Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Friday, May 06, 2016
Monday, May 02, 2016
Sunday, May 01, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Horsepower Productions – Crooks, Crime & Corruption
Horsepower Productions, and their ever present head honcho Benny ill, revered in underground music circles as among the key early innovators of dubstep, return in 2016 with their much anticipated fourth album: ‘Crooks, Crime & Corruption’.
Continuing their working relationship, which stretches back to the early days of 2000, for the design of the ‘Crook, Crime & Corrption' packaging, Give Up Art drew on the visual language of law enforcement — creating rolls of custom printed 'Police tape'. Each plain, unprinted 12" sleeve is wrapped by hand in the tape; sealing in the discs, and making each pressing unique.
An ambitious and varied record, it finds the group expanding their horizons and broadening their sound palette, while maintaining the unparalleled production chops that first made them such a force in the scene.
Their pioneering early singles sought to strip UK garage of its slickness, adopting a stripped-down, dubbed-out approach that emphasised roughness and powerful bass. This was music for real heads, not commercial dancefloors.
‘When You Hold Me / Let’s Dance’ launched the seminal Tempa label, and even the term ‘dubstep’ was first popularised in a 2002 XLR8R cover story about Horsepower. The 2002 debut album ‘In Fine Style’ stands as one of the finest documents to emerge from the UK undergroundl, while ‘To The Rescue’, which followed in 2004, saw the group play a vital role in shaping the direction of the music they had made possible. ‘Quest For The Sonic Bounty’ (2010) sees Benny and co. double down on their core strengths.
It’s certainly the most sonically varied Horsepower album yet. Rhythmically diverse, ‘Bak 2 NY’ and ‘Kuriosity’ unexpectedly draw from classic house, while ‘Criminally Insane’ is the perfect conclusion to the album, ten minutes of breakbeat madness evoking a crazed dash through rush hour London.
If previous Horsepower records were defined in part by a commitment to darkness, then the new album sees a certain amount of light emerging through the cracks. Just check the summer BBQ vibes of ‘Bak 2 NY’, or the balmy shuffle of ‘Curiosity’. At the other end of the spectrum the sticky weed paranoia and industrial clank of ‘Ruf Justice’, all gunfire and sirens over punishing sub-bass.
Two of the tracks you might know already. ‘Good Ole Dayz’ and ‘Justify’ – originally released together as a 12” back in 2011 – both appear here in new versions. ‘Good Ole Dayz’ marries dubstep wobble with an explosion of colour, while the decidedly psychedelic ‘Justify’ (a collaboration with guitarist Harry Keyworth) falls somewhere between Hawaiian surf and Morricone western.
The group’s love of cinema has always been one of their defining stylistic traits, and it’s in full evidence on ‘Crooks, Crime & Corruption’; there’s a refreshing patience to these ten productions, and a stunning command of atmosphere.
Immaculately constructed and immaculately realised, ‘Crooks, Crime & Corruption’ draws from numerous facets of the UK underground and further afield in order to take you on a compelling, wholly immersive journey.
Tracklist:
1. Legends
2. GBU
3. Justify (L.P. Version)
4. Bak 2 NY
5. Kuriosity
6. Boardwalk Emperor 2
7. Change
8. Ruf Justice
9. Good Ole Dayz (L.P. Version)
10. Criminally Insane
Horsepower Productions: Facebook
Tempa: Official
Fire! Orchestra – Ritual
Fire! originated as the trio of Swedish improv masters Mats Gusfasson (sax), Johan Berthling (bass) and Andreas Werliin (drums). None of them are what you could call jazz purists; they all play in many different groups and contexts, including The Thing (Gustafsson), experimental folk-electronica outfit Tape (Berthling), and skewed blues-pop unit Wildbirds & Peacedrums (Werliin). Sofia Jernberg and Mariam Wallentin have been on board since the beginning, the same goes for horn players Niklas Barnö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mats Äleklint, Per Åke Holmlander and Anna Högberg. Basically a Swedish ensemble, the orchestra now also counts Norwegian, Danish and French players. Members of Fire! Orchestra share a wide background, combining jazz, improvised music, contemporary music, rock, garage, psych, and what have you. As they proclaim on their site: "Please make up your own genre and mind - listen freely - don´t buy our labeling attempts... labeling sucks". A sentiment that basically sums up Rune Grammofon as well, so we couldn´t agree more.
