Quantic & Alice Russell – I’ll Keep A Light At My Window

March 9, 2012 at 9:24 pm

I feel truly blessed to be alive while music like this is being created.  Not only is Quantic one of the most consistent producers, and musicians, in the world, but teaming up with Alice Russell makes for an unstoppable force. Their new album, Look Around The Corner, is available stateside in April on Tru Thoughts.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/39095114″ iframe=”true” /]

Peep the mini-documentary about this project, put together by Mochilla.

Eric Roberson “Picture Perfect”

February 27, 2012 at 8:00 am

While normally I don’t seek out Eric Roberson tracks, this one really caught my ears.  I heard this on a hotel room music channel a few months back, and it was just background noise for much of the song.  It wasn’t until near the very end of the track that I had to stop my conversation with my girl, ask “What IS this?!,” and Shazam it.  I believe it’s due to the fresh drum programming.   Reminded me of a more Bugz in the Attic kind of broken beat soul track, which really attracted me.  The entire concept is cool, though, and I like the photo negative idea for this video.

Actually, now that I think of it, this is EXACTLY what it reminded me of…Jneiro Jarel.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble in Los Angeles!

January 25, 2012 at 8:00 am

Make no mistake, this one is not to be missed!  Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Venice Dawn, DJ Spinna, and Theo Parrish.  A fresh and unexpected bill that will no doubt be another one for the books.  ArtDontSleep is behind this, who organized the Roy Ayers & Thundercat show back in November, so you can be sure that this is a well thought out, carefully curated event.  Limited early bird tickets are on sale now for $25.  I can’t say I can recall the last time HBB was on the west coast, if at all.  Their name is well earned, with heavy horn harmonies, and cleverly arranged songs.  Their last EP, “Heritage,” features amazing covers of some of your favorite

classics, from Fela to Art of Noise (yes, Art of Noise).  Add DJ Spinna & Theo Parrish to the bill, plus local favorites Sean O, Expo, Rani D, and Anthony Valadez, and you’ve got a great night planned out at one of Downtown LA’s freshest venues, Exchange LA.  Enough gushing, let’s get to the sounds…

MdCL live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic

January 18, 2012 at 11:09 am

I’m a big fan of Mark de Clive-Lowe‘s live show, and have been playing his music on Forward Listening for quite sometime, so I was geeked that he was coming down to the KCRW studios to rock, as well as promote his new album on Tru Thoughts, “Renegades.”  Along with a few live musicians & Nia Andrews on vocals, Mark can piece together a vibe and make it sound so simple!

Sunlightsquare Latin Combo “I Believe In Miracles”

January 18, 2012 at 8:00 am

My man Endo came through The Straight Ahead last week and mentioned that he had some 45’s in the car for sale, so I politely exited the spot and proceeded to follow the man to a parking structure down the street.  After sifting through some goodness, he handed me this 7-inch.  A fine cover of The Jackson Sisters rare groove classic.  UK soul & latin bands always come with the heat.  Hearing this record reminded me how excited I was when I heard about Grupo X quite a few years back.

Making of Shafiq Husayn’s “The Loop” LP

January 17, 2012 at 8:00 am

Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka was my favorite record of 2009, hands down.  I still play tracks from this record as if it were brand new, and can’t wait to hear this new project, called “The Loop.”  Shafiq taps into the cosmos with this stuff, man.  Lots of live instruments and great vocalists, but still what seems to be a very simple approach to beat making.  I think that’s the beauty of the whole Sa-Ra movement, though.  It sounds very stripped down, but, in my opinion, it could be an extremely complex production process.

Peep one of my favorite tracks from Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka.

Forward Listening 22: Best of 2011

January 16, 2012 at 8:00 am

I had a blast making this one.  All year I’ve been compiling this list, and I ended making Forward Listening 22 a 2-hour and 40-minute show.  Music from all around the globe, released in 2011.

Enjoy!

