can I nor even doing cover versions for that matter but she has (done cover versions that is) with this new album called A Dark Hope; how could you resist?
Wednesday 5 May 2010
V/A - Secondhand Sureshots (DVD + CD)
Those of you that keep an eye on Stone Thow Records web site will know all about this project already but definitely worth catching up with what Dublab regulars can produce with a 100 old records at a mere $1 each.
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Bachelors Of Science - Warehouse Dayz
Bachelors Of Science are a duo based in San Francisco and after their successful Science Fiction debut, Warehouse Dayz is well up to speed.
Saturday 3 April 2010
Anané - Ananésworld
This will come as a bit of a surprise to most, but Ananésworld is possibly the most out there album of the year so far and it’s going to make her a bigger star than she already is!
Monday 29 March 2010
Cobblestone Jazz - The Modern Deep Left Quartet
The Modern Deep Left Quartet is the future of modern deep left music; as performed by the Cobblestone Jazz, this is real FLY Global Music - fantastic is an understatement!
Saturday 27 March 2010
Bonobo - Black Sands
Simon Green (aka Bonobo) is another artist on his fourth album and everybody has said that it is his most accomplished album to date; the magnificent Black Sands is proof indeed that it is.
Thursday 25 March 2010
In the Land of the Free - Human Rights Watch Film Festival
A profoundly moving documentary about a miscarriage of justice so grave that it is hard to imagine it could have happened in modern times, let alone accept that is continues to this day
Sunday 21 March 2010
Daedelus - Righteous Fists Of Harmony EP
Daedelus puts ‘em up in the Marquis of Queensbury way, travels the high seas and sorts out some history with a fabulous collage of sound; this is Daedelus at his best!
Thursday 11 March 2010
Angelique Kidjo and Peter Buffett - A Song for Everyone
Jaunty world pop tune with a lasting legacy
Monday 8 March 2010
Cobblestone Jazz - Chance EP
Now the Winter Olympics are over and the Canada picks up the most gold medals ever, what are the chances of the return of Cobblestone Jazz with a new EP?
Monday 22 February 2010
The Souljazz Orchestra - Rising Sun
Coming outta Ottawa, Canada, this group is the modern embodiment of soul-jazz Afro funk and I’m a little guilty that we haven’t given them as much credit as they deserve in the past; lets put that to rights with their new album Rising Sun!
Friday 19 February 2010
Gil Scott-Heron - Me And The Devil
If you’ve not got into the new album yet, try the first single taken from I’m New Here, it’s Gil Scott-Heron and the devil!
Wednesday 17 February 2010
V/A - Asseteria! Live From Uranus (Mixed By Chriss Vargas)
Asseteria! is the Sunday night bash for New York’s most house hungry crowd of hedonists where Chriss Vargas can DJ for hours, even as long as it takes to get to Uranus!
Sunday 14 February 2010
Don Cherry - Here & Now
So you think you know an artist, especially one that made his name in the post bop/free jazz era? Well here’s Don Cherry with a world-funk fusion that’s as Here & Now as it was in the mid 70s!
Saturday 13 February 2010
Joe Zawinul - Money In The Pocket
A special release in the Atlantic Masters series of re-issues as this is Joe Zawinul’s debut solo album from the mid 1960s - Money In The Pocket you could say.
Friday 12 February 2010
V/A - Bustin' Out (New Wave To New Beat: The Post Punk Era 1979-1981)
Bustin’ Out is set in a time went the punks limelight was dimming but in its place, the independent DIY label ethic took hold and a whole new generation of musicians started to experiment a little deeper than 3-chord wonders.
Wednesday 10 February 2010
José James - Blackmagic
When Gilles Peterson announced on his show “this is my favourite track from the new José James album”, it was time to wake up and pay attention as the voice of jazz is back!
Tuesday 2 February 2010
V/A - Bob Blank: The Blank Generation (Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1985)
There’s been a load of brilliant compilations lately but Strut have linked up with DJ History to keep ahead of the games on some mighty fine gems from a decade of experimentation.
Sunday 31 January 2010
Nommo Ogo - Across Time And Space
Nommo Ogo’s psychedelic connection Across Time And Space
Sunday 31 January 2010
V/A - Nervous Nitelife: Tom Stephan (Superchumbo)
If you’ve been waiting for the follow up to Tom Stephan’s Asseteria! Live From New York, the latest in the ‘Nervous Nitelife’ is testiment to how his DJ set is progressing.
Saturday 30 January 2010
V/A - John Morales - The M&M Mixes
Even if you’ve never heard of John Morales, the subtitle of this massive compilaton NYC Underground Disco Anthems + Previously Un-Released Exclusive Salsoul Mixes should give you a clue that this is a very tasty release.
Friday 29 January 2010
Deadmau5 - At Play Vol.2
Following the worldwide success of Deadmau5 (aka Joel Zimmerman) last year, with more big gigs coming up in the UK next month, here’s the second edition of the At Play album.
Friday 15 January 2010
V/A - Nervous Nitelife: Mind Control Addicted
Once again, the house of Nervous Records brings us the finest in New York’s nitelife with this stunning collection by DJ/Producers Peter Bailey & Richie Santana.
Friday 15 January 2010
Richie Phoe - Bumpy's Lament
Fans of Isaac Hayes’ Shaft soundtrack will recognise the title, but would they recognose this version from Brighton’s Richie Phoe?
Monday 14 December 2009
Melleefresh vs. CyberSutra - White Trashy & Blonde (The Remixes)
Canada’s Queen of Sleaze turns up to the party with the most appropriately entitled anthem ever; she is white, trashy and (not naturally) blonde!
Monday 7 December 2009
The So So Glos - Tourism / Terrorism
“Would you go and see a band called The Boombombs?” I don’t think so either but I would like to see The So So Glos - especially as their new mini-album has the promising title of Tourism / Terrorism.
Monday 7 December 2009
Blockhead - The Music Scene
If you’ve ever been moved by a J-Rocc mix, if you’ve ever been amazed by a sample expert like Madlib, The Clonious or Kira Neris, if you just like lots of different types of music, The Music Scene is the album of the year.
Thursday 3 December 2009
Osunlade - Rebirth EP
When Gilles Peterson played a new Osunlade track on his show last night, you could almost hear the folks say, “is that Osunlade?”
Wednesday 2 December 2009
Sophia May - Come Back
Frankie Knuckles and Eric Kupper are back on form with a ‘Come Back’ by Sophia May that’s big enough to make anyone nervous.
Monday 30 November 2009
V/A - In The Christmas Groove
For some folks Christmas can’t come soon enough but here’s something that will even make bar humbugs happy as Strut get some real groovin’ tunes on this brand new compilation.
Friday 27 November 2009
V/A - Zevolution: ZE Records Re-Edited
With the 30th Anniversary tribute album reminding us how good ZE Records was, this Re-edit package show us how good the label (and the music) still is - Strut do it again.
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Rupa & the April Fishes - Cargo, Shoreditch
If Rupa and her April Fishes love to whip up a carnivalesque frenzy on their records, in the flesh their approach is even more sweaty and joyful.
Saturday 21 November 2009
Frankie Knuckles - Motivation Too
It’s time to be nervous as Frankie Knuckles is in the mood to get some Motivation and you will too when you here this!
Wednesday 11 November 2009
DJ /rupture & Matt Shadetek - Solar Life Raft
In these days of global warming apocalypse warnings, what we need is a Solar Life Raft for emergencies, luckily DJ /rupture and Matt Shadetek are here to rescue us.
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Build An Ark - Love (Part 1)
With a live show at Cargo on the 19th November, it’s time we had some love from the magnificent Build An Ark; yes - yes!
Monday 9 November 2009
Danny Krivit - 718 Sessions
Back in the day, a t-shirt with the Nervous Record label logo on it was the hipest street wear in town; thankfully the records were rather good too but is there anyone better to have a session with than Danny Krivit?
Wednesday 4 November 2009
J Dilla - Dillanthology 3
The last in the trilogy of tribute albums called Dillanthology is even more proof that James Yancey’s untimely passing was such a great loss to the world in so many respects.
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Rupa & the April Fishes - Este Mundo
Get ready to dance, here comes Rupa & the April Fishes with a follow up to debut album eXtraOrdinary Rendition.
Wednesday 21 October 2009
V/A - Disco Discharge: Gay Disco & Hi NRG
So we finally come to the last in this Disco Discharge set and perhaps Gay Disco & Hi NRG is the epitomy of the three previous versions rather than a genre inself; but if it is, it’s time of come out of the disco closet.
Wednesday 14 October 2009
Claude VonStroke - Bird Brain
We know Mixmag loves Future Disco and the like, but you can at least double that when it comes to Claude VonStroke. So can you imagine what they think of his latest album, Bird Brain?
Monday 28 September 2009
Anti-Pop Consortium - Fluorescent Black
Anti-Pop Consortium are back with a new label and a new album to light up hip-hop with some Fluorescent Black.
Monday 28 September 2009
Jeb Loy Nichols - Strange Faith and Practice
Jeb Loy Nichols is an artist, writer and musician living a sustainable existence in Wales. He’s also just released an incredible album full of moving, delicate, beautifully arranged songs sung in his seductive and distinctive southern American accent
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Breakestra - Dusk Till Dawn
You will know that Breakestra is the L.A. funk band “orchestra” that have been blowing up for over 10 years and their latest release is their debut album for the fantastic label Strut; and these guys will funk up from Dusk Till Dawn.
Sunday 20 September 2009
Jeb Loy Nichols - Strange Faith And Practice
Since Impossible Ark Records started, not only have they shown a flair for modern jazz, they’ve also been very adventurous but no more so that with the strange faith and practice of Jeb Loy Nichols.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Vijay Iyer Trio - Historicity
Here’s one of the premier jazz pianists is an unusually setting of a trio on an album with a load of cover versions (and a daft title) but this is not old news.
Monday 14 September 2009
DePedro - DePedro
Calexico’s guitarist records solo album with his mates in Arizona and it sounds as good as you’d expect, a fantastic debut for DePedro!
Friday 4 September 2009
Deborah Jordan - The Light
Now anyone who thought they heard Deborah’s vocals on the Gilles Peterson show the other week would be spot on, but now you’ve got the chance to hear as well as see, The Light.
Sunday 30 August 2009
The Rebel Yell - Love & War
Admittedly the cover is a little scary and for an album that starts with a track called ‘Army Of Misfits’, can previous outings with R&B royalty like The Roots, J*Davey, Erkyah Badu and Common (to name just a few), find love rather than war on this new album from The Rebel Yell?
Wednesday 19 August 2009
Alarm Will Sound - a/rhythmia
Alarm Will Sound are a 20-member group described by the New York Times “one of the most vital and original ensembles on the American music scene,” so with a debut release on the Nonesuch label, a/rhythmia was an essential listen this month.
Wednesday 5 August 2009
R.E.-Edits - Volumes One To Five
Tired of lugging those 12s around in your box? Need a handy CD with all your favourite R.E.-Edits on plus an exclusive new track? R.E.-Edits Volumes One To Five is just what you need!
Friday 24 July 2009
Luaka 21 - Twenty First Century, Twenty First Year
Luaka Bop started life as the pet record label of David Byrne as an outlet for his Brasilian musical discoveries but it wasn’t long before it developed into one of the finest independent record labels on the planet, defying pigeon holes, albeit with a fondness for all things Brasilian, to become a home for interesting music rather than any particular genre.
Wednesday 22 July 2009
John Arnold & Jeremy Ellis - Nightlife
This is such an all-winner! It’s been a “go to” track since this time last year with plays on Gilles Peterson’s Radio 1 so it’s definitely about time we had some nightlife!
Sunday 19 July 2009
Double Booked - Robert Glasper
Robert Glasper plays with a dynamism which is quite engaging. Not a dynamic style in the technical sense but a playing with a certain joie de vivre or a lighting of the keys as his large hands stoke little fires on the black and whites
Wednesday 8 July 2009
Ape School - Ape School
A swamp-ape from panhandle Florida, Michael Johnson arrived in Philadelphia to teach music technology at a downtown arts university; thankfully he had enough spare time to work on a number of projects including Ape School.
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Funktransplant - What Is Funk EP
Well, that’s a very good question but have Funktransplant got the answer?
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Cromagnon - Cave Rock
Cromagnon on ESP! That’s what I thought but it’s not Cro-magnon so the question now is, has extremes of NY psych-no-wave of 1969 lasted the test of time?
Friday 26 June 2009
Ancient Astronauts - We Are To Answer
It’s been some time since we’ve had some proper old skool space-beat hip hop so it was brilliant to find that ESL’s latest signings, Ancient Astronauts have finally got their spaceship shape for the debut album with a collection of legendary old and new friends as they are to answer.
Thursday 25 June 2009
V/A - Sound of the World Presents: Otro Mundo (Another World)
Charlie GIllett scoops up yet again the tracks you loved but never got round to owning and those that would otherwise have entirely slipped past you unnoticed like so many logs floating down the Niger in the middle of the night
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Kyle Eastwood - Metropolitain
When your Dad is as well known and in the public eye as much as Kyle Eastwood’s, what can you do to when those are such huge footsteps to follow? What about being a professional jazz bassist?