Tracklist:
1. Ritual Part 1
2. Ritual Part 2
3. Ritual Part 3
4. Ritual Part 4
5. Ritual Part 5
Fire! Orchestra: Facebook | Official
Rune Grammofon: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud
Submerse – Awake
‘Awake’ is a soundtrack for roaming around vast city landscapes between late night and early morning. A lone wolf observes the scenery and watches over people, their heads low, on the path home to sleep. Inspired by 1980’s movies, drone and video game soundtracks, Rob Orme aka submerse returns with an update to his signature sound.
1. Too Late, They’re Already Here
2. Sidequests
3. Sophomore
4. It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses
5. No Continues Kid
6. Turn Back, Something Is Wrong
7. Polar Japanese
Submerse: Bandcamp | Facebook | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Project Mooncircle: Bandcamp | Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Lack of Afro – Hello Baby
Described as ‘always having a knack for finding great vocal collaborations’, he has raised the bar again here! Featuring a stellar cast of guest vocalists including Grammy-award winner Joss Stone, steam-punk legend Professor Elemental & arguably the most talented young soul singer in the UK today in Elliott Cole, 'Hello Baby' is a genre-bending colossus of an album that is packed full of Adam's trademark multi-instrumental goodness, heavy drums, percussion-packed production, and ear for a good tune.
Also featured on the record is soul singer Juliette Ashby (who featured heavily in the recent Oscar-winning ‘Amy’ documentary) - Californian rapper, regular Lack of Afro collaborator (and one half of The Damn Straights) Herbal T, and rising star of the northern soul / mod scene, dancer, model & vocalist Emma Noble.
A wide-ranging, eclectic and progressive musical outlook has always been the Lack of Afro approach and ‘Hello Baby’ doesn’t disappoint. Classic R&B (‘I Got The Rhythm’, ‘Take Me Home’), Soul (‘All My Love’, ‘Fires Glow’), Hip-hop (‘One World’, ‘Walk In The Sun’), Disco (‘Magic Together’), and elements of House, Indie-Rock and a smattering of Electro (‘Now I Feel Good’, ‘Searching For Peace & Love’) all come together to create an album that is stuffed with beautiful audio gems of all varieties and is without doubt an even more confident, assured and mature collection than its predecessor.
Away from the studio, Adam’s music has been much in demand in TV, Film and Advertising, with directors including Steven Soderbergh and companies including Disney, HBO, Sony Pictures, Adidas & Miller Lite all using the Lack of Afro sound for successful projects and campaigns. ‘Hello Baby’ continues in this vein and promises to be of significant interest to music supervisors everywhere!
‘Hello Baby’ will be supported by a live band tour in May 2016 as well as DJ sets & further live shows at various festivals throughout the summer.
Tracklist:
1. Hello Baby
2. I Got The Rhythm (feat. Elliott Cole)
3. All My Love (feat. Juliette Ashby)
4. (Searching For) Peace & Love
5. Take You Home (feat. Joss Stone)
6. Nothing Personal (feat. Elliott Cole)
7. The Bakery Girl Intermission
8. One World (feat. Herbal T)
9. Fires Glow (feat. Emma Noble)
10. Magic Together (feat. Elliott Cole)
11. Walk In The Sun (feat. Professor Elemental)
12. Now I Feel Good (feat. Elliott Cole)
Lack of Afro: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter
LOA Records: Bandcamp | Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Antwood – Virtuous.scr
He’s now dropped the punning female first name and been picked up by Planet Mu for his first proper full-length, ‘Virtuous.scr’. The music on this album feels very modern, but doesn’t feel genre specific or even created by a human at times. It has an obvious dark cartoonish cinematic feel to it that hints at computer game music and anime soundtracks, but it’s as if the tracks are semi-autonomous beings evolving as part of a larger eco-system: the sounds are mechanical, things uncoil, whirr and stretch, strafe and crack around melodic segments, synthesised forms bouncing around the speakers, falling into melody and then out again, full of colour and drama.
Perhaps in this context It makes sense that Tristan is a microbiologist too – but also that the theme he was inspired by when creating the album was centred around the development of an AI. A little later in the process it started to crystalize into the idea of whether or not an AI can have a set of ethics, and if not, how close can it get to being like human intelligence? It comes through in the music as the album becomes more melodic, almost sentimental at the end. ‘Virtuous.scr’ also references the darker corners of the Internet, as reflected in its track titles.
