Global Radio Review

Live Coachella Video: Public Enemy - Terminator X to the Edge of Panic

2009-04-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

The hands-down highlight of Coachella Sat and Sun for me was Public Enemy's performance of the entire classic "A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" album. That album is filled with classic cuts, but the homage to Terminator X was probably my favorite in 1988 - 21 years ago (Chuck D made it a point to recall that the US was the only country where no one organized a 20-year tribute.) Enjoy

Best Rap Songs of 2008

2009-01-08T18:47:00.000-08:00

Less writing, more music. That is my formula for getting this blog going again in 2009.

Enjoy what I consider to be the top 11 hip-hop songs of 2009. More lists are forthcoming. And no, I have no problem waiting until February to issue best of 2008 lists.

Best Songs
J-Live - The Upgrade (ft. Posdanous & Oddisee)
DJ Spinna - Dillagence (ft. Phonte of Little Brother)
Kid Cudi -Day n Nite
Black Spade - Enjoy the Experience
Roots Manuva - Again & Again
Outkast f. Raekwon - Royal Flush
Nas - Queens Get the Money
Murs - Can it Be
Jay Electronica - Victory is in my Clutches
Morgan Zarate f/ Ghostface - Sticks n Stones
Killah Priest & Chief Kamachi - Blessing
Download archive of all 11 individual MP3s

Best Albums
Oddisee -Oddisee 101
Cool Kids - Bake Sale EP
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Kanye West - 808 & Hertbreak

Eight for Late 2008

2008-12-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

Tetine - Olha Ela de Novo (Soul Jazz Records, UK/Sao Paulo)

J.A.M - Jazzy Joint feat. Jose James (Victor, Japan/Brooklyn)

Ben Mi Duck - Stepping Back (Trebleo, UK)

Solange - I Decided (Geffen, Houston)

Part Time Heroes - Stop, Fade and Blur (Wah Wah 45, UK)

NERD - Laser Gun Carrying(hidden track on new album)

Menahan Street Band - Home Again (Daptone, NYC)

Morgan Zarate - Sticks & Stones (ft eska & ghostface) (Spacek - white label, UK)

Video: Joy Denalane f/ Lupe Fiasco - Change

2007-08-28T21:54:00.001-07:00

Lupe Gets Political With Afro-German

2007-03-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

After hearing this song, I wanted to love the album by afro-German soul singer Joy Denalane. But, alas its not for me. This song on the other hand... great political lyrics and horn-drenched production

Joy Delalene ft Lupe Fiasco - Change

Marcina Arnold: The Sound of Jazzy London

2007-02-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

Released in November, this jazzy, latiny, UK-soul EP is easily one of the best of last year - and sure to get the February blues out of anyone.

Marcina is based in London where she was raised with her South African and Scot parents. Her interest seems to be most in Brazillian sounds, along with young UK jazz sensibilities.

She has recorded and performed with numerous artists such as Hugh Masakela, Airto, Mark de Clive Lowe, Grupo Batuque and many others. Arnold's band features some of London's best musicians and vocalists from the jazz, soul and "broken beat" scenes - Eska, Tom Herbert, Mpho Skeef and Jason Yarde. She released an album before this EP called "Twisted Blue Folk."

Released on Counterpoint Records, the EP is strong all the way through. "Blues for JCM" is a hip-hoppy, bluesy song about the killing of a Brazillian as he exited the London Tube, following the 2005 bus attacks. But Forefathers and Memory are the standouts, influenced by bossa and samba respectively and understanding rhythym and melody very well.

Marcina Arnold - Forefathers
Marcina Arnold - Forefathers

Working Week: Venceremos (We Will Win) - Or How I Learned to Jazz Dance

2007-02-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Got the Griffin IMIC all hooked up so I can record vinyl properly on this biatch. This one was laying around and it gave me an excuse to delve into some other related things.

Working Week - Vencerenmos (Jazz Dance 12' version)

Everyone knows Everything But The Girl's Tracy Thorn. but not so many people know about the milleu she came up in - the brilliant jazz (dance) scene of early 80s black London. This was the time when jazz, latin, and clubs went together, developing the "jazz dance" that continues even today (watch video here). The main venue was the (camden town) Electric Ballroom, who's dj was Paul Murphy (still doin damage). until Gilles Peterson replaced him in 1984.