 

Forward Listening 22 – Best of 2011

1. Charles Bradley – Golden Rule [ No Time For Dreaming; Daptone ]
2. The Stepkids – Shadows on Behalf [ The Stepkids; Stones Throw ]
3. Toro Y Moi – Still Sound [ Underneath The Pine; Carpark Records ]
4. Aischa Traidia – What’s Going On [ Single; Melting Pot Music ] bandcamp.com
5. Seun Kuti & Africa 80 – You Can Run [ From Africa With Fury: Rise; Knitting Factory ]
6. Tunde Mabadu – Viva Disco *Instrumental [ Nigeria 70: Sweet Times; Strut ]
7. Bibio – Light Sleep [ Mind Bokeh; Warp Records ]
8. Thundercat – Boat Cruise [ Golden Age of Apocalypse; Brain Feeder ]
9. Pharaoh Monche – Still Standing *feat. Jill Scott [ W.A.R. ; Duck Down ]
10. Amerigo Gazaway – Breakadawn [ Fela Soul; Gummy Soul ] bandcamp.com
11. Sebastian – Embody *DJ Premier Remix [ single; Ed Banger ]
12. Robin Hannibal – Transit [ Bobby EP; Plug Research ]
13. Grace Jones – This is Life [ Hurricane; Play It Again, Sam ]
14. Stac – Head on Me *Blue Daisy Remix [ Turn That Light Out: The Remixes, Vol. 2; Wah Wah 45’s ]
15. Little Dragon – Nightlife [ Ritual Union; Peacefrog Holdings ]
16. LDFD – Outtacontrol [ Outtacontrol EP; Magical Properties ]
17. Thievery Corporation – Where It All Starts [ Culture of Fear; ESL ]
18. King – Hey [ The Story EP; Self Released ]
19. Wild Cookie – Serious Drug [ Cookie Dough; Tru Thoughts ] Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills
20. Kraak & Smaak – Wasted With A Smile [ Electric Hustle; Jalapeño ]
21. Bombino – Tar Hani (My Love) [ Agadez; Cumbancha ]
22. Tinariwen – Tenere Taqhim Tossam [ Tassili; Anti ]
23. Mongo Santamaria – Mongo’s Mambo *Joe Claussell Remix [ Africa Caribe; Hammock House/Fania ]
24. Captain Planet – Get You Some [ Cookin’ Gumbo; Bastard Jazz ]
25. Chris Berry – Lari’s Theme [ OKA!; Oka Productions ]
26. Michael Kiwanuka – Tell Me A Tale [ Tell Me A Tale: The Isle of Wight Sessions; Communion ]
27. The Echocentrics – Crescent Sun [ Sunshadows; Ubiquity ]
28. Garfield Adams – For My City *feat. Josh Koslow [ 1st Things First; Self Released ] band camp
29. Jesse Futurman – I Love You So [ Super Basement EP; Jus Like Music
30. Agnes Obel – Close Watch [ Philharmonics; Play It Again, Sam ]
31. DJ Shadow – Enemy Lines [ The Less You Know, The Better; Verve Forecast ]
32. Dengue Fever – Ugu [ Cannibal Courtship; Fantasy ]
33. Daedelus – Penny Loafers [ Bespoke; Ninja Tune ] Inara George Bird & The Bee Living Sisters
34. Chrissy Murderbot – Bussin Down [ Women’s Studies; Planet Mu ]
35. El Rego – Vimado Wingman [ El Rego; Daptone ]
36. Ikebe Shakedown – Tujunga [ Ikebe Shakedown; Ubiquity Records ]
37. Bing Ji Ling – Dreaming [ Shadow to Shine; Tummy Touch Records ]

Wild Cookie “Serious Drug”

January 12, 2012 at 12:12 am

BIG TUNE!

