Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab

Managed to pick up this the other day......at £12.99 from JUNO (Bargain compared to other online stores !!!) for 2 slabs of vinyl....STONE COLD KILLER CLASSICS.....


Stones Throw Website says "Blue Note has just released "Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab" - a collection of records from their back catalog which have been sampled for tracks by Dilla, Dre, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Pete Rock, and many others."

Tracklisting:
Side 1

1 Lou Donalsdon - "It's Your Thing"
2. Ronnie Foster - "Mystic Brew"
3. Donald Byrd - "Think Twice"
4. David Mc Callum - "The Edge"

Side 2

1. Brother Jack McDuff - "Oblighetto"
2. Joe Williams - "Get Out Of My Life Woman"
3. Grant Green - "Down Here On the Ground"

Side 3

1. Lonnie Smith - "Spinnin Wheel"
2. Jeremy Steig - "Howling For Judy"
3. Lou Donaldson - "Who's Makin' Love"

Side 4

1. Ronnie Laws - "Tidal Wave"
2. Monk Higgins - "Little Green Apples"
3. Donald Byrd - "Wind Parade"

Underground Hip Hop.com says "Blue Note has long been the exemplar in jazz, being the home of some of the most important jazz recordings ever made. What most don’t know is that 50 years after the label’s inception, the music would prove to be an integral resource of a whole new movement and genre: hip-hop. The art of sampling in hip-hop has been around since the late-’70s, but the wave of the most creative and aesthetically driven sampling began during the early-’90s. Hip-hop artists delved into the previously unexplored genre of jazz, and the music was changed then and for the next decade to come — with Blue Note as the hub of its ingenuity and inspiration. From A Tribe Called Quest to Gang Starr to Dr. Dre to the Beastie Boys, Blue Note has been the source of a deep groove, a soulful vamp, or hittin’ beat that we associate with some of the greatest hip-hop songs. Whether it’s the soulful bass line of Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew” which served as the most memorable element in A Tribe Called Quest’s entrancing “Electric Relaxation,” the colossal orchestral intro that instantaneously has you at attention awaiting the beat to drop on Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” or the funky big-bang groove of Joe Williams’s “Get out of My Life,Woman” which is the sole inspiration of non-stop head-nodding on Kool G Rap’s “Ill Street Blues,” Blue Note’s got it covered. Blue Note is Droppin’ Science, bringing it back to the lab of the jazz, funk, and soul chemists who gave the label some of the most influential and groundbreaking music of their time.We’ve dug deep into the crates to spotlight some of our most treasured works, as we tip our hat to some of the greatest hip-hop artists and producers ever. Who got da props? The Finest in Jazz, hands down."

Fat City Records "Brilliant compilation as ever from Blue Note, and also for a little treat, the linear notes are written by the one and only Questlove. Nice!"

J.Rocc of The Beat Junkies has created an exclusive mix from tracks of the Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab compilation, comprised of 10 classic records sampled by hip hop producers of the 80's, 90's and 00's.


J.Rocc deftly juxtaposes the hip hop hits by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre and many more with the Blue Note tracks to which they pay tribute. Click HERE for the mix,



Picked up the Companion 12 Inch as well.....

Droppin Science - Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab which included a bonus track......NICE



Side 1
1. Lou Donaldson - "It's Your Thing"
2. Lou Donaldson - "It's Your Thing" (breakbeat)
Side 2
1. David McCallum - "The Edge"
2. Eddie Henderson - "Inside You" (special bonus track)

WEST COAST MIXTAPE BY BARON ZEN

Just listened to this PODCAST from the Stones Throw label.....and its an absoulte killer......



Produced by Baron Zen

Stones Throw Records says "Peanut Butter Wolf, before making his name as a DJ and Producer and before founding Stones Throw Records, was programming drums for a one-man punk rock/disco army known as Baron Zen. Known, that is, to almost no one, because Baron Zen did not play shows, did not release records, rejected all forms of publicity, and above all, rejected the boundaries separating hip-hop, disco, punk rock, and pop.

