Austin based DJ Mel has decided to put out a monthly series of mixes called PLUG & PLAY and we are all the better for it. According to Mel the mix is "unplanned, on the fly and done in one take." The first mix contains raps, 80's tracks, house and a bunch more. I recommend you give it a listen.
Chicago is all of a sudden getting cold and when it gets cold outside and I have to say I enjoy being able to wear a hooded sweatshirt and jeans again. When its cold its always nice to relax to some jazz or laid back ambient type beats. Here some new stuff out of Italy. NHeap is moniker of Massimo Discepoli, amusician from Italy (Assisi, Perugia specifically). His new album is Skymotion, is a pleasant mix between jazz, electronic, ambient, avant-garde, experimental and melodic. I recommend you check out a couple tracks.
Mp3: NHeap - "HLDRRR"
Mp3: NHeap - "Gravitational Assist"
Download: Get the album free here until October 30th then it will be available on iTunes and others online vendors.
Download: Get the album free here until October 30th then it will be available on iTunes and others online vendors.
photo of the The Huge Peace Kite - Perugia-Assisi Peace's March by Osvaldo_Zoom.
New DJ-Kicks album out this week featuring the Montreal duo Chromeo. Purveyors of pop they have put together a record filled with early 80's disco, R&B and electro funk. They even have some contemporary stuff with artists like Lifelike and Chateau Marmont. Record even features Chromeo covering the Eagles. Check out an alternate of that track.
Buy: Get the record here.
They are coming to Chicago the day before Halloween. We will have some tickets to give away later this month as that gets closer so stay tuned.
They are coming to Chicago the day before Halloween. We will have some tickets to give away later this month as that gets closer so stay tuned.
In other news you can get the Chromeo single, "Night by Night" out on on Green Label Sound. Its a great track. Head over here to check it out.
photo by kjten22.
Soul singer extraordinaireMayer Hawthorne is coming to the windy city in support of one of the best records of the year A Strange Arrangement. He will be playing tomorrow night (9/25) at the Darkroom. I am no bar/club connoisseur but I think its one of the cooler spots in Chicago (other ones are Sonotheque and Green Mill if you were wondering).
Look for me, I'll be there with a Bears hat with a "B" on it. Tall, skinny you know the deal...see you there.
Hopefully many of you picked up Koushik's album Out My Window when it was released last year. That and his earlier album Be With really shows off this hazy Canadian electronic artist's ability. This record is an instrumental version (if you could say that, the first version was pretty instrumental as well) where the vocals have been rearranged and set deep back in the melodies, like "friendly ghost in the attic." Its a 22 track record with 6 songs not originally on Out My Window. I recommend you download it...like before its not free anymore.
Download: Get the entire record here.
Ran across this nice effort by Sugoisounds. I assume its a duo based on their myspace description and I also make the deduction that they are from Aberdoom, Scotland. Long story short I don't know much about them. What I can tell you is that they have some great beat tapes that you certainly should check out. Nice neo-soul type sound to them. Here is one of their tracks off of Neon Beats.
Get their full tapes from their myspace here.
It's always a little depressing when you see kids that look like they are 8 with infinitely better dance moves and rhythm then yourself. I have a 24 year headstart but when the beat hits and I start to move you better close your eyes and run for cover. You have to smile when you watch this video - really cool. Nice track by Beni as well. The video was directed By Warran & Rhett for MOOP JAW.
Nice mix by California based DJ Sleeper. Nice mix from the Beach Boys, to Cassie, to Major Lazer, Cut Copy, Michael Jackson and more. Real great sound to it. I recommend you check it out. Tracklist here.
photo is by sleepeating of Chase mural in Venice, CA.
Free shirt from Stones Throw ($29 dollar value!). This one Peanut Butter Wolf digs deep into the crates for inspiration on Volume 1 of Stone Throw's Classic 45's Tees Series, shirt features labels of rare and classic Hip-Hop 45's. Shirt is large and comes in brown.
