Composer and multi-instrumentalist Peter King was a true giant in the Nigerian music scene of the 1970s. He recorded nine albums in Africa, the U.S., and U.K., and his record Shango is the most famous and readily available. This is the title track off that record and is a mixture of hard African rhythms, James Brown-styled funk, jazzed-up horn arrangements, and political messages that King became known for.
This track is featured on a new compilation from Strut Records that came out today as well. Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos highlights this fantastic music that has been largely unrecognized outside of Nigeria. Check out the track.
Mp3: Peter King - "Shango" (zshare)
Fantastic piece about blogging, its role in journalism and how journalism has evolved over the years.
We have talked about Sebastien Tellier's unique R&B before. He will be playing here in Chicago April 9th at the Empty Bottle. His latest single off of Sexuality is "Kilometer." The track gets the proper single treatment with remixes from A-Trak, Aeroplane and Arpanet. If you didn't know the entire album is produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. Check out the Aeroplane remix.Mp3: Sebastien Tellier - "Kilometer" (Aeroplane Italo '84 Remix)
Buy: Get the single here.
Got lost a bit in the YouTube black hole and ran across this another awesome track. Everyone probably know's "Nautilus" or "Sign of the Times." This track is fantastic and it has a video to match.
This track is the absolute jam. Check it out. If you feel like you've heard this recently see DJ Mehdi's "Tunisia Bambaata."
Mulatu Astatke is an Ethiopian musician and arranger. He has been called the father of Ethio-jazz. Born in 1943 in the Jimma he went to school in London, New York City, and Boston, where he was the first African student at Berklee College of Music. He certainly has a long and distinguished career as the genre of jazz and latin music. His latest project has him joining with one of my favorite jazz outfits the Heliocentrics.
The record is the third in Strut’s Inspiration Information studio collaboration. The recording session took place thanks to some inspired programming by Karen P for her "Broad Casting" session at Cargo in London on 17th April 2008. Securing Mulatu for his first UK live date in over 15 years, she called on The Heliocentrics to back him. With only a day of rehearsal they laid down this record. Very cool stuff. Check out a track.
Mp3: Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics- "Masenqo"
(zshare)
Buy: Get the record here.
As you should know by now Black Milk's record Tronic that came out last year really showcased how this Detroit producer knows is way around the studio. One of the best producers in hip hop Black Milk recently recorded a new track solo track called "Dreams" its web only stuff. Check it out.
Mp3: Black Milk - "Dreams"
Milk has been been recording numerous tracks for Slum Village's forthcoming project along with his work for Random Axe, the Hip Hop super group consisting of Black, Sean Price, and Guilty Simpson. Look for good things in 2009 from Black Milk.
New video from Chicago own's Queens' rapper Consequence featuring Kid Cudi. Check it out. Kanye is doing some wierd things these days and I think he still hasn't dealt with the issues related to losing his mother but his label, GOOD Music has a solid list of talent and this shows that off.
I would be remised to not mention the upcoming MF Doom release. While I think that Doom is an aquired taste I do really enjoy his records. Born Daniel Dumile in the UK Doom has an impressive list of releases. Mm...Food is a hip hop classic released in 2004 and his work with producers Dangermouse and Madlib have produced true gems. His latest record is under just Doom and is called Born Like This and is due out March 24th. This will be his first solo release since Mm..Food.
Mp3: MF Doom - "That's That" (link thanks to Spine Magazine)
Savath & Savalas is a trio made up of Guillermo Scott Herren (of Prefuse 73 fame), Eva Puyuelo Muns and Roberto Carlos Lange. Thier sound is desribed as Catalan acid-folk...I have no idea what that is or really have anything for comparision but like like Herren's work as Prefuse 73 the label of experimental can certainly be attached to their work. Check out a track of the upcoming La Llama LP out May 19th. I am still deciding if I like it.
Buy: Get the record here.
Two of my favorite things, a U-Tern edit and the King of Pop. Check this edit by favorite DJ U-Tern as he gives the midas touch to MJ's "Pretty Young Thing." Don't miss this.
According to U-Tern this demo version of P.Y.T. is "nothing crazy edit wise, just made an intro and extended the outro, sometimes that's all a track needs."
I couldn't agree more.
Daniel Stanush and Diego Chavez (Aether, Otic Angst) are A.M. Architect. The duo specializes in glitched-out beats and unintelligible samples, creating something both ambient and that spans genres. The dabble in hip-hop mixes in some jazz and ambiance. The duo uses pedal steel, cello, field samples, synthesizers, doors, and featured throughout, piano and drums. A certainly an impressive array of instruments. I recommend you check it out.
Mp3: A.M. Architect - "Albatross"
Mp3: A.M. Architect - "Albatross"
I have mixed feelings that we have to rely on a comedic show for hard hitting journalism but this interview is simply brilliant. Again, fantastic job as always Mr. Stewart.
DJ mOma hailing from Jamaica Queens puts together some amazing Soul mixes. If you haven't had the privileged you simply must check out. We have talked about his friend another cononnessiour of the finest soul music DJ Eleven here before.
Download link: DJ mOma - Satisfy My Soul Vol. 3
New video from Mr. Poirier featuring Mr. Slaughter. Track is on the Ninja Tune label. Video is directed by Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau (is it a relative? or is Poirier like Smith? in Quebec?).
Great video. The track is from the Soca Sound System EP. Check it out.
I am trusting that everyone has picked up Saadiq's The Way I See It. Its an absolutely fantastic record. I am excited about Saadiq playing Park West here in Chicago a week from today. I hope to see you all from the midwest there.
Here is a a giveaway for you Saadiq lovers in these hard economic times. Simply drop your email in the comments along with your favorite Saadiq song and I'll get you sent a collector's edition box set of 7" 45 rpm singles of the record. Only one winner. Ill pick one at the end of the day tomorrow.
CONTEST OVER WINNER LISTED IN COMMENTS. THANKS FOR TAKING PART.
Daedelus one of my favorite artists and just a nice dude has a new recording coming out with Jogger (who I know nothing about). Their record is Friends of Friends Volume 1 which I assume at some point will be followed up by other volumes which is true and the concept is a cool one.
Friends of Friends or FOF invites an artist to join them to do a split EP; they in turn invite another musician or group to complete the split release and commission a designer to create the EP’s artwork as well. There is also some other promo stuff that goes along with it with a limited edition T-Shirt and a download card. Its kind of like an elementary school chain letter type concept event one person who invites another person etc. Anyways, this initial effort is fantastic. Check out a track.
Get more info about the project here.
photo by neil365.
Free beats from Diego Bernal. His record For Corners is available for free download thanks to Anti-Pop records. Its a fantastic instrumental hip hop record built on a foundation of that soul and funk I love. He doesn't miss the opportunity to mix it up as well tossing in some glitch and other non-vintage sounding stuff.
Don't miss this album. A tribute to Dilla and 16 tracks strong. Its great, as pretty much everything from Anti-Pop tends to be. For me "Armor All'd Out" is my favorite track.
Download: Diego Bernal's For Corners