Sunday 21 June 2009
The Mars Volta - Octahedron
The Mars Volta are on tour in Europe promoting the new album at the moment and what do you think, the same as the last one?
Friday 19 June 2009
Vince Mendoza & The Metropole Orchestra - El Viento
This album explores the combination of the traditions of flamenco, comtemporay jazz and orchestral arrangements; could that possibily work?
Saturday 13 June 2009
Najma Akhtar and Gary Lucas - Rishte
They both possess impressive CVs when it comes to collaborations, and this charming, eloquent mix of Indian and US roots music will surely take its place amongst the most satisfyingly creative results for both artists
Tuesday 9 June 2009
V/A - Watergate 03 (Konrad Black)
This album was the talk at Phonica Records this week, well whilst I was there at any rate, so what’s Konrad Black up to in Berlin?
Thursday 4 June 2009
Busdriver - Jhelli Beam
“Consious rap failed us” he proclaims at the start of the latest album by Busdriver but as one of our favourite rappers, Jhelli Beam is just what we need to re-affirm our faith.
Thursday 4 June 2009
The Lone Wolf - Sum and Belief are The Lone Wolf
The self-proclaimed “Bluesy, dusty, personal and masterful” debut album by the duo, The Lone Wolf is about to drop to widespread beat head approval.
Wednesday 3 June 2009
Kotchy - I'd Have To Be High EP
“Big tunes include the skanking 8bit cod reggae pop perversion of ‘Check Out My Keychain” so you’d I’d Have To Be High not to want a remix 12”?
Monday 1 June 2009
Rodriguez - Coming From Reality
After the success of Light In The Attic’s first official reissue of Cold Fact, an album co-produced by Motown’s Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore and featuring members of legendary Motown players The Funk Brothers, they’ve dipped back into the Rodriquez back catalogue for another ‘lost’ gem, Coming From Reality.
Monday 1 June 2009
V/A - All Killer: Finders Keepers Records 1-20 Mixed By The Gaslamp Killer
Matching up a compilation of tracks from the first 20 releases of Finders Keepers Records with ace producer, DJ and all-round Dublab expert The Gaslamp Killer is not only a good idea, its now a fantastic CD!
Sunday 31 May 2009
Billy Newton-Davis Vs. Deadmau5 - All You Ever Want
It’s the bloke with the ears and they are so tuned into what moves the big room, he’s back with the vocal talents of Billy Newton-Davis to give you 12 inches of all you ever wanted in your dreams!
Sunday 24 May 2009
Falty DL - Love Is A Liability
Whilst the dubstep forums have had this one on their radar for a while, there’s much more to this album than you’d usually find in a Croydon basement.
Friday 22 May 2009
Annabel (lee) - (1849) / I Heard
A debut single from the new project by Annabel (lee) featuring Richard E is out on Monday and it’s well up to their high standards
Monday 18 May 2009
Mocky - Saskamodie
Returning to his jazz and acoustic roots, this talented composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist has just recorded his best album to-date.
Sunday 17 May 2009
Nino Moschella - Boom Shadow
When you’d mention “Boomshadow” in the circle of Nino Moschella and his friends it was an in-joke for a fictional super hero to come and save anybody from whatever the problem was; and if you’re problem is a lack of proper funk and soul, his sophmore album Boom Shadow is here to save you.
Saturday 16 May 2009
Yppah - They Know What Ghost Know
If you told me a few weeks ago that we would be reviewing an album that “draws on a cultural heritage that took in My Bloody Valentine alongside hip hop and which is heavily influenced by various forms of electronic music, psychedelic soul and rock” I’d have said, I don’t think so; but Yppah’s second album is not one to dismiss so lightly.
Saturday 16 May 2009
Savath y Savalas - La Llama
The mellow side-project of Guillermo Scott Herren (better known as Prefuse 73) and this is his first Savath y Savalas release on Stones Throw Records and this llama is up in the Spanish mountains having a bit of a chill-out.
Wednesday 13 May 2009
Easy Star All-Stars - Lonely Hearts Dub Band
With a little help from their friends, the Easy Star All-Stars’ latest album takes on The Beatles much respected Sgt. Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band for their own brand of retro reggae re-make.
Monday 4 May 2009
Two Fingers feat. Sway - That Girl
The new single by Two Fingers and their cohort Sway is the crazy, crazy ‘That Girl’ that’s going off the rails with a couple of heavy remixes.
Friday 1 May 2009
JJ Cale - Roll On
If you’re not familar with the “hammock sound” of guitar guru JJ Cale, roll with his latest album Roll On and be prepared to mellow out.
Friday 1 May 2009
Lady Sovereign - Jigsaw
Everybody has an opinion on Lady Sov and most seem to be bad; does the best known under dog deserve to be so universally slated? Let’s have a look at the pieces of this jigsaw.
Sunday 26 April 2009
Mulatu Astatke / The Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information Vol. 3
Loads of people are saying that the inspired pairing on Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics have produced their favourite album of the year and I’m joining that happy band of folks; this is sensational!
Saturday 25 April 2009
V/A - Rich Medina and Bobbito Present The Connection Volume One: Modern Explorations In Afro-Beat and Afro-Latin
When it comes to Afro Latin grooves and music of black origin Rich Medina and Bobbito are two of New York’s top tastemakers. They are also long time friends and DJ collaborators so you know this compilation is going to be “un poco caliente”
Friday 10 April 2009
V/A - School Me! Vol. 1 1968-1975
What will they think of plundering next? But wait a minute, this was the time of High School and Collegiate Jazz, Funk, Soul and Psychedelia and it’s well worth diggin’ man!
Friday 10 April 2009
Yppah - Gumball Machine Weekend
Yppah (pronounced “Yippah”) is a Mexican-American from Texas aka Joe Corrales, Jr. and he’s back on Ninja Tune with an brand new EP prior to the new album coming out and it’s stunning!
Tuesday 7 April 2009
Har You Percussion Group - Sounds of the Ghetto Youth
On paper this is all wrong. A government funded programme in response to social unrest in Harlem, a group of mostly non-Latins making a Latin record, a huge cast of non-professional musicians. And what did they produce? Only one of the top 5 Latin records of all time
Friday 3 April 2009
Thunderheist - Nothing 2 Step 2
Thunderhiest (aka MC Isis and Grahm Zilla) jerked it with the last single and now get even more club friendly with loads of cow bells as this is ‘Nothing 2 Step 2’.
Monday 30 March 2009
Two Fingers feat. Sway - Two Fingers
Super group Two Fingers (Amon Tobin and Joe “Doubleclick” Chapman) featuring UK Mobo winning artist Sway have been busy distorting the sound of hip hop for the debut album Two Fingers
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Tah Mac - Welcome 2 Tahland
Tah Mac set the tone with previous singles as “the next Kanye” prepares to hit the album charts around the world and not just in Tahland.
Sunday 22 March 2009
Gomez - A New Tide
You can’t write anything about Gomez without mentioning that their debut album Bring It On won the Mercury Music Prize but 10 years on, A New Tide finds them on a new label and is a bit of a fresh start.
Saturday 14 March 2009
Carlos Niño & Friends - High With A Little Help From
You can’t really give Carlos Nino too much praise as he’s gone and done it again with a little help from some of his closest friends, it’ll make you feel mighty high indeed!
Saturday 14 March 2009
Various - R.E.-Edits Volume 6
With half a dozen of these magnificent 12ers under his belt, the king of the R.E.-Edit is still showing the rest of ‘em how to do it, a must have for every conscious DJ that knows his stuff.
Saturday 14 March 2009
The Monks - Black Monk Time
Back in 1965, five upstart Americans say to themselves “Let’s Start A Beat” but these devoted monks don’t keep a vow of silence; quite the opposite!
Saturday 7 March 2009
XRABIT + DMG$ - Hello World
After the fantastic reception for debut single ‘Killin Em’, the buzz for the debut XRABIT + DMG$ album has been big in the bass bin underground - Hello World is some new understand of hip hop’s future.
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Tal M. Klein - Crawling Up The Spout
Tal M. Klein is back with another class 12” with an unusual guest that’s ready to crawl up ya spout!
Saturday 28 February 2009
The Long Lost - The Long Lost
If you still haven’t found The Long Lost, this is the place to find them in their lovely brilliance
Saturday 28 February 2009
Yellowtail feat. Monday Michiru - Everything Is Alright
Brooklyn-based producer Yellowtail (Hiro Awanohara) drops a very impressive 12” before the album comes out and if features one of the all-time great female singers out of Japan, no less than Monday Michiru!
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Kero One feat. Ben Westbeech - When The Sunshine Comes
It’s so good to have the return of Kero One and with the ever impressive Ben Westbeech on the latest single out on Plug, this is just our type of hip-hop
Thursday 19 February 2009
Carl Craig & Moritz Von Oswald - Recomposed
Talk about double take when I first saw this one in Universal Sounds, a new Carl Craig album on Deutsche Grammophon! And on closer inspection, it’s a double act with Moritz Von Oswald with recomposed music by Maurice Ravel and Modest Mussorgsky! It all looked too good to be true.
Thursday 19 February 2009
Toro Y Moi - Left Alone At Night
Nobody wants to get left alone at night, especially not Toro Y Moi so they’ve got some Brooklyn friendly night time people on the remix.
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Shuttle feat. Cadence Weapon - Tunnel EP
A new recruit to the Ninja Tune family, don’t be put off by the cover, this guy’s musical pallet is so much more than mere 2-tone.
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Intrusion feat. Paul St. Hilaire - Little Angel / A Night To Remember
Instrusions’ ‘Little Angel’ featuring the vocals of Paul St. Hilaire is a heavenly track that’ll linger long in the memory.
Tuesday 17 February 2009
Roy Ayers - Ubiquity [Originals]
“One of us could be somewhere. Some of us could be elsewhere. All of us could be everywhere. UBIQUITY is being somewhere, elsewhere and everywhere - always”, can you dig it?
Sunday 15 February 2009
Tah Mac feat. C.A.S.H - Lavish Lifestyle
Friend of the stars, especially ex-Sugababe and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Mutya Buena, Tah Mac releases another big single from his forthcoming album Welcome To Tahland.
Thursday 29 January 2009
Harmonic 313 - When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence
You don’t have to was born and raised in Detroit to know this is a great album as Harmonic 313 is none other than Mark Pritchard!
Tuesday 27 January 2009
Omar Rodriquez Lopez - Old Money
The best bit of The Mars Volta is Omar Rodriquez Lopez’ guitar so his solo album has got to be a bit special? You can bet your last thru penny bit it is.
Sunday 25 January 2009
John Coltrane - The Impulse! Albums (Volume 3)
If you thought John Coltrane was only about A Love Supreme, think again as here are five other reason why he is regarded as the one and only true spirit of jazz.
Saturday 24 January 2009
The Long Lost - Amiss
It would be very amiss if you missed ‘Amiss’ by the pair of lovers called The Long Lost.
Saturday 24 January 2009
Diplo - Decent Work For Decent Pay: Selected Works Volume 1
With mates from the hip-hop, crunk and B-more scenes Diplo’s reputation spread and he has now worked full time with every ‘name’ you could possibly think of as all he wants is Decent Work For Decent Pay.
Wednesday 21 January 2009
V/A - Northern Faction 4
The latest Northern Faction is another great compilation album of modern dubby electronic downtempo grooves that clears out any recessionary tenancies and gives us a more balanced view of things
Wednesday 21 January 2009
Ugly Duckling - Audacity
“Oh Yeah!” The Ugly Ducklings that are Einstein, Andy & Dizzy are back with a new album which finds them a little bit older and a bit more reflective; but if you love old skool hip hop and drum breaks, “Say, Yeah!”
Sunday 18 January 2009
Nicola Conte - Rituals
Now you’ve probably been thinking that Nicola Conte has been quiet of late but over the past 2 years, instead of bashing out 12s on Schema, he’s been working on his latest album and it’s definitely been worth the wait.
Sunday 18 January 2009
Menahan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking
Somewhat of a clumsy name and title here but it’s time to take that first step on the road to some hot Brooklyn based soul-jazz-funk as it’s not to late to catch up with this Worldwide All-winner top 20 album.
Wednesday 14 January 2009
Alice Russell - Pot Of Gold
Alice Russell has been underground for so long you being to wonder whether she’ll ever find her pot of golden recognition at the end of the musical rainbow; lets hope Pot Of Gold finally does it for her at it’s her best yet!
Monday 29 December 2008
David Benoit - Jazz For Peanuts
This peanuts is as in the cartoon series as this CD is sub-titled, ‘A Retrospective Of The Charlie Brown TV Themes’; get ready to jig around the piano to a little bit of jazz.
Wednesday 24 December 2008
V/A - Verve // Remixed Christmas
Forever struggling to sift out the Christmas cheese from the jingle bells it was an act of musical kindness that Verve got their Unmixed / Remixed series into the festive spirit of things.
