More than a few people will be excited to see a new release from the amazing Steve Spacek. He's formed a group with Australian producer Katalyst. The group's called Space Invadas and they have some big intentions to champion their own form of 'SoulFi', whatever that is it sounds nice on their free mixtape!
They've just released this single:
Look out for their album this March....
Be sure to check out the two Spacek albums (Curvatia, 2001 and Vintage Hi-Tech, 2003) and Steve Spacek's Spaceshift, 2005, if you haven't already.
Try the creative Frenchman Onra too!
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and producer Hi Tek) have come up with one of the best new hip-hop tracks we've heard for a while...
This was played on a US radio show and the 'radio rip' was circulated rapidly on the 'net. Hopefully you can see why it is so popular. A CD quality free download is now legally available... Free download Reflection Eternal 'Just Begun' If you like it head over to itunes and get your copy of their new single 'Back Again' to show your support.
A cheeky Christmas freebie from Paris' hip-hop DJ/producer/remix master Astronote. Hip-hop/soul fans will like this one. A 12-track free release of quality remixes of songs by heavyweights including, Erykah Badu, MF Doom, Platinum Pied Pipers, Biggie, DJ Vadim, Kanye West and Jay-Z.
Astronote has risen almost like an astronaut in 2009, keep your ears open for releases in 2010....
Download recommended. Click here or on the post title.
An older remix by the man:
If you like his sound, there's another free mixtape! Also brilliant, done a few months ago, called: Astronote & DJ Graffiti - Bigger & Better (The Notorious Remixes) hosted by Talib Kweli. Check www.asideworldwide.com or click here for the free download (tracks separated and everything).
We stumbled across this deep jazzy futuristic hip hop and really happening mix on the beatlife site. It's a the fruit of a collaboration between two wicked blogs, Applejuicebreak and juslikemusic. Tracklisting after the download link: A Fall Suite free download.
Tracklisting: 01. Vikter Duplaix – In The Middle Of You (Freddie Joachim Remix)
02. The xx – Basic Space (Mount Kimbie Remix)
03. AFTA-1 – 7th Sun (first draft)
04. Electric Wire Hustle – Waters
05. Shafiq Husayn – Le’Star feat. Rozzi Daime, Noni Limar and Nia Andrews
06. Shuanise – Purple Haze
07. Anthony Valadez – Dawn feat. Wendisue
08. Eric Roberson – Still
09. Clara Hill – Endlessly (Freddie Joachim Remix)
10. Quadron – Day
11. Jackhigh – Airspace
A song to get excited about from a singer to get really excited about... the forthcoming release from Andreya Triana due for release early next year (Feb 8, Ninja Tune). A gentle build up in this one with an amazing heartfelt climax at 2.30. The B-side on the single is a Flying Lotus remix.
Hopefully you'll agree she's a pretty amazing vocalist. She's flower-fresh but not new on the scene, having worked with artists like; Flying Lotus, Kid Kanevil, Mr. Scruff, Bonobo, Theo Parrish, Natural Self, Aaron Jerome, TM Juke And The Jack Baker Trio, Homecut and Fink. Her debut album is out in 2010, produced by Bonobo. It sounds amazing on her myspace. She'll be performing live on Jan 16 2010 at Koko, Camden supporting DJ Vadim and then an acoustic set on Feb 03 (Rich Mix, London). If you liked the song you'll love this one too, released earlier this year: Check out her myspace page by clicking the title of this post.
If you haven't heard Mos Def's Black On Both Sides from 1999, you have to. Then listen to his album with Talib Kweli, Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star). Arguably two of the best hip-hop albums ever made. They're original and beautifully composed. Intelligent rhymns dance around ingenious beats and leave you in complete awe.
Some nice videos too:
Mos Def's second and third LPs (The New Danger, 2004, and True Magic, 2006) strayed a long way musically from his debut and disappointed many of his fans. Occasional brilliance was weathered by dodgy experimentation, and coincided with an ascent/descent into rap 'superstardom'. Perhaps Mos fell victim a bit to fame. It's hard not to get ahead of yourself when you're surrounded by sychophantic industry types, adoring fans and chrome throne style toilets. One minute you're expressing yourself genuinely through your artform, the next you've internalised the image that people trying to make money out of you have painted. Keeping it real is harder than it looks. Although Mos Def never lost much respect among the 'real' hip-hop community for which he is an ambassador, he has trodden on thin ice with questionable commercials and MTV shit. He's a complex character with a lot to say and all the means needed to say it loud.
In September 2005, he released the single "Katrina Clap," renamed "Dollar Day", a powerful criticism of the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. On the night of the MTV Music Video Awards, he pulled up in front of Radio City Music Hall, New York, on a flatbed truck and began performing the song. A crowd quickly gathered and he was almost as quickly arrested, despite having a public performance permit in his possession. So much for freedom of speech. But he'd already pushed his luck with G Dog 'The Bastard' Bush. Earlier that year he released a track called 'Bin Laden' with fellow rapper Immortal Technique. The song contends that the Regan Doctrine and President George W. Bush were responsible for September 11th. They're not subtle either, with Mos singing 'Bin Laden didn't blow up the projects. It was you nigga, it was you nigga (Bush).' Listen and wonder at the size of their kahunas.