Rules: First one to post my favorite Madlib album gets this shirt sent to them. Just post the album name and an email where I can reach you at and its yours. First one wins. Only one entry per person. US shipping only. Its not really a guess either. There are places were you can consume my listening choices and deduce the Madlib album I love. Good luck!
I don't listen to a lot of rock but Grizzly Bear is certainly a great group. Very cool video for their track "While You Wait For The Others" off their record, Veckatimest.
New music from the midwest's own Brother Ali. The talented Ali was born Jason Newman in 1977 in Madison Wisconsin. Ali has as host of great records. His latest is Us. Ali and producer Ant set to release the album this month. The album was originally titled Street Preacher but later changed to Us. Ali, his DJ BK-One, and fellow Rhymesayers crew members Toki Wright and Evidence will all be touring this fall on the Fresh Air Tour.
Singer-songwriter duo of Amir Yaghmai on violin and guitar, and Jonathan Larroquette on laptop and the controls, dividing up the vocals between them is Jogger. The duo has already been featured here as part of the Daedelus friends of friends project.
Jogger was chosen by URB Magazine's "Next 100" artists to watch. Their first full-length album, entitled, This Great Pressure, will be the first release on Magical Properties, Alfred "Daedelus" Darlington's new imprint. Check out a track off the upcoming record.
photo of the Los Angeles wild fires by Caryson.
Awesome cover of ta fantastic song, "Mr. Blue Song" by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Track was featured on KCRW.
Exciting news from the Stones Throw label. MED and Jason Jackson, internationally known as J-Rocc from the legendary Beat Junkies are working on a mix CD together. From this project, here is the 1st track, “The What.” No news yet on the name or the date for the the mixtape. Stay in touch for more.
Let me know what you think of the track. I was kind of expecting something a bit more. If you are so into the track make sure you check out J-Rocc's tribute to MJ here (zshare), its fantastic.
Whoa is this my weblog? Thanks to the talented Ernest Gonzales, Analog Giant has gotten a much needed upgrade. It shows the difference between a professional and a weekend designer/hacker. The multi-talent "e", a true artist not only does web design, but creates great music and runs Exponential Records.
His new album that my new album Been Meaning to Tell You will be out soon on the Friends of Friends record label. If you need a top notch affordable designer look him up. He is an all around nice dude as well, which never hurts.
Very excited about the new look. Thank you Mr. Gonzales.
Some free indie pop music shows starting tomorrow night and running into the weekend. The series of events will incorporate live music, art installations, along with video screenings. Neon Indian kicks off the event tomorrow night and The Walkmen will close it Sunday. The events also featured Chicago's own Willy Joy spinning a DJ set on Sunday. Click here to find out more how you can check these shows out. All the events will be at EnVent Event Space.
Shfiq En' A-Free-Ka is the debut album from Sa-Ra member Shafiq Husayn. Gaslamp Killer has called the record "an instant classic..." and Pharoahe Monch praises it as "a spiritual and forward thining record." High praise from two respected artist in my mind. Its rare that a record can have such rhythm and be so heavy while still providing such a great academic message. Check out a track.
Buy: Get the record here.
photo of Los Angeles by Silent Wrath.
Producer, DJ and fellow blogger Eli Escobar has just released on new single featuring some fantastic spacey disco house type stuff. The track is called "Glass House" and has a video is by Francisco Soriano to go along with it. Support great music and Eli by heading over to Beatport and picking up the record. It dropped Aug. 28th so don't waste any more time.
Check out a remix by Check out the XXXChange remix here.
Friends of Friends Volume 2 is here with with Swiss duo Larytta as the selectors. Last year they debuted Difficult Fun which went under my radar. It's a great combination off wildly different styles, ranging from afropop, 80s electro-funk, futuristic soul, and even folk.
Larytta chose to complete the b-side with fellow Swiss producer Bauchamp, is contribution to the record is a breezy dose of tropical techno (steel drums and all) at times and heavy electro at others. Check out a track off this record.
photo by gebi!
