Condom - Live in NYC [2012]

Condom is composed of two (Swedish? that may be a lie) dudes, Covox and Random. Together they are Condom. This recording is of a one-time collaboration between the two in New York.
The hard-driving chiptune beats are very much reminiscent of the minimal, but melodic, sound of daft punk, though it remains much more hard-techno in its use of abraisive synths and pounding drums.
In between each track are interludes musing on the nature of condoms--much more interesting than one might imagine.

Free bandcamp download

The Soft Greens - Ceiling EP (2011)

from conor mackey of excellent twiddly guitar-pop band loose lips sink ships, these tracks turn on a dime from knotty beats to bassoon interludes. alternately airy and gnarly. my fiancee calls it frantic, but I disagree. two free EPs for download on his bandcamp. I'm behind my work's filter, can't mediafire, sorry.

it is also worth noting that loose lips sink ships has released a great live recording including both new and old material.

Chumbawamba - Showbusiness! [1995]

Chumbawamba is, unfortunately, best known for their one big hit, "Tub Thumping". Anyways, this impressively-slick live album should give a better perspective on this band of British anarchists. Extremely politically charged, the band's new wave punk discusses gender roles, anarchism, Live Aid, and right wing movements, and never once seems to be sacrificing musical quality for lyrics. Gotta love that sort of integration.
The performance is so very tight that I find myself forgetting it is a live album, except for the moments when the cheering crowd is audible. Synth pads, driving bass, distorted guitars, male-female vocals, and amazingly together percussion makes this album an exhilarating ride.

Enjoy.

GET KNOCKED DOWN.

A Tribe Called Red - A Tribe Called Red [2012]

This has been on repeat in my room for the past couple of days. A group of Canadian natives (from Ottawa, I believe...next time I'm up that way I will absolutely check them out...) have combined traditional first-peoples music with modern dubstep//EDM. This combination works really well--wobbly basses reflect the loose intonation of the vocals, and the heavy drum machines pound relentlessly, reminiscent of the tribal drumming. Anyway, here's a free download from their site. Play loudly with subz. Electric Pow Wow.
EDIT: How the fuck do I add tags in this new blogger nonsense?

RIP Lil Wayne

R.L. Grime - Grapes EP (2012)

these beats are pretty sick. get 'em

Q&A With Perry Porter

(that's him. right there. on the left. the very left. he is not white. on the left.)

So we had a little Q&A with Perry who is, surprisingly, as relaxed as he sounds on tape.

Here is the full, unedited Q&A:

1.First off, tells us a bit about yourself and your musical beginnings.

I’m actually pretty shy, lol. Listening to my music or watching video you wouldn’t think so, but I’m shy as fxxxcckkkk, hahaha. I even get nervous when ppl ask me to rap for them on spot, lol, like you really want me to? word? *Turns purple LOL. I started rapping around the age of 16, even though I wanted to be a Hot Boy when I was 12, hahahaha!! I’ve always been around music, man. My father was deejay while my older brother still raps to this day. Things like that made rapping look cool as shxt. I wanted to be them as a kid; I was just too shy to do it. And, my mother tried her hardest to shelter me when it came to hip hop, she hated it, lol. That keep things under wraps until I met a local by the name of Stymie, and he got everything rolling for me.

2. How did this particular album come to be? What were your ideas behind it?

It was something I always wanted to do, just didn’t have the skill and mindset for it, lol. Paper Moon is more for my 18year old self and the way I view life back then. The ideas and the way I went about it was supposed to sound like an 18year old me. I wanted this to be my “Immature album” the album I always wanted to make, but didn’t. I’m kinda letting the fans play caught up with my life, lol. You know? G shxt.

3. The sample selection is great, what do you have to say on the overall production of the album?

ICBM is the equitant of Rick James and the beats are like…. That white couch. That fool… just… double penetrated the beats, hahaha!!

4. What's the main message you are trying to get across with Paper Moon?

It’s the introduction to me, the start of it all. I wanted to introduce the fxck up, who contradicts himself time and time again, but really wants to make a change in this world somehow and someway.

5. How often do you and your crew work together?

Man, I see CARLisDEAD three to four times a year, haha. But, we’re always working on music via emails, txt and fb. We got a few albums in the works right now. We’re just waiting for the right time to release them.