Everything But the Girl - Each and Every One

Working Week sufaced after the demise of Simon Booth's first band Weekend, in the spring of 1983. The story goes that Simon wandered into the "jazz room" of the Electric Ballroom one night to find DJ Paul Murphy playing one of his songs to packed floor of young and mainly black jazz dancers and became an overnight local celebrity. He conceived the idea of a new band that would be bigger, tougher, politically motivated and jazz dance based.

Simon went away and wrote the first Working Week record Venceremos, aimed firmly at the club dancers while at the same time highlighting the political situation in Latin America. Venceremos was dedicated to the Chilean singer/guitarist Victor Jara who had been killed by the CIA backed military junta and was initially conceived as a benefit record for the Chile Solidarity Campaign. All the artists gave their services unpaid.

Venceremos was released to rave reviews, reaching number 15 in the pop singles charts. While the 7inch version featuring vocals from Tracy Thorn, Robert Wyatt and Chilean Claudia Figuerra was a bossa nova, it was the furious, double tempo 12inch version which really caused a stir with scorching solos from Larry and Harry Beckett and that driving Latin groove throughout, accompanied by a 15 minute film. That is what I have given you above.

Omar: Soul if You Want It

2007-02-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

Omar always had a place in my heart, but having seen him live in NYC last October on the day I got engaged, he now has a whole ventricle...

His latest album "Sing... If You Want It" is fantastic - the best soul record last year I'd say. HIs old albums are just as good- if you can find them.. Here are some highlights from the new one:

Omar f/ Estelle - Lay It Down
Omar - Ghana Emotion

From NPR, November 29, 2006:
Soul singer Omar has built a large following in Britain with a signature sound that combines jazz, soul, cabaret and Caribbean funk.

Omar isn't well known in the United States, and his music can be hard to find.

But over the past decade, he has developed a small, yet influential fan base here that includes some of the leading voices of R & B and hip-hop: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Common and Stevie Wonder...

Taylor McFerrin: Broken Vibes

2007-01-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

Yes Taylor McFerrin is the son of that other beat-boxing McFerrin (they've worked well together as well). But no, that does not mean he listened to terrible music his whole life. As the self-made, self-produced demo and recent live NYC performance attest, this young McFerrin knows where music is in 2007 and has the chops to play along.

The Broken Vibes EP is getting a limited released by the Rude Movements (NYC) crew, as a follow up to their Shawn J Period 12". The records will feature different hand drawn Ian Wright stencils. The ISOUL8 remix is thankfully included, which preserves the original but adds just the right bounce, as is a more hip-hop and Brazilian number.

Taylor McFerrin - Broken Vibes

Here's what the NT Times had to say about the lad a few weeks ago when he was headlining the Times' new "emerging artist" series at Joes Pub:

Taylor McFerrin is a one-man show. Combining his skills as a producer and performer, Taylor McFerrin is making music heads around the world take notice as he seamlessly builds songs from scratch with his ambitious live show. Fender Rhodes, Synths, Samples, Vocals and Beatboxing are meshed together as Taylor builds from his roots in 60s Soul to his vision of future Hip-Hop. Gaining attention from his first single "Broken Vibes," which debuted on Gilles Peterson BBC World Wide Radio, Taylor keeps the buzz on high for his debut album with his undeniably intriguing solo performance.

4 Hero Plays With the Changes

2007-01-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

This was meant to be a pre-release posting, but I learn we have 2 more weeks to wait for 4Hero's latest opus 'Play With the Changes.' I don't use that word thoughtlessly, for that is what ever 4Hero release has been. Each seems to usher in a totally new 4Hero, with a new sound - and new genres even. I won't run down their amazing history, that is what wikipedia can do now...