Saturday 29 November 2008
Buena Vista Social Club - At Carnegie Hall
Ten years ago, with the help of Juan de Marcos González and support of Ry Cooder, a bunch of elderly Cubans dusted off their instruments, cleared their throats and, with seemingly effortless ease, delivered arguably the most acclaimed album in world music history
Wednesday 26 November 2008
V/A - V.02 Need2Soul (Benji B & Glenn Underground)
Need2Soul is a London based club-night and the Need2Soul label set out in 2005 to release tracks that rocked their decks. For the new V.02 double CD compilation they’ve called up a heavyweight DJ and young(ish) pretender to get mixing and it’s definitely FLY!
Wednesday 26 November 2008
Mint Condition - e-Life
The guys from St Paul’s / Minneapolis are back with their distinctive sound. Stokley, Lawrence, O’Dell, Ricky, Jeffrey and Chris ‘Daddy’ Dave performing some session drumming on the album
Wednesday 26 November 2008
Aaron Parks - Jazz with a Twist!
If you like Jazz, check out this album on Blue Note ‘Invisible Cinema’ from Aaron Parks.
Saturday 22 November 2008
Daedelus - Touchtone & Fair Weather Friends Remixes
To celebrate the launch of the new Daedelus web site, Ninja Tunes have got a 12” and download packages all ready to go on sale.
Saturday 22 November 2008
Deadmau5 - At Play
If you want to know what Deadmau5 did before his hit world domination, At Play is his early works repackaged and it’s easy to see how he got global recognition in such a relatively short space of time.
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Billy Cobham and Asere - De Cuba y De Panamá
The first recording of the ongoing collaboration between the legendary drummer and the innovative Cuban group is a testament to the success of fusion music.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Thunderheist - Jerk It
MC Isis and Grahm Zilla together are Thunderhiest are the leaders in ‘Rave Rap’ and ‘Jerk It’ is the clubbers No. 1 pick of the moment.
Friday 14 November 2008
Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation
By far the best thing to come out of Washington for a very long time, this outernational mashup of Afrobeat, dub and hip hop is firing political comment on thumping beats
Friday 14 November 2008
Levitts - We Are The Levitts
Another little gem from ESP Disk. The Levitts are in fact a musical family about whom not a great deal has been written it would seem. Perhaps their habit of jumping from one genre to another was too much for audiences to build loyalty at the end of the sixties
Friday 14 November 2008
Taj Mahal - Maestro
To mark the 40th year of his recording history Taj Mahal releases the self-depricatingly titled Maestro.
Sunday 9 November 2008
Happy Is a Bumpy Road - The Story of "Touch" by The Supremes
By 1971, The Supremes had managed to successfully reinvent and reinvigorate a creatively flagging group with two records: Right On (1970) and New Ways, But Love Stays (1970). With a string of hit singles behind them, their third Frank Wilson produced LP, Touch, promised to capitalize on the critical successes of the previous two records
Friday 7 November 2008
Charlie Parker - Bird in Time 1940 - 1947
Before Obama, Tiger Woods and even Martin Luther-King was an African American hero whose stature is undiminished sixty years later. Bird may have been an alcoholic junkie in and out of pawn shops for most of his too short life but he was also the musical lightning rod of black America, a man whose influence was so great it seems hard to believe he existed at all
Friday 7 November 2008
Lila Downs - Shake Away
Her last album was one of the finest releases of the year, so how could she follow that?
Friday 7 November 2008
Last Step - 1961
Last Step’s debut album was the perfect match of leftfield electronic disco and here is the follow up, 1961.
Sunday 2 November 2008
The Long Lost - Woebegone
Not content with making the album of the year, Daedelus (aka Alfred Weisberg-Roberts Darling) has found time to get together with his wife Laura Darling to serve us an exquiste taste of love of woebegone times; this is brilliant!
Friday 31 October 2008
Beat Assailant - Imperial Pressure @ Jazz Cafe (21.11.08)
Imperial Pressure is a highly impressive production of consciousis hip-hop and soul-funk-jazz-rock that’s not only available on CD but is also in a massive live nine piece band and they’re coming to the Jazz Cafe.
Saturday 25 October 2008
Djinji Brown - Afro-Bionic
Osunlade is known for it’s deep house music and when Djini Brown sent him the tapes for Afro-Bionic, even he must have thought this is something special; like Superman?
Friday 24 October 2008
Charles Manson - LIE, The Love and Terror Cult
Consider the controversy around the lives of some of the great artists:
Saturday 18 October 2008
Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins - Clutch Of The Tiger
The collaboration of a couple of maverick multi-instrumentalist is bound to produce something special and Clutch Of The Tiger is certainly that.
Friday 17 October 2008
Stephen John Kalinich - A World Of Peace Must Come
Recorded at the height of hippiedom and produced by none other than (the still) living legend, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, this is the first time these tracks have been released!
Friday 17 October 2008
Stephanie McKay - Tell It Like It Is
I’ve got nothing but love for Stephanie McKay as she comes back with the ‘difficult’ second album but no worries as this soul diva tells it like it is.
Sunday 12 October 2008
John Shannon - American Mystic
A debut album inspired by a solo journey into the desert wilderness some years ago, John Shannon is the American Mystic modern folk singer, songwriter, virtuoso acoustic guitarist you’ve been waiting for.
Friday 10 October 2008
Lineland - Logos For Love
Out on the appropriately named Audio Dregs label, Logos For Love is a collection of 13 small electronic cinematic ‘interludes’.
Wednesday 8 October 2008
Deadbeat - Roots And Wire
We’ve always been fans of Wagon Repair, especially last years’ Cobblestone Jazz project, so when we spotted Roots And Wire we knew it would be something special.
Wednesday 1 October 2008
Massimo Biolcati - Persona
Regular readers will know that we’ve got a soft spot for the record label Obliqsound, none more so than when they bring out a new jazz album by an new talent.
Wednesday 1 October 2008
Rudresh Mahanthappa featuring Kadri Gopalnath & The Dakshina Ensemble - Kinsmen
Rudresh Mahanthappa is a New York based jazz alto saxophonist and composer who follows a rich tradition of ‘Indo-Jazz’ with this new album appropriatly entitled Kinsmen; or does he?
Sunday 21 September 2008
Byard Lancaster - Funny Funky Rib Crib
Byard has started his career in the mid 60s working with Sun Ra and McCoy Tyner but reached his funky peak with this album on the obscure Palm label, so it’s with great anticipation we find Kindred Spirits are reissuing it this week.
Friday 12 September 2008
V/A - Under The Sun (Movie Soundtrack)
Filmaker Cyrus Sutton joined forces with the mighty Ubiquity Records to make a documentary about surfing. Obviously, such a project needs a soundtrack and who better to pick than their very own Shawn Lee and a trio of Ozzies, Band Of Frequencies, Low Pressure Sound System and Afto Dizzi Act.
Wednesday 10 September 2008
Nobody Presents Blank Blue - Western Water Music Vol. II
We know Nobody as West Coast hip-hop leftfield mate of Daedelus and Mars Volta, so when he teams up with songstress Niki Randa, you know this release is nothing like the run of the mill of lesser folks.
Sunday 7 September 2008
Koushik - Out My Window
If the name Koushik sounds familiar, it’s because he’s infrequently been turning up on compliations on Stones Throw for years but the long awaited for proper album is nearly over, Out My Window drops September 29th!
Sunday 31 August 2008
Old Rare New - The Independent Record Shop (Book)
What a dream! If your on a trip across America making a film about independent record shops, why not take it one step further and compile a book on the subject with the bonus of some essays and interviews before the digital age of mp3s takes over total control of how we buy and listen to music? That’s what Emma Pettit did and Old Rare New is the comprehensive book to proove it.
Sunday 24 August 2008
Arabian Prince - Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989
It’s time for a history lesson of West Coast hip-hop and electro by Prof. P.B. Wolf as he investigates the often overlooked chapter that features the Arabian Prince.
Saturday 9 August 2008
J.Rawls and Middle Child - Rawls and Middle
J.Rawls recently appeared on Peterson’s Worldwide radio show and it was one of the best interviews he’s done recently as it featured music from the forthcoming collaboration album with Middle Child.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
The Pack A.D. - Funeral Mixtape
The first thing that strikes you when hearing The Pack A.D for the first time is that this lot have filtered all the best of from rock, blues and boogie for Funeral Mixtape and it’s loud enough to wake the dead!
Sunday 13 July 2008
DJ Brace Presents: The Electric Nosehair Orchestra In Nostomania
Don’t let the conceptual nature of the daft title put you off as Canadian DMC champion DJ Brace presents an instrumental hip-hop album from another dimension.
Saturday 12 July 2008
Flying Lotus - Los Angeles
One of the standard bearers of the current beat generation is Flying Lotus and his first album on Warp was a tribute in sound to his home town of L.A. but does it travel?
Thursday 10 July 2008
Dwele - Sketches of a Man
This, I feel, is Dwele’s best album yet, with twenty songs that give his fans a taster of his thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Sunday 6 July 2008
Karl Hector & The Malcouns - Sahara Swing
Now-Again have done the impossible, they’ve hit on a combination that can challenge their own Heliocentrics and Mulatu Astatke as they put the Sun Ra and James Brown in the Sahara
Saturday 5 July 2008
Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Miles Of Styles
Shawn Lee’s success as a musician has taken him all over the planet and in an effort to reduce his carbon footprint, he’s been hard at work in his studio to bring us 21 tracks that cover miles of different styles; ideal for global music appreciation.
Sunday 29 June 2008
Rupa & The April Fishes - Extraordinary Rendition
I missed Rupa & The April Fishes this time around on their European tour but after listening to their debut album, I won’t make the same mistake next time around.
Sunday 22 June 2008
V/A - Chess Moves - Chess Reworked (with Keith LeBlanc)
Full marks to Keith LeBlanc for remixing these blues tunes from the vaults of Chess and bringing them some new attention
Saturday 21 June 2008
Daedelus - Love To Make Music To
You’ve heard the singles and at long last Mr. Daedelus Darling presents his album that he loves to Love To Make Music To; simply, album of the year!
Thursday 19 June 2008
Lalah Hathaway - Self-Portrait
Has Lalah Hathaway produced a modern classic to bear comparison with her father’s work?
Monday 9 June 2008
Kaki King - Dreaming of Revenge
If revenge was on Kaki King’s mind as she wrote and recorded her latest album it’s a slow burning revenge of which little shows on the surface.
Saturday 7 June 2008
Herbie Hancock Sextet - Hear, O Israel - A Prayer Ceremony In Jazz
Recorded in New York in 1968 and originally released on a private label, for the first time this lost gem gets a commercial release; Hear, O Israel - A Prayer Ceremony In Jazz
Monday 26 May 2008
Kon and Amir - Off Track Vol. 2: Queens
Queens is the place to be if the soundtrack to the NY borough is anything like this new compilation on BBE; totally awesome, inspirational and essential
Sunday 18 May 2008
James Pants - Welcome
When we say James Pants is HOT we actually mean he’s PANTS. Let put that another way, James Pants is HOT PANTS! No that’s not quite right but here’s a big FLY Welcome to the stunning world of James Pants.
Saturday 17 May 2008
Jackson Conti - Sujinho
Students at the FLY academy will immediately recognise Jackson Conti as the combined talents of Otis Jackson, Jr (aka Madlib) and Ivan (Mamão) Conti (he of Azymuth); lets face it, that makes Sujinho indispensible in itself.
Friday 9 May 2008
Kail - True Hollywood Squares
Warning! This CD contains bad language from the very start. Warning! this is hip hop for folks that like a laugh and have a heathy disrespect for Hollywood celeb culture
Wednesday 7 May 2008
Cadence Weapon - House Music
This is not you’re usual house music, this is Cadence Weapon’s House Music. Absolutely the best party rave-up track for sometime
Monday 28 April 2008
Al Green - Lay It Down
Soul legend Al Green is rightly feted as music deity, his soul-kissed gospel-tinged vocals eclipsing a seemingly impossible marriage of the sensuous and the spiritual
Saturday 19 April 2008
Lyrics Born - Everywhere At Once
I’ve said it before, Lyrics Born, one of our favourite artists comes back big with his first studio album since 2003’s highly praised Later That Day
Saturday 12 April 2008
Jellybass feat. Abdominal - Transatlantic
The transatlantic connections between Southampton and North America have a long history and this new one has more bounce than what’s her name in that Titanic film.
Monday 31 March 2008
Sugar Blue - Code Blue
It’s not that often we get to hear a new blues album that features a real harmonica player with tunes to match, so when we do, we like to go press the Code Blue emergency button
Sunday 30 March 2008
Daedelus - Hrs:Mins:Secs
When you get a little tired at work, the temptation is to start to watch the clock; Hrs:Mins:Secs drag by - not this new single from Daedelus as he puts on another cloak of inspiration on the decks
Saturday 29 March 2008
James Pants - We're Through
2008 is the year of Pants. Yep, Pants will be in your face very soon with his peculiar style of get down and dirty.
Thursday 27 March 2008
Steve Reich - Daniel Variations
Septuagenarian Steve Reich’s latest album is that odd mixture of classical minimalism of jazz infused cinematic operetta; in other words, it’s brilliant.