Anthony Mills & Freddie Cruger aka Red Astaire team up for some goodness that is Wild Cookie.  I can’t tell if this is an official video, but all I know is the big reverb on Anthony’s voice is what caught me.  Amazing language all around, from the chorus to the lyrics.  I need this on vinyl asap…

Fresh Air “Slowly Coming Along” EP

January 6, 2012 at 2:00 pm

 I got to hang out with my man, Khalil, over the holidays and we reminisced on our days as Fresh Air, an independent hip hop group I joined around 2003.  Long story short, I ran into Khalil at an afterhours spot playing beats.  We exchanged cards, and that was that.  A few months later, I was DJ’ing at a spot and Fresh Air was scheduled to perform, but their DJ couldn’t make it.  I filled in and we rocked it.  Khalil hit me up a few days later to ask me to join the group, and the rest is history.  In 2006, we released our first EP, “Slowly Coming Along.”  It was fun and stressful at the same time.  There were days where I had no desire to go in to the studio to help Khalil with the mixdown, let alone go in and do my part, which were the scratches.  Then there were other days where we’d be all together and just vibin to our project, making plans to do shows and what not.  It was definitely a good time.  I hit up Khalil recently to suggest that we put up the EP for free download, and he agreed it was a good idea.  So here it is, folks.  Enjoy!

Forward Listening 21

December 20, 2011 at 8:00 am

I’m proud to announce Forward Listening Vol. 21, available now on The Noise Academy’s website and iTunes.  2 hours of goodness from Chris Berry, MdCL, Captain Planet, Colman Brothers, Toro Y Moi, DJ Cam, and more…

Lots of great music for you to enjoy.

Download

Hour 1

Charles Lloyd Quartet – Dream Weaver [ Concert in Athens; ECM Records ]
Me’shell Ndegeocello – Don’t Take My Kindness For Weakness [ Weather; Naive Records ]
Chris Berry – Lari’s Theme (End Theme) [ Oka! OST; Oka Productions ]
El Rego – Do Do Baya [ El Rego; Daptone ]
Empresarios – Cumbia Savage (Instrumental) [ Bestia EP; Fort Knox Recordings ]
Amerigo Gazaway – Stakes Is High [ Fela Soul; Self Released ]
Jonwayne – Just A Minute [ I Don’t Care; Self Released ]
DJ 2-Tone Jones – Blue Hype [ Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber; Self Released ]
DJ Center – You Got The Love (Applejac’s Hookah Lounge Remix) [ Everything in Time Remixed; Push The Fader ]
MdCL – Alabi (feat. Sandra Nkake) [ Renegades; Tru Thoughts ]
Bio Ritmo – Dina’s Mambo [ La Verdad; Electric Cowbell ]
Mongo Santamaria – Mongo’s Mambo (Joe Claussell Remix) [ Africa Caribe; Hammock House/Fania ]
Captain Planet – Samba Radiante [ Cookin’ Gumbo; Bastard Jazz ]
Colman Brothers – Another Brother (Big Band Mix) [ Colman Brothers ; Wah Wah 45’s ]

Hour 2

Mocean Worker – Do Like Ya Like [ Candygram for Mowo!; MRI ]
Sun Singleton – Ready (Opolopo Remix) [ Stilnovo Sessions Vol. 1; Stilnovo ]
The Getalong Gang – Better Than This [ It’s All House; Public Recordings ]
Aischa Traidia – What’s Going On [ Single; Melting Pot Music ]
Toro Y Moi – All Alone [ Freaking Out EP; Carpark Records ]
Kutcorners – Diamond (Wajeed Remix) [ Single; 11-inch Records ]
DJ Cam – A Loop [ Seven; Laurent Daumail ]
Garfield Adams – Build and Destroy (feat. Derrick Buck) [ 1st Things First; Stemulated Music ]
J-Live – No Time To Waste [ Said Person of That Ability; Triple Threat Music ]
Evidence – You [ Cats & Dogs; Rhymesayers ]
J.Bizness – 260 Dionne [ Flips Vol. 1; Self Released ]
Jose James – Trouble [ Single; Self-Released ]
Sarah Linhares – Here [ Messages from the Future; Public Transit ]
Grace Jones – This is Life [ Hurricane; Play It Again, Sam ]
Daedelus – Penny Loafers [ Bespoke; Ninja Tune ]
Bjork – Dark Matter (With Choir & Organ) [ Biophilia; Nonesuch ]
Moby – When You Grow Old [ Destroyed; Mute ]

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