6. How do you feel you guys stand in the game, or if you even care about that at all?

I really don’t know. Between the two of us, and handful of in-house producers, we have a lot of style and sounds. Trying to find where we stand gets complicated, so we just tend to just do us, which doesn’t go in our favor most of the time, hahaha.

"That fool… just… double penetrated the beats, hahaha!!". Yeah.

Perry Porter & ICBM - Paper Moon (2012)

so we have another "pay what you want" album. and a hip-hop one at that, so i'm glad to say that i was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a full-fledged album - clearly not a mixtape. and what's even more interesting here, is the fact that perry porter seems to have captured the sound of the mainstream party-anthems with his delivery, despite not really having a strong position in the mainstream (though it's not a big deal).

we start the album with what seems to be, at first, an aggressive track that is somewhat unapproachable. really, this track is their sort of opening anthem, and it doesn't fail at that. and with this we also learn another thing - their sample selection is fantastic. french producer ICBM clearly aimed for a specific sound on this. we move on to tracks 2 and three, which combined make one very pleasing atmosphere, and show an almost jay-zian attitude to MCing. and immediately with track 4, one can see what type of music they are trying to invigorate here. aptly named, "luci(d) dreams" paints a picture to accompany the title with an array of reeverb laden keys and soft crash cymbals shrouded in more reeverb.

the production is a highpoint of its own, but also a trough. sometimes the compression breaks through the vocals and distracts, and sometimes it's just back enough to feel underwhelming; but beyond that, it's pleasing enough.

it's not hard to see what they are trying to see here - it's a party album - but in multiple senses - i.e. it never falls short of "clever", and it never crosses the line into "dumb". simple, naive, but fun ambitions are laid out like grocery lists while 90s happyRNB harmonies take over. it digs into the mentality of a younger mind (as intended) and how easy it is to just fucking chill out. obviously, not seriously. oh but they totally mean it. if it's what you are looking for, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find a good and articulate alternative to other party songs. otherwise, it's still a good listen.

listen

DJ Frane - Journey to the Planet of the Birds [2008]

Hey y'all, it's been a while.
Working hard as fuck on this thesis. Almost done. Phew.

Anyways, dantelope's most recent post inspired me to get this classic up here.
DJ Frane's a mysterious stoned (mysteriously stoned?) figure who makes some of the best beats this side of DJ Shadow. Rich with detail and sample heavy, this album has a narrative arc to it that'll keep it spinning on your record player (figurtively, since you we don't have mediafire links for 3D printer designs of vinyl--can someone do that, please?) until the end.

If you love this (and I imagine y'all'll love this), check out his other two albums, which are each at least as good.

And then, keep your collective fingers crossed for a fourth.
[not my link, holla back if there's problems]

Also, someone wanna point me towards some choice writing music? I've been on a minimal-tech/90s drum 'n' bass/50s exotica lounge kick lately (not all at once, unfortunitely), and need something new. Lay your opinionated wisdom on me, dear listeners.

Made Of Wood - The Chill/Funk Trip (2012)

some of you might have seen this before. it's an album by a conservatory graduate (dan) that covers a wide range of genres, though predominantly funk. i will attest to the fact that i had no idea what to expect when i first received my cd, the cover honestly did not look very appealing and seemed as something thrown together at the last second due to the fact that it would hint at some sort of "trip" experience that one would proceed to have as they listened to it. but you know what? this album is a trip. completely instrumental (yum) and covering some of the best elements of funk, acid jazz, and even classical era-esque string sections, this album is pure bliss. though not as ambitious as you'd expect something like this to be, i'll definitely be keeping an eye on made of wood.

listen to it here

Clive Tanaka y Su Orquesta - Jet Set Siempre No. 1 (2010)

A while back, someone bitched and moaned that I should stop posting lame shit, and cited Clive Tanaka as a suitably non-lame alternative. Well, I listened.

Clive's background is interesting, he allegedly practiced hikikomori or self-isolation for a long time. I guess that meant lots of time for music-making. It's chillwave, mostly in major keys, so happy-sounding and eclectic, kind of like Toro Y Moi but without all the singing. The album title and art are pretty telling, as these are definitely warm weather, easy-living sounds.