Friday 14 March 2008
Replife - The Unclosed Mind
Gilles Peterson went a bit futuristica on us this week and quite rightly was getting excited with Ohio based Replife with his brilliant multi-faceted debut album, The Unclosed Mind
Sunday 9 March 2008
Tal M. Klein - Plastic Starfish
Tal M. Klein is a name you may not be too familar with as he’s also been known as Trancenden and The Hotness over the years. This new album shows how hot he is on the breaks and funk scene as it’s much more that “the same old thing”
Saturday 1 March 2008
Dabrye - Get Dirty EP
When there’s news of a Dabyre release from the Two/Three sessions, it’s time to get dirty and find out what’s going down at Ghostly International.
Sunday 17 February 2008
V/A - King Britt Presents The Cosmic Lounge Volume One
Not heard from King Britt for a while and while there’s more than one good reason for joining him on “a spiritual quest for a higher sound”, because it’s brilliant will do for starters
Sunday 10 February 2008
V/A - Droppin' Science
The sub-title of this compilation (Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab) gives the game away as Blue Note plunders its illustrious back catalogue for yet another compilation of their greatest hits that have been sampled and scratched by the hip hop community
Thursday 7 February 2008
Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
When Cadence Weapon raps about the tough streets of Edmondton, his accent gives it away that he’s not from North London, this is ‘Oliver Square’ hip-hop outta Canada and Big Dada Recordings’ latest discovery
Sunday 20 January 2008
The Million Dollar Orchestra - Better Days
Al Kent Presents his The Million Dollar Orchestra on BBE Music this year, a sublimely soulful album following in the funky foot steps of Omar or Amy Winehouse but this time with a full orchestra and more old school funk and soulful disco
Saturday 19 January 2008
Connie Price and The Keystones - Tell Me Something
Connie Price and The Keystones claim to make “hip hop influenced cinematic soul music”. Listening to their second album, Tell Me Something, it doesn’t take long to understand what they mean by that; it means they make a bloody good noise
Tuesday 15 January 2008
Jose James - The Dreamer
Keeping it real jazz for folks who feel jazz. Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label goes out west to track down the legend of Jose James
Sunday 13 January 2008
Mia Doi Todd - 'Sleepless Nights'
For Mia Doi Todd blog watchers, you know there’s an album coming soon but hey! what a taster of a single this is. Another mesmerising performance that’ll keep you awake with joy
Tuesday 8 January 2008
Robert Owens - Night-time Stories
Those that got high over Christmas with the single from Robert Owens, ‘Merging’ will be ecstatic to hear that the album is coming out next month with an array of the finest producers to match the finest vocalist in dance music
Monday 7 January 2008
Hal Singer & Jef Gilson - Soul Of Africa
After the excitement of the Jef Gilson Septet Avec Lloyd Miller 10” release, Kindred Spirits have gone the extra mile and re-issued the incredibly brilliant and equally rare album, Soul Of Africa
Wednesday 2 January 2008
Guilty Simpson - 'Get Riches'
‘Get Riches’ is the first official single from the forthcoming album Ode To The Ghetto on Stones Throw Records and finds us back in Detroit for some old-skool hip-hip
Saturday 1 December 2007
The Heliocentrics - Out There
The stark reality is that this album by The Heliocentrics is definitely Out There but totally within your reach and you must get your hands on it
Sunday 18 November 2007
Steve Reid Ensemble - Daxaar
Fela managed it and Mulatu too, now Steve Reid unites jazz with Africa.
Sunday 11 November 2007
Yoshitoshi Montreal - Mixed by Sultan
Feel good house served up by the Sultan of Montreal in a celebration of the Yoshitoshi label
Monday 29 October 2007
Nicole Willis And The Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin' Up Remixed
If you asked if the Fly office to come up with some suitable remixers for Keep Reachin’ Up, most of the them would be on this superb album of remixes
Monday 29 October 2007
Ohmega Watts - Watts Happening
Watts Happening is what’s happening
Sunday 28 October 2007
Grupo Fantasma - Movimiento Popular
Movimiento Popular is the kind of music you might expect to hear blaring from a crackly car radio in Havana or echoing out of a dusty grocery store in Santiago, its origins however lie in Austin, Texas
Monday 22 October 2007
Build An Ark - Dawn
Behold the Dawn. Jazz collective Build An Ark make a compelling case for this to be the album of the year
Monday 22 October 2007
Norman Howard & Joe Phillips - Burn Baby Burn
In the early sixties, Albert Ayler was the figurehead of a vibrant jazz community in Cleveland. Norman Howard and Joe Phillips were disciples and these ‘lost tape’ sessions finally get the full ESP-disk release that should have happened back in 1968
Wednesday 17 October 2007
The Bonedaddys - Waterslide
Baton down the hatches…the dance torrent, Waterslide, has arrived! Yes, The Bonedaddys are breaking out their much anticipated brand new album
Monday 15 October 2007
Don Cash - '2k7'
The second release on Headman’s Relish Recordings by Don Cash is another tower of strength from Toronto’s whiz kid and it’s one of the sounds of the year
Saturday 13 October 2007
Kon and Amir - Off Track Vol. 1: The Bronx
Just when you thought the well of dusty grooves had dried up, New York’s Kon & Amir have put together a collection of rarities that will get you excited for your next big break
Saturday 6 October 2007
Orgone - The Killion Floor
Orgone first burst onto the scene with their floor filling cover version of ‘Funky Nassau’ on the Ubiquity Records compilation Rewind Vol. 4. Having built up an impressive live reputation they now release their debut album The Killion Floor. It’s definitely funky, but does it add to the sounds it so faithfully references?
Sunday 30 September 2007
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals - Lifeline
Longstanding, free-spirited soul-collective stand up and be counted for their 0 studio album, becoming older, wiser and with even more disregard for the contemporary wave of thought.
Saturday 29 September 2007
Hezekiah - I Predict A Riot
Not to be confused with the Kaiser Chief’s theme tune, Hezekiah’s new album continues Rawkus’ push to set the new standard of hip hop
Saturday 22 September 2007
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings follow up Naturally with a killer album that takes you back to the school of blues and soul
Tuesday 18 September 2007
V/A - 'Choices' EP Vol. 2
As with the first volume of ‘Choices’, this is an EP of exclusive Ubiquity tunes, Volume 2 takes on a beat focus, ideal for hip hop and soul heads.
Saturday 15 September 2007
Abdominal - Abdominal Workout
All this talk of the country being obese in the press makes you contemplate on you own position as a role model for the kids. Abdominal has taken it further and got busy in the gym; and Natural Self and Mr. Lamdin donate a Brighton punch bag of a remix!
Tuesday 11 September 2007
Jean Baylor - Testimony: My Life Story
As half of 1990s sensation Zhane, ethereal chanteuse Jean Baylor’s emotive vocals graced memorable grooves like ‘Hey Mr. DJ’, ‘Sending My Love’ and ‘Crush’
Sunday 2 September 2007
V/A - Wild Style - 25th Anniversary Edition
The original Wild Style comes in at No 1 in Peter Shapiro’s The Twenty Best Hip Hop Albums Ever Made. You know that the author of The Rough Guide To Hip Hop knows what he’s talking about and so now is a good time to get it as the album gets re-issued on its 25th Anniversary
Saturday 1 September 2007
V/A - Lost & Found: Rockabilly & Jump Blues - Keb Darge and Cut Chemist
“I’ve got a secret, and I ain’t goin’ to keep it ‘cos I want you to know it Baby.” So starts the first track on Keb Darge’s CD of this two-disc compilation as he, and Cut Chemist let us into the little known world of Rockabilly and the Jump Blues
Friday 31 August 2007
Elizabeth Shepherd - Besides
There was I thinking about when are we going to hear from Do Right! recently only to find this collection from our favourite lady of Canadian jazz is going to be released very soon
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Elan Mehler Quartet - Scheme For Thought
Since the launch of Brownswood Recordings last year, there’s a huge feel good factor about their releases to date. Be prepared, the Elan Mehler Quartet are the deep, thoughtful, melodic jazz exception in their scheme of things
Tuesday 28 August 2007
Jim White - Transnormal Skipperoo
I almost threw this one straight in the bin due to its stupid name.
Sunday 26 August 2007
Don Cherry Quintet - Live At Cafe Monmartre 1966
By 1966 Cherry was a name in jazz, notably playing with Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler. Europe was the place to be for the visiting musician and Paris the epicentre of cool
Saturday 25 August 2007
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
None Shall Pass is Aesop Rock’s fourth album and even if it did take 2 years to produce, it’s bang up to date as he deals with the everyday aspects of life
Sunday 19 August 2007
V/A - Sound of the World 2007 (Charlie Gillett)
Charlie Gillett mixes the well-known with underground discoveries, crosses continents, sifts thousands of songs, balances the sexes and blends contemporary and traditional on this year’s crop
Friday 20 July 2007
Willie Colon's Final Farewell - The Roundhouse, 10 Aug 2007
Willie Colón performs his final farewell set at London’s Roundhouse as Fania records release his double CD retrospective: The Player
Thursday 19 July 2007
Interpol - Our Love To Admire
Continuing to adore Interpol’s first two full albums Turn On The Bright Lights and Antics, I had some apprehension about whether their new LP could hit the same heights. Though it has taken a few listens once again I am delighted.
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Aesop Rock - 'None Shall Pass'
Aesop Rock is a rapper known for his detail-driven narratives and dexterity defying word play and before his fourth album comes out, here’s a taster of his brand of underground hip hop defiance
Saturday 7 July 2007
Theory Hazit - Extra Credit
Theory Hazit of the hiphop is music stable outta Kentucky gets to release the first CD on the resurrected Superrappin label. It won’t be long before you’re praising a higher spirit
Thursday 5 July 2007
V/A - Putumayo Presents Americana
Putumayo know how to pick them. From the opening rumbling railroad beat of RobinElla’s ‘Down The Mountain’ you know you’re onto a winner.
Monday 2 July 2007
Atlantic Starr - Radiant
It’s easy to forget that Atlantic Starr, best known for pop hits like ‘Secret Lovers’, ‘Always’, and ‘Masterpiece’, began their career as one of the most durable exponents of the urban contemporary and quiet storm movements of the late 70s and early 80s
Wednesday 27 June 2007
V/A - Vintage Grooves: Old School Hip-Hop Vol. 1
Seamless’ 2 CD set is crammed with Vintage Grooves from the birth of hip hop that bring back sweet memories for this older rap cat
Saturday 23 June 2007
Domer - Work With Me
For an album called Work With Me, it’s notable that it’s singularly contained within the talents of Brooklyn based rapper/producer Domer
Friday 22 June 2007
V/A - Crash Of Thunder
Following on from Explosivos and Action (Speaks Louder Than Words), can you really resist a compilation CD (or a box set of ten 7”s) of rare as funky hens’ teeth from King family of labels. Of course not
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Dee Dee Bridgewater - Red Earth
Dee Dee has just released a wonderful album recorded in her spiritual homeland of Mali. Of course she was physically born in Memphis, TN but she explains on the DVD that as soon as she saw the bright Malian red earth, she felt that she had arrived home
Tuesday 19 June 2007
Yerba Buena - Follow Me
Now I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, or a CD for that matter, but it’s hard not to get excited by an album that boasts a bikini-clad lady leading a sombrero-wearing donkey down the road on its cover
Sunday 17 June 2007
Loudon Wainwright III - Strange Weirdos
While offspring Rufus and Martha have taken the limelight away from the old man of late, this (almost) soundtrack to Judd Aptow’s comedy feature film, Knocked Up, is being called LW3’s best album in 15 years
Saturday 16 June 2007
Mr. J. Medeiros - Of Gods And Girls
“Sometimes I look at what Mr. J. is accomplishing and I think this guy will be Rawkus’ biggest star EVER”, Rawkus co-founder Brian Brater
Friday 15 June 2007
Snax - 'Honeymoon's Over'
Paul Bonomo is probably not one of you’re favourite Snax yet, but this slice of twisted electro synth funk puts him well above even a bag of Cheese ‘n’ Onion flava on my shopping list
Friday 15 June 2007
Sa-Ra - The Hollywood Recordings
“We are going to be talking about the rise and rise of Sa-Ra in a minute but first the travel”, did I hear that right? Has the news of the debut album hit national radio already?
Sunday 10 June 2007
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
With their seventh album release last month and an appearance on Jools Holland’s Later, why aren’t these guys household names?
Saturday 9 June 2007
Joshua Redman- Back East
Joshua Redman emerged in 1992 with great acclaim for his self-titled album. Like a beacon of hope, Redman offered a vibrant and engaging jazz, which was many miles way away from the stuffiness that the genre can be guilty of. This was jazz to listen to, fall in love with (and to) and importantly (and something which is often lost in jazz) the sheer, simple ability to whistle a tune in the morning
Friday 8 June 2007
V/A - Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire
Mention of Earth, Wind & Fire should bring a nostalgic glow of soul, funk, jazz and love. This new album of ten top cover versions certainly does that
Friday 8 June 2007
Robin Thicke - The Evolution Of Robin Thicke
When Gilles Peterson played ‘Lost Without U’ a couple of weeks ago, I thought who is this Robin Thicke?