Like all the best electronic music which isn’t entirely melodic, the listener is able to put their imagination right at the centre of the work and can rest assured that the album will reward their attention. ‘Virtuous.scr’ is full of rhythmic ideas, evocative, textural sound design and also has an intriguing musical narrative – we’re sure that willing listeners will enjoy the ride!
Tracklist:
1. a.l.i.c.i.a
2. Anthracite
3. Overlay Network
4. Lung
5. Interlude Part II
6. Sneakers
7. Spirit Fabric
8. Prototype HA
9. Realization
10. 65.222.202.53
11. Uncanny Valley
12. Yontoo How To Get Rid
Antwood: Bandcamp | Facebook | SoundCloud
Planet Mu: Bandcamp | Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Exile – Tears For A Prince EP
I woke up April 21st to the news of Prince's passing. Before I could fully digest the news I receive numerous text from friends about his passing and how I should honor his passing with making music with Prince samples, in honor. I thought to myself I'm not going to do that, I'm not going to try ride Prince's legacy to gain fame. As time passed, drinks were sipped and again I'm asked the question "how are you going to respond, musically to his passing?"
I went home faded, turned on the stereo and started banging Prince. As I'm listening I'm realizing all the emotion of mine that is stored in his music. I'm realizing how much of his music my mom would play loudly in the house. My mothers face happy as she would dance in the house. I mean she would be busting! Dancing like she's in the club! She was good too!
I began to cry and think about my own life, my mothers passing and princes passing as a symbol of this wonderful journey. A sign of the times of my own life to witness the death of my mother to know the the death of a prince that represents almost a farewell to a childhood that made the manhood of who I am now. The creativity I fight viciously for, and the inspiration I find along the way that keeps on track with the God energy means everything to me. All the summers that passed with this amazing inspiration, creativity and emotion that is Prince to me.
I realized I have no choice but to honor his creative life by honoring my own by taking my good friends advice with these 3 simple beats and this hip hop I've been working on my whole life. This is what makes me happy. Inspiration turned to creation. With heart and with love. Rest in Peace, Prince.
- Exile Manfredi
Tracklist:
1. Til’ The Dawn
2. We’re Gonna Get High Together
3. Love Your Life
Exile: Facebook | Twitter
Dirty Science: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Friday, April 15, 2016
J Dilla – The Diary
The Estate of James Yancey has revived J Dilla’s longstanding company PayJay as a functioning imprint to release Dilla’s long lost vocal album, The Diary on April 15th, in conjunction with Mass Appeal Records. Initially intended for release in 2002, The Diary is the final batch of unissued material that Dilla had assembled for release during his lifetime, lending crucial insight into the producer’s prowess and thought process in the period leading up to his break with the major label system and the extremely fertile period that followed (which encompassed the making of the canonical classics Ruff Draft, Jaylib, and Donuts). The Diary features vocal performances by J Dilla, Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Kokane, Frank and Dank, Nottz and Boogie, over production by Dilla, Madlib, Pete Rock, Hi-tek, Nottz, House Shoes, Supa Dave West, Bink! and Karriem Riggins. The album was announced today in an interview with Nas on Zane Lowe’s show on Beats1 with the never-before-heard song “The Introduction.”
The Diary was Dilla’s attempt to take advantage of the attention afforded him after his brightest period as a behind-the-scenes hit-maker and influencer. However, the project stalled and the album was literally shelved, the reels languishing in storage in Detroit as a relocated Dilla began a creative renaissance in Los Angeles. The Diary in this, its final form, was painstakingly assembled over a ten year period from two-track mixdowns and multi-track masters found in J Dilla’s archives after his death in 2006. The completion of The Diary was overseen by The Estate of James Yancey’s Creative Director Eothen Alapatt, long term general manager of Stones Throw Records and A&R for Donuts and Jaylib, whose previous archival Dilla work includes the expanded Ruff Draft issue from 2008. The Estate of James Yancey is overseen by California’s Probate Court on behalf of Yancey’s four heirs – his mother, Maureen “Madukes” Yancey, his brother John “Illa J” Yancey and his two daughters, Ja’Mya Yancey and Ty-monae Whitlow.
