Elitetechnique's mellow electro 2007 EP Finger Food was pretty impressive but they come at you right at the perfect time with a new EP with a nice Kool and the Gang-esque sound. Perfect for your summer chill. Check out "Autumn Abyss" its absolutely stellar and you'll hear its resemblance to Kool's "Summer Madness." All real instrumentals on this 3 track EP. Go get it.
Listen: Mirror Men Sampler
Buy: Get Elitechnique records here.
From Stuttgart, Germany comes SoulPhiction. A bit back he did a steller mix for the Gilles Peterson show on World Wide Radio. SoulPhiction goes by other acronyms such as Michel Baumann and Jackmate. His album Do You Understand?! is a great laid back electronic album. "Prison Song" stands out as the best song on the record. Don't miss this one if your into the mellow electronic stuff.
Buy: Get Do You Understand?! from iTunes here.
Single track off the upcoming Nike Run mix. Check it out.
Mp3: A-Trak - "Say Whoa"
photo by brendanms.
Let me, like a lot of bloggers, self indulge myself for a moment. Pretend that from my home desk dictate to you what albums are of note for 2008. I had a difficult time organizing them from best to work but I did create a brief list of 11 albums. When I could I linked a Pitchfork's review of the record, if no review then myspace or some other type of related media.
My favorite record of this year. I know there is some detractors that say this has been done before (its recognizable 1960's and 70's R&B is undeniable) but listening to tracks like "Another Day," "Rope of Sand," and "Little Bit of Feel Good" are some of my favorite tracks of this year and they are all on this one album. Lidell's vocals and Gonzales and Mocky collaboration is fantastic. From the Ny Times..."lack of authenticity in popular music, complaining about unoriginal CD artwork and the influx of blue-eyed soul singers like Mr. Lidell. "Rip-offs, the lot of them!" Mr. Lidell said, deadpan. “Amy Winehouse is totally ripping me off."
Best rock/pop album. Some very addicting tracks. Nice record for the kids from down under.
Best dance/electronic record of the year thus far. Hard to imagine something surpassing this one. A tremendous record that shows the diversity of Osborne's expertise. The record stylistically floats around from acid house, to electro-pop to deep house. The record was made on his personally built computer and software. The only critic of Osborne I have is that is handle is a bit bland...I enjoyed moniker Soundmurderer so much more.
An ode to the late J Dilla this R&B record by hook provider Dwele is very nice. Dwele did the hooks for Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" and Common's "The People." Like his friend Dwele flourishes under the radar and adds another great record to his personal accomplishments. First single of Dwele's is "I'm Cheatin."
Who knew the Swedish could make good hip hop? I sure didn't. "The Building" is my favorite hip hop track so far this year.
In Memories was a better record but nothing can deny the quality of this album by the duo of chill. Check out the first single...thing has a serious beat.
Unreal record that harkens back to the giants of jazz. Check out "Tenderly" its the best track on awesome record.
Another jazz record. This fantastic one is from my home state jazz-Americana maestro.
J. RZA as Bobby Digital - Digi Snacks (video)
RZA builds on his soundtrack success and makes a fanatastic as he returns as Bobby Digital for the 3rd and I believe last record.
Burial was all over the place in 2007 and blogs were praising the greatness of his Untrue album. Benga has released a dubstep record which I believe is Untrue's equal but I haven't read nearly the hype. No idea why. Maybe there isn't room for two dubstep albums in a bloggers music library but this record must not be overlooked. Its wonderful. Don't miss the track he did with Coki.
Its going to be tough to top the mix that Aesop Rock did for the NIKE Run Series. It was top notch and I am still listening to it more than a year later. A-Trak is certainly up to the task and from what I hear here on the sampler its going to be great...check that I recieved a promo copy in the mail yesterday...IT IS GREAT. Cool cover art as well.
Mp3: A-Trak's Running Man: Nike+ Original Run Sampler
Get the full mix here (itunes).
photo by toastycakes.
Solos in Stereo is a Bay Area label founded in 2003 by producers Roche and DJ Enso. The artists on our label include Yao, Bookworms, CB Radio, Jovian, and Louis. To increase exposure they have released compilation records Solos in Stereo and Solos in Stereo II. I missed the boat on the first one but was able to give the second round a spin. The album is a great mix of nice beats and electronics that range from dance to hip hop. Check out a track:
Mp3: Jovian - "Grenadine Girl"
A bunch of mp3s available at their official place. Check it out.
Tragic news today. The intensely fair and intelligent Tim Russert died today of a heart attack at the age of 58. Ever since 1998 the year I registered to vote and began intently following politics I have watched "Meet the Press" on Sunday mornings. It was my church and Russert was my Pastor. He was a giant in American journalism and moderator of countless Presidential debates. Russert amidst a sea of what has become talking heads and blowhards was always a true patriot. It was far to early for a man that wanted to know the truth and a person that was intent on finding that truth. He will be missed.
Rest in peace Mr. Russert. American journalism has lost one of its best. I hope the standards that he applied to his life will be followed by all of us.