Tuesday 5 June 2007
V/A - Los Soneros: Voices of Fania
The Def Jam of Latin music is back with the latest in its series of re-issues. This time it’s the voices of the Fania stable that get the digital treatment
Tuesday 5 June 2007
V/A - Putumayo Presents Latin Jazz
Putumayo World continues its exploration of the Latin sound with its début jazz release. It opts for the obvious rather than the surprising (Ray Barretto, Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri all appear) but provides a good introduction to the world of Latin jazz
Sunday 3 June 2007
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - 'Jupiter'/Balicky Bon' & 'War'/'Mercury'
Comprised of four trumpeters, two trombonists, a drummer and a sousaphone player — make way for an 8-piece band bringing brass supremacy
Saturday 2 June 2007
V/A - Time Out Presents The Other Side of Los Angeles (Madlib / Peanut Butter Wolf)
The latest in Time Out’s series of other sides matches LA’s greatest beats magician to compile the CD while his Stones Throw boss takes us on the DVD tour
Friday 1 June 2007
Patchworks - 'Celebration'
Still Music have done it again — this time by enticing soulful dancefloor fillers Patchworks back into the fold
Friday 1 June 2007
Bar-Kays - House Party
An unbelievable 40 years after their first hit ‘Soul Finger’, the Bar-Kays’ new album shows that they’re still superstars and the music is as good, if not better, than that of the image-obsessed r&b stars of today
Thursday 31 May 2007
V/A - Link Pins
Balanced Records have managed to attract a whole host of new producers for this remix project and it’s not just the pride of Manitoba! File under downtempo, dub, broken beat, house, MOD X and must get!
Tuesday 29 May 2007
Waajeed & The Bling 47 Group - The War LP
War, what is it good for? Music, perhaps. Waajeed of Platinum Pied Pipers delivers a sombre long player
Tuesday 29 May 2007
Jose Conde & Ola Fresca - Revolucion
In Cuba they have a stew called ‘agiaco’ into which anything can be incorporated, Revolucion is the musical equivalent. It mixes son Cubano, jazz, funk, Latin dance and reggae, it has tracks in both French and Spanish and owes as much to New York as Cuba.
Monday 28 May 2007
V/A - Modus Vivendi Music
Modus Vivendi Music say they create forward-thinking future music by any means
Friday 25 May 2007
V/A - Super Cool, California Soul II: Raw and Rare Soul From The West Coast 1966 - 1982
Lovers of rare groove, soul and funk should lick their lips as Ubiquity subsidiary Luv N’ Haight delivers once again, focusing on lesser known artists from the California area
Tuesday 22 May 2007
MIMS - This is Why I'm Hot
Great track, shame about the rapping . . .
Sunday 6 May 2007
V/A - Gypsy Groove
Every now and then the thin membrane that separates popular from eclectic is pierced and all kinds of interesting things slip through before the membrane repairs itself. This compilation celebrates a series of popular mash ups of Gyspy, Balkan and pop sounds from Central and Eastern Europe (and New York)
Monday 30 April 2007
V/A - Fania DJ Series Gilles Peterson
The prolific compiler and taste-maker Gilles Peterson delivers his first Latin compilation after digging through a few hundred Fania albums
Saturday 28 April 2007
Gym Class Heroes - 'Cupid's Chokehold (Breakfast In America)'
“Cupids Chokehold is a kwel ass song!!”
Sunday 22 April 2007
Peder - And He Just Pointed To The Sky
Shuddering strings set the tone in the album’s opener ‘Ache’ — which enchants and steadily pounds the album into life, comparable to a bleak fairytale with beauty emerging through darkness like within a Miles Davis solo
Saturday 21 April 2007
Kieran Hebden / Steve Reid - Tongues
Gilles Peterson is on a roll at the moment writing the sleeve notes to Steve Reid’s forthcoming solo album on Domino but before that comes out in October, there’s the double act with Kieran Hebden to come to terms with.
Saturday 21 April 2007
Cannonball Adderley Quintet - In San Francisco
This reissue is part of the Keepnews Collection highlighting the contribution to jazz of one of the music’s top producers, Orrin Keepnews. Here ‘Cannonball’ delivers the soul jazz manifesto live to the beatniks of ‘Frisco.
Saturday 21 April 2007
Graham Collier - Hoarded Dreams: Live at the Bracknell Jazz Festival 1983
UK jazz legend has produced a masterpiece in the form of Hoarded Dreams
Wednesday 18 April 2007
V/A - Witness Future Vintage Vol.2
Displaying the broad skills of artists on their roster, Dutch label Kindred Spirits have compiled a splendid mix of varied beats.
Saturday 14 April 2007
Marco Polo - Port Authority
Back in the day, Rawkus was the independent hip hop label outta NYC breaking names like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Hi-Tek and Pharoahe Monch. And here’s some good news: Rawkus is on its way back
Saturday 14 April 2007
V/A - Up Above Records - Carving A New Standard Vol.1
The carpenters of hip hop shape up the very best on the first in a series from Up Above Records called Carving A New Standard
Monday 9 April 2007
Chin Chin - Chin Chin
New-York based band Chin Chin’s eponymous debut is an intriguing affair. The album brings disco into the noughties and puts you in mind of what fellow New Yorkers Scissor Sisters might have sounded like if they had grown up listening to Ohio Players instead of Elton John
Saturday 24 March 2007
Various - Sister Funk 2
Jazzman Records are worshipped for their crate diggin’ and for this new collection, they got DJ Ian Wright to delve into the lesser known reaches of the funky sisterhood
Saturday 24 March 2007
Oliver Nelson - The Blues and the Abstract Truth
In 1961, this was part of the jazz ‘new wave’ on Impulse! and how exciting to have been on this Creed Taylor produced album
Saturday 24 March 2007
Eric Dolphy Quintet - Outward Bound (Remastered)
Outward Bound was his first album as a leader recorded in 1960 on the New Jazz label (later Prestige) and is now remastered as another ‘lost’ gem on the RVG Edition series
Friday 16 March 2007
Solidaze - Pleasure From Precision (Remixed)
You might recall that Solidaze is one of ten Canadian producers that form a collective at Balanced Records and this sees last year’s album remixed and repackaged for a download only release
Sunday 11 March 2007
Swollen Members - Black Magic
Canada’s Swollen Members have now released five albums with their latest being Black Magic and you can catch them live at the Jazz Cafe on Monday 12 March.
Sunday 11 March 2007
Andy Haas - Humanitarian War
Electronic impro-jazz from Canada via New York
Saturday 10 March 2007
Mocky - 'In the Meantime' feat Jamie Lidell
‘In the Meantime’ is being billed as a record to kick out those winter blues and, apart from being rather late (it’s not out till April 23rd) that’s exactly what it does
Saturday 10 March 2007
Kidz in the Hall - School Was My Hustle
Debut release from the conscious battle rapper Naledge and producer Double 0.
Friday 9 March 2007
Gary Marks - Gathering
Thirty three years after its original release Gathering is getting a second airing as folk jazz rises on the wheel again
Wednesday 7 March 2007
The Soul Searchers - Blow Your Whistle
Blow Your Whistle shouldn’t be taken as an instruction. Whistles are terrible things, with no place on the dancefloor and very little use outside aids for maritime rescue.
Wednesday 7 March 2007
Anaïs Mitchell - The Brightness
I opened this CD mainly on account it comes out of Righteous Babe Records, the prolific, sometimes genius Ani di Franco’s label, hoping it to be a shot of adreneline-charged, Americana folk.
Tuesday 6 March 2007
V/A - Movers!
Greasy soul takes on a rather visual meaning with Andre Williams demanding his ‘Chicken Thighs’ (‘I’d give my right eye for a thigh, ‘coz I’m a greedy greedy man’) in Vampisoul’s Movers.
Saturday 3 March 2007
The Life Force Trio - Living Room
Travel the spaceways with the Life Force Trio
Saturday 3 March 2007
Little Axe - Stone Cold Ohio
On-U Soundman Adrian Sherwood is reunited with Little Axe for more off-kilter adventures in sound
Friday 23 February 2007
Misstress Barbara - 'Barcelona'
Barbara Bonfiglio is the Sicilian born Canadian DJ/producer, better known as Misstress Barbara, with a 12” called ‘Barcelona’ out on a London based label. Fairly global?
Tuesday 20 February 2007
V/A - Putumayo Presents A New Groove
If the origins of the artists on Putumayo’s A New Groove are diverse, the connecting theme is laid-back jazz fuelled songwriting - lounge jazz for a new generation
Friday 16 February 2007
Mark Murphy - Love is What Stays
There was a bit of a delay in the release of this one but anything by Mark Murphy is eagerly awaited by fans of the ever youthful jazz crooner
Thursday 15 February 2007
Beats of the Heart: Salsa - Director: Jeremy Marre, 1979 (DVD)
Salsa is and was a controversial term for music that escaped between the edges of definition. It wasn’t simply Puerto Rican, Cuban, commercial, from New York, black etc and yet it wasn’t possible without all of these things
Tuesday 13 February 2007
V/A - The Rough Guide To The Blues
You’ll know the history of the blues as it progressed from the sharecroppers in Mississippi Delta, the electrification of the blues with the migration to Chicago and Detroit and the influence on young British rock/pop bands in the sixties. Even so, this compilation by Nigel Williamson is a reminder of how very great the greats were
Tuesday 30 January 2007
Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Voices and Choices
Providing entertainment for home listeners, djs or music-makers after a killer or quirky beat or break, Shawn Lee’s Voices and Choices is a goldmine of sounds.
Monday 22 January 2007
Daniel Bouliane - Tagayet
Ambient, techno, African roots and folk with elements of progressive rock from an artist better known for writing scores for film.
Sunday 21 January 2007
Chico Mann - Manifest Tone Vol.1
Manifest Tone Vol.1 generates images and feelings that originated in Lagos during the 70s but which have been splendidly re-produced in 21st Century New Jersey.
Saturday 13 January 2007
Myra Barnes, Common, Roy Hargrove and Erykah Badu - R.E.-Edits Volume Five
You don’t often get a line up like this one: Myra Barnes, Common, Roy Hargrove and Erykah Badu!
Wednesday 10 January 2007
Starless & Bible Black - Starless & Bible Black
Chicago label Locust Music spotted the nu-folk Manchester based Starless & Bible Black and released their debut album late last year.
Wednesday 10 January 2007
Nat Baldwin - Lights Out
Nat Baldwin has the whole Jeff Buckley vocal thing going on, plaintif and high. Yet this isn’t the most remarkable thing going for his debut album Lights Out: the most remarkable aspect is that the vocals are recorded solely with double bass as accompaniment.
Sunday 7 January 2007
Arrested Development - Since The Last Time
So how long has it been Since The Last Time we were getting down with Arrested Development?
Friday 5 January 2007
Town And Country - Up Above
Town And Country have been quiet of late but their latest CD has caught the spirit of the experimental, folk modern classic.
Friday 5 January 2007
Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology²: The Chip
Hi-Tek’s Hi-Teknology from 2001 linked him with all the names at Rawkus like Common, Talib Kweli and Mos Def. The new album, The Chip, provides an even more impressive list of guests but Hi-Tek has produced his own album.
Wednesday 3 January 2007
V/A - Kings Of Techno: The History Of Detroit (Carl Craig / Laurent Garnier)
If you love your techno, you love Craig and Garnier but check the tracklisting to this double CD set before you buy.
Tuesday 2 January 2007
Dr. Octagon - Trees
The latest single from Kool Keith (aka Dr. Octagon) has touched a nerve on MTV
Sunday 31 December 2006
Dabrye - Two/Three
Two/Three logically follows on from Dabrye’s 2001 debut One/Three.
Saturday 30 December 2006
Joe Henderson - Milestone Profiles
The final part of this quartet of Milestone Profiles, we find another post-bopper that was ready for the experimental fusion period of the late 60s to mid 70s
Saturday 30 December 2006
Sonny Rollins - Milestone Profiles
This year was the 40th Anniversary of Milestone Records and the saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins has been associated with them for all but five of those years
Saturday 30 December 2006
Jimmy Smith - Milestone Profiles
Jimmy Smith wasn’t known as ‘The Incredible’ Jimmy Smith for nuthin’ and to celebrate his Milestone period, here’s another CD in the Profiles series
Friday 29 December 2006
McCoy Tyner - Milestone Profiles
The man who was so much a part of John Coltrane’s success went onto a solo career that put him at the forefront of jazz piano along with Herbie Hancock, Chick Chorea and Keith Jarrett.
Friday 22 December 2006
V/A - Putumayo Presents: One World, Many Cultures
The authentic and tender ‘coffee bean’ is taken from the little, simple land, flown over to the West, repackaged, doused in sugar, combined with more digestible ingredients to cover up the true difference and then sold to a blind audience. It isn’t a representation of culture. It is the interpretation of cultures by the West.