With latest LP, The Ecstatic (06/2009, Downtown), Mos is back on the turkey. The record features production from one of the greatest musicians ever, the late J Dilla, plus Madlib, Oh No and the Neptune’s Chad Hugo as well as guest spots from Talib Kweli, West Coast neo-soul experimentalist Georgia Ann Muldrow, and samples of legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. This isn't an album review though, so have a listen for yourself if you haven't already. For me it's not as special as his debut but that's not to say it's not amazing. A brief peek at Mos' personal life unveils more interesting facts. He was born Dante Terrell Smith-Bey, December 11, 1973, Brooklyn. Son of Abbi Shabazz, I don't know why he didn't use that as his stage name. If I was famous I'd definitely call myself after my dad, Cledwyn Jones. Mos' younger bro Abdul Rahman a.k.a. "Gold Medal Man," is his full-time DJ. His other bro is called Anwar Superstar! Mos Def was born into Islam and is close friends with Muslim rappers Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest. Mos Def grew up during the 'golden age of hip-hop' in the eighties and was flexing his rhyming skills at the tender age of six. The old dog has eight kids, by four women, too. Look out for his hotly rumored forthcoming duo album with Jay Electronica titled Simpatico. Hopefully to be released next year. Respect to Mos Def. Something I just found.... Mos cooking on gas!:
I am very privaledged, each month, to be able to put my top 10 tracks up on this blog. Now, the tracks aren't neccesarily released in the particular month, but they are the tunes i have listened to during the month, and are dedicated to all the people that I think of when I hear these tracks. Just make sure you have your speakers turned up so you can 'feel' the sounds. bastante bizous.
10. Dedicated to Simon Harrison. Thanks for letting me hear this!
9. Monsoir Peterson and the Sete crew.
8. Saw these guys live with my bro tedward, and wasn't overly impressed....this track has a catchy riff though. Shout to the blade.
7. Whilst on bros, this is to the 5 de clive. Long time cuz.
6.Staying with the bros, My Bro Charlie P this time aka chilli keys. BEST DROP EVER!
5.Staying on the Dub step vibe, shout to the 'mistletoe crew' - matty p
4.Dedicate this one to my newly engaged sister who bought me this track when I was 11!!!
For those of you who like their electronic music with plenty of attitude, Seiji will deliver the goods. And he's giving away most of his new productions on his website. seijigoodies 4 - I Can't Let it Go by seiji Click the title of this post to get onto his site.
New and eagerly awaited LP from Manchester based producer Trus'me. Doesn't disappoint after his wicked first album 'Working Nights' (2007). Free snippetts below, grab the album from Fat City Records... or on itunes Trus'me 'In The Red' LP by trusme
Woah, something fresh from the young maestro storm causing UK producer Floating Points. A mix he did for Benji B's show, if you've heard the show you'll know how Benji feels about him - strongly. He is a talented lad, a student neuroscientist in his spare time. Check his myspace.
Free download on this mix too - click the little arrow.
A corking mix from 6th Borough, who are producers/djs Craig Smith and Greame Clarke. Composed of deep, underground house music and long forgotten funk and dusty disco dubs.
DJ Spinna's just made a disco/boogie compilation for BBE Records. Full of feeling and likely to make you want to go out... some special edits in there too.
Play the mix below, get down town to buy it or itunes or click the blog title to get it through BBE
Evolution and illegal downloads have forced artists and labels to think outside the box with regard to releasing music. A recent trend sees them giving music away in an effort to build publicity. Make of it what you will, but check out this free release from producer Zo! which features Yahzarah, Phonte, Carlitta Durand and some old stuff reworked. Nights over Egypt is incredible!
Record Label FE Music said: "Working on this record has been a labor of love for everybody involved, and it serves as a teaser for Zo’s upcoming full-length “SunStorm” dropping next summer on FE Music. Enclosed in the “…Just Visiting Too” zip file is a digital pdf booklet complete with all the album credits, information on the album’s vocalists and contributors, as well as information on the originals. Enjoy the music, pass it around to a friend, and as always thank you for the support."
A beautiful song from The Foreign Exchange (Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay).
A track from last year featuring young and talented Washington D.C soul singer Muhsinah. It was the first single from The Foreign Exchange's Leave It All Behind album, and has just been nominated for a Grammy, which is big news for them.
Free (legal) download on the Foreign Exchange website (click the title of this post, above)
Check out Muhsinah's new album The Oscillations: Triangle, which features a Flying Lotus produced track which I'll try and get a stream for here.
Pop to the Blog will hopefully provide a few downloadable mixes of the house variety, the odd album review (albums we like), an occasional heads-up on releases and a sign-posting service to the scores of sweet sounds available on good music blogs...
Expect nice house, hip-hop, soul, jazz, disco, nu this and that and hopefully some world musics.
We're not necessarily expecting anyone to follow this baby, probably not even our families, but if anyone does, enjoy and please feel free to feedback.
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