Sweet Steve is the man behind Baron Zen. His recording career as Baron Zen lasted from 1988 to 1992, the best of which is collected on THIS ALBUM – his first and only. He was ahead of his time in the ‘80s, but the times have been threatening to catch up with him. Baron Zen today sounds like the missing link between PIL and DFA ... or suburban punk rock garage bands of the 80s and the DJ culture of today ... or The Dead Milkmen if they had been hip-hop b-boys.

Baron Zen is DIY music that wears its pop influence on its sleeve: covers of Joy Division, Gap Band, Katrina and the Waves, and high-energy disco classic “When I Hear Music” by Debbie Deb play along side Sweet Steve’s originals, many of which are odes to Steve’s frustration of being a hip-hop & disco DJ stuck in suburbia."


Podcast Tracklisting:

Radio Intro (Various)
Outlaw (War)
Funky Westside (Ton Loc)
I Like It Loud (MC Twist)
Think Twice (PB Wolf & Encore)
'N The Backstreets (Totally Insane)
Dope Man (NWA)
California Cruiser (Rodney O & Joe Cooley)
Sunshine Men (Freestyle Fellowship)
Score The Metaphoar (Lyrical Prophecy/PB Wolf)
In Time (Sly & The Family Stone)
I Keep Forgettin' (Michael McDonald)
A Hone Two, A Hone Two (Del the Funky Homosapien)
Got It Bad Y'all (King T feat. Alkaholiks)
Don't Fight the Feelin'(Too Short)
Be Your Own Man (Members Only Crew)
In The Place (Jonathan Brown)
Cali's All That (Def Jef)
West Coast Poplock (Ronnie Hudson)
How To Survive in South Central (Ice Cube)
L.A. Posse (Breeze)
Goes Like Dis (7A3)
Rumors (Timex Social Club)
Jealousy (Club Noveau)
Nicety (Michel'le)
Don't Stop The Feeling (Roy Ayers)
Peace Frog (The Doors)
Automatic (Pointer Sisters)
Electric Lady (Con Funk Shun)
It Must Be Magic (Teena Marie)
You're So Fine (Egyptian Lover)
Dre's Beat (World Class Wreckin Cru)
Reckless (Chris "The Glove" Taylor & David Storrs feat. Ice T)
Calling On The Dream Team (L.A. Dream Team)
I Want a Freak (Sir Mix-A-Lot)
M-Town (Charizma

Visited Sounds Of The Universe at the Weekend.....

I was in London at the weekend and thought I'd squeeze a visit to one of my favourite Record Stores in Soho.....Sounds Of The Universe.....

Click HERE for an interview with Stuart Baker, label boss (Soul Jazz Records) and owner of their shop (Sounds of the Universe).

All tastes are catered for in this fantasic shop including an extensive catalogue of Reggae, Dubstep/Grime/Dancehall, Leftfield and Electronica, Balearic, CosmicHouse, Techno and Electro Disco and Boogie, Hip Hop, Nu Jazz and Broken Beat and African/ Afobeat.

"They also sell their own excellent compilations at reasonable prices. There are still some good second hand finds on the 45s side, with an excellent selection of reggae, soul and funk on 45 at good prices behind the counter. Ask to see, and they're always happy to play anything for you". Diggers Guide

Click HERE for a more comprehensive guide to DIGGING in Central London.

There was a couple of items that I new Sounds of the Universe would have.....so I snapped them up straight away.....

Zeep - Zeep Dreams Remixed (Remix veterans and comp winners supply a 4 –track barrage of Brazilian beats"

1. Zeep Dreams(Da Lata Remix) ((Da Lata Remix))
2. Zeep Dreams(Afronaught Remix) ((Afronaught Remix))
3. Zeep Dreams(John Johnson Remix) ((John Johnson Remix))
4. Zeep Dreams(DJ LK Remix) ((DJ LK Remix))

Far Our Records says "Zeep Dreams finally sees the light with a massive 12” and download release featuring heavyweight and veterans on the scene Da Lata (Patrick Forge & Chris Franck) and Afronaught (Bugz in the Attic) punching a string of right handers and basslines to boot. Underdogs and remix competition winners, John Johnson and DJ LK respond to the challenge with some deft footwork and some surprise dance-floor sonics keeping a truly competitive edge to proceedings.