Friday 22 December 2006
Tammen Harth Dahlgren Rosen - Expedition (Live at the Knitting Factory)
Recorded at the high temple of experimental jazz back in 2001, you don’t even need to open this issue from ESP - Disk to know this is going to be challenging stuff
Saturday 16 December 2006
Nick Andre / E Da Boss & DJ Enki - 'The Singles'
San Francisco’s Slept On Records have selected some prime cuts for their debut 12” release.
Saturday 16 December 2006
Lee Hazlewood - Cake or Death
Cake Or Death, a title borrowed from his favourite comedian Eddy Izzard, may very well be the final album of the old man terrible of the music biz. Firstly, he has terminal cancer and secondly he says he hasn’t got the money to produce another anyway
Friday 15 December 2006
V/A - New Orleans Christmas
Putumayo bring huge doses of sassy seasonal cheer to the world from New Orleans
Friday 15 December 2006
Lydia Lunch - 'Smoke In The Shadows'
Mule Musiq have an interesting back catalogue, but this Limited Edition 12” is unusual even for them, according to Gerry Hectic on his trip back into no wave land
Friday 8 December 2006
Joanna Newsom - Ys
About this time a couple of years ago, I had a stand-up row with a journalist from Kerrang! about the relative merits of Kate Bush. “Pointless, self-indulgent warbling…” is a phrase of mine that comes to mind, so why on earth am I so smitten by Joanna Newsom?
Friday 1 December 2006
Pitbull - 'Bojangles' Remix
The Cuban-American from Miami causing waves at the moment is Pitbull and there’s a ‘Bojangles’ Remix coming out to promote the forthcoming album El Muriel.
Thursday 30 November 2006
Joe Driscoll - Origin Myths
The one man band of the twenty-first century no longer straps a bass drum to his back and cymbols between his legs. All he needs is a loop sampler, a guitar, the ability to beatbox and something to say, (which sounds better even if it doesn’t look quite as distinctive).
Tuesday 28 November 2006
Solo Andata - Fyris Swan
The cover of this CD is ‘Study for Samson St. Series’ (1998) by Eveline Kotai and it really suits the ambient feel of Solo Andata’s debut release…
Tuesday 28 November 2006
Eliot Lipp - Tacoma Mockingbird
Earlier this year, Tacoma Mockingbird was released on Hefty Records and it’s just the thing for electronic hip hop heads.
Monday 27 November 2006
Ugly Duckling - Scala, London (Live Review)
Ugly Duckling take the Scala, London by storm
Friday 24 November 2006
Kinder Atom - Soft Hand Feel
This is the fourth album by the Toronto-based collective of Kinder Atom as they continue to explore the myriad styles of electronic music
Thursday 16 November 2006
Guru - Version 7.0 - The Street Scriptures
Guru pronounces, “you can put me in the hall of fame, I’m worldwide, I’m a legend at this game.” Maybe, but is his latest solo effort (the dog’s) bollocks?
Tuesday 14 November 2006
Thunderball - Cinescope
I tried to resist it, but if you play the first track on Thunderball’s Cinescope album The Road to Benares, you become dangerously close to sliding on a pair of mafia wife shades, something black preferably PVC, calling yourself Trinity or Blade and embarking on a Thelma and Louise road trip.
Sunday 12 November 2006
Glenn Kotche - Mobile
I’ve been keeping my eyes open for this one since the release of a one-sided promo of ‘Projections Of (What) Might…’ early this year.
Saturday 11 November 2006
Archie Shepp - Kwanza
Kwanza is a celebration of “all things African and African-American”.
Friday 10 November 2006
My Name is Albert Ayler (Film)
Going to see this film was one of Gilles Peterson’s recomendations for the 2006 London Jazz Festival and as Mr. Ayler said, “If people don’t like it now, they will”.
Wednesday 8 November 2006
Plug Research - The Sound Of LA
It’s somewhat of a big boast to get the sound of the city of angels on one 12” but Plug Research don’t tend to do things by halves.
Wednesday 8 November 2006
Forro In The Dark Feat. Seu Jorge - Suor De Pele Fina
The meeting of City Of God star’s “smoky voice” from Rio and the ‘forro’ from the Northeast of Brazil transplanted to NYC’s Nublu club on a Wednesday night is a winning combination.
Friday 3 November 2006
Peven Everett - Power Soul
You often hear the phrase, he/she loves the sound of their own voice. In Peven Everett’s case he’s not the only one.
Sunday 29 October 2006
V/A - Pure Fire! A Gilles Peterson Impulse! Collection
Pure Fire! is a suitable companion to the recent Sunday Afternoon At Dingwall release and it features some of our long time heroes on the scene and some top tunes like the classic ‘See You Later’ and ‘The Blessing Song’
Wednesday 25 October 2006
People Under The Stairs - Stepfather
“I’m writin’ a letter to the old skool, shockin’ and rockin’ the house” sums up this album in many ways, but there’s more to it than just a homage to eighties b-boys.
Wednesday 25 October 2006
V/A - Sensacional Soul
Plucked straight out of 60s soul fever this Double CD compilation is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any Aretha Franklin or James Brown fan. Plugged as being ‘El Soul música, made in the USA, para las discotecas españolas’ or rather Soul music, made in the USA for Spanish clubs, this collection does exactly what it says on the tin
Monday 23 October 2006
Xzibit - Full Circle
If you didn’t know better, you may have thought that Xzibit is only the presenter of Pimp My Ride on MTV. His new album, Full Circle sees a return to his rappin’ roots.
Saturday 21 October 2006
E-40 - My Ghetto Report Card
Out on the West Coast, the ‘hy-phy movement’ is begining to see light in the mainstream, a long standing and evolving hip hop subcultural style that originated in the Bay Area
Wednesday 11 October 2006
Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel As School Children
I’m told Gym Class Heroes are, “too indie to be hip hop, too hip hop to be indie” but is that a problem?
Sunday 8 October 2006
Andre Williams - Movin' on with...
Subtitled, ‘greasy and explicit soul movers 1956 - 1970’, this collection of raw gut-bucket rhythm and blues is heavy on the blues and about as subtle as a German porn movie
Saturday 7 October 2006
V/A - Back To Mine: Mercury Rev
Artful rockers Mercury Rev show their eclectic tastes off in the latest in the Back To Mine mix CD series
Saturday 30 September 2006
Huw Stephens vs Daedelus Throws a Fit in the UK [Almost]
Radio 1’s Huw Stephens from Cardiff and your humble correspondent wouldn’t seem to have much in common, but there’s a couple of things we agree on. Fancy dress parties aren’t our thing and we’re both big Daedelus fans.
Tuesday 26 September 2006
Mocky - 'Extended Vacation'
Nobody likes the summer to end and this forthcoming 12” is going to be doing the rounds until the very end of the last days of the holidays.
Saturday 23 September 2006
V/A - Folk Off - New Folk and Psychedelia from the British Isles and North America (Rob da Bank / Bestival)
Sunday Best’s Rob da Bank has been busy getting this mammoth 30-track compilation out on the crest of the folk revival
Sunday 17 September 2006
V/A - Gold Digging : As Sampled By 2Pac
The third in the Gold Digging series features a shed full of tunes sampled by 2Pac (aka Tupac Shakur).
Tuesday 12 September 2006
Wayne Shorter - The All Seeing Eye
The same names are always cited as the first holy trinity of sax players (Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster). The listing of the second trinity is more disputed, but the first two slots almost always include the same two names: John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter
Friday 8 September 2006
V/A - World 2006
In a world awash with free cover-mount compilations and triple CDs for a tenner, why on earth would you buy Charlie Gillett’s latest round up? Perhaps because you really do get what you pay for…
Friday 8 September 2006
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Letting Go
I first heard of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy through my brother, whose music collection has a higher than average hit of ‘credible’ if somewhat downbeat, moany albums.
Monday 4 September 2006
V/A - Strange Country
‘Oh, we got both kinds. Country and Western’ Shielah Wells tells Dan Aykroyd in John Landis’ Blues Brothers when he asks about the music in the bar he turns up at. This was such a formative memory it was enough to make ‘country’ a slightly dirty word for me for the best part of two decades.
Saturday 2 September 2006
Mia Doi Todd - Manzanita
Causing a stir with the Adventure Time mix of ‘Amor’ at the Worldwide Awards last year, Mia Doi Todd is a vocalist destined to have a much larger audience
Tuesday 29 August 2006
Elizabeth Shepherd Trio - Start To Move
Back in my favourite record store in Toronto, “Gerry, I’m glad you’re back, I’ve thought of another one you’ll enjoy.”
Tuesday 29 August 2006
V/A - Moonstarr Remixes
While we’re getting to grips with all sounds Canadian, time to check one of Toronto’s leading lights on the DJ and remix scene.
Monday 28 August 2006
V/A - Ready Or Not 2 - Deep Jazz Grooves From The CBC Radio Canada Archive
Wow! John Kong and Tim Perlich have dug into the vaults of CBC Radio Canada archives and uncovered some real jazz gems.
Monday 28 August 2006
V/A - Jamaica To Toronto - Soul Funk & Reggae 1967 - 1974
The release of this compilation by DJ Sipreano on the breaks label Light In The Attic, caused a bit of a stir when it came out last month.
Monday 28 August 2006
V/A - History Is Bunk (Parts 1 & 2)
“History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history that we make today.”
Monday 28 August 2006
Roots Tonic Meets Bill Laswell - Roots Tonic Meets Bill Laswell
When it comes to bass saturated dubness, Bill Laswell is a name to be ignored at your peril.
Saturday 26 August 2006
Mossman Meets Vander - Montreal Dub Sound System
To continue the Canadian tour and our love of all things dub, I couldn’t believe the poster in record shop as I arrived in Montréal on a Monday; “DUB OUT! Tous Les Lundis”.
Monday 7 August 2006
Kool Keith - The Return of Dr. Octagon
Kool Keith (aka Dr. Octagon) is holding his surgery in the cage of the UFC as he battles with some beats to make a perfect world after his arrival from Jupiter
Saturday 5 August 2006
Thomas Brothers - Louis Armstrong's New Orleans (Book)
Sometimes less is more and by focussing on Satchmo’s early life, Brothers sheds more light on Armstrong than many biographies covering the artist’s whole life have done
Saturday 5 August 2006
Sun Ra - Concert for the Comet Kohoutek
This is an overlooked gem from 1973, recorded at the Townhall, New York City a couple of days before Christmas. Sun Ra’s mind was on his ‘Space is the Place’ film and like an avant-garde film of that time, the music is restless, shifting and all over the space
Tuesday 25 July 2006
Michael Franti And Spearhead - 'I Know I'm Not Alone'
Mr. Franti has many admirers including none other than Chris Blackwell who has said that he is “the most important artist recording and touring today who has yet to reach a mass audience.”
Saturday 22 July 2006
DJ Spinna - Intergalactic Soul
When you’re a top internationally acclaimed DJ, Remixer & Producer, it’s little surprise that your album has a DJ set feel to it.
Friday 21 July 2006
Dr. Octagon - 'Aliens'
Extraterrestrial hip hop? Well it isn’t world music, but it’s certainly different…
Sunday 16 July 2006
Sa-Ra - Creative Partners?
It seems a long time ago that Sa-Ra graced the cover of Straight No Chaser as ‘The Future of Funk’… Gerry warms to them afresh with a first listen to their new album
Friday 7 July 2006
V/A - MKL Presents Suits & Dahikis
What a great compilation this is lovingly put together by MKL and featuring one of the best Fat Freddy’s Drop remixes you will find.
Thursday 6 July 2006
V/A - ¡Baila! A Latin Dance Party
It’s from Putumayo — expect nothing less than for it to do exactly what it says on the tin.
Monday 3 July 2006
Kinky - Latin Alt Rock Sensation
Kinky’s Ulises Lozano (keyboards, accordion, programmer) talks about their new album Reina and creating their unique sound
Monday 3 July 2006
Louie Vega Presents Luisito Quintero - Percussion Maddness
Bronx-born Latino ‘Little’ Louie Vega teamed up with Venezuelan percussion maestro Luisito Quintero on the ground-breaking Nuyorican Soul project nearly ten years ago, and this rhythm-soaked recording takes the union in a whole new direction.
Saturday 24 June 2006
Dr. Octagon - Aliens
Kool Keith (aka Dr. Octoagon) is the ex-Ultramagnetic MCs outta the Bronx old skool but definitely has a nu-skool open mind to his hip-hop thing.
Friday 23 June 2006
Brad Mehldau & Renée Fleming - Love Sublime
Brad Mehldau is one of those names you recognise from jazz reviews but I’d not heard of Renee Fleming before.
Friday 16 June 2006
Shaggy Manatee - In Between
The Bay Area continues to throw up intelligent hip hop while much of the rest of the States continues its frantic materialistic bingeing, literally, to the end of the earth.
Thursday 15 June 2006
Jern Eye - Authentic Vintage
Here’s some summer hip hop that’s happy with its old skool heritage
Tuesday 13 June 2006
Malena Perez - 'Chase The Butterflies' (The Kenny Dope Remixes)
Malena Pérez is blessed with a beautiful voice and with Cuban-American roots, she can sing in both Spanish and English.
