R&S RECORDS ARE BACK !! and its huge......

James Blake - CMYK EP (R&S Records) (2010)

R&S records still bringing the heat after all these years.....

Tracklist:

01 CMYK
02 Footnotes
03 I'll Stay
04 Postpone


"Blake’s past releases on Hessle Audio and Hemlock have gathered him close to universal acclaim – not least from us – and ‘CMYK’ sees more of the fried synth torture and cut vocals that have become his trademark.

On the EP’s title track, which is both its immediate stand-out and a staple of recent DJ sets by Ben UFO and others, the staccato vocals are maybe more in your face than any Blake track to date, and also like most Blake to date, sounds very good. The rest isn’t bad either.

The ‘CMYK’ EP will be released on May 31, in digital and 12″ vinyl" (FACT MAGZINE)

GUARDIAN INTERVIEW - Future go-to producer of UK urban pop? James Blake

Hometown: London.

The lineup: James Blake (vocals, music, production).

The background: James Blake is a 22-year-old producer who has been studying contemporary music at Blur's alma mater Goldsmiths College, and in a way it sounds as though he's regurgitating a lot of what he's learned, in the best possible way. There's a lot of music to take in here; certainly it's going to be harder than usual to say what it is, although we can have a stab at saying what he does.

He does a few things – three, principally, only two of which we've heard. He's a dubstep artist who's just signed to the excellent R&S label, and although we're not as knee-deep as Mary Ann Hobbs in the stuff, his 2009 debut 12-inch Air and Lack Thereof places itself superbly – in terms of production detail, noir melody and sense of London as exciting psychogeographic space – alongside Aidy's Girl Is A Computer, Black Sun and the best of the Hyperdub label.

The second thing for which Blake is making a name for himself are his R&B/ hip-hop-sampling exercises that he records as Harmonimix, where he reworks tunes like Lil Wayne's A Milli and Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot. And thirdly there are his hissy, scratchy, simple and plaintive piano tracks recorded on his laptop. They're supposedly primitive but personal affairs featuring his own, albeit treated, vocals – like we say, we've not heard them, but we're guessing at an approximation of Moby's field recordings, only think London Fields, not somewhere rural and American.

Actually, Blake's new EP, CMYK, appears to be a conflation of those first two ventures. It comprises four tracks, and they're based almost solely on R&B samples from the likes of Aaliyah, Brandy and R Kelly. There are micro-beats, lots of space (or do we mean "lost in space"?), some Auto-Tuned vocals, possibly Blake's own, as well as cut-up, chopped, diced and sped-up or slowed-down male and female vocal melodies from barely recognisable urban hits. It's a kind of dubstep R&B, but unlike, say, Squarepusher's 2001 single My Red Hot Car or Aphex Twin's Windowlicker, which were equal parts loving and facetious homage to UK garage and Timbaland's avant-dance, this stuff appears to be a reverential take on the soundtrack to the 6'5" wunderkind's youth. The title track, for example, is a beautiful piece of music: twitchy, tense, but captivatingly melodic and brilliantly arranged, it essays a new form of intelligent but never arid, electronic urban soul.

The buzz: "There's a unique and playful soulfulness to Blake's tracks, which often feature his own singing voice slowed down by intense digital effects. The result is a bit like a futuristic, lurching take on Moby's Play" – Pitchfork.

The truth: Welcome to Blake's heaven (rickety late-70s Brit sci-fi TV show pun intended).

Most likely to: Make Blake the go-to producer of UK urban pop.

Least likely to: Hang around Deptford any longer than he needs to.

What to buy: The CMYK EP is released by R&S on 31 May.

File next to: Beaty Heart, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Darkstar.


ALSO CHECK OUT......

Pariah – Detroit Falls/Orpheus (R&S)(2010)



Tracklisting:

1. Detroit Falls
2. Orpheus

"Debut single for hotly tipped London based producer Pariah on the legendary R&S record label. Pariah is a precocious young talent, and part of the same London bass music scene that has spawned the likes of Burial, Bullion, James Blake, Pangaea and Untold. The two tracks on this debut single were the his first ever finished productions and snapped up by R&S under the noses of a whole bunch of interested high profile labels. Both cuts wear their influences on their sleeve, referencing the hip hop beat collages of Dilla and the moody atmospheric 2-step rhythms of Burial, Levon Vincent, Fennesz and classic Detroit techno as well as the likes of MJ Cole and Steve Gurley, but still contain the rich Pariah DNA which will be even more apparent on his future R&S singles." (PICCADILLY RECORDS)/

Purchases for April/May

Just grabbed myself a few new tasty releases direct from JAZZMAN RECORDS....

Roy Brooks & the Artistic Truth - Ethnic Expressions (JMANLP.034)


Easily one of the most coveted and sought-after of all jazz LPs is the elusive Holy Grail that is Roy Brooks’ Ethnic Expressions. It’s not just rarity that makes a record of this nature so desirable, nor is it the compelling music within… sometimes, like a Van Gogh or a Picasso, it’s the personality of the artist himself that’s inexorably entwined with the record itself that lends a fascinating, mesmeric and mythical quality that simply can’t be contrived.

The sixth release in our HOLY GRAIL series is an attentive reissue of one of Detroit drummer Roy Brooks’ two LPs for the tiny Im Hotep label out of New York. This Jazzman release is in conjunction with P-Vine records of Tokyo, whose Japanese reissue has already vanished with only a handful having reached these shores late in 2009.

Ethnic Expressions was recorded live in NYC in 1973, and exhibits a powerful message of black consciousness and spiritual freedom. This is post-Coltrane progressive jazz of the highest order! With a cry to his African roots, Brooks’ music combines modal, rhythmic and Afro-centric jazz with politics, spirituality and a positive vibes. The result is deep, esoteric spiritual jazz that any fan into real deal vibrant jazz will require as essential listening.

The LP is a reproduction of the original, pressed on 180g virgin vinyl. The CD also contains a colour booklet with extra pictures and liner notes translated from those written by respected Japanese jazz collector Yusuke Ogawa.

Tracklisitng:

Side 1
1. "M'Jumbe"
2. "The Last Prophet"
Side 2
1. "The Smart Set"
2. "Eboness"
3. "Eboness (Kwanza)"


Kellee Patterson - I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More, Baby/Mr Magic 7" (JM.075)

As covers go Kellee Patterson’s versions of the Barry White-penned classic and the theme made famous by Grover Washington Jr don’t fall far short of spectacular! Recorded back in sunny ’76, this is sublime femme soul with impeccable production, a classy double-sider that cannot fail to please!

BACKGROUND
Back in the ‘70s, when Kellee wasn’t winning beauty contests, she was winning singing competitions. The talented lady won a contract to record an LP for the esteemed Black Jazz label, before turning her hand to a more soulful album venture for Shady Brook. The single taken from the album included an abridged version of Barry White’s ‘Im Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More, Baby’, but here for the first time is the FULL LENGTH version, released here in its entirety as it was always meant to be heard. Backed on the flip with a stunning vocal rendition of ‘Mr Magic’, the tune that catapulted Grover Washington Jr into the big time, what we have here is a soulful seven that’s too good to ignore. DJs watch out for immediate dancefloor reaction, whichever side you decide to play.

Tracklisting:

1. I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More, Baby
2. Mr Magic


BUNKER HILL - You Can’t Make me Doubt My Baby / Little Red Riding Hood 7" (JUKEBOX/JAZZMAN)

When David Walker did a spot of moonlighting under the pseudonym ‘Bunker Hill’ with Link Wray and his band, the alter-ego was necessary not only to avoid a conflict with his other commitments but also to allow Walker to break out from his gospel shackles and raise some hell – which he most certainly did on the unique and astounding set of recordings he made under this new moniker. Redefining the term ‘Blues Shouter’, Bunker Hill’s vocals are screamed, barked and growled with a truly wild abandon, like a deranged synthesis of Little Richard and Howlin’ Wolf. The accompaniment from Link Wray and his Raymen, meanwhile, is a masterclass of stark, primitive blues noise.

‘You Can’t Make Me Doubt My Baby’ is a bass heavy stomper, a rolling rhythm with cool piano hits and of course Walker’s gruff vocal. On the other side, ‘Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf’ showcases Bunker Hill’s (even) wilder side as he yells and riffs a call and response sermon based on the nursery rhyme of the same name over an insistent, sparse, clattering drum-led back drop.

It’s worth mentioning that all of the original singles were released on terrible styrene, which as most collectors know deteriorates progressively on repeated playing. So not only is it a pleasure to offer up Bunker Hill’s unique madness to a wider audience, but also to preserve these two tracks on good quality vinyl for the first time.

Tracklisting:

1. You Can’t Make me Doubt My Baby
2. Little Red Riding Hood


WALTER WILSON - Love Keeps Me Crying / Not Now But Later 7" (SOUL7/JAZZMAN)

Another northern rarity on Wand - out now on SOUL7!!! And as usual this SOUL7 reissue is FULLY LICENSED and restored from the ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES so it SOUNDS GREAT – unlike what you get from SHODDY BOOTLEGS! And in keeping with the spirit of collecting the pressing run is limited to ONLY 500 COPIES worldwide!

Through our Soul 7 label we are committed to the continuing pursuit of the rarest and most sought after quality soul sides on the planet. For our latest release, few could argue that we haven’t kept our part of the bargain as we bring you a reissue of Walter Wilson’s awesome two-sider from the Wand catalogue. A real lost gem of mid-‘60s soul, the single gives us a Northern dancer from the very tip-toppest shelf on the ‘A’ and a real beauty of a mid-tempo ballad on the flip. Why the single is so scarce is anyone’s guess.

Wand was a large and prolific independent and though it is common to find obscure titles on such labels – records which perhaps had one promo run and were then canned – rarities of this magnitude are unusual full stop. What we do know is that you could likely count the known copies of the original on one hand and that the last (perhaps the only?) to go through at online auction fetched a healthy figure of over $6000 (yes, six thousand US dollars).

Of course, such glaring figures make interesting reading but it’s no use if the record doesn’t hold up musically. Have a listen below, and we think you’ll agree that Walter Wilson’s two fine ‘60s soul sides hold up perfectly.

Tracklisting:

1. Love Keeps Me Crying
2. Not Now But Later

Madlib Medicine Show #5: History of the Loop Digga, 1990-2000 HAS ARRIVED

Madlib Medicine Show #5: History of the Loop Digga, 1990-2000

IN THE STORE - MADLIB MEDICINE SHOW #5: THE HISTORY OF THE LOOP DIGGA, 1990-2000

Pre-order for CD and 3LP. Release date: May 25.

CD 34 tracks, 12-page booklet/comic (64:00 mins)
3-LP DELUXE 34 tracks + 10 track bonus disc, limited edition, numbered, with individually screened LP covers (98:00 mins)

Back in the 90s, “beat tapes” were literally that: cassette tapes of beats that a producer made either for himself, friends, or potential collaborators. Madlib made a bunch of them in the days between his early productions for the Alkaholiks (circa ’92) and the release of his Quasimoto album (2000), after which he took a couple of years off of the beats to focus on making jazz music before beginning a new era of hip-hop with Madvillain, Jaylib and Beat Konducta.

This collection of beats showcases the way that Madlib’s early hip-hop demos were filtered out to his crew of friends and associates, providing an opportunity for a unique view into Madlib’s working process. These beats, often freestyled on SP1200 or whatever machine he had at the ready, were picked up by rappers over a period of many years. Trainspotters will find it interesting that beats later destined for the likes of Wildchild and Percee P were made some years before those albums saw release.

This album is punctuated with a series of early solo-raps by Madlib and his Quasimoto alter ego and features the crew known collectively as CDP – those rappers who worked side by side with Madlib during the days of his Oxnard CA-based “Crate Diggas Palace” studios. The Madlib Medicine Show series is a combination of Madlib's new hip-hop productions, remixes, beat tapes and jazz, as well as mixtapes of funk, soul, Brazilian, psych, jazz and other undefined forms of music.

About the CD & vinyl release:


Madlib Medicine Show #5: The History of the Loop Digga will be released on CD, digital and a deluxe 3LP format. The deluxe 3LP set includes 34 minutes of vocal & instrumental material not available on the CD or digital release, and one-of-a-kind individually screened covers by Hit+Run. The artwork is by Benjamin Marra who has created a comic book for the album about the fictional 90s-era Rapper X who goes on a vengeful cop-killing rampage. The comic is included with the CD.

MP3: Madlib - Static Invazion
MP3: Madlib - Episode XVI

1. Warning (Intro)
2. Static Invazion
3. Stakeout Madlib
4. Rapper X Radio
5. Last Day's Music
6. Episode VI
7. Nothing From Nothing
8. Episode VIII
9. Episode IX
10. Episode X
11. Episode XI
12. Episode XII
13. Episode XIII
14. Episode XIV
15. Episode XV
16. Episode XVI
17. Episode XVII
18. Episode XVIII
19. Episode XIX
20. Episode XX
21. Further Adventures of Walkman Flavor
22. Episode XXII
23. Episode XXIII
24. Episode XXIV
25. Episode XXV
26. Episode XXVI
27. Episode XXVII
28. Live From Outer Space
29. Real Days
30. C.D.P. Assassins Pt.1
31. C.D.P. Assassins Pt.2&3
32. C.D.P. Assassins Pt.4
33. C.D.P. Assassins Pt.5
34. C.D.P. Assassins Pt.6

OLDSCHOOL RENEGADES Documentary Film Trailer..........

"The Definitive Film about the rise of West-European Techno

Dutch director Maurice Steenbergen is working on a documentary about the golden age of house music: Oldschool Renegades. The trailer also mentions Antwerp as one of the destinations in the documentary. Plus: Maurice Engelen (Praga Khan, Lords of Acid) is listed as one of the talking heads.

Go to the movie's website for more Click here.



Quotes

Joey Beltram (Mentasm, Energy Flash)
"Hi Maurice. Yeah would love to take part."

Ben Stokes (DHS)
"I'd love to be in your film."

Bruno Sanchioni (Plexus)
"Cher Maurice, Ton projet est une bonne idée."

Jens Lissat (Interactive)
"I have to be in it."

John Kutski (BBC Radio 1)
"It is a documentary about the early house / techno / rave scene in the 90's, like 'scratch - the movie' was to hiphop if you have ever seen that"

Maurice Engelen (Praga Khan)
"Maurice V2 can count on me."

Michael Alig (Limelight, NYC)
"Thanks for thinking about me, i would love to help in any way i can"

Nick Halkes (XL Recordings, UK)
"I'd be happy to help"

Olivier Abbeloos (T99, Quadrophonia)
"Sounds great to me!"

Lucien Foort (Quadrophonia)
"There’s no future without a past.
This movie will open eyes!
Getting chills reminiscing about them days.
Wicked idea Maurice, Count me in!"

Luca Pretolesi (Digital Boy)
"I'll be very happy to be part
of this movie my friend!..."

Alex Quiroz Buelvas (Ramirez)
"Hi Maurice, it is a pleasure to
participate in your project"

R.I.P. MC Guru 'Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal'

"On February 28, 2010, Guru went into cardiac arrest and, following surgery, fell into a coma.[11][12] It was claimed that Guru had briefly wakened from his coma[13] but died on April 19, 2010, aged 48, from multiple myeloma.

Solar claimed that Guru had awoken from his coma whilst DJ Premier and members of the rapper's family stated that he never regained consciousness from his coma. Guru's family claimed that Solar prevented them from contact with Guru during the latter's final illness. The validity of the death-bed letter has been challenged by Guru's family. Harry J. Elam, Guru's older brother, wrote a personal memoir in remembrance of his brother, Keith “Guru” Elam, published in the Boston Globe on April 23, 2010" (Wikipedia)


Premier Responds.....

It has been three days since Guru passed away from cancer and until now, his partner in the seminal rap duo Gang Starr, DJ Premier, had yet to comment. Finally, the DJ/producer ended his silence this afternoon (April 21) by releasing a statement, expressing his thoughts on the death of the rapper born Keith Elam

“It was a sad day for me to get confirmation on the death of a man who I will continue to call my brother,” Preemo said.

“From 1988-2004 we experienced so much success together that we were able to expand our business independently and give each other what Guru called ‘creative space,’ before planning to reunite for our seventh LP when the time time was right,” he continued. “Tragically, we will never reach that day.

“I’ve been asked to comment on a letter speaking ill of me which was supposedly written by Guru in his dying days,” he added, addressing a press release delivered by Guru’s business partner Solar. “All I will say about it is our time together was beautiful, we built a hip-hop legacy together, and no one can re-write history or take away my love for him. One thing I would never do is play around with the truth about his life.”

“I will celebrate Guru’s life…I will honor his memory…I will grieve with the Elam family over his untimely death…I will remember the Gang Starr foundation and all of the original members of the Gang Starr who came before me…mostly, I will cherish everything we created together as Gang Starr, forever,” he concluded. “I’m gonna miss hearing his signature monotone voice when he walks in the room, but the songs will always bring it back to me…his rhyme flows were insane, and I will never remove him from my heart and soul…rest in peace to the man who felt ‘satisfaction from the street crowd reaction’…I love you Goo.”

Guru suffered from multiple myeloma for over a year, according to a press release issued by Elam Family. Accrued complications from this illness led to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest, which put the rap legend in a coma. On Monday morning, Guru became hypertensive due to low blood pressure and suffered a fatal heart attack. — Elan Mancini

WHATEVER THE CONTROVERSY SUGGESTS - THE MUSIC SAYS IT ALL......

DJ Premier's – Keith “Guru” Elam Tribute Mix



Tracklist:

Gang Starr – Betrayal (Feat. Scarface)
Gang Starr – Intro (The First Step)
Gang Starr – Execution Of A Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2)
Gang Starr – Name Tag (Premier & The Guru)
Gang Starr – Speak Ya Clout (Feat. Jeru the Damaja & Lil Dap)
Gang Starr – Peace Of Mine
Gang Starr – Eulogy
Gang Starr – Royalty (Feat. K-Ci & JoJo)
Gang Starr – Daily Operation (Intro)
Gang Starr – In This Life… (Feat. Snoop Dogg & Uncle Reo)
Gang Starr – Above The Clouds (Feat. Inspectah Deck)
Gang Starr – The Planet
Gang Starr – Daily Operation (Intro)
Gang Starr – Next Time
Gang Starr – 93 Interlude (Unreleased Moment Of Truth Interlude)
Gang Starr – The Militia II (Feat. Rakim & WC)
Gang Starr – Intro (HQ, Goo, Panch)
Heavy D. – A Buncha Niggas (Feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Guru, Rob-O & Third Eye)
M.O.P. – Salute Part II (Feat. Guru)
D&D Allstars – Hot Shit (Feat. Big Daddy Kane, Sadat X, Guru & Greg Nice)
Gang Starr – PLAYTAWIN
Gang Starr – Soliloquy Of Chaos
Group Home – The Legacy (Feat. Guru)
Gang Starr – Conspiracy
Gang Starr – Stay Tuned
Gang Starr – Zonin’


Jaguar Skills also laid down a tribute mix which appeared on Trevor Nelson's BBC Radio show - check it here.....





Tracklisitng:

Guru — Name Tag
Guru — Full Clip
Guru — Jazz Thing Video Mix
Guru — The Question Remains
Guru — Soliloquy Of Chaos
Guru — Take It Personal
Guru — Daily Operation Intro
Guru — All 4 The Cash
Guru — Stick To The Script
Guru — Check The Technique
Guru — Hard To Earn To Earn
Guru - Brother — Guru
Guru — Just To Get A Rep
Guru — Speak Ya Clout
Guru — What I'm Here 4
Guru — Skills
Guru — Above The Clouds
Guru — Ex To The Next
Guru — Mass Appeal
Guru — Who Gonna Take The Weight
Guru — Stick To Sa
Guru — Now Your Mine
Guru — Dwick
Guru — Step Into The Area
Guru — Blowing Up The Spot
Guru — Code Of The Streets
Guru — You Know My Steeze
Guru — Words In Manifest
Guru — Next Time
Guru — Step Into The Area Intro
Guru — Moment Of Truth

CLASSIC GURU POSSEE TRACK WITH CLASSIC PREMO' BEATS

Rush Hour – Acid House Revival Mix (April 2010)

Nice Acid House mix by Chris Cool

Rush Hour Trax Mixbywarmhq

Tracklist:

Mr. Fingers 2 – Nite Moves
Ace & The Sandman- Let Your Body Talk
Master C&J – Make You Happy
Jamie Principle – Bad Boy
Phuture – Spank Spank
Maurice Joshua – I Gotta Big Dick
Jesse Velez – Laugh The Night Away
Marcus Mixx – House Flash Back
Rude Boy Farley – Give Your Self To Me
Pleasure Zone – I Cant Understand
Virgo – Ride
Blackman – Beat That Bitch
Marcus Mixx – Liquid Love
Mr Fingers – Can You Feel It
Virgo Four – Do You Know Who You Are
James Jack Rabbit – Another Vicious Lie
Sweet D – Thank Ya
The Housemaster Boyz – Trax U Lost
Virgo – Never Want To Loose You
Z – Factor – Fantasy
Farley Jackmaster Funk – Farley Knows House
Phuture – Your Only Friend

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE.

New Lefto Mix on Hold / Box / Flat BLOG

hold bXL flatbyholdboxflat

Tracklisting:

Sepalcure - The Warning - Hotflush
Roska - I Need Love feat Anesha - Tempa
A Hundred in the Hands - Dressed in Dresden (Kyle Hall rmx)
2Bears - Be Strong - CD-R
Cobblestone Jazz - Sun Child - K7
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band - Rezando (Michel Cleis Remix) - Brownswood
Cumbia Colombiana - Tropical Treats - Sofrito
Mad Man Jaga - Hankuri - Soundway
Luis Garcia - For Those Who Chant - Blue Thumb Records
Gonjasufi - kobwebz - Warp
Ghostpoet - I Just Don't Know - CD-R
Mos Def - Umi Says - Rawkus
Carlos Nino & Miguel Atwood Ferguson - Fall in Love - Dwala Edit
Mount Kimbie - Maybes (James Blake RMX) - Hot Flush
Sepalcure - Love Pressure - Hot Flush
Mala - Eyes - Deep Medi
Ikonika - Psolaris - HyperDub
Martin Kemp - Bowser - Hold Box Flat
Mark Pritchard - Heavy as Stone - Deep Medi

New Mix by 2562 aka A Made Up Sound aka Dave Huismans....

Dave Huismans brings the techno and dubstep fusion on this week’s RA podcast.

"Of the artists to emerge from the dialogue between techno and dubstep, The Hague’s Dave Huismans must be rated as one of the finest. His production roots are actually in broken beat and his Dogdaze moniker, but 2007 saw him launch the 2562 project on Pinch’s Tectonic Recordings, forging techno sounds to dubstep beat structures to great effect. While debut album Aerial was fairly singular and streamlined in its approach to the fusion of techno and dubstep, his sophomore effort showed a totally different side to Huismans’ sound. With more overt references to UK garage and house, Unbalance managed to scrape into the top ten of last year’s RA albums poll, with Oli Marlow calling it “a zenith for techno-tinged dubstep in 2009.”



He’s also been keeping busy with his A Made Up Sound moniker which operates in a slightly more conventional house and techno vein. Last year’s “Rework” on his own A Made Up Sound imprint and the four-track EP on Clone were essential releases if you like your 4/4 beats to be swung and bass-heavy, and those two adjectives are definitely something that you say about his effort for this week’s RA podcast. We caught up with Dave via e-mail to talk about the mix, his relationship with Tectonic and running his own label." (RESIDENT ADVISOR)

Click here for Artist Page.

More Recommendations.....

Sun Ra - The Shadows Cast By Tomorrow 3x7" (Jazzman) LIMITED EDITION

"Boldly going where no other label has gone before, we set a course for deep space with The Shadows Cast by Tomorrow, the first collection ever to reissue Sun Ra's 7 inch singles in their original format.

We've selected six otherworldly songs from Sun Ra's back catalogue of incredibly rare singles. Originally issued in tiny runs of as few as fifty copies on his own Saturn label, these 45s were often hand distributed by Ra and his legendary Arkestra, meaning that only the most seasoned collectors have ever laid hands on an original Saturn 45. This set of 3 x 45rpm singles pressed onto luminous, glow-in-the-dark vinyl and packaged in a unique, custom-made triple gatefold screen printed sleeve, contains a cross-section of Sun Ra's visionary space-jazz that stretches from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Featuring the mystical doo-wop of the Cosmic Rays' 'Dreaming'; wild man Yochannan's RnB solar flare 'The Sun Man Speaks'; the intense moog-rock of 'The Perfect Man' and mega-rare versions of classic Ra rockers 'Love in Outer Space', 'Rocket No. 9' and 'Enlightenment', The Shadows Cast by Tomorrow is an overdue message to Earth straight from Saturn, delivered to you direct by Jazzman Records - all because we dig deeper!"

TRACK LISTING

1. Dreaming
2. The Sun Speaks (Alternate Version)
3. Rocket Number Nine
4. Enlightenment
5. The Perfect Man
6. Love In Outer Space


Afrika Hitech - Blen 12" (Warp Records)

Created at Red Bull music Academy in 2007, Africa Hitech forms part of Mark Pritchard’s collective of projects – MPP Productions. MPP is a banner under which all the wide-ranging productions from this prolific producer can co-exist and released through Warp it includes Africa Hitech, Harmonic 313, new Reload material, and others.

Essentially twisting the sonic palette of Detroit techno to fit their vision of post-apocalyptic riddims, 'Blen' is all oxygen-sucking bass kicks and razor snares until Spacek comes in over a chorus of insect synths. This is not the smooth Steve Spacek you may know from his eponymous band, this is Steve Spacek as a rudeboy from the future. Decrying haters trying to “take di piss”, his unique patois creates it’s own intriguing atmosphere.

As a counterpoint to the paranoid bounce of the title track, the 'Blen Remix' stretches things out for the party. Flipping the vocals over percolating Garage beats and drenching it in swelling synths, it might as well be a master class for those trying to regain the sound of London circa 2000.

B-side “The Sound Of Tomorrow” is an inkling of the range that Africa Hitech will cover in the coming months. A deep cut of synth soul full of ricocheting drum machines and vocoder choruses, its title is a fully accurate summary of the Africa Hitech aesthetic.

An opening shot, listen out for more Africa Hitech productions in 2010


Side 1
1. "Blen"
2. "Blen" (remix)

Side 2
1. "The Sound Of Tomorrow"

Recommended........

Deutsche Elektronische Musik - Experimental German Rock and Electronic Music 1972-83 (2xLP) (Soul Jazz Records)

"The first seeds of German rock and experimental electronic music were planted in 1968, as students and workers in Paris, Prague, Mexico and throughout the world demonstrated against mainstream society, the war in Vietnam, imperialism and bourgeois values. The birth of a counter-culture, drug experimentation and social change expanded musical worlds. Germany experienced its own cultural revolution fuelled by these worldwide student and worker revolts and by a generation’s desire to rid itself of the guilt of war.

Many German youth turning their back on mainstream society. From the opening of the first collective/cooperative in 1967, Commune 1, in Berlin, to the formation of the Baader-Meinhof terrorist group and the bombings, kidnappings and killings of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (RAF), young Germans sought out new values and a lifestyle outside of ‘the system’. These cooperative and communal experiences led to a number of new radical German bands including Amon Duul, Faust and Can.

Many artists and musicians believed a complete rejection of everything musically that had gone before was also necessary in order to build a new identity for German culture. At this time German music meant ‘schlager’ music – insipid pop music that hardly confronted the country’s recent historical events.

The first recordings of groups such as Kluster (later Cluster) were extreme experiments with sound; un-music, anti-melody and anti-rhythm - attempts to destroy any musical links with the past. Holger Czukay and Irmin Scmidt of Can studied music under the radical avant-garde composer Karheinz Stockhausen and Conrad Schnitzler studied art under the conceptual artist Joseph Beuys. German rock groups were as interested in musique concrète and serial compostion as they were in the psychedelia of Pink Floyd or the rock, soul and jazz music played by resident American forces.

From this beginning German rock music began an evolutionary journey of experimentation. Electronic music became a pathway to notions of space and the cosmos. Conversely, the emergence of communal living led to a number of musicians setting up live/work spaces in rural areas and developing a ‘pastoral’ outlook, with musical ideas engaged closely with nature.

And despite an aversion to the politics of American society, German rock bands were nevertheless fascinated by the emerging stateside counter-culture of psychedelic music and drug experimentation. A band such as Ash Ra Tempel even recording an album with drug guru/theoretician Timothy Leary (‘Seven Up’, 1973).

German electronic music, kosmische music, cosmic rock, space music. The objectives were to create new music, ‘free’ from the past. A music that gave seed out of the cultural ‘nothingness’ that young Germans felt as a consequence of Germany’s role in the Second World War. A generation who grew up stifled by the recent history of Nazi atrocities, the guilt of their parents’ generation and their disillusionment at the reintegration of old Nazis into mainstream society.

And whilst some of the bands featured here slipped by the wayside over the years, others such as Faust, Cluster, Can, Tangerine Dream are now well into their fourth decade having firmly established that which they set out to achieve – a new German music."

1. Can — Aspectacle
2. Between — Devotion
3. Harmonia — Dino
4. Gila — This Morning
5. Kollectiv — Rambo Zambo
6. Michael Bundt — La Chasse Aux Microbes
7. E.M.A.K — Filmmusik
8. Popol Vuh — Morgengruss
9. Conrad Schnitzler — Auf Dem Schwarzen Kanal
10. La Düsseldorf — Rheinita
11. Harmonia — Veterano
12. Faust — It's A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl
13. Neu! — Hallo Gallo
14. Cluster — Heisse Lippen
15. Ibliss — Hi Life
16. Dieter Moebius — Hasenheide
17. Amon Duul II — Fly United
18. Popol Vuh — Aguirre 1
19. Ash Ra Tempel — Daydream
20. Tangerine Dream — No Man's Land
21. Amon Duul II — Wie De Wind Am Ende Einer Strasse
22. Roedelius — Geradewohl
23. Can — I Want More
24. Deuter — Soham

GUARDIAN REVIEW

"It began out of nothing, was given a joke name, and became the pop influence du jour: krautrock, kosmische musik, elektronische musik, or whatever you wish to call German experimental rock from the 1970s. Cited and adapted by artists as diverse as Q-Tip, the Horrors (whose epic Sea Within a Sea convincingly updates that Neu! motorik), Foals, Deerhunter, even Kasabian and Oasis (but don't let the last put you off).

The list is so long as to be almost meaningless, but a new Soul Jazz compilation, Elektronische Musik, reinforces just how wild German music from that period was. It also raises the question of why kosmische musik, which has impacted on pop for the last 30 years (just think of Afrika Bambaataa, Brian Eno and David Bowie, to name but three), is still so popular today.

It began out of the revolutionary student movement of 1967 and 1968: one strand formed communes and became political activists, others began to attempt a new German music that was not schlager, the mainstream music of the day. Their quest was given added impetus by the fact that many of these war babies knew their history had been erased. They had nothing, but that meant freedom.

This was their year zero. Informed by Karlheinz Stockhausen, the Mothers of Invention, the Velvet Underground and Pink Floyd, among others, the late 1960s and early 70s saw the formation of many key groups: Can, Faust, Amon Düül II, Organisation (later Kraftwerk), Guru Guru and Tangerine Dream, many of whom were released on German labels such as Ohr and Brain.

There are several DVD bootlegs covering this early period, as well as YouTube clips and the actual albums. What they record is a balls-to-the-wall experimental approach that takes ideas, feelings and competence as far as they can go, and then further. There are no limits. This first-time delirium continues the psychedelic upsurge of 1966-67 but gives it a tougher edge: it was, as Julian Cope wrote, "soaringly idealistic and hard as nails".

It was Cope's Krautrocksampler, published in 1995, that first organised and codified a history of "the great kosmische musik". Cope focused on the first wave of groups, many of whom were popular in England thanks to the visionary Andrew Lauder, who released Can and Amon Düül II on United Artists. (Then there was the 49p issue of The Faust Tapes.)

Since this groundbreaking study, the floodgates have opened; but the Soul Jazz compilation opens out the genre even further. If you go into the affiliated Sounds of the Universe shop in Soho, you'll see a rack for experimental German music alongside all the reggae 7"s, funk/disco 12"s, dubstep, free jazz and cosmic disco CDs. Put together by Stuart Baker and Adrian Self, the Elektronische Musik compilation totally fits that free-booting eclecticism.

It begins with Can's A Spectacle, sampled by Q-Tip on Manwomanboogie (from his 2008 album The Renaissance). There are the usual suspects: Faust, Neu!, Cluster – the last represented by the track Heisse Lippen, from their best album, Zuckerzeit – but there is a greater reliance on funky beats/breaks, and you get long improv epics such as High Life by Ibliss. The second disc ends with the blissed-out drones of Deuter's Soham, a higher-key masterpiece.

The implication is that there is more here than you ever thought. German music from this period is a bit like the Tardis: you got through a narrow portal into a huge, dynamic space. Kosmische's fertility is only matched by its desire to create something totally new, and it is that which has proved inspirational to successive generations of musicians from right across the spectrum.

Its increased resonance in the 21st century comes from the fact that Anglo-American rock has a six-decade history and has been thoroughly cannibalised. Tired of sixth-gen Brit indie groups? Sick of Americana apologists? Then let kosmische be your guide. Starting from nothing but their imagination, the 70s German groups continue to offer a third way: a long, straight road out of this cultural impasse.

FACT mix 141: Greg Wilson

"We’ve had some honest-to-god dance music legends helm FACT mixes in the past – Alexander Robotnick, A Guy Called Gerald and Andrew Weatherall among them. Joining them in the cordoned-off VIP area today is Mr Greg Wilson.

Merseyside-born in Wilson is best known for championing early electro with his nights at Wigan Pier then Manchester’s Legend club – people would travel all over from the North and the Midlands to hear Greg spin, and he quickly earned himself prestigious mix slots on Mike Shaft’s popular Piccadilly Radio show – these mixes would prove profoundly influential on a whole generation of budding dance music DJs and producers, and, as Dave Haslam once remarked, “they were some of the most taped programmes in Manchester radio history”. Our man encountered all kinds of hostility from jazz-funk and soul purists for his advocacy of more angular electronic styles, but he perservered in the face of it, and thank god.

In 1983 Wilson began a residency at The Hacienda, helping establish the night’s reputation as a home for cutting edge club music with killer sets of electro-funk, disco and boogie: these sets not only placed him at the centre of Blighty’s emerging hip-hop culture, they also prepared the ground for the late 80s house and techno sounds that would soon take The Hacienda, and young Britain at large, by storm. To the surprise of many, Wilson withdrew from DJing in 1983, choosing to focus more on production projects like Ruthless Rap Assassins, and curating compilations including the seminal Street Sounds UK Electro album (1984) and Classic Electro Mastercuts (1994).

The last decade thankfully saw Greg make a welcome return to the DJing fray, but the real renaissance began with Tirk’s brilliant Credit To The Edit 12″s and CD compilations, which celebrated the veteran’s unique and deliciously raw reel-to-reel editing technique. Since then he’s since become a fixture of our nightlife once more, DJing all around the world and showing off his chops as re-editor and remixer across various essential vinyl releases. On April 24 he’s appearing at one of Together’s whopping parties in London’s Coronet Theatre, alongside DFA duo Holy Ghost!, In Flagranti and more. For more information and tickets on that night – which also stars Cassius and Kavinsky, among others – click here.

Greg’s FACT mix was a DJ set recorded live at Miami Electric Pickle on March 24, and finds our man in righteously funky, agelessly inspirational form."(Quoted From FACT Magazine)

Download: FACT mix 141 – Greg Wilson



Tracklist:

1. 6th Borough Project – How can I show you (GW ‘bomb’ re-touch)
2. Duff Disco 002 – Return of the duff
3. 6th Borough Project – Do it to the max
4. Crazy P – Lady T (GW edit)
5. Duff Disco 003 – Do that thang
6. Young Dog Alien – Gotta keep workin’ it (GW mash-up)
7. Stevie Wonder – Superstition (Todd Terje edit)
8. The Bangles – Walk like an egyptian (Todd Terje edit)
9. Killer Funk Disco Allstars – Things you do to me
10. Sgt Lovebody – Skippy’s down the well
11. Aretha Franklin – Rock steady (DK edit)
12. Rufus Feat Chaka Khan – Ain’t nobody (Frankie Knuckles hallucinogenic mix)
13. Blondie – Rapture (6ms edit)
14. Linkwood – Falling
15. Elektrons – Get up (GW special version)
16. Fatback Band – (Are you ready) do the bus stop

Transmit / Box / Flat - Podcast No. 16

"Underground experimental sounds from bPm & D'Wala...

Conceptualized in London, gathered and broadcast from around the world... tunes taken from the darker, alternative side of the independent music world.

Expect moody sounds from Hiroshima to Harlem via Hackney"

TBF016byholdboxflat

TRACKLISTING:

Melvin Price / Voodo Love Dance // Waxpoetic
Young Jazz Rebels / For Brother Sun Ra // Stones Throw
Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra / UFO // Kindred Spirits
The Roots / Make Em NV // CD-R
Common / Ferris Wheel // MCA Records
Erykah Badu / Out My Mind, Just In Time // Universal Motown
Bill Withers / Hope She'll Be Happier // Sussex Records
Trilogy / What Dream May Come // CD-R
Sigha / Light Swells (in a distant space) // Hotflush
Sepalcure / Love Pressured // Hotflush
Milyoo / Box of Tapes // CD-R
Ezel / In My Lifetime (Deetron Remix) // CD-R
2 Bears / Be Strong // White
Roska / I Need It (feat. Aneesha) // Rinse Recordings
Low Limit / Where You Been // Numbers
Starky feat. Anneka / Stars // Planet Mu
Heart Space feat. Anneka / Out Of The Hills // Planet Mu
Mono/Poly / Oil Fields (Devonwho Remix) // Fat City Recordings
Tandy Love / Yagmur (Vedat Yildirimbora) // Fat City Recordings
Danny Drive / Ante Up // CD-R
00Genesis / Dew // Jus Like Music >> Download for FREE <<
Deadboy / If U Want Me // Numbers
Ikonika / Psoriasis // Hyperdub
A Tribute To Ken Collier / Unknown // Unknown
Ugly Edits #2
Dinosaur L / Go Bang // Sleeping Bag Records
Donald Byrd / Black Byrd // Blue Note
Lloyd Miller Trio / Way Out East // Jazz Man Records
Emanative feat. Matthew Halsall / Find You // Futuristica
The P. E Hewitt Jazz Ensemble / The Winter Wind

Original BLOG site found here.

Besti-mix 13: King Roc......DOUBLE - BUBBLE !!

"13 might be unlucky for some but it’s proved something a good luck charm in the case of our Besti-mix series, whose 13th chapter sees DJ/producer King Roc aka Martin Dawson take to the decks to provide not one, but two(!) exclusive mixes.

Having recorded a myriad of house, techno, electro and other dancefloor-orientated styles for such respected labels as R&S, Buzzin’ Fly, Dessous and more, as well as delivering a critically-lauded debut LP, perhaps it should come as no surprise to find King Roc spreading the love across two diverse sets – one that showcases straight-up cutting edge house and techno and another, his 'Bestival Classixxx', that brings together legendary acid house-era Chicago and New York house. We suggest you get stuck right in..." (QUOTED FROM BEST-BLOG WEBSITE).

Tracklisting: Besti-mix 13: King Roc

01 Pol_on 'Toga' Martin Dawson Mix - Pets Records
02 Alex Niggemann 'Deep Down' - Supernauture
03 Kay Sand 'Too Tung'
04 Catz n Dogs 'Rolling'
05 Ramon Tapia 'Sunka Sanka' Coyu & Edu Imbernon Mix - Great Stuff
06 Martin Eyerer & Sasse 'Save My Life' Martin Dawson Mix - Moodmusic
07 Loko 'In Love' Buzzinfly
08 Uner Coyu 'The Garden Of The Gods'
09 King Roc & Dimitri Nakov 'Alameda Jau' Bedrock
10 Sour Grapes 'We Are'

DOWNLOAD HERE.

Tracklisting: Bestimix 13: King Roc (Bestival Classixxx)

01 Mr Fingers 'Can You Feel It'
02 Joe Smooth 'Promised Land'
03 House Masters 'House Nation'
04 Nightwriters 'Let The Music Use You'
05 Todd Terry 'Gabriel'
06 Technotronic 'Pump Up The Jam'
07 2 In A Room 'Take Me Away' (Little Louis Vega Mix)
08 Robin S 'Show Me Love' (Nice N Steady Mix)
09 Jamie Principle 'Baby Wants To Ride'
10 N-Joi 'Anthem'

DOWNLOAD HERE.

Just Bagged......

Cut Chemist - Rare Equations - Slurp Volume One / Rare Equations 12"



"For the first time together on vinyl we have eight unmixed tracks from DJ Cut Chemist's "Rare Equations" nonstop live mix CD of strictly rare and hard to find dusty old 45s classic hip hop breakbeat . The first volume has the excellent DJ Premier-sampled Foster Sylvers cover version of "Misdemeanor" by Ahmad Jamal, a huge thumping break beat-driven stomper from Dyke & the Blazers “Bull Dyke” (two copies please!!) plus additional highlights from such venerably reliable breakbeat-sampled legends as Kool & The Gang and The Meters. Also watch out for the Jimmy Smith track “Root Down” with its sublime keys over a live funk bluesey break driven backdrop - an absolute gem, and famous for its Beastie Boys sampling!" (Piccadilly Records)

TRACK LISTING

A1 Ahmad Jamal - Misdemeanor
A2 The Meters - Funky Miracle
A3 Bar-Kays - Humpin’
A4 Big Daddy Kane - Long Live The Kane
B1 Dyke & The Blazers - Bull Dyke
B2 Jimmy Smith - Root Down
B3 Kool & The Gang - Give It Up
B4 Young Holt Unlimited - Wah Wah Man


Jose James - Warrior (Remixes) 12" (Brownswood Records)



"Further remixes of soul saviour José James from Rockwell, SBTRKT and Jus Wan. The remix from man-of-the-moment SBTRKT is easily our highlight, dripping James' dark chocolate vocals over a hyper-highlife riddim sounding something like Seiji jamming with Tony Allen on a space station above Lagos. On a slightly more terrestrial tip Jus Wan provides a sparklingly sharp future garage version and Rockwell gives a quicksilver D'n'B mix, but neither comes close to that killer flex from SBTRKT. Heavy" (Boomkat)

Tracklisting:

Side 1
1. "Warrior" (Sbtrkt remix)
2. "Warrior" (Jus Wan remix)

Side 2
1. "Warrior" (Rockwell remix)

FACT mix 126: A Guy Called Gerald.....

"A founding member of 808 State, Manchester’s Gerald Simpson helped create some of acid house’s most future-rushing and globally successful moments. He worked on the ‘State’s Newbuild LP and Quadrastate EP (home to ‘Pacific State’) before going solo, and hitt #12 in the UK charts with the completely nuts ‘Voodoo Ray’.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Simpson began to embrace influences from the nascent hardcore scene, issuing a number of groundbreaking 12″s on his Juicebox label that culminated in the release of the 1992 album 28 Gun Bad Boy (check the title track for an all-time British soundsystem classic). He followed in 1995 with the gloriously knotted, soulful and uniquely psychedelic Black Secret Technology, arguably the finest jungle LP ever made.

While many producers of the same vintage have settled for a life of creative water-treading, stuck-in-a-timewarp DJ sets and dodgy film cameos, Gerald has really kept his end up, and then some. Relocating to Berlin some years ago, he has focussed his sound into an instantly recognisable brand of sleek, organic techno, releasing records on labels like Sender and Perlon. Next month he’s set to release Tronic Jazz, his second LP for the Laboratory Instinct imprint, and this Saturday, April 10, he’ll be headlining Feeding Werk, a very special night at Plan B in Brixton, celebrating the sounds of Werk Discs (home to Actress, Lone and Lukid, who’ll all be making appearances, along with Pariah, Dave ID and more)." (From Fact Magazine)

DOWNLOAD HERE.

Tracklist:

Trompetenrohren – Matt Star
Redemption (Original Mix) – Deep Naked
Frank The Janitor – Voodeux
Zit – Martin Woerner
Hebbie Jeebies – Voodeux
Grainy Lines – Lucy
Journey To Afrika – Wesen and Khaan
La Gorgona (Franco Cinelli Remix) – Lineas De Nazca
Just A Spoonful – Voodeux
2 De Noviembre – Lineas De Nazca
The Paranormal – Voodeux
Kaktus (Original Mix) – Josia Loos
Places – Latenight Society vs Ken ECB
The Mantra – Lee Curtiss
Live At Coliseum – Svensol & Bender
Whet Garage Rave (Original Mix) – DJ Plast
Neuralverschiebung (Alec Troniq Remix) – Tickles
Wurm – Krause Duo
Pwous – Ultrakurt
Basilisk – Jin Choi
Shine – Super Flu
The Black & The White – Jin Choi
Steady Politics (Nuclear Ramjet Remix) – Tapwatr
Close To The Heat – Jin Choi

Big Chill (2010) Announced Line Up.....

So, who’s playing at The Big Chill 2010? It’s the question that everyone’s been asking and we’ve been itching to answer, so it’s with great pleasure that we announce that the first acts confirmed for this year’s festival are (drum roll please)… Playing on the Deer Park Stage are… Massive Attack Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed new album Heligoland, we’re ...

Massive Attack and MIA announced as headliners, one more to come....

And this lot...

2020Soundsystem
Andreya Triana
Andy Weatherall
Appleblim
Ashley Beedle & Darren Morris present Mavis (live) featuring… Candi Staton
Cherilyn McNeil
Kurt Wagner
Ed Harcourt
Danielle Moore
John Turrell and Chris CoCo
Bebel Gilberto
Breakage
Crazy P Soundsystem
Dam-Funk
Daniel Wang
DJ Derek
Easy Star All-Stars
El Diablo’s Social Club
Foreign Beggars
Futureboogie
Gilles Peterson
Greg Wilson
Henrik Schwarz (live)
Hospital Records present… High Contrast, London Electricity, Danny Byrd and Netsky
Joker
Kelis
Kruder & Dorfmeister
Layo & Bushwacka!
Little Dragon
Mad Professor
Magnetic Man
Martyn
Matthew Herberts One Club
Mr Scruff
Nicole Conti Jazz Combo
Norman Jay
N-Type
PBR Streetgang
Plan B
Quiet Voices
Redlight
Roots Manuva
Roy Ayers
Seth Troxler & Jamie Jones
Smoove & Turrell
Starsmith
Taylor McFerrin
Tensnake
Terry Callier
The Black Seeds
The Bug (live)
The Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band
The Heatwave
The Phenomenal Handclap Band
The Shoes
Theo Parrish
Tinie Tempah
Toddla T & MC Serocee
Top Shelf Jazz
Wax Tailor
Zero 7 (DJ set)

Ticket Info:

weekend tickets: £155

Student weekend tickets: £120

Teen weekend tickets (13 to 17 years old): £60

Child weekend tickets (12 and under - this includes babies and toddlers): £4

Sunday Day: £70



National Express festival ticket and travel: Price dependent upon your journey - Please see www.nationalexpress.com/festivals for more info.

All of the above include camping.

Live-in Vehicle tickets: £50

Car Park tickets: £7.50

All tickets are subject to a booking fee (maximum £7) and a postage fee.