In September 2007, Radio Magnetic (www.radiomagnetic.com) hooked up with Far Out Recordings and the fight was set – ‘Zeep Dreams’ parts were made available through their website to download and Benji B (BBC 1XTRA) was to be the fight adjudicator. Over the course of the autumn, over 50 remix entries passed through the
Far Out Recordings email server and were quickly whittled down to 20 by the Far Out staff and passed onto Benji B who would then decide which cuts would feature on the limited 12” pressing and download album. The
lines were drawn, stakes were high and the mission was clear. Seconds out….

The choice of Da Lata as remixer was an obvious one for the label. One of the first Far Out tunes to garner club-hit status internationally was Da Lata’s version of ‘Ponteio’ in 1995, the third ever 12” released on Far Out. Da Lata went on to sign two albums with Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures imprint, remix world renowned artists such as Sly and Robbie and Femi Kuti and release mixes on Especial, JCR, Talkin Loud and Far Out Records. Chris Franck of both Zeep and Da Lata explains: “This dark but soulful mix was inspired by the African input on “Zeep Dreams’. I guess you could call it electronic house music but the afrobeat is the driving force.”

Afronaught is a leading light in the broken beat genre, his Bugz in the Attic collective having led the charge since time. More recently he’s been treading the Puerto Rican step with a string of collaborations and releases with singers and percussionists based in San Juan. Orin Walters slams some sucker punches into the release with a sub-bass line destined to destroy. Watch out for the mid-track breakdown with Nina Miranda’s vocals melting into the fore but without a blip on the dancefloor. Step forward competition winners John Johnson, DJ LK and referee, BBC 1XTRA’s DJ Benji B! John Johnson’s interpretation could be described as a percussive house workout but very much in the vein of a Spiritual South production. This track is likely to be a favourite with the house and techno massive as well as the Brazilian/broken beat fraternities. DJ LK’s vibe is much more experimental but in line with this 12”, he keeps the tempos at around 125 BPM. An electro break cum baile funk groove sets the vibe with neat vocal effects and a dark array of electronics."

AND I had been after this compilation for a while now and at £9.99 - what value for money....especially when it contains the much sampled track by Brentford All-stars - Greedy G.....AWESOME

Studio One Rockers: the Best of Studio One

Soul Jazz Records says"Following on from the success of the 100% Dynamite series, here we enter the vaults of the most important Reggae label of all time, Studio One. Owned and founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, Studio One's output serves as a comprehensive guide to the history of Reggae music.

The music on Studio One Rockers covers all areas of Reggae such as Ska, Rocksteady, Roots and Dancehall, all areas in which Studio One led the field.

Studio One Rockers features many legendary Studio One tracks brought together for the first time by Soul Jazz Records.

From the beginning of Reggae, when the Skatalites developed a new sound of Ska in 1962 up until today, Studio One has been the number one innovator in Jamaican music. Included in this compilation are classic Ska tracks ("Phoenix City"), Rocksteady ("Feel Like Jumping"), Roots music ("Truth and Rights"), Dancehall (Freddy McGregor, Michigan and Smiley) and many more.

Featured here are many of the classic tracks from Studio One. From Dawn Penn's legendary "No, No, No" to classics such as Horace Andy's "Skylarking" and Marcia Griffith's "Feel Like Jumping".

The Coxsone Soundsystem in the early 60s was one of the three main soundsystems operating in Jamaica alongside his competitors, Prince Buster and Duke Reid.

The Studio One catalogue is possibly the largest in Jamaican music and this release is the first in a series of Studio One compilations on Soul Jazz Records.