In Play With the Changes, Dego and Marc Mac conjure up an vintage jazzy soul that harks to the golden days. But when you listen closer and hear the modern (west london) electronic bits and advanced the drum patterns you think this is the future. Charles Stephney is definitely in the building, which makes sense after their fantastic homage to Chess/Cadet last year. We've heard bits of this sounds before - most obviously in their accalimed covers like Les Fluer, Black Gold of the Sun and Wishful Thinking. But those who expected a broken beat album are mostly disappointed (a mostly good thing).

This album really goes all out with the guest vocalists. Beyond the superb job of Carina Anderson (les fluer), there's Ursula Rucker, Jody Watley, Bembe Segue, Darien Brockington, Phonte of Little Brother, Jack Davey (J*DaVeY) and Larry Mizell.

4 Hero - Superwoman Where Were You When I Needed You (f/ Terry D) from Play With the Changes - One of those dangerous covers of classics, and they keep it respectful, but check the 4hero build half way through.

4 Hero ft. J Davey - Take My Time - Some of the finest work we've heard yet from the hot soul Angeleno's (who is apparently reinventing theirselves - )

This might be my favorite album of theirs yet, which is saying a lot, especially considering their recent work:

4Hero on the web:
Marc Mac's radio show Dollis Hill Sessions on Nu Wave Radio
Marc Mac's How About a Game of Chess (ABB Soul) LP
Marc Mac's Visioneers - Dirty Old Hip-Hop(BBE) LP
Dego (and KaidiTaitham's) Silhouette Brown - S/T (Ether) LP
4 Hero's compilation for Lifetsyles (Harmless UK) LP
4 Hero on You Tube
What they were up to a year and a half ago, according to yours truly.

UPDATE: I remembered a couple other 4Hero related bits of digitalia. Marc Mac has a new podcast site, where he's posted a mix of classic 4 Hero tunes called 'Coffee Table Classics' amongst other things. Also, Gilles' has got a podcast featuring a good talk with Marc Mac.

Belated Best of 2006

2007-01-26T23:24:00.000-08:00

It's best to be the last to post 'best of' lists, because you have time to read everyone else's first before you can think you have a shot at claiming "best" of anything. I'm still finding top worthy songs up until today I had no idea existed (like this reggae bomb by Alaine - Deeper):

15 TOP ALBUMS
Bugz in the Attic - Back to the Doghouse
Mark Mac Presents: Visioneers -'Dirty Ole Hip Hope
Omar- Sing... If You Want It
TM Juke/Diesler – Keepie Upies
DJ Shadow - The Outsider
J Dilla - Donuts/The Shining
Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
Mr V - Welcome Home
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin' Up
Nomo, Owusu & Hannibal, Radio Citizen
Sergio Mendes - Timeless
The Beauty Room - The Beauty Room
V/A - More MPM Sound
VA - Brownswood Bubblers
VA - BITA
VA - SoulBoulders

DANCE
Alice Smith - Love Endeavor (Maurice Fulton mix)
Digital Funk Addicts - Higher Level
ESG - 'Insane' (Bass Mix)
Floetry - 'I Want You' (Yoruba Soul Mix)
Kevin Reynolds - 'Afrik'
Quasimode - 'Ipe Amarelo' (Spiritual South Remix)
Spirit Catcher - 'Rise and Shine' (Pascal Rioux Philly mix)
Sumo - The Danceband LP (inc. Lovebeat, Nini, No Custa Nada)
The Outlines - 'Listen to the Drums Part 1'
Zero dB - 'A Pomba Girou'
Status - You aint Really Down (Jazzanova mix)

LATIN/WORLD
12"s
Aloe Blacc - 'Bailar'/'Patria Mia' (Stones Throw)
Jorge Ben - 'Sou Da Pesada' (7 Samurai Afroraduno Remix)
Nomo - 'Nu Tones'
Luisito Quintero - 'Percussion Maddness'
El Lele De Los Van Van Feat. Radiohead - 'High & Dry'
Sygaire - 'Deux Mille Deux' (Sonar Kollektiv)
LPS
Ali Farka Toure - Savane
Juana Molina - Son
Sergio Mendes - Timeless
VA- The Rough Guide to West African Gold
Kinky- Reina
Soweto Kinch -
Edu K, DJ Sandrinho
Diplo - bringing Angolan, Brazillian, Jamaican, Baltamorean beats to the cool kids

