Ode To The Big Sea

 

Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release

I used to listen to house music a lot about 7 or 8 years ago, back when absolute rhythms were being released every week like 'Intro' by Alan Braxe & Fred Falke...

Nowadays the electro house scene seems to have taken over and largely i'm unimpressed with what I hear, but Simian Mobile Disco are definitely an exception.

Their album 'Attack Decay Sustain Release' was released last summer and is packed with real variation - a fusion of funk, electro & quality production. Tracks like 'Hustler', It's The Beat and Hot Dog.

However my favourite has to be 'I got this down this right'...

Filed under  //   electronic  

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Mike James Kirkland

As my quest for the original soul sound of the 60's and 70's continues I'm beginning to discover some amazing underated musicians.

Mike James Kirkland should be heralded along side the likes of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield he's that good. However, his two albums released in the early 70's ("Hang On In There" and "Doin' It Right") simply dissapeared into obscurity.

Recently the ultra-rare groove scene stumbled on "Doin' It Right' and now original copies of it reportedly exchange hands for $500 or more such that it is so rare and at the same time, so good.

Fortunately for the non-collectors the two albums have been re-issued by the notorious Luv n' Haight rare groove reissue label with the help of Ubiquity.

Check out the track 'Together'...

Filed under  //   soul  

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Quiet Village 'Silent Movie'

Released in May this year 'Silent Movie' is one for the chillout crew.

My favourite off the album has to be 'Broken Promises'...

Filed under  //   chillout  

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The Sylvers - Only One Can Win

J Dilla was a genius.

Take one old 70's record...

And make it into the ruffest hip-hop tune. As featured on his album 'Donuts', I could listen to this on repeat all day...

Filed under  //   hip hop   soul  

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Damn Girl

Treated myself to The Complete Mus-I-Col Recordings of JC Davis and the opening track after the intro just blew me away.

Timberlake fans might recognise 'A New Day (is Here at Last)' as 'Damn Girl'.

Just love the drums...

Filed under  //   funk  

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L.T.D. - Love To The World

Pure bad funk. Released 1976.

I'm sure the harmonies in the intro have been sampled in a hip-hop tune but I can't put my finger on it.

Wait for the drop around 3 mins...

Update...

Randomly listening to some tunes and found the one that samples that harmony. 'Ladder of Success' by DJ K.O.

Filed under  //   funk   hip hop  

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Fleet Foxes

Their self titled album has just been released.

Inevitabley they will be compared with the Beach Boys because of their fantastic harmonies.

These guys are really good.

Check this acoustic number 'Oliver James'...

Filed under  //   folk   indie  

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Visioneers - Dirty Old Hip Hop

Marc Mac, aka 4 Hero, is one of my favourite producers and under his Visioneers guise he has created a jazz infused hip hop album you just don't want to miss.

Marc produced the album to pay respect to the great hip hop producers that have influenced him. Jazzy Jeff, Jay Dee and Pete Rock introduced him to jazz and Marc's own take on it is really fresh and inventive.

The album is studio based and has allowed Marc to re-make true classics such as Nas 'The World Is Yours' and Pharcyde’s 'Runnin'.

This is the track 'Ike's Mood I'...

Filed under  //   hip hop  

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Connie Price And The Keystones - Tell Me Something

Connie Price And The Keystones describe their sound as "Hip hop influenced cinematic soul music". This is one not to be missed!

Released on the brilliant Ubiquity record label just a few months back 'Tell Me Something' is pure funk soul with each track featuring a guest MC. The 2nd disc features instrumental versions of all the tracks for the purists.

The Keystones are a collection of session musicians brought together with various members having worked with Macy Gray, Breakstra, Madlib, The Daptones, El Michels Affair, Orgone... the list goes on. These guys are talented.

This is the track 'Master At Work Ft. Ohmega Watts'...

Filed under  //   funk  

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Apparat - Walls

Apparat is a German electronic music producer from Berlin. 'Walls' was released last year and is eclectic and very difficult to pigeon-hole.

At times he sounds like Benga, then Radiohead, then Aphex Twin.

There's influences of techno and electro in there, yet he makes use of string instruments to give his records a real atmosphere, cinematic at times.

The album really ebbs and flows, there are lots of broken beats, moments of pure chill, but it's never long before he picks up the tempo again. Most of the tracks are instrumental but there are a couple that feature vocalists.

Really you need to listen for yourself... This is 'Useless Information'

Filed under  //   electronic  

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