Sunday 11 June 2006
Osunlade - Aquarian Moon
Don’t expect anything like his re-mixed work of late as this is, whisper it, a little concept albumish
Friday 9 June 2006
Dabrye - Two/Three
San Francisco-based Tadd Mullinix dropped his first long-player under the Dabrye moniker way back in 2001. His progressive, beat-driven take on instrumental hip hop garnered serious plaudits from the hip hop cognoscenti and now, five years on, he’s back to do it all over again.
Thursday 8 June 2006
Chico Hamilton - Believe
The legacy continues. Chico remains on form with a beautifully textured album that stays true to an old jazz ethos and vibe, but executes it so passionately that it sounds as fresh as ever.
Saturday 3 June 2006
Ammoncontact - With Voices
From the maverick beatsmiths Ammoncontact, comes With Voices an album packed with all the trademark warped menace and skewed soulful excursions the duo are famed for. More collaboration-focussed and vocal-based than previous outings this is the colossus album the duo have always wished to make and threatened to craft.
Saturday 3 June 2006
Chico Hamilton - Juniflip
Still exploring the phenomenon of groove at the ripe old age of 84, renowned percussionist Chico Hamilton is living proof that not every cat has had its day
Thursday 1 June 2006
Daedelus - Denies The Days Demise
“You’ve influenced my next album more than you’d think”, Daedelus, August 2005.
Thursday 1 June 2006
Joshua Tree Music Festival 2006 - Joshua Tree, California (Review)
The atmosphere at the Joshua Tree Music Festival is like stumbling across a campsite of a large family reunion full of cousins whose names you can’t remember but they are still glad to see you. For three short days Joshua Tree Music Festival creates a unique world in the California desert with over 26 bands, food, and various desert vendors
Monday 29 May 2006
Solidaze - Pleasure From Precision
Solidaze is one of the ten Canadian producers that form a collective at Balanced Records.
Sunday 28 May 2006
Aaron Lacrate feat. Amanda Blank - 'Blow' (Remixes)
“Come on it’s just a song…. it sounds great I love it …”
Sunday 21 May 2006
Jesse Rose - Presents More Than One
Even before I’d heard this CD by Jesse Rose, I was impressed. I remembered that in a recent DJ magazine, there was a short interview with him where he warned us about the amount of “same shit” house music coming out of Miami this year. You’ll understand where he’s coming from when you hear his album of collaborations, Presents More Than One
Saturday 20 May 2006
Dr. Rubberfunk - Riding With The Ratman
Hot on the heels of ‘Watch The Tables Turn’ there’s a limited edition 7” coming out soon on GPS Recordings that’s caught my eye.
Monday 15 May 2006
Tunng - Woodcat
Good to have a 7” vinyl single to support the release of the new Tunng album.
Saturday 13 May 2006
Dave Matthews - Live at Academy, Manchester
There are few artists who inspire the kind of devotion that encourages fans to travel halfway round the world for the chance of seeing them.
Friday 12 May 2006
Jimmy McGriff - The Best Of The Sue Years 1962-1965
Jimmy McGriff is one of the biggest names of 1970s jazz (not to mention being a fave with the acid jazz crowd)
Sunday 7 May 2006
Douglas Pagan - Kara Walker Variation 32
Voltage Music has pulled out a big one here.
Saturday 29 April 2006
Ugly Duckling - Bang For The Buck
Ugly Duckling might not have the ring of other street cred hip hop luminaries but there’s more to this album than just the pop-art cover to be admired
Monday 24 April 2006
Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
Devendra Banhar’s tripped out and lonely tunes come across as simultaneously disaffected and innocent and his latest release is one of high contrasts: delicate and attacking, rambling and coherent.
Thursday 20 April 2006
V/A - Impulsive: Revolutionary Jazz Reworked/ Impulsive: Unmixed
A crucial component to the development of jazz music in the 60s and 70s, Impulse! Records were responsible for a series of ground breaking free jazz releases that consistently lived up to the label motto of “The New Wave In Jazz”
Thursday 20 April 2006
DJ Drez - Jahta Beat
Somewhat of an unknown quantity DJ Drez, proves himself to be quite a talent recording, arranging, mixing and producing Jahta Beat in its entirety
Thursday 20 April 2006
Charlie Hunter Trio - Copperopolis
Having recently concentrated his efforts upon other bands, other formations of his band (from duo, to quartet to quintet) and endless work in the capacity of either side-man, studio musician or collaborator, Charlie Hunter finds himself returning to where it all began — the trio
Wednesday 19 April 2006
V/A - Fusion With Attitude
The impeccable Soul Brother Record’s latest release is as essential as the old Jazz with Attitude sessions.
Sunday 16 April 2006
Dwight Trible - Living Water
Dwight Trible has been hangin’ out with all the youngsters but his latest album brings back a golden age of jazz.
Sunday 16 April 2006
Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin' Up
The combination of a New York born Willis, producer/husband Jimi Tenor and a Helsinki based backing band have together created a geographically diverse Northern Soul album for the mid-noughties.
Friday 7 April 2006
Cassandra Wilson - Thunderbird
Why hasn’t Cassandra Wilson had the success of Norah Jones? Compared to her Blue Note coleague, she had a head start, as it’s been 20 years since her debut album was released.
Tuesday 4 April 2006
Kevin Johansen - City Zen
This slice of light-hearted pop-fuelled acoustica by Alaskan/ Argentinian bi-lingual chillster Johansen and his group the Nada is probably going to be running round your head all summer long.
Monday 3 April 2006
Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo
Spank Rock is hip hop outta Baltimore but the first single got radio plays from Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, Annie Mac & Mary Ann Hobbs. So fairly mainstream then? Well sort of as their hip hop is a strange mash up of old skool influences, a fair touch of electro bass boom and a few swear words (erm… quite a lot of swearing actually).
Monday 3 April 2006
ABCDEFG - Dominoes & Dice
In a folktronica version of breaks, samples and live instrumentation, LA-based producer ABCDEFG has been sequencing and mixing a soundscape to produce something a little bit more ‘Independent’ than most.
Sunday 2 April 2006
Public Enemy - New Whirl Odor
It’s twenty years since Public Enemy first scorched their way into the public’s consciousness with their mould-breaking combination of radical politics and incendiary polemic, however the years since the glory days of the late-1980s and early-1990s have seen the struggle to stay relevant in an increasingly fickle hip hop scene.
Sunday 2 April 2006
Malkovich - Skeletons
Malkovich instantly demonstrates his confident and able rapping ability, which he uses to drop a variety of flows and styles throughout this hit and miss album
Sunday 2 April 2006
Gym Class Heroes - The Papercut Chronicles
Gym Class Heroes are a four piece indie/hiphop band from upstate New York. Much of this, their debut album which follows on from a series of EPs, is great material, showcasing a tight combination of live instrumentation with similarities to the UK’s own Rawdog
Sunday 2 April 2006
Various Artists - Develop(Mental) 1
This NatAural High Recordings release is an enjoyable US album showing the solid talents of many little known producers and vocalists
Saturday 1 April 2006
Rich Medina - Connecting The Dots
Rich Medina is a DJ, poet, performer and now producer of his first album, Connecting The Dots. It was released on Dutch label Kindred Spirit earlier in the year and as there’s a growing interest in the jazz poetic at the moment, it’s a good time to have a closer listen
Friday 24 March 2006
V/A - The Kings of Jazz (Compiled by Gilles Peterson and Jazzanova)
Gilles Peterson digs out obscure gems from well-known jazz masters and Jazzanova get to play with contemporary forces
Friday 24 March 2006
Kero One - Windmills of the Soul
Windmills of The Soul is Kero One’s debut album and the Plug Label’s first full-length release. In addition to the vocals, Mr One is also responsible for the scratching, bass, Moog, synths and the Fender Rhodes playing. Apart from some guest vocals this guy is pretty much self-contained but you wouldn’t think so from the full on soulful sound.
Monday 6 March 2006
The Bordercollies - Sticks and Stones
Atlanta-based quintet The Bordercollies serve up a new album of mostly original tunes along similar lines to their last album The Road From Swannanoa.
Friday 3 March 2006
The Youngblood Brass Band - 'Nuclear Summer'
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, along comes a band ready to break the rules. The fact that The Youngblood Brass Band are a nine piece that’s being assembled from all over the US (Madison, WI / New York, NY / San Francisco, CA / Chicago, IL) is rare enough but these guys are a hip hop brass band!
Friday 3 March 2006
Soul Survivors - When The Whistle Blows Anything Goes
Originally from 1968, the Soul Survivors are still surviving (via CD at least).
Friday 3 March 2006
Omni - Ballyhoo
Cool, eclectic flows from a contemporary native tribalist…
Sunday 26 February 2006
Tom Tallisch - Duality
An album of sax and guitar with nothing else to disturb it immediately sets alarm bells ringing. Sustaining interest with 2 instruments for a whole album is a fairly heavy ask of anyone, but Tom Tallisch and Dave Manley pull it off in fantastic style.
Saturday 25 February 2006
Colossus - 'The Tribute'
Stating the obvious, Colossus is huge. ‘The Tribute’ EP has the names and the hybrid hip hop beats we love and with the guest appearances of choice
Thursday 16 February 2006
V/A - Gilles Peterson Digs America
Gilles Peterson has gone and done it again.
Monday 13 February 2006
David Banner - 'Play'
This one caught my eye but only after I saw the review in Metro, who gave it one star out of five. We’re on the ‘explicit lyrics’ issue again. As the paper says, Mr. Banner spends “four minutes telling his girl to play with herself. No wonder I haven’t heard it on the radio”.
Saturday 4 February 2006
Jordan Fields - Jordan Fields Presents 2084
Clearly, the clichés and disco template are evident such as the sythns, handclaps, Chic guitar and bassline but don’t write this off as a musicial George Orwell +1000.
Monday 9 January 2006
V/A - Explosivos: Deep-Soul From The Latin Heart
For a few short years from 1966-70, Latin Soul was the hip, young sound of Spanish Harlem. A riotous collision of Latin rhythms, late-1960s psychedelia and Afro-American R&B, the music was fresh, young and funky
Friday 6 January 2006
Keepintime - 12" (Part 3 of 3)
Ever since Ninja Tunes released ‘Keepintime - The Remixes’ and the DVD, this has been one of the projects of the decade.
Friday 30 December 2005
John Arnold - Style & Pattern
Ubiquity dropped one space to second in this year’s Worldwide Awards but they certainly put up a fight to try and keep their top spot.
Sunday 18 December 2005
Is Jazz Dead? (Or Has it Moved to a New Address) - Stuart Nicholson (Book)
The short answer is no and then yes. Easily the most perceptive and stimulating critique of jazz for a very long time indeed. Nicholson argues convincingly that jazz has ossified in the states under the iron grip of the neo-cons of jazz while away from home it has blossomed and flourished
Wednesday 14 December 2005
Richard Searling - Music From The Soul
Richard Searling is a soul DJing legend and who better to compile an album called Music From The Soul?
Thursday 8 December 2005
King Britt - Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan
Sister Gertrude Morgan (1900-1980) was a celebrated African American painter and evangelist who spent most of her life living and working in New Orleans. In 1969 she laid down what would be her only album, a potent mix of a capella and tambourine hymns that would become one of gospel music’s neglected treasures. A couple of years ago, the Rope-A-Dope imprint acquired the master rights to these recordings and enlisted renowned producer King Britt to reinterpret Sister G’s music
Thursday 8 December 2005
Joe Bataan - The Anthology
No ordinary guy, The Anthology charts the story of how Joe Bataan’s album became a label and the label became a genre and the genre became a legend
Monday 5 December 2005
Scott Ainslie - Robert Johnson Guitar Signature Licks Series
Robert Johnson is one of the few musicians I would probably have killed for to get an interview with, the stuff of true legend, and possessed of a Faustian reputation few can match.
Wednesday 30 November 2005
Puerto Muerto - Songs of Muerto Country
Written as a ‘lost’ soundtrack to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Puerto Muerto’s evocative and sparse arrangements on Songs of Muerto Country are as menacing and disturbed as Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic American horror flick, while thankfully managing to avoid the cacophonic screeches and cymbals clashes that graced the film.
Sunday 27 November 2005
V/A - Carl Craig: Fabric 25
Carl Craig’s skills as a DJ and musician are widely recognised. As one of the Detroit techno founders his latest mix CD has been hailed as, “Easily the best mix CD of the year for me, in fact, one of the best I think I have ever heard.” That’s probably a little strong but it’s hard to find fault with it.
Saturday 19 November 2005
Rex Riddem - Salvador Diaspora
Fans of the Fort Knox label are going to be a little surprised by their latest release, a jazzy samba with some serious remix action
Saturday 12 November 2005
V/A - Nicci Cheeks Presents Hip Hop Love Jazz
Following last year’s Hip Hop Love Soul, Nicci Cheek presents no fewer than 15 tracks of offbeat, funky and intelligent hip hop but is it jazz? Not really but who cares if it works?
Saturday 12 November 2005
James Brown / David Bowie - R.E.-Edits Volume Two
Another stonker of a 12” from Re:Edit out of the Chicago club scene.