Great mix by DJ Sammy Bananas. Great summer upbeat blend of music that you certainly need to check out. Some great remixes and it includes 4 tracks from his upcoming Braids & Fades EP. Full track list here.
Mp3 link: Summy of Sammy: The Mix (zshare)
Sammy Bananas will be in Chicago June 19th for Fly By Night at Debonair Socail Club with Willy Joy. Get there.
Cool animated video for Ghis' second single "Hit & Red" off the No Ground Under album. The video was directed by Thibaut Duverneix (Department : http://motion.departement.ca). Check it out.
I featured a remix of Flying Lotus track a week back while failing to mention Lotus' 2008 album Los Angeles. The album drops today on Warp records and its wonderful. Perhaps his most famous has been for nocturnal cartoon nerds everywhere in his many Cartoon Network's Adult Swim segues.
Check out his new record. You can stream it from Lotus' website here (.pls file). Check out a sampler with a couple of tracks off the record.
Buy: Get Los Angeles here. After this record Lotus is set to release a set of three EPs, the first one due to be released on June 30th.
If you hadn't noticed Radiohead on the heals of slapping the music industry brass across the face with their buy-it-for-whatever price In Rainbows album they have a greatest hits release. I was a bit taken back to be honest when I heard the news. Radiohead never really struck me as a greatest hits type of band and I am always a bit puzzled when a band releases a greatest hits disc while still making records. Maybe these are all my personally held biases but I don't know just seemed odd.
What is very Radiohead to me is their creation of the "Nude RE/MIX" project. A couple of my favorites of the page are:
Mp3: Radiohead - Nude (Holy F**k Remix)
Link: Radiohead - "Nude" (Azeda Booth Remix)
Link: Radiohead - "Nude" (Son Lux Popularity Contest Remake)
ANYWAYS on to free stuff. Name your favorite REMIX off the page (can't be in the top 10) and why along with your favorite Radiohead track of all time. Please provide an email with your answer.
I will make an objective decision and pick one winner. Must be in the US. You'll get a copy of the Radiohead Greatest Hits record mailed to you. Good luck!
Update: Ahh this makes much more sense now. Thanks to reader CXL I just realized that this was not Radiohead's doing. It was not done with their approval. I enjoy Mr. Yorkes quote about the record, ""We haven't really had any hits so what exactly is the purpose (of the greatest hits album)?" Seems like EMI just stuck it to them for jumping ship to XL.
Dancefloor heat from Texans and AG favorite Ocelot. Any Daft Punk fan is going to eat these dudes up. Big beats and all the great stuff you would expect from a great electro house track. Ocelot was able to get Tom Neville to fix them up with a remix. Be sure to check that out. This track should be able to get your house party going this weekend.
Mp3: Ocelot - "Our Time" (Tom Neville Remix)
Some have been dogging JIM as a safe mainstream soul/R&B for the masses. Like a male Amy Winehouse doing something that others have already done but because of race its more palatable. I don't buy that and I think we are often finding ourselves just looking for some type of drama or controversy. Sure maybe this whole soul thing has been done before but theres nothing wrong with more of a good thing.
This record is a great one. I enjoy the more electro sound of Multiply, but there are some fantastic soulful feel good summer tunes on this record. You would be remiss to simply dissmiss it. Check it out!
If you don't have his Tales Of The Forgotten Melodies that came out in 2005 you need it...like yesterday but Tailor's latest just hit the US shores.
Hope and Sorrow while not as good as his 2005 release in my opinion is still a great record. Caught in the Crossfire got it right when they said that Tailor has made "an album that early Shadow and RJD2 would be proud of..." Check out a track featuring the illustrious Sharon Jones and a remix of Tailor's from his website.
Mp3: Wax Tailor feat. Sharon Jones - "The Way We Lived"
Check out Wax's myspace or official spot.
Obama is poised to clinch the nomination as South Dakota polls close. The super delegates are finally figuring it out and jumping ship for Obama. It is refreshing to see that we are going to get this right this time around. Looking forward to the next round. Old pro-war white guy versus charismatic proponent for change.
Next question is who is going to be VP? Lets sure hope its not Clinton like some want. I am liking Edwards.
Go Obama!
Update: Watching Senator Clinton's speech. Thought she was going to step down gracefully but like the true egomaniac that she is she did not. Almost classy but then....no. Then she tossed a cherry on the sundae by playing Ms. Turner's "Simply the Best." Even though she will not be the Democratic nominee. Arrg.
Congratulations to Senator Obama on being the first black american to lead a major party ticket in our history. Don't stop believin'. You are the democratic nominee and I am glad I can witness this great day in American history.
Nice instrumental record by Mexican native of Texas, Rae Davis. Wonderful blend of jazz, instrumental hip hop and a thread of soul. This dude is very talented with some very complex and beat driven arrangements. One of Mr. Davis desires is to create film scores and after listening to his music you have to think its just a matter of time till he gets picked up for a soundtrack. Check out a remix by by Davis of an Analog Giant favorite, Flying Lotus.
Mp3: Flying Lotus - "Tea Leaf Dancers" (Rae Davis Remix)
Davis' album Positive Thinking is out now. Get it here.