TOP TRACKS (POPPY)
Ben Westbeech - 'So Good Today' (Brownswood)
Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy' (Wea)
Lily Allen - 'LDN' (Regal)
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - 'Feeling Free' (Timmion)
Simbad - 'Soul Fever' (Raw Fusion)
J Timberlake - My Love
T.T f Q-Tip - Why You Wanna
Lupe Fiasco - 'I Gotcha' (Atlantic)
Pharrel - Mamacita, Number 1, Margarita (Sleepy Brown), Anything (Jay-Z)
Rapture - Get Myself Into It (Prince Language mix)

R&B/SOUL
Chokolate - 'Heavy'
Colonel Red - 'Blue Eye Black' (People)
Omar - Ghana Emotion, Lay it Down, Your Mess, Feeling You..
Eric Lau & Rahel - 'I'm Fine' (White)
Georgia Anne Muldrow - 'Wrong Way'
J*Davey - 'Might As Well'
Brockington - 'Can We Fall in Love Again'
Mark Ronson f/ A. Greenwald - 'Just'
LPs
Omar - Sing... if You Want It
Anthony David - Red Clay Chronicles
Julie Dexter & Khari Simmons - Moon Bossa
Joi - Tennessee Slim Is The Bomb
Chokolate - Choklate

HIP-HOP
Busta Rhymes - 'New York Sh***' (Interscope)
Ghostface Killah & MF Doom - 'Angeles' (Lex)
J Dilla Ft. Pharaoh Monch - 'Love' (bbe)
Lupe Fiasco - 'I Gotcha' (Atlantic)
Cut Chemist - 'What's the Altitude'
Dj Adlib f. MED - Everyday
Ghostface f Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No good
Hi Tek f/ Talib Kweli, Ayak - Can We Go Back
Tanya Morgan - 'Pretty'
Strange Fruit Project - the Healing LP
Rhymefest - Blue Collar LP
J Dilla - The Shining
Clipse -
Visioneers - Dirty Old Hip Hop LP

JAZZY THINGS
Big Bang - Way In Jazz (Summer Fields)
Hot 8/Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Marcina Arnold - ForefathersMemory
Middlewood Sessions - Fall Back
Elizabeth Shepherd - Start To Move (Do Right)
Raul Midon - 'Sunshine' (EMI)
Matthias Vogt Trio - Changing Colors
Heritage Orchestra - THO
Koop- Koop Islands
The Life Force Trio - Living Room
Kenny Garrett - Qing Wen
Ammoncontact - With Voices
Soil & Pimp - Pimp Master
Sleepwalker - The Voyage

VIDEOS
Mark Ronson - Just http://youtube.com/watch?v=fxu5CUPRU-U
Elizabeth Shepherd Trio - Four http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZYpNi9nTW4&eurl=
Soil & Pimp - Summer Goddess -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7cZ1cRERZo
Mard de Clive Lowe - Heaven - http://youtube.com/watch?v=qGMtA6QHazQ

ROCK
Jose James - 'The Dreamer' (White)
M Craft - 'Silver and Fire' (679)
CSS - Music is My Hot Hot Sex / Alaha
Tahiti 80 - Something About You/A Matter of Time
Beck - The Information
Prototypes - Who's Gonna Sing

Risen from the Dead

2006-07-19T00:41:00.000-07:00

In an effort to actually keep this going, we're gonna make it simple. Free good music. I'm not one of those that feels it necessary to spend a great deal of time and effort to talk or write about music, or I'm just lazy...

Getting straight into 2007 vibes:
Mos Def - Sun, Moon, Stars - The leftside joint off the new LP True Magic.
Jazzanova f./ Thief - The Siren's Call - Off Jazzanova's new soundtrack album
Otto de Royas Y Los Ultras 76 - Choca Las Caderas (7 Samurai Ciucciotto re-edit) - A funky Latin disco re-edit

A classic boogie joint:
The Ultimate Robot Band - Barely Breakin Even

And 2 ripped from the global digital radio:
Ben Westbeech - Hang Around - look for a HUGE album on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Records soon.
Taylor McFerrin - Broken Vibes - Yes, son of that beatboxing McFerrin.

And this video in honor of the show I hear Japan's punk-jazz sensation Soil & Pimp put on in their US debut Wed in NYC with Gilles and (Brazil's) Tita Lima (bonus mp3). Now someone get them to LA!

Testing

2006-02-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

Gilles Peterson's "5 minute Jazz Mix" for BBC Radio

Gilles in late August

2005-08-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

Some exclusive goods from the last 2 weeks of Giles PEterson's Worldwide on BBC Radio 1:

Mizell Brothers - NR Time
"Proto broek beat" as the man says. This is amazing, really ahead of its time. Though I understand the Mizell Brothers added the vocal and trumpet - and extended this never released track recently. The Mizell's of course, were responsible for many of the jazz-funk boogie jams of the mid 70s - Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humnphrey, et. al. A new record featuring their greatest hits, as well as some reworks, is being relreased on Blue Note September 13th.

Heavy - Wonderlove (Jazzanova mix) Jazzanova do not mess around. They flip the NYC pop-soul duo's Wonderlove into a full flown anthem, including a trademark temp change.

Domu ft. Tiombe Lockhart - It's You (Bling 47 mix) Nuff said... this is just a snippit though.

Dwele - A Pimp's Dream The new Dwele is shaping out to be worth the wait. This is an early highlight.

Video: Nostalgia 77 - HOPE

2005-08-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

One of the most amazing video's I've ever seen. A gorgousely choreographed montage completely gleaned from vintage Americana television and newsreel - to a devastating, yet HOPEFUL effect.

Check this video and other tru Thoughts goodies at the fine folks at Samurai FM

Repost: Michael vs a Norweigen

2005-07-31T00:38:00.000-07:00

This one is too good not to repost in better quality. Sorry, as a Norweigen-American I am biased.

Michael Jackson - I Can't Help It (TangoTerje edit)

This GAMM 12: also features a great cover of Kitty Winter's "New Morning." He's also got another 12" out with a nice edit of George McRae's"I Get Lifted."

You can also check out an hour cool Todd Terje mix here:

What We Be About

2005-07-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd repost this from my main blog, Leftside.

2004 BEST OFs

The 10 dancefloor killers (there's a new sound in Londontown):
Lady Sovereign - Random (Solid Groove mix)
Sunship - Almighty Father
Tubby T - Ready She Ready (Seiji mix
Omar - It's So
Paul Murphy - 'Jazz Room (Spiritual South Remix)' (Afro Art Records)
MIA - Galang
Recloose - Dust
Mr.De' - 'Whonleeone'
Jazzanova Feat. Shaun Escoffery - 'Boom Clicky, Boom Click'
Daz- I-Kue -Blood Fire'

Top 10 Rap Songs
Obie Trice - The Set Up
Fabulous - Breathe
Masta Ace - Good Old Love
TY/Roots Manuva - Oh U Want More (Refix Remix)
Skinnyman - Council State of Mind
Ghostface - Run
The Strange Fruit Project - 'All The Way' (Kajmere)
Q-Tip - Scram Jones (white)
Skillz - 'Take It Back' (Okayplayer)
The Beat Assailant 'Chronic Break' Feat Tash of The Liks

Rap With Singers 10
Lord Finesse - 'Ghetto feat. Rell' (Fatbeats)
Jadakiss f/ Anthony Hamilton - Why + remix
Da Ranjahz f/ Cee- Lo- Insp-Her-Ation
Medaphoar feat. Erykah Badu "Special"
Mos Def feat Vinia Mojica "Magnificent" (white)
Estelle ("Freedom" f/ T. Kweli may be the best song of the year - that no one heard)
Pete Rock f/ Leela James - No Tears
Kanye f/ GLC & Consequence - Spaceship
Isley Brothers - 'Groove With You' (feat Mos Def) (White)
Mad Skillz - Take it Back

R&B/Soul 10Kelis - Trick Me
Platinum Pied Pipers - Stay with Me/I Got You
Sa Ra - Glorious (ABB Soul)
Troubleman - Roll On
Prince - What You Want Me To Do Now?
Jill Scott "Bedda At Home"
Heavy "Do For You"/"Wonderlove"
Amp Fiddler - 'I Believe In You (Jaylib mix)'
Eric Roberson - 'Couldn't Hear Me'
Ty Tribbett - Mighty Long Wayd

Best Jazzy Bits
Intuit "Western Sunrise"
Jazztronik - Samurai
Build An Ark - "The Blessing Song"
Sebastian Teller - 'La Ritournelle' (Source)
Sleepwalker f/ Pharoah Sanders - The Voyage
The Five Corners Quintet "Three Corners(Nicola Conte rmx)"
Directions - 'Busted Trees' (Diaspora)
Rebirth - This Journey In
Troubleman - 'Toda Hora Feat. Nina Marana'
Linn and Freddie 'Keep On Playing' (Swedish Brandy)

Top 10 LPs
Troubleman - Time Out of Mind
DKD - Future Rage
Plantlife - The Adventures of Jack Black
New Sector Movements - Turn It Up
Kanye West - College Dropout
(tie) Dwight Trible and Build an Ark
(tie) De La Soul - The Grind Date and Ghostface "Pretty Toney Album"
Lizz Fields - By Day By Night
Omar Sosa - Mulatos
Zap Mama - Ancestry in Progress

Top 10 Compilations
VA - Bugz in the Attic remix LP
VA - Rewind Vol 3 and 4 (Ubiquity)
VA - New York Soul/California Soul/Philly Soul 2 comps (Harmless)
VA - Gilles Peterson in Brazil
VA - Dj Niuts - Cultura
VA - Kon and Amir - The Cleaning
VA - The Blue Note Project (Blue Note)
VA - Secret Love (Jazzanova picks some of their favorite nu folk flavors)
VA - MPS Jazzy Reworks

Best hip-hop LPs:
Ghostface - Pretty Tony
Strange Fruit Project - Soul Travellin
Crown City Rockers - Earthtones
De La Soul - The Grind Date
MF Doom - Mmmm Food,
Madvillian - Madvillainy
Foreign Exchange - Connected
Masta Ace - Long Hot Summer
Kanye West - Colege Dropout (plus all his prods.)
Devin tha Dude - 2 tha X-Treme

West Coast Soul (and Kakalak)

2005-07-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

AG Thomas - The 1, 2
Oakland's soul label ABB Soul ABB Soul, previously best loved for making top notch (often US based) import records cheaper in the US, here showcases 10-year music industry "rookie" AG Thomas... and the production of Mike City (Brandy, Usher). "The 1,2" is one of those that I had a crappy MP3 of for months, but had to break down and cop this weekend. Well done for putting this 2005 soul gem out.

Havana - Shine
Beleagured San Diego can be pround of homegirl Havana. Another new name to me, Mrs. Havana has this 12" and an album coming out on (LA's Elysian Park's up and coming) Kashmere Sound Records. The feel-good "Shine" features the sublime production of Mr. Nicolay (of Foreign Exchange).

Nathaniel - La La La
Nathaniel is the one they usually call Aloe Blacc of Emanon. Known to roc the mic in all kinds a LA dance, his soulful side shines through on his Nathaniel side project. This perfectly spacy 3AM jam was produced by Ta'raach (PPP).

Slum Village v. Exile - Time Has Come
The other half of Emanon, Dj Exile (go there for some fire Jay-Z Black Album remix mp3s), drops 2 bangers on this 12" featuring Slum Village. Sound in Color, Exile, Aloe Blacc.... whatchu got?!!

Just a (new) Stones Throw

2005-06-20T01:46:00.000-07:00

For doz that are sleeping, both the recent MED and OHNO records packed some serious heat. Below are somewhat girlie jams from each (that I happened to love better in their original forms):

Meanwhile Stones Throw keeps bringing it with a 1st time on vinyl 2LP called "Stones Throw on Wax." Super MC Percee P LP out soon! And more Madlib goodness as well I'm sure... both Mind Fusions are sick. From the ST page, download a mix by DJ Troubl of Quas joints called "A Journey Into Fresh Diggin"

MED - Special (f/ Noelle)
The first version with the Badu sample was even better.

OH No - Can't Help Myself (f/ Stacy Epps)
Here the first version without the singer should have also found its way on the album.

Gilles Peterson is Worldwide

2005-06-20T00:40:00.000-07:00

Monsour Gilles Peterson, radio tastemaker from the Gods, is the man. Don't get mad at him for his overpriced CDs or the cult-like devotion fans (like me) express. No other dj has broken as many artists... from national stars like Jill Scott, Neptunes or Zero 7 to LA locals like Plantlife, Rebirth and Dwight Trible... even hit records like "one thing"...

The man has an ear. It comes from years of dedication to music and a left of center worldview. Twenty years ago he was "joining the dots" of jazz, funk, early electro and reggae on pirate radio. From his days of clubbing at places like the Electic Ballroom and Dingwalls with the likes of Chris Bangs, Paul Murphy and Eddie Piler the fateful word Acid Jazz arose out of a joke. Then came comps like Jazz Juice, Blue Bossa and Journeys by... His Worldwide radio show has been legit on Kiss Fm since 1990 and BBC since 1998. Its popularity is a godsend to that bloody island.

If you listen to the current incarnation of Gilles' Worldwide show on Radio 1 you will recognize the last one by Steve Reid, mid 70s Miles Davis percussionist who later played withfriggin everyone... hubbard, bartz, sun ra, shepp, silver, fela even james brown. Gilles' most recent comp is a 2CD follow-up to Gilles in Brazil called Gilles in Africa. Both feature original music from the source, then remixes and interpretations from today. The second cut is by Feqadu Amdé-Mesqel, an associate of the ASTOUNDING Mulatu of Ethiopia. The track is an example of the kind of previously unknown track that he routinely mines. The first track is a recent Worldwide biggie by (Matthew) Herbert vocalist:

Roisin Murphy - So Into You
Feqadu Amdé-Mesqel - Asmarina
Steve Reid - Lions of Juda

What 4Hero Has Been Up To

2005-06-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

4 Hero should need to introduction, and I am to lazy to give one. Between Mr. Dego McFarlane and Mark Mac, the 2 have made dance music history multiple times over. Seeing Dego DJ live in Sheffield, UK in 97 was one of the highlights of my time there - a breath of fresh air amongst the big beat and drumnbass of the time.

4Hero's last album may actually be their best. It captures those rare coveted 4Hero remixes I used to collect.... and for that reason I never bought it (or the Jazzanova or BITA remix albums). "The Action" by 4Hero f/ Ish aka Butterfly (yeah that one), remixed by the Visioneers (Mark Mac with Hopper and Somantik) is the one that I never did have. They've turned a throw away track off Two Pages LP into a jazz hip-hop classic. The Visioneers 4th and latest 7" on Omniverse is a live remake of the Pharcyde's "Runnin'."

Next is a should-be LA anthem, 4 Hero's remix of Plantilife's "When She Smiles She Lights the Sky." If you haven't copped Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Radio Show #1 album of the year "The Return of Jack Splash," you be asleep... or don't want to hear a better Outkast. Dego has also recently released another soul collab project, this time with Broken Beat don (and Bug) Kaidi Tatham called Silhouette Brown. The big cut and single is called "Spread That," it's out on new label Ether (also responsible for Gilles Peterson in Africa).

Finally, we have a semi-released cut from Mr. Mac from a project that immediately grabbed by attention. It's called the Chess Cadet Allstars, because Mac pulls almost exclusively from the the legendary Chicago label(s) (Charles Stephney, Minnie Ripperton, Ramsey Lewis, Howlin Wolf, Etta James, the Dells, etc.). This one is called "Simple Folk", and I ashamedly don't know where the sample comes from. But it is a beauty of a beat.

Supposedly 4Hero has a new album coming soon. The Visioneers is also supposed to come out. Til then you can hear Mark Mac, Somatik and others weekly radio show online at Nu Wave Radio

Back on the Air

2005-06-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

I dumped Audioblog.com because it wouldn't allow anyone to actually download the tunes. (What is an audioblog if you can't cop?) I've also gotten better at ripping from vinyl, which will supplement the mostly (BBCentric) internet radio download format I've started here. Don't expect much in way of organization or theme. (and 4 the RIAA busters: For educational and cultural purposes only)

We'll start today with the test download that worked, a bomb from Jneiro Jarel's debut LP _Three Piece Puzzle_ on Holland's US talent thief of a record label Kindred Spirits (home of LA's Build and Ark, NYC's Heavy, Chicago's Peven Everett, Digable Planets - and Dutch crooner Benny Sings). Jarel was "found" in Houston by PE Bomb Squad pilot Hank Shocklee, after opening for everyone from Special Ed to the Pharcyde. But his time with Black Lilly and work with Rich Medina led to collaborations with Sonar Kollektiv, Lizz Fields, Fertile Ground... even a new tasty remix to Recloose's "Dust." The LP will have you remembering why you loved all those "golden age" hip-hop groups.

Jneiro Jarel - Doinis f. Dr. Who Dat

You can find the LP at most good shops. His exclusive (1997-2001) CD is available here.

Michael Jackson - I Can't Help It (Todd Terje mix)

2005-02-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

A big edit in London at the moment. I hear this is going to drop on GAMM soon. Norway's (the motherland) Terje is has dropped a couple disco-house 12s and edits here and there - like dee dee bridgewater's "easy money."

Dwele - Untitled

2005-02-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

New smoky heat from Dwele. For doz that slept make sure you cop the much bootlegged and sold for 50 dollars on EBAY (pre-Subject) album called "Rize" now that you can find it on vinyl.

"Chickenheads, ya feeling it?"

Stevie Wonder - As If You Read My Mind

2005-02-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

Taken from Stevie's 1980 passed over "Hotter than July" LP. This boogie masterpiece has been re-edited by someone - and played by Gilles Peterson last week. A great treasure that I never knew about.

Skillz - 04 Wrap Up

2005-02-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

A great idea that I hope will never die in rap - the year-end wrap-up, handled by Mad Skillz - keepin it strong. The beat this year is pretty butt, still it is an entertaining listen.

GP Worldwide 01.30.05 (:30-:52)

2005-01-31T17:47:00.000-08:00

END of Teena Marie - 'Portuguese Love' (Motown)
John Legend - 'Used To Love U' (Yam Who? Remix) (Columbia)
Joe Dukie & DJ Fitchie - 'Seconds' (Especial)
Alison Crocket - 'Nappy' (Waiwan Remix) (White)
Mark De Clive Lowe - 'Heaven' (Antipodean) - CUT

dubbed from BBC Radio1:

Pre Release Prefuse

2005-01-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

The new Prefuse 73 album "Surrounded By Silence" is released on 21st March, preceded by a single "HideYaFace" on 21st Feb featuring EL-P and Ghostface.

Contributors include Ghostface and El-P, Aesop Rock, Masta killa + GZA, D.J. Nobody, Beans, Broadcast, Cafe Tacuba, Tyondai braxton, Claudia + Alejandra Deheza, The books, Camu, Pedro, and Kazu (blonde redhead.)

all from Warp: http://www.warprecords.com/news/?offset=0&ti_id=893

Call It Tivo for Radio

2005-01-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

I dowloaded a cool program yesterday. It allows me to record internet radio/audio to MP3 and even puts it in my ITunes. From this, I will enrich the audioblogosphere.

Since so much of the good new music is played on some radio show somewhere we don't live, we need this.

Beware - the quality is not great or even good. I have never placed my highest regards for quality. I was that kid back on rec.music.hip-hop who'd trade and sell Chicago hip-hop radio dubs. At the time Chicago's vast underground rap was unheard and underappreciated. I wanted my internet-friends to feel the flavor.

Today, we are at a unique moment. Not quite to perfect quality internet radio but still at least legal.

So I present to the world outstanding new music from BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Higher Ground Radio, Jazzanova Radio, KCRW and misc. others.