Tuesday 18 October 2005
François Couture - Qallunak
Drawing inspiration from Inuit throat singing and traditional music, Canadian François Couture has produced an album of ethnographic ambient
Tuesday 4 October 2005
Dwele - Some Kinda...
This album comes along with the ‘eagerly awaited follow up to big album’ sticker. Especially true for fans like DJ Gilles Peterson, “He tells the best stories.” And then a few weeks later, on the Worldwide Winners 2, “Just the big tunes, Dwele!”
Tuesday 27 September 2005
Sutekh - Born Again: Collected Remixes 1999-2005
West Coast electro whiz, Sutekh is going to be born again this October. Not literally of course, but The Leaf Label have repackaged all his best Remix work to stuff into two handy CDs (or two separate double vinyl gatefold sleeve LPs if you prefer) with artwork by General Working Group
Friday 9 September 2005
Ruth Brown - Black is Brown and Brown is Beautiful
Ruthy Brown. As low down and straight-talking as Bessie Smith and as funky and full-on as Aretha Franklin, in the 22nd Century, when they finally get to tell the story of post war music straight, she might finally get her dues. Shit, people will be doing degrees on this remarkable woman
Sunday 28 August 2005
The Rough Guide to Tito Puente
Sue Steward continues rifling through the Fania back catalogue for Rough Guide; this time she brings us a fresh selection from the Mambo King himself Tito Puente. With over a hundred albums to choose from, getting down to 21 tracks is no mean feat and any selection will inevitably be partial but we are treated to a wide selection of styles and collaborators including La Lupe and Celia Cruz
Friday 19 August 2005
Various - 'Keepintime: A Live Recording' (DVD & CD)
Anyone that sees the never ending re-runs of MTV2’s 100 Greatest Albums, keep an eye open for No. 80, Endtroducing… by DJ Shadow with the video to ‘Midnight In A Perfect World’ directed by Brian Cross.
Friday 22 July 2005
Dublab Presents In The Loop #1
Daedelus was good enough to give us a guide to #2 that obviously followed ‘Dublab presents In The Loop #1’ released on Plug Research last year. Hectic steps back in time for a re-review.
Sunday 10 July 2005
Dwight Trible And The Life Force Trio - Love Is The Answer
“You have to be careful what you say to Carlos, because he makes it happen!” says, Dwight Trible and that’s the truth…
Saturday 2 July 2005
The Herbaliser - Take London
Small, plucky, defiantly British and trying to outdo ‘our American friends’ at their own game, Herbaliser conjure up images and sounds from the seminal film The Long Good Friday to fight off an imaginary invasion force in Take London — or maybe they are the enemy within ready to fling open the gates at a signal from the invading force? This time the visiting American is not an old gangster but New York’s finest Jean Grae
Saturday 2 July 2005
One Self - Children of Possibility
One Self is DJ Vadim (Russia/UK), Yarah Bravo (Sweden/Brazil) and Blu Rum 13 (US) — a veritable United Nations of funky hip hop. So what happens when three independent forces join for a common project? If this LP is anything to go by, the answer is a record you just love to love
Thursday 30 June 2005
Mum's the Word - Constant Evolution
Next in the series of Hectic’s reviews of experimental, abstract, downtempo, electronic, underground hip hop sees the future as Constant Evolution following on from Exquisite Corpse by Daedelus, Fear Of A Black Tangent by Busdriver and recent releases by the (thankfully) ridiculously prolific Ammoncontact
Tuesday 28 June 2005
Madagascar - Forced March
Listening to Madagascar is like being chased through Johnson’s Bartholomew Fair, by the grotesques and the sinister butchers of the carnival, and finding yourself in a place where the rules don’t exactly fit anymore.
Saturday 25 June 2005
Joshua Redman Elastic Band - Momentum
Forming a perfect pair with his SFJAZZ Collective project, Momentum is the latest expression of what Redman calls his, “electric, groove-based thing.”
Friday 24 June 2005
Ohmega Watts - The Find
Precious, polished and fresh tales spun over old-school funky beats… last year’s single ‘A Request’ was one of the top sellers for Ubiquity and so they shrewdly sped to sign Ohmega Watts for his debut album, appropriately named, The Find
Sunday 22 May 2005
SFJAZZ Collective
Feisty, fresh, rooted and open, this is a superior record from a group of contemporary jazz luminaries that includes Joshua Redman and old hand Bobby Hutcherson. The 'SF' refers to San Francisco and SFJAZZ is an annual project that brings together emerging and established names for a series of concerts themed around an inspirational figure in jazz.
Saturday 7 May 2005
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - The Deeper Soul Remix Project
Whilst the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble has over a twenty-year history, it took Chicago's Deeper Soul Recordings remix releases to bring them to a whole new audience.
Thursday 5 May 2005
The Lickets - Fake Universe Man
Sounding almost like a naturally flowing folk band plucking away at perfected instruments driven by nature's desires and passions, The Lickets deliver a desirably tripped-out record of high standards.
Thursday 5 May 2005
Purpose of Soul - Purpose of Soul
A true trip-hop record with severely mellow tones and jazzy sounds.
Sunday 1 May 2005
Daedelus - Exquisite Corpse
The most-played album of the year so far at Hectic Villas has been the Exquisite Corpse by Daedelus. The West Coast beat controller and producer has set the benchmark for a style with no imitators with this, his "most complete and baffling record to date."
Sunday 1 May 2005
Celia Cruz - The Rough Guide To Celia Cruz
When Celia Cruz died in 2003, the Latin world went into mourning. Incredible scenes were witnessed in Miami and at her funeral in New York. Celia was always the voice of Latin America but she also represented the dream. A poor black girl with little more than a great voice and a knack of being in the right place at the right time had become immeasurably famous, respected as an artist and conspicuously rich. This is her story in song -- or at least fragments of it.
Saturday 23 April 2005
Platinum Pied Pipers - Triple P
The best soulful hip hop album I have heard in so long I think I might have Alzheimer's. At times, thumping, soulful and intelligent (and usually all three at once), it is hard to imagine a more satisfying hip hop / soul album coming out this year.
Saturday 23 April 2005
V/A - The Rough Guide To Boogaloo
A cross-fertilisation of black US music, most notably soul and R'n'B, with Latin beats, boogaloo came from the New York areas of Spanish Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx, emerging for a few intense years at the end of the sixties. This CD charts the course the music took to make Latin mainstream.
Thursday 31 March 2005
Bomaye - A Luaka Bop Sampler
Luaka Bop's Bomaye Compilation plays like the soundtrack to an almost perfect summer day with nothing better to do than let the beats wash over you.
Saturday 26 March 2005
Joe Bataan - Call My Name
Latin Soul Brother Number One is back after a break of 20 years with a new album. The songs were all written and arranged by Daniel Collas but the vocals are unmistakably Joe Bataan and it's great to hear him again as if the last two (actually make that three) decades had never happened.
Thursday 24 March 2005
Ed Johnson - Movimento
With Movimento, Brazillian nylon string guitarist Ed Johnson and his band Novo Tempo have made a perfect summer album.
Friday 18 March 2005
Dwele & Love Unlimited Orchestra - 'Affinity' / 'Midnight Groove'
Currently the hottest CDr under the decks in Detroit is rumoured for a 12" release as we speak. Often 30 years behind the cutting edge, Hectic gets investigating what Detroit's groovers will be grooving to in the next few weeks.
Wednesday 16 March 2005
Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love
After an eight year wait, Madeleine Peyroux's beautiful second album is a thing of careful, rather than careless love and if the limpid voice now sounds less like Billie Holiday's, the style is, if anything, closer.
Thursday 3 February 2005
Pete Carney - Orange Alert
Pete Carney's Orange Alert is no ordinary acid jazz album. The Chicago-based composer/saxophonist is socially and politically active (he runs a music school for underprivileged kids) and his new record is an absorbing meditation on America at war.
Sunday 30 January 2005
V/A - The Rough Guide to Zydeco
Seven years ago, Rough Guides published The Rough Guide to Cajun & Zydeco. Now the bluesy Louisiana Creole accordion music gets its own release. Driving, funky and downright dirty, Zydeco will have you popping your fingers and shuffling your feet.
Monday 13 December 2004
V/A - Dirty Laundry: The Soul of the Black Country
Dirty Laundry: The Soul of Black Country is a country music album. The sound and words are familiar -- fiddles, phrasing, pain-filled stories -- but the voices you hear are black and what they bring to the songs give the image of country a whole new twist.
Wednesday 20 October 2004
Adam Rafferty Trio - Three Souls
I listened to this one while mopping the floor of the kitchen. The place was full of the smell of the chicken soup I'd put on earlier and the mopping slipped into the slow and easy rhythms of this excellent guitar-bass-drums combo. There's something comforting about guitar and rhythm section and the clarity of the three instruments finding a perfect internal balance.
Friday 17 September 2004
Choying Drolma & Steve Tibbetts - Selwa
Did my heart lift when I saw a collaboration between a Western guitarist and a Tibetan nun in the post awaiting review? No, it did not. And yet, I feel curiously charmed.
Friday 17 September 2004
Sly and Robbie - Version Born
Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare and Bill Laswell: that is a heavyweight team if ever there was one and here they pull in collaborators to put down some dark, dark tunes. Deep bass exploration.
Tuesday 31 August 2004
Ada Rovatti - Under the Hat
At last, some earthy unmanufactured music! Gifted New York saxophonist Ada Rovatti offers up jazz at its most appealing, and traditional fans won't be disappointed either.
Tuesday 31 August 2004
Kendall Leonard - The Kendall Leonard Project
With an encouraging image, and cool unfussy photography on the cover of Leonard's debut album, it all smacked of a groovy jazz outfit that didn't have to try too hard. But one should never judge a book (or CD) by its cover...
Sunday 29 August 2004
ph10 - Helmutvision
Brooklyn-based drum and bass mavericks ph10 describe themselves as the 'Penn and Teller of live PA'. Clearly not taking themselves too seriously, Helmutvision, their first full-length CD in over two years is quite a showcase, not just for their trademark humour, but also their refreshing talent with more than a little social comment thrown in.
Sunday 29 August 2004
Mia Miata - Urban Arias
Promising a blend of soul and jazz on this, her debut album, and having previously been compared to the likes of Sade and Nina Simone, Mia Miata had a lot to live up to, and for this reviewer at least, it was a little hard to swallow...
Sunday 22 August 2004
Lhasa - The Living Road
Lhasa is unclassifiable not because she mixes a few styles together -- although she does that -- but because she is like a quantum particle. The very act of observation throws the experiment.
Saturday 21 August 2004
Fela Kuti - The Underground Spiritual Game - Mixed by Chief Xcel
It's Saturday morning and instead of getting out and about, I am glued to my sofa listening to this fabulous release. Chief Xcel has found a perfect formula for mixing Fela.
Monday 16 August 2004
V/A: More Psychedelic Jazz And Soul
For my money, this latest expedition into the vaults of Warner and Atlantic is better than the original, fine though that was. Worth the price of the CD alone is Keith Jarrett's jazz metal masterpiece, Mortgage on my Soul (Wah Wah) -- powered by Wah Wah bass and showcasing pianist Jarrett on the soprano sax.
Monday 16 August 2004
Los Mocosos: American Us
A good time fusion of populist Latin crossover styles delivered with passion but not enough of the good stuff to go round on this release.
Tuesday 10 August 2004
Josh One - Narrow Path
Set to blow up big time, Josh One has followed his successful release 'Contemplation' and the 'Grey Skies' EP with a blunted hip hop album that reminds you of Krush and Shadow but has its own new sound.
Monday 9 August 2004
V/A: Simply Good Music Vol. 1 (Giant Step)
Acid jazz, trip hop, eclectro - today's label is tomorrow's rope to be hung with. 'Simply Good Music' is one way of trying to slip the noose. I remember the first releases to come out of Giant Step many years ago and a few had the left-field down home funkiness that this collection successfully explores and it is all the more welcome for that.
Wednesday 7 July 2004
Toots Thielemans - The Live Takes (New 2003 Edition)
You've probably heard Toots Thielemans' harmonica in various places, probably without knowing it. The veteran Belgian has played and recorded with everyone from Benny Goodman to Caetano Veloso, via Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones and Billy Joel.
Saturday 23 August 2003
A Love Supreme - Ashley Khan (Book)
This is Khan's follow up to his book on Miles' A Kind of Blue. Significantly thicker than its predecessor, it is in fact a pretty full biography of Trane but chronologically warped to focus most of its energy on the three years from 1961's My Favourite Things to 1964's recording of A Love Supreme.
Wednesday 6 August 2003
Woodstock Jazz Festival (DVD)
Avant-garde jazz fest featuring Chick Corea (piano), Pat Metheny (guitar), Lee Konitz (alto-sax), Anthony Braxton (alto-sax) and Miroslav Vitous (bass) in 1981. This concert celebrates 10 years of the Creative Music Studio (CMS) founded by Ornette Coleman to explore new forms and to attempt to escape them altogether.
Tuesday 5 August 2003
James Brown - Body Heat (DVD)
Released after a quarter of a century locked away in a vault somewhere, this is previously unseen footage of the "Godfather of Self-Appointed Title's" 1979 comeback tour.
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