The musical landscape has shifted mightily in the wake of J Dilla’s final album. Donuts’ release and Dilla’s subsequent death forced a critical and fan-level reexamination of his work and importance on the global stage. J Dilla was marginalized in the years leading up to his death, as he, battling the rare blood disorder that would eventually take his life, eschewed the major label-led music industry where he created or aided some of the music industry’s brightest – D’angelo, Erykah Badu, Common – in the late 90s and early 00s, moved to California from his native Detroit and dug deep into the deepest recesses of his creative spirit to offer a new take on hip hop’s decades old art form of sampling. After Donuts, the likes of Kanye West and Pharrel Williams could be heard echoing words read on a fan’s shirt from one of J Dilla’s last European tours in 2005: J Dilla Changed My Life. They were not the only ones: Justin Timberlake opines openly that the world needs more Dilla. J Dilla became a critical signpost for these stars, and others: the archetype figure that birthed everything they loved and cared for in hip-hop.
Tracklist:
1. The Introduction
2. The Anthem (feat. Frank N Dank)
3. Fight Club (feat. Nottz & Boogie)
4. The Shining, Pt. 1 (Diamonds) (feat. Kenny Wray)
5. The Shining, Pt. 2 (Ice)
6. Trucks
7. Gangsta Boogie (feat. Snoop Dogg & Kokane)
8. Drive Me Wild
9. Give Them What They Want
10. The Creep (The O)
11. The Ex (feat. Bilal)
12. So Far
13. Fuck The Police
14. The Diary
J Dilla: Facebook | Official | Twitter
Mass Appeal: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
The Egyptian Lover – 1983-1988
Los Angeles native Egyptian Lover (Greg Broussard) is recognized as a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop, helping bring electro rap to the masses in the early '80s and influencing DJs and MCs the world over in his wake. The first West Coast rapper/producer to achieve international success, Egyptian Lover paved the way for early West Coast hip hop pioneers like Dr. Dre and the World Class Wrecking Crew, N.W.A., Ice T, Rodney O & Joe Cooley, King Tee & DJ Pooh among others.
Growing up listening to Kraftwerk, Prince, Rick James and Zapp, Egyptian Lover got his start compiling mixes of his favorite records, including his own instrumental beats created on his Roland TR 808 drum machine. The club-ready cassette tape mixes started selling in the thousands. Following in the footsteps of The Sugarhill Gang, Broussard began rapping over his beats to give the party people what they wanted. The neighborhood responded, transforming him into a local celebrity.
With his star status rising higher, Egyptian Lover joined Uncle Jamm's Army and moved 10,000 person crowds at the L.A. Sports Arena with his impressive knack for scratching, performing turntable tricks and MCing.
In the mid '80s, L.A. was becoming the electro rap capital and Egyptian Lover was at the forefront of this new West Coast rap sound, not only with his unique producer/DJ/MC aptitude, but also as label owner of Egyptian Empire Records. Selling hundreds of thousands of his 12" singles ("Egypt/Egypt", "Dial-A-Freak", "Girls", "Freak-A-Holic") to DJs and fans around the world. Egyptian Lover invented the innovative sound of combining up-tempo, synth-heavy electro beats with rap vocals.
Since 1983, Egyptian Lover has remained true to his sound by recording on analog equipment, which helps create his signature sound. Egyptian Lover's influence cannot be overstated – not only did he change the face of West Coast hip hop, but also greatly influenced electronic, techno, R&B and pop music to this day.
Tracklist:
1. Egyptian Lover Theme
2. Spray It Super AJ
3. Dial-A-Freak
4. Yes, Yes, Yes
5. Egypt, Egypt
6. What Is A DJ If He Can't Scratch
7. And My Beat Goes Boom
8. Girls
9. I Cry (Night After Night)
10. Ultimate Scratch
11. My House (On the Nile)
12. Electric Encounter
13. Computer Love
14. Voices
15. Computer Power
16. Dance (Dub Mix)
17. You're So Fine
18. Kinky Nation
19. Freak-A-Holic
20. The Alezby Inn
21. Sexy Style
22. I Need A Freak
The Egyptian Lover: Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter
Stones Throw: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Kowton – Utility
1. Comments Off
2. Scido
3. Balance
4. Sleep Chamber
5. Some Cats
6. Loops 1
7. Bubbling Under
8. A Bluish Shadow
9. Shots Fired
Kowton: Facebook | SoundCloud | Twitter
Livity Sound: Bandcamp | Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitte
Friday, April 08, 2016
Deep Street Soul – Come Alive!