This album comes with an in depth interview with Mr C.S. Dodd, about how he set up and ran his record label in the 1960s and 1970s.

"Compilation of the month. 100% Essential" SEVEN
"Compilation of the month. A compilation of unbelievable quality. Awesome" MUZIK
"A who's who of Jamaican music" MUSICWEEK
"An essential slice of musical history" WAX
"The most credible compilation of reggae you can possibly buy" LATER
"A perfect intro into Jamaica music" NME"

Early DJ apperances on TV - Wikki...Wikki....Wikki

Grandmaster DST With Herbie Hancock....



and UK side......

Greg Wilson's appearnce on the tube.....



"The fact that such an influential programme as ‘The Tube’ was focusing on the emerging dance music scene in Britain five years before the big bang of Acid House, provides a perfect illustration of just how much this crucial period in the evolution of UK dance culture has been, at best, obscured, whilst regrettably for anyone wishing to unearth its true roots, at worst, totally ignored."

Click here for a detailed write-up on the appearance from Greg's own site.

A video portrait of Gilles Peterson - Part 1

A video portrait of Gilles Peterson - Part 2

A video portrait of Gilles Peterson - Part 3

The most anticipated dubstep album of 2008

This is what Phoncia Records had to say "Limited promos of 'Diary Of An Afro Warrior, one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. If Burial’s ‘Untrue’ dominated 2007’s end of year critics charts then it’s odds on ‘Diary Of An Afro Warrior’ will do the same in 2008. Dubstep’s trickle into the mainstream has been steady; Skream and Burial alike have nudged the door open. Benga is undoubtedly the force to smash it through and take Dubstep to another level. ‘Night’, the anthemic underground smash single lifted from the album has literally had ravers from countless club scenes, DJs and grandparents whistling and humming its infectious melody for months now with Gilles Peterson declaring it as his No1 track of 2007!!"

Here's a link to Gilles Peterson's most recent PODCAST with Benga.

For those who don't know, check his Website

Catch his latest Essential Mix HERE.

This album is truly awesome.....after buying Scream's album back in 2006...I've only been dipping into this genre of music now and then, however with this album and in particular the 'Night' track, which has crossed over into many different styles of DJ sets.....Benga's album sounds is a real fixture for 2008.

The Video to 'Night'

THEO PARRISH......A Detroit Masterpiece

I've recently had Theo's album Sound Sculpture Vol.1 on constant rotation on my iPOD and record player at home. I bought this album (3x12 Vinyl) last year and it wasn't until recently as I was listening to Gilles Peterson's 2007 All-Winners show, which voted this album....Best Album of the Year....that I thought to myself.....I never really got deep into that album.......

AND NOW I HAVE...... and all I can say is its amazing, go and seek....

Buy Here.

Theo Parrish Homepage.

Check this short video I came accross on You Tube...

"Nowadays, honesty is at an all-time low," says Theo in this short film documenting the producer gathering sounds around Detroit. "Everything is more style over substance, everything is more look over feel." Brought to you by, uh, Adidas

The Hard Sell - DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist Tour....Oh Yes got my tickets..

Got my Tickets for DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's next installment of their 7 inch extravganza at The Roundhouse, Camden in London on 13th March 2008 @ 20:00.

Click here for MySpace site...





KID KOALA BOOKED AS WARM-UP FOR THE HARD SELL

Ninjatune Website says......"After a year-long, worldwide run of ALBUM LAUNCH DJ PARTIES in support of "Your Mom's Favorite DJ", Kid Koala has been invited to join the Hard Sell Tour on eighteen dates throughout North America followed by ten dates throughout Europe.

The Hard Sell Tour features DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist on 8 turntables, 4 mixers and 2 effects pedals, and showcases the third installment in their mix series which began with the now infamous "Brainfreeze" and "Product Placement" recordings.

See here for dates, and book early to avoid disappointment.

Kid Koala will be warming up the night with his own blend of record scratching, thumb wrestling and robot dance competitions!

Following this run, Kid Koala will be touring France before returning to the studio to complete his next graphic novel and soundtrack.So show up early! You won't want to miss any part of this legendary event!

Heliocentrics - Interview with Gilles Peterson

Click here for interview....

Just came across this interview with the Heliocentrics band, also aired on Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Show from Radio 1/BBC on 7th Februray 2007. The Heliocentrics album was one of my faourite albums from last year. Amazing beats in a psycadelic style....

Click here for Heliocentric Band Website

Quote from Stones Throw's Artist Website...."A listen to a song or two reveals no small influence from the funk universe of James Brown. But there's also the disorienting asymmetry of Sun Ra's music. The cinematic scope of Ennio Morricone. The sublime fusion of David Axelrod. But the Heliocentrics' music isn't retro. It's brand new. And it's timeless. They have well-placed fans in the likes of Madlib (Catto was featured on his Shades of Blue album and on various Yesterdays New Quintet releases) and DJ Shadow (the band backed him on the song “This Time I’m Gonna Do It My Way” from his The Outsider album), who will tell you that this band is really the next shit but that they have the consistency and musicianship that seems to have been lost somewhere in the analog to digital shuffle over the past thirty years".

Old School Hip Hop Videos.....More to come....

3d Bass - Gas Face



3rd Bass - Steppin' to the A.M.



Have always been a huge fan of 3rd Bass and these 2 video's bring it all back.....

More Live Old Skool Hip Hop.....

T La Rock & Mantronik - Breaking Bells (Live)

Mantronix - Who Is It (live)

Here's the first of three video's of Mantronix......For me, back in the day MC Tee was the don.... and along with Curtis Mantronix whose beat programming was amazing....they released three must have albums of old skool hip hop.

Discogs says...."Early years – 1984-1988
In 1984, while working as the in-store DJ for Downtown Records in Manhattan, Kurtis Mantronik, a Jamaican-Canadian émigré, met MC Tee, a Haitian-born, Flatbush, Brooklyn-based rapper (and regular record store customer).[1][2] The duo soon made a demo, "Fresh Is The Word," and eventually signed with William Socolov's Sleeping Bag Records.



Mantronix's debut single, "Fresh Is the Word," was a club hit in 1985, reaching #16 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, and was featured on Mantronix: The Album which was released the same year.

Mantronix's efforts on Mantronix: The Album and its effect on early hip hop and electronic music is perhaps best summed up by music critic Omar Willey's observation in 2000:

“Featuring "Fresh Is the Word" and the new tracks "Bassline" and "Electro Mega-Mix," Mantronix defined the new sound of electro-funk. Mantronik used a polyrhythmic style, similar to West African log drumming, but instead of acoustic drums, the rhythm would be carried by the combination of electronic drums, synthesizer, vocoder and/or synthesized voice over a bass line completely played on the synth. No samples of James Brown here. This was truly electronic music: spare, funky and immensely danceable, an homage and simultaneous extension of old-school hip hop's electronic template that had started with "Planet Rock" in 1982. The feeling of Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Kraftwerk and Neu all combined in Mantronik's music. It was a neat tie between old-school and new jack, and Mantronix had the field to themselves.[3] ”

The influence of Mantronix: The Album is seen among other artists through the sampling of "Needle To The Groove" by Beck in the single "Where It's At" from the 1996 album, Odelay ("we've got two turntables and a microphone..."), as well as, "Fresh Is The Word" by the Beastie Boys in the single "Jimmy James" from the 1992 album, Check Your Head ("for all the Blacks, Puerto Ricans, and the White people too...")



Mantronix's second album, Music Madness, was released in 1986. While MC Tee's rhyming style on the album continued in the traditional b-boy fashion of the times, Mantronik's club-oriented production and mixing in Music Madness tended to attract more electronic dance music and electro funk aficionados than hardcore hip-hop fans.[4] During this period, while Mantronix was signed to Sleeping Bag Records, Mantronik was employed by the label in their A&R Department, while also producing other artists and groups, including Just-Ice, T La Rock, KRS-One, Nocera, and Joyce Sims.



Mantronix signed with Capitol Records in 1987, in what was one of the first 7-figure deals for a hip-hop group, and released In Full Effect in 1988, which was the first album to be mastered from DAT instead of reel-to-reel tape. In Full Effect continued in and expanded on the hip-hop/electro funk/dance music vein of its predecessor, eventually reaching #18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Mantronix's highest showing for an album.[5] In Full Effect marked the last Mantronix album with rapper MC Tee, who left the group to enlist in the United States Air Force."

Just seen a new compilation of Mantronix that's has been released..... Click here for link.

Mantronix - Simple Simon

Mantronix - Ladies (live)

More Mantronix for Ya....

Lakim Shabazz - Pure Righteousness Live !!

Here's a very dope performance of Pure Righteousness on Night Music with DJ Cee Just on the wheels, and Lakim coming correct on the mic. Not sure who the dancer is but he definitely provides some humorous running mans, shit who wasn't doing the running man in 89? Word.

Many Thanks to THE BREAK OF DAWN BLOG For this 'heads up'....

ELECTRO - ALL 33 ALBUMS (Streetsounds)

Thought I should remind anybody who thinks Hip Hop/Rap started with Dr Dre or Kanye West.........Back in 1983, I came accross a cassette being sold in a local record shop. It caught my eye and next....my ear.....WOW, I had never heard anything like it !!!!!!.....so for all of you who have never heard this genre busting, futuristic blueprint for modern dance music today, he is a posting of all 33 Streetsound's Electro Albums...and some other classic old school albums.

This is what the D.E.F. Momentum BLOG says "Streetsounds was part of the UK Streetwave stable of labels created by Morgan Khan. A Hong Kong-born Indian who grew up in London, Khan had worked in the UK record industry since the mid 1970's, working for such names as PRT Distribution (a division of Pye Records) and R&B Records, for whom at the time Imagination were the up and coming stars of the day.

Khan founded the independent Streetwave record label during 1981 to specialise in releasing Electro and Hi-NRG releases. Within a year of creation, Streetwave began the Streetsounds series of albums; compilations created from some of the hottest 12" imports of the day. These releases made available a selection of the most contemporary dance floor hits within the financial reach of those wanting to hear the freshest sounds. In the early 80's a 12" single was priced around £2 and you would pay over £4 for an import 12". The Streetsounds series offered usually 8 to 12 full-length 12" mixes for under a fiver. Understandably, the Streetsounds series was met with considerable enthusiasm and, some might say, mighty relief.

This series would run for over 6 years and contain over 50 albums. By far the most coveted of the Streetsounds releases were the Electro series. These albums introduced the UK to the developing hip-hop scene from America - a stroke of genius that brought electro and early hip hop from the underground to the UK high street and, one could argue, helped in the creation of the UK's hip hop scene.

The Electro series ran for a total of 27 albums (and one box set) from 1982 to 1988. The albums were initially labeled"Streetsounds Electro" with the title morphing into "Streetsounds Hip Hop" after release 12 in 1986.

All of the albums were competently mixed by a series of the best remixers of the day - predominately from the UK. A large proportion of the mixes on the early releases were completed by Mastermind, a London-based hip-hop sound system from the early 80s. Headed by "Herbie The Mastermind" (aka Herbie Laidley) the team also featured Kiss FM radio DJ's Dave VJ and Max LX who were also members of UK electro outfit Hard Rock Soul Movement, responsible for the massive "Double Def Fresh" release."

Click here for Link.

Many thanks to the D.E.F. Momentum BLOG site

ESSENTIAL ** Harmonic 313 - EP 1 ** (Limited 2000 Copies Only)

Harmonic 313 - EP 1

Long overdue and unbelievable new EP from one of the UK's most talented and overlooked producers, Mark Pritchard. Having ditched the Harmonic 33 guise, he returns after a few Troubleman releases and some even under his birth name with the more Detroit sounding Harmonic 313.

Track names are coded as colours, with the code breaker present on the spine of the EP. This release is limited to 2000 copies only......get it while you can !!

Warp Records says......"Mark Pritchard's latest incarnation is Harmonic 313. The EP is super fresh hip hop speed techno, offbeat drums, lots of bass, it simultaneously encapsulates the sound of J Dilla and Detroit techno in a style which you could describe as Hi-Tech Funk. The EP is limited and there is a fun element to the artwork, you find out the track titles via a secret code on the artwork in conjunction with the new site Harmonic 313 site, plus when you crack the code, you'll get a free mp3 of a non-single track."

Boomkat Records....."In short - SICK stuff. Across the 5 "problems" different variations on the theme are explored, ranging from the reverberating sublow of "Problem 3" to the shimmering strings and keys of "Problem 4", and the closing speak and spell solo on "Problem 5". Forever inventive and utterly impressive - "EP1" is an absolute MUST for followers of Pritchard and blunted Detroit Hip Hop alike. ESSENTIAL PURCHASE"

Fat City records......"This has to be the best thing to come out this year already, check.. wait, check all the tracks, as there's a puzzle on there to work out what they're called, so we ain't gonna spoil it for ya! Recommended

Tracklisting

A1 Problem 1: Word Problems (5:23)
A2 Problem 2: Neon (2:23)
B1 Problem 3: Call To Arms (4:39)
B2 Problem 4: Flashback (3:54)
B3 Problem 5: Solve It (0:24)

I've bought myself 2 copies......very limited and absolutely essential and also released on the classic WARP Label

February Purchases......

Middlewood Sessions - Red Waters/Astro Blue EP (Wah Wah)

Phonica Records state......"New 12'' from the Middlewood Sessions boys - a double-a sided single on Wah Wah 45s that shows off the boys´ penchant for a club jazz banger - "Red Waters" - combined with a sublime, string laiden, timeless vocal cut - "Astro Blue". 2008 looks like being a big year for these chaps as they´re surely poised to take the next steps in their mission to bring cinematic jazz to discerning music lovers"

Gilles Peterson 'In The House' Exclusive EP3 (Defected)

Phonica Records states.....The third and final EP of utterly exclusive tracks and remixes comissioned solely for Gilles Peterson's 'In The House' compilation. Features tracks from Kings Of Tomorrow, Zed Bias, Season & Sygaire and an exclusive house mix from Carl Craig of Tribe's 'Livin' In A New Day' that didn't come out on the Planet E release!

For me, its all about the Carl Craig of Tribe's 'Livin' In A New Day'......amazing.

Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 (LP 1)







Side 1
1. The Anambra Beats - "Ayamma"
2. Clestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National - "Okwukwe Na Nchekwube"
3. The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination - "Amalinja"
Side 2
1. The Funkees - "Akula Owu Onyeara"
2. Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band - "Oja Omoba"
3. WMA The Harbours Band - "Koma Mosi"
Side 3
1. The Semi Colon - "Nekwaha Semi Colon"
2. Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestros - "Osalobua Rekpama"
3. St Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band - "Onwu Ama Dike"
Side 4
1. The Sahara All Stars Of Jos - "Feso Jaiye"
2. Mono Mono - "Ema Kowa Lasa Lle Wa"
3. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders - "To Whom It May Concern"

Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 (LP 2)







Side 1.
1. Asiko Mi Ni - The Nigerian Police Force Band(The Force 7) (5:09),
2. Belema – Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown)(6:12),
3. Alabeke - Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band of Aba (4:35)
Side 2.
1. I Want a Break Thru’ - The Hykkers (3:01),
2. Arraino - Popular Cooper and His All Beats Band (3:02),
3. Simini – Yaya - Collins Oke Elaiho & His Odoligie Nobles Dance Band.(3:39)
4. Buroda Mase - Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top beats (4:55)
Side 3.
1. Business Before Pleasure - George Akaeze & His Augmented Hits (4:36),
2. Omo Yen Wu Mi - Shadow Abraham with Mono Mono Friends (3:28),
3. Blak Sound -Leo Fadaka & The Heroes (4:53)
Side 4.
1. Torri Wowo - Godwin Ezike & The Ambassadors (3:07),
2. Eguae Oba - Osayomore Joseph & The Creative 7 (4:29),
3. Akpaisong - Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes (2:28),
4. Ugali - The Tony Benson Sextet (5:21)

Nigeria 1970. Highlife, Afro-beat, Rock, Jazz & Native Blues rub shoulders and are turned out at an unprecedented level. New styles meet old styles. Newfound national confidence follows the near break-up of the nation following the Biafran war. New fashions meet old fashions, creating new fusions. Soundway present this 2x Double LP of original and previously un-reissued tracks from the time complete with extensive liner notes, rare photos and cover art.

'A magical collection of Nigerian recordings from the 70s' ***** (Observer Music Monthly)

'A deep selection that yields more with each listen, this is recommended for aficionados and passing fans alike' **** (Songlines magazine) 'Nigeria Special is an aural and design classic' ***** (Mojo)

QUANTIC/NICKODEMUS feat TEMPO & CANDELA ALLSTARS - Mi Swing Es Tropical (7 Inch)

New York's finest Nickodemus meets Quantic in San Juan for 3 days of music making with Tempo & The Candela Allstars. Here is the result. Released and cultivated by Pablo Rodriguez of Candela Records and Candela Bar.

Fat City Records say..... "Originally released back in 2005, Tru Thoughts have managed to re-release it which is good news because as well as being a scorching club track it has been in high demand since being used on Apple's I Pod TV adverts.Quantic goes latin with the this scortching number. The young super producer and musician Quantic teams up with Nickodemus and Tempo and the Candela Allstars to produce this track. Recorded in Puerto Rica, this is dancefloor dynamite".


QUANTIC feat SPANKY WILSON/DJ AEON SEVEN - Modern Funk Sampler 2 (Freestyle 7 Inch)

"Another sampler from the recent "Modern Funk" compilation, mapping the biggest players of 2007 in the funk world. Retaining the style and ethics of original funk compositions, but giving them a new millennial twist, these 2 tracks should see some action on the dancefloor. Kicking things off is living legend Spanky Wilson is responsible for the anthemic cover of "Sunshine Of Your Love" - an end of night classic at clubs the world over. Hooking up with the closest contender to claim James Brown´s crown as "the hardest working man in show-business" - Mr Will Holland (aka Quantic), this is one of the finest examples of old meeting new and it works a treat! On the flip, a relative newcomer to the funk scene, France´s Aeon Seven gives us a drum heavy workout with some fat horns and fresh Hammond thrown into the mix". Phonica Records


Philip COHRAN & THE ARTISTIC HERMITAGE ENSEMBLE - The Malcolm X Memorial
Dusty groove "A brilliant tribute to the late Malcolm X -- served up by Chicago's legendary Artistic Heritage Ensemble! The record's got an even farther-reaching sound than the group's self-titled effort -- a flowing style that unfolds as their tribute to Malcolm rolls on -- starting spare and earthy at first, then picking up a fuller, prouder, much more righteous groove as things really get going! As before, there's plenty of heavy percussion at the bottom of most tracks -- topped by complicated horn passages that often verge on the exotic -- and which have a tremendously captivating sound. The ensemble's led by the great Phil Cohran, who played with Sun Ra for a bit, and also plays cornet on the record -- the rest of the group includes Charles Williams, Don Myrick, Louis Satterfield, Pete Cosey, Henry Gibson, Willie Woods, and Aaron Dodd -- a lineup of players who also worked with Sun Ra, The Pharoahs, and Earth Wind & Fire! The LP's a suite of 4 tracks dedicated to Malcolm X, each capturing a period of his life, "Malcolm Little", "Detroit Red", "Malcolm X", and "El Hajj Malik El Shabazz".