Democracy, friends.

Shudder to Think - High Art: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (1998)

I recently watched this film, and it stayed with me for days. And in addition to the melancholic characters and their highly sexual chemistry, the music really stuck with me.

It's scored by an old group called Shudder to Think. The mostly-instrumental tracks are ambient, with lots of synth pads, moog bass, reverb-heavy downtempo beats, and this distinctly-90s-production-value sound. I don't know how to describe it... maybe like Buddha Bar, except not totally lame? Chill out? I dunno. They're not all winners, but some of the tracks - like That's Fat - are pretty great.

Give it a try.

Abbey Lincoln - Straight Ahead (1961)

i really didn't know too much about Abbey Lincoln, but after going to shows and hearing just about every female jazz singer announce "this is an Abbey Lincoln tune" before launching into an amazing song, i figured i should look her up. turns out she's not only a great singer (Ella-esque, even if Billie was her muse), but she also wrote and arranged her own tunes. on Straight Ahead she's backed by a great band that features Booker Little, Eric Dolphy, Coleman Hawkins, and future husband Max Roach. tough to pick a favorite track, but When Malindy SIngs stands out for its intense vocal performance and Left Alone features some of the sexiest sax playing i've heard in awhile. this is as good a place to start as any if you're interested in plowing thru her back catalog.

oh, it's sweeter than the music of an educated man

Valentin Stip - Anytime Will Do EP (2011)

Another in the series of the young and talented, this 19 year old Montrealer was recently signed to Nicholas Jaar's label. Minimal, bass heavy, electric and eclectic, with lots of clicks, clacks, buzzes, and other abstract sounds.

Anytime

Caddywhompus - The Weight (2011)

great straight-ahead rock record from NO's unfortunately named Caddywhompus. on first listen they might remind you of Grizzly Bear, especially with some of the open chord voicings they use, but it's clear that most of these guys probably were in hardcore bands at some point. the songs themselves are really great, full of beautiful melodies and often seamlessly shifting from section to section in interesting way - a throwaway line of melody, a harmony change in a bridge, or a rhythmic impulse can become the anchor for new ideas. lots of surprises, including some swingin' 6/8 (track 1) and cathartic squalls of noise (track 3), the latter of which are fucking awesome. i'd been craving a good ol' fashioned guitars/bass/drums album for some time now, and this delivered in spades.

here

King Krule - King Krule (2011)

Continuing with the "king" theme, here's the latest from the young and talented Archy Marshall, who I posted a few weeks back. Working under a new moniker, this one's a little more produced and tight, but retains his washed out, moody tone.


When people are this young and this talented, I never know if I should feel inspired or defeated

King Khan & the Shrines - What Is?! (2007)

Some more awesome music from my motherland.

King Khan's stuff is garage rock meets psych revival, and it's really, really good. If you get a chance to see him live, promise me you will.

Enjoy

Thelonious Monk - Monk Alone: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings 1962 - 1968 [1998]

I've been on a big Thelonious Monk kick recently. It's been said that pleasure lies somewhere between boredom and confusion, and Monk's music illustrates this well. His fat, frquently dissonant chords along with his broken syncopated ryhthyms are never quite what you expect them to be in jazz from this time period. At the same time, his music remains the theory-heavy, quinetessentially cool type of jazz that I love from this heyday.

I think that every thing I love about Thelonious Sphere Monk is best put on display within a solo piano context. In the absence of a full rhythym or horn section, Monk's hyper-rythymic style becomes particuarly interesting structually as he provides the rythym, accompaniment and melody.

Part One
Part Two

Totems -10-11 (2012)

look at dat album art. sweet ass beat tape from an artist frequently featured on wflm, reuben winter. for real though, look at dat album art, nothing represented by that could be anything less than dope.

HAIL FENRIS

Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain is a Mouth (2009)

This band is easily my favorite in Canada right now, hands down. Bruce Peninsula is a core band of five individuals, backed by a fluctuating choir and auxiliary section comprised of other well-known local talents. Their music is dynamic and rhythmic, heavy on minor keys, growling vocals, rich chorals, and intense percussion. All these elements come together to sound like something unlike anything else right now, and highly epic and powerful.

This is their debut record, and I highly recommend supporting them by picking up a lossless copy, as well as their new record Open Flames and other recordings, here.

Meco - Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk [1977]

Fuck me, this is awesome.
As a Star Wars fan and a disco fan, one would've assumed this would've crossed my path before this morning.
In a nutshell, this is disco renditions of the soundtrack to A New Hope. And not just the main theme, but most every section of John Williams' Wagnerian score is here (and funky!).
Killer bass lines, tight drumming, and R2D2 sounds made on a Buchla Box by one of the early synth masters (Suzanne Ciani, look her up!) makes this something you need.

DISCO'S NOT DEAD

Void Pedal - EP (2010)

an extremely chilled-out trip hop record. the vocal samples, skittering drums, and overall mood put me in mind of pre-hiatus Portishead but with wobbles/bleeps&blorps instead of scratches. if you like this, be on the lookout for VP's 2011 release, Omni Colour, which is also tits.

download

Zoo Kid - Out Getting Ribs/Has This Hit 7" (2010)

An EP by the artist formerly known as Zoo Kid - he's rolling by King Krule these days - which is hitting me really hard lately.

Self described 'bluewave', it's a sole, reverb-heavy, jangly guitar playing minor and augmented chords; overtop he sings, mutters and mumbles, with a british accent which is impressively low and mature for his age... he's only 17, and I'm pretty sure he was still 16 when this dropped.

Get down

Caribou - Caribou Vibration Ensemble [2010]

This is splendid.
Caribou, primarily known for his minimalist, psychedlic electronica, brings his A-game to his live shows.
In this limited, vinyl-only release, he is joined by four drummers, Sun Ra's horn section (including the great Marshall Allen!), and guitars, keyboards (someone involved with Fourtet, I believe), and just about anything else that'll fit on stage.
While his songs maintain their familiar structure, where they were once sparse and meditative, they are now full, heavy, raucous, and exuberant.
Barnowl is a personal favorite, with the horn section supplying melodic depth before breaking into sheets of cries, yells, shrieks, and the type of timbres that only an experienced free jazz horn section can supply.

BIG BIG SOUNDS

Doldrums - Empire Sound EP (2011)

Some really exciting musical things are happening in my town, and this is one of them.

One very talented fellow putting out insanely awesome, eclectic, arty, percussive, catch-heavy sound collages. Sounds a little something like this:



Scroll down to download here.

Tabla Beat Science - Tala Matrix (2000)

This one has been blowing my mind for years, ever since I thought that elephant on the cover was giving me the finger. Except I can't find my original copy, so apologies on the poor bitrate.

Bill Laswell goes to town with Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu and Karsh Kale under the moniker Tabla Beat Science, and what results is an ensemble capable of tasteful electronic tinkering and sampling, heavy beats, and some of the finest Indian percussion you've ever heard.

I'm an (admittedly very amateur) tabla player, and what I love best about this album is that it honors the original recordings so much. Remixing this kind of stuff can be touchy, gimmicky, lame... but this is solid, the samples only underlining what was already great in the first place. Pay special attention to the only un-electronified track Alla, in which Hussain pays special tribute to his father and guru, the late Alla Rakha.

Om.

Xihilisk - Xihilisk [2010]

This is a sort-of 'best of Xihislisk' album. I wasn't familiar with his work before listening to it, but it definitely convinced me to explore more.

A compilation // best-of album is particuarly succesful when an artist has such a broad range of work that a single album makes for an insufficient introduction. This is definitely the case, as Xihilisk works his range of black metal, experimental electronics, noise, post-rock, and ambient soundscapes. Where they most impress me is that even within such a broad spectrum of styles and sounds, there is always a consistent expressive voice. Xihilisk definitely has a cohesive sound, even if traditional genre boundaries are incapable of expressing // confining it.

My favorite track on this probably "Chysalis March", which gradually builds and builds until it soars in a crescendo reminiscnet of fire alarms, a symphony orchestra, whales singing, and norse-god Heimdallr staring into the future.

The cherry on top: he's got a very progressive attitude towards music distribution (i.e., his album Fuck the RIAA). Here's a link to his whole discography he put on his blog.

Anyways, enjoy. Walk around a city at night with this in a nice pair of headphones.

Zavala - Vessel Instrumentals (2011)

Zavala's ridiculous beats were by far the best part of the Dark Time Sunshine project. de-grimed (they're pristine) and without emcees flowing over the top, you can see why these complex, swirling, and yet decidedly organic soundscapes can stand on their own. not the emcees fault, it's just a testament to Z's beatmaking that his skills overshadowed the rest of the collaborators - after hearing them this way, i haven't listened to the proper release again. fans of Nobody's early beat tapes and FlyLo's Los Angeles will probably really dig this shit.

beats me

Mary of Egypt - EP [2010]J

Oh wow, this one was a surprise. Bandcamp is such a wealth of awesome stuff that doesn't get the love it should.

This is a wonderfully composed pop album by Mary of Egypt. The Joanna Newsom and Sufjan Stevens comparisons are inevitable, but what really stands out on this album to me is the nineteen-century impressionist influence. Harmonies reminiscent of Debussy are played on mellow woodwinds, as subtle electronic percussion roots the overdubbed vocals, and a muted classical piano provides the bed to rest it all on.

Joanna Newsom smoking hash with Phil Spector and Brahms

(pay-what-you-will Bandcamp link)

Soom T / Disrupt - Ode 2 A Carrot (2011)

Sometimes, an album has everything you could want in it.

Like this li'l gem, for instance.

Dub influenced production? Check.

Songs about smoking weed? Check. Checkcheckcheckcheckcheck. They're all about smoking weed.

8-bit sounds? Check.

I don't know much about those involved with the creation of this lovely album, but it's dancehall beats are put to good use behind the fantastic vocal stylings of Soom T, who plays with language, rhythm, and melody while rapping.

It's pretty great. It didn't do a lot for me on the first listen, but I put it on again, and then I had to listen to it again, and I played it again, and then...yeah.

Dig it.

Alfred Schnittke - Piano Trio/Quintet (2005)

as i've implied here before, Schnittke is probably my favorite modern composer. this disc was my introduction to his work and, oddly enough, i bought it at a Tower Records (RIP) based solely on the cover art - love it when that happens. it starts with the Piano Trio, a very cool piece that combines Viennese music circa Mozart with Alfie's trademark brand of polystylistic modernism (peep the 5:15 mark of track 1). but the real slobberknocker is the Quintet, my favorite of all his compositions. i remember driving at night the first time it played on my car stereo and being so engrossed that i literally pulled over and sat there until it was done. to this day i don't think i've heard music more terrifying and full of despair. as it is, i can barely listen to it, sort of like a really depressing movie (Dancer in the Dark? Requiem for a Dream?) that you avoid re-watching but that captivates you with its beauty.

i found out later that it was begun after his mother's death, then shelved after writing it made him have a breakdown, and then finished a while after that. it struck me yesterday that the 5 mov'ts sort of model the 5 stages of grief. the opening presents a haunting theme in the piano that subsequently stagnates with false start after false start, refusing any real development and crafting a perversely insistent denial. the 2nd mov't is an angry, evil waltz, with the strings crowding each other's space with claustrophobic quarter-tone lines that derail any attempts at lyricism, the piano all the while pounding out a demented rhythm in 3/4... and it just spirals down from there until the finale. maybe another composer would end on a happy note, and at first it seems like Schnittke is going to do just that; the lovely major key theme grows in fits and starts, floating along placidly. and then the strings enter, reintroducing brutal snippets of phrases from the other movements. maybe this is the truest manifestation of the acceptance of grief - life goes on, getting easier a little bit at a time. but maybe the pain of it never truly goes away, always lingering and ready to strike.

none more black

Whale Tooth - EP (2009)

Let me say that, generally speaking, I'm really not into the cutesy-indie-rock thing. At all. But in the right mood, and when it's done absolutely right, I'm listening.

This little band from my excellent city is an example of that 'absolutely right'. Impressive musicianship, interesting vocal qualities, and especially catchy hooks come together to make this group something special. All this plus an overall interesting quality to its production - underproduced, sparsely mixed, I can't quite put my finger on it - make me a fan. 'Clever' is an especially great track that features a great climax, have a listen.

And... I may or may not have a big crush on the lead singer, you should too.

Letherette - Letherette EPs 1&2 (2010 & 2011)

a very good couple of eps from the beatmaker letherette. very neo-soulish, but with a very expansive range of dynamics. the music has some intriguing melodies etched onto the very light beats, which makes for a very smooth listen. the first ep is purely beats, while the second one has diversity (even a house track!) and a much more funk oriented sound - the percussion also follows suit. very fun and funky music, i love it.

download

Gal Costa - Gal [1969]

Wow, this is amazing.
Coming from DHint's recommendation, this might be the coolest piece of psychedelia I hadn't heard before. I honestly have a hard time believing that this is from 1969.

The fuzziest, wahiest guitars jump in and out from the driving drums and delayed vocals, while woodwinds and tight percussion keep it all grounded in Tropicalia.

Goddamn, this's been a fun genre to explore.

KEEP IT COMING GUYS. LET'S HEAR ALL OF THE GOOD MUSIC.

Arthur Verocai - Arthur Verocai (1971)

there was some chatter in the comments for Will's Stan Getz post regarding Brazilian late 60s tropicalia, so i thought i'd up one of my favorite records from that era. on his self-titled debut, Verocai wrote songs combining folk, pop, psychedelia, soul, and jazz sounds and paired them with lush arrangements (which he did himself, classically trained as he was) and instrumentation that included a 20-piece string section and brass ensemble. the result is a kind of agile orchestral psych-funk with the immediacy and intimacy of folk-jazz teamed with scrumptious backing textures. it's a quick hitter, only 10 tracks and clocking in at about half an hour, but it will probably leave you wanting more. unfortunately, there isn't any... although, some of you hip-hop heads might recognize No Boca Do Sol and Seriado, which were appropriated for MF Doom's Special Herbs series.

sun-kissed

BK One - For the Love of Music (2004ish)

i picked this up seemingly ages ago (when ill! was just a little sniffle) at a Rhymesayers show in Boston - i believe it was a tour-only mix from BK One, label dj and beatmaker extraordinaire. a wide range of hip-hop is obviously represented here (from KRS and Kweli to Snoop and Redman and everything in between), but there are several tracks dedicated to an assortment of funk/soul and reggae/rocksteady. oh, and it's structured around samples from High Fidelity (aka the music snob's magnum opus movie) and it closes with William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got," which is an absolutely perfect song in my estimation. the concept may sound pretty rote, but the execution is what makes this a mix i come back to over and again without fail.

it's my go-to cooking record, for what it's worth

Dr. Timothy Leary, Ph.D. - Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out [1967]

Here's some trippy shit.

Dr. Timothy Leary and co. narrate a sort of acid meditation ("Galactic time has labored to produce this moment. Exquisite. All things, all images, move slowly within shimmering nets", etc. etc. etc.). Backing this is a melange of '60s hippy culture--sitars, folky guitars, odd sound effects, bird songs...the whole album would come of as incredibly goofy if it wasn't so goddamn sincere. The record as a whole is a fascinating artifact from a time when psychedelic exploration still had cultural validity.

don't do drugs*

*just kidding.

Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther [1963]

Everyone's heard the title track from this soundtrack. You're humming it to yourself right now, don't even fucking deny it.

Even though the first track has historically overshadowed the rest, the whole thing is essential. If you don't know Henry Mancini well, this is a great introduction. His sound incorporated big band swing, Les Baxter-style exotica / lounge, and jazz. Full of interesting (unique, but never gimmicky!) tone colors and sounds, Mancini was a perfect choice of composers to score the quirky, wonderful movie that is The Pink Panther.

This is primo lounging music.

Download.

Lounge.

Steve Martin ain't got nothin' on Peter Sellers.

Stan Getz - Getz Au Go Go [1964]

This is a recording of the great tenor sax player Stan Getz and his band, performing live with the wonderful bossa nova singer Astrud Gilberto. One thing I love about jazz, and particularly about the jazz of the 1960s, is its ability to be mellow and relaxing without sacrificing complexity or depth. This record is a stunning example of such. Listening to it now, I can just feel myself decompressing (and I just fucking woke up).

One of my favorite parts of this record is the amazing vibraphone. Lacking a piano, the vibes (courtesy of jazz master Gary Burton) are responsible for holding down the chord changes. As such, Getz's warm tenor solos seem to be floating on air, as the vibes drift through the songs.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...

DJ 2-Tone Jones - Shaolin Jazz [2011]

This one shouldn't take a lot of explanation.

Classic bop recordings + the Wu-Tang Clan?

Yes please.

This is one of those rare mash-ups that works just as well as one would like. What makes it click so well is that it's not just a bunch of one-bar loops with some a cappellas (hyperlink leads to some etymology that I found mildly interesting) slapped on top. Rather, the beats are constructed in such a manner as to compliment the vocals fantastically.

Bonus points for how many of the samples you can recognize.

Q. Is the Wu-Tang Clan something to fuck with?

A. No.

Extra: Logan Walters designed the series of covers which inspired this album. Check out his page for some other equally-wonderful graphic design.

The Bug Vs. Rootsman + DJ /Rupture - Split [2003]

I always had a hard time understanding the "dub" in dubstep. However, when you go back to the right places, there it is, staring at you in its dubbed out glory. This is a fun little split in that it's neither really dub nor dubstep, but whatever it is, it's fun.

The first half, The Bug vs. Rootsman is heavy, distorted, noisy and furious. If you don't know The Bug already, his tracks on this split are pretty indicative of what he would go on to do. Ferocious overdriven electronic snarls, backed by broken dancehall riddims. The vocals are excellent too ('cause what would a The Bug track be without some guest vox?), propelling the piece.

The second half is DJ /Rupture, one of my favorite DJs. His set is meticulously crafted, as always, with the spoken word samples, beats, and ambience.

The split EP is a great pairing, though not one I necessarily would have thought of. Both /Rupture and The Bug have a sort of apocalyptic feel, in this case The Bug is the apocalypse, and DJ /Rupture is whatever comes afterwards.

Lemme know what y'all think of this one.

SOPA Blackout bandwagon

so everyone is finally getting a wind of SOPA (thanks Ford!) and the blackout date is today. We aren't doing that because of several reasons (#1 being this is blogger and a music blog,, with #2 being just how annoying it is trying to access wikipedia). anyway, this post is just to let you guys know the USAs government loves lobby money and that they are trying to setup something similar to the "great firewall of china (clever rite)". so go and tell your senator etc that you dont want anything to do with SOPA and oppose it, want to repudiate it et. al.

go dog

Beck - Hell Yes (Remix E.P.) [2005]

Funky 8-bit remixes of a couple songs from Guerro, by some of the same people that did the Hell Yes remix on Guerolito. Tight, dancey gameboy sounds, but made more organic by Beck's voice. Poppy, but bizarre. I think my favorite track off of here is "Bad Cartridge (E-Pro).

I want this on vinyl so fucking bad (it was released as a 7", I believe). There's something hilariously useless about an analog representation of digital data. And the cover's fucking sick.

BEEP BOOP BEEP

Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby - The Original Jam Sessions 1969 (2004)

Yeah, you read that right. In 1969, Quincy "I Fucking Produced Thriller" Jones was the musical director for The Cosby Show. This album is him jamming with the tight ensemble he put together to use as background music, and it's awesome. But, I suppose I should elaborate.

I don't know Quincy Jones well--his only albums that I can say I've listened to thoroughly are this one, Thriller (it's pretty underground, you probably haven't heard of it), and his big band stuff. All of them are awesome, but I really don't have a clear picture of who he is a musician through these. But, I'm not even worried about it, 'cause they're all formidable beasts of jazz, funk, funky jazz, jazzy funk, et cetera et cetera et cetera.

This one is just laid back, jazzy, funky soul jamming. Groove heavy and mellow, it's not hard to imagine Bill Cosby sitting in his comfy chair (I can only assume he brings one wherever he goes), puffin' on his cigar and tapping his foot approvingly. When he gets up to join in the jam session, in one of the alt takes for "Hikky-Burr" he's on fire--making goofy Bill Cosby noises perfectly within the jazzy context, takin' the band for a ride.

But yeah, rambling aside: if you like funk, vintage jazz, Bill Cosby, soundtracks, sweaters, or tight rhythm section jamming, this is one for you.

HIKKY-BURR!

John Coltrane - Coltrane (1957)

Trane's first record as a bandleader, recorded while on a "break" from Miles' band (smack is bad for you?). incidentally, he was only paid $300 for this (about $2,300 in 2011 $s), just in case you thought there was ever a time when labels weren't predatory... anyways, it's clear that his time in Miles' group had an impact on Trane, as his economical statements of the head melodies are worlds away from the sheets of sound that are hallmarks of his later playing. the easy swing in his phrasings and the silky tone of his tenor ooze heartfelt sentimentality and emotional content, especially in the ballads. also of note is the rhythm section of Paul Chambers (also from Miles' quintet) and Albert Heath, who effortlessly lay down some tricksy grooves (like the hemiolas in the fiery opener, Bakai). if you're more keyed into stuff like Blue Train rather than Ascension, this is for you.

chronic blues

George Benson - The Other Side of Abbey Road (1970)

This was a newly-discovered gem for me. Recorded just three weeks after The Beatles's "Abbey Road" was released, this is a fantastic R&B infused, jazz re-imagining of a few Abbey Road songs.

Jazz guitarist George Benson is joined by some fantastic folks, including legends such as Idris Muhammad on drums, Herbie Hancock on the keyboards, and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet. Benson's vocals are used fabulously--snatches of lyrics here and there, obscured by reverb, pop in as if to remind you of the Beatles' song that inspired their jamming. When you throw in a string section, great arrangements, and a lovely production job by Creed Taylor, and you've got yourself a fantastic listen for a lazy afternoon.

lolwut

Darkside - EP (2011)

Someone suggested this in a comment, thank you.

Nicolas Jaar's sideproject with Dave Harrington. All the airy, sexy, electro-magic of Jaar, but with some even sexier guitar in the mix.

How many times can we say sexy? This is really good sex music.

Mugison - Mugiboogie (2008)

An oldie but a goodie. Forgot how goodie, till it just came on shuffle.

Slightly eccentric Icelandic man, making raw and heavy blues which recalls the Black Keys' early good stuff. A couple of tracks bite, but for the most part they're all excellent, and the title track is to die for.

Rock outttt

Fnessnej - Stay Fresh, Ey (2008)

Fnessnej is a five piece instrumental group from Germany. That's the easy part to describe. What do they play? Some sort of crowded, chaotic, improbably poppy blend of synth-pop, 8-bit, post-punk, math-rock kinda music. It doesn't work out on paper, but holy shit--this is a fun album.
Constantly dancey, with styles falling away as soon as you recognize them, this is an album you'll immediately put on repeat, if only to figure out what the hell you just listened to. Due to their style being so very everywhere, the album stays fresh throughout. Enjoy.

A MATH PROBLEM WITHOUT AN EQUALS SIGN

Itzhak Perlman - Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin (1978)

well screw you avax...

I've been on a big Paganini kick lately. For those not familar, Paganini is known primarily for his virtuosicly fast and notoriously difficult violin pieces. I'd argue that it's the classical equivilant of Buckethead, taking classical violin far outside of it's normal comfort zone.

Playing on this recording is Itzhak Perlman, who can (as required) tear his fucking violin to shreads with his lightning fast bow.

This album is Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin. Each piece studies specific (bruatally fast, impossible) techniques. That said, there's as much to enjoy aesthetically as they are technically. They're light, fun, and energetic.

I think that y'all'll like this one.


BONUS ROUND! Does anyone have a copy of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's recording of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring from 1978? I need to listen to it for my thesis...

Total Freedom - The Banging Bells of Hell (2010)

it seems i'm always hearing good things about NYC's Ghe20 Goth1k, probably the most frequently lauded club/party of 2011. more than the word of mouth love, this mixtape solidified GG's rep in my mind. it's telling that in a bounce-back year for hip-hop, a mix released in 2010 never left my rotation. the lesson here? the combination of apocalypticism, 808 breaks, and Southern drawl is always a killer.

6 feet long gone, 666 bitch