2016 sees them return with this quite spectacular new collection. Whilst the diamond hard, driving grooves remain undiminished, the albums opening track Out Of The Gates should banish any thoughts that this incredible collective could ever slow up or go soft! There is also no doubt that the bands song writing has developed to an equally assured level. Case in point is Souls Come Alive – from Monique Boggia’s Wurlitzer electric piano intro, the blistering horns and May Johnson’s simply exemplary singing – the songs’ instant appeal will be lost on no one with an ear for genuine organic soul music.
Joshua Tavares, from Melbourne, adds further weight to the idea that Australia is the current hyper fertile nursery for 21st century soul talent. The Hardest Part Is Knowing is a dynamic & sultry ballad that encapsulates precisely what is required when delivering an authentic song of heartbreak just like the way it used to be done.
Guesting on the amazingly catchy Love On Tap is another renowned Australian songbird Kylie Auldist, who as well as being a successful solo artist in her own right, supplies her gilt edged voice to both Cookin’ On 3 Burners & The Bamboos. Two special mentions must also be made; firstly to the Deep Street Soul rhythm section – Warren ‘Waz’ Hunter’s bass lines are always the perfect partner to Agostino Soldati’s tighter than Lycra drumming – between them, these two don’t let the pressure drop for a second! And secondly to the new boys – whilst being in the band for 4 years are only just getting their first taste of the action. The ultra catchy horn hooks of Dorian Broomhall & Will Cassell along with the in-the-funk-pocket guitar playing of Mitch Power have done so much to round out the bands sound to what you are now about to aurally enjoy.
Come Alive is Deep Street Souls finest work – no if’s, but’s or maybe’s. It’s a done deal.
Tracklist:
1. Out Of The Gates
2. Done Me Wrong
3. Sweet Sugar Man
4. Soul's Come Alive
5. Messin With Me
6. The Hardest Part Is Knowing (feat. Joshua Tavares)
7. Love On Tap (feat. Kylie Auldist)
8. Little Ray
9. Big C
10. Deux Freres
Deep Street Soul: Official | Twitter | YouTube
Freestyle Records: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
DJ Rashad – Afterlife
Teklife presents Afterlife, the first release on the new Teklife Records label. The album is a celebration of the life and music of the late, great DJ Rashad and features 14 previously unreleased tracks, each a collaboration between DJ Rashad and friends from the Teklife crew and beyond. A limited edition double vinyl will accompany the digital release.
Afterlife is testament to an incredible breadth of influences and love of music with soul, hip-hop, house, techno and many more all brought together at 160bpm. Rashad's presence is felt throughout in the boundless energy and creativity which run through the album, whilst each collaborator brings their personal touch to the compositions.
With such a prolific body of work as both a solo artist and in collaboration with other musicians, it would be impossible to present a definitive collection of DJ Rashad's music and many many classics will remain unreleased for ever.
Afterlife is our tribute to our friend and our inspiration. Rest In Peace DJ Rashad.
A percentage of the profits from the album will be donated to Rashad’s family.
Tracklist:
1. DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn & Taso – Roll Up That Loud
2. DJ Rashad & Gant-Man – Get Fuk’d Up
3. DJ Rashad, DJ Manny & DJ Spinn – Let’s Roll Out
4. DJ Rashad & DJ Phil – Come Close
5. DJ Rashad & DJ Earl – Wear Her Pussy Out
6. DJ Rashad & DJ Spinn – Oh God
7. DJ Rashad, Gant-Man & DJ Manny – Ratchet City
8. DJ Rashad & DJ Taye – Get You Burnt
9. DJ Rashad, Tripletrain & DJ Spinn – Pass That
10. DJ Rashad, Boylan & DJ Manny – Tony Montana
11. DJ Rashad & DJ Tre – Yeah We Do This
12. DJ Rashad & Traxman – Lost Worlds
13. DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn & DJ Paypal – Do You Wanna Be Mine
14. DJ Rashad & DJ Manny – Roll a Tre
DJ Rashad: Facebook | SoundCloud | Twitter
Teklife: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube
Mayer Hawthorne – Man About Town
Tracklist:
1. Man About Town
2. Cosmic Love
3. Book Of Broken Hearts
4. Breakfast In Bed
5. Lingerie & Candlewax
6. Fancy Clothes
7. The Valley
8. Love Like That
9. Get You Back
10. Out Of Pocket
Mayer Hawthorne: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube