I'm a happy man because every other week I get touched by a tune or a record so deep my soul jumps with joy. This one here is one such beauty: "Play the Game" by MIDLAND, an artist I besiege you to buy every release you see his name on without hesitation. Deep, House, Dubstep, Breakbeat in a Detroit vibe. I'm screaming out loud - this is absolutely essential!
Prelisten & Info: soundcloud.com/phonicarecords
Visit Midland: myspace.com/midlanduk
Got this beautiful record as a gift the other day. 4 LP's full of movie soundtracks. Brilliant!
Out on Doxy Records.
Often too late for "new releases", often too busy for playlists or annual best -lists, I'm introducing this format: Essential Music - the best in music I've come across recently or that's inside my head for whatever reason - in no particular order or genre. Please SUPPORT THE ARTISTS and BUY their music.
If you missed this outstanding album last year, please buy it now. Everyone should own a copy :)
Full of deep bass, strange beats, spheric melodies. Cinematic Electronica. A beauty
A marvellous Jazz record produced by Madlib with classy artwork. Heavily influenced by late 60s, early 70s Jazz, some groovy and more experimental tracks... just great! A beautiful product and wonderful noise coming from the house of Stones Throw! Available exclusively from the label's website until worldwide release in April 2010.
Young Jazz Rebels 'Slave Riot' 18 Tracks produced by Madlib. CD: Thick cardboard, tip-on, gatefold, and inner sleeve. Vinyl: 2/LP, duo-tone sleeve.
The Lonelady vinyl album arrived today. Regardless the vintage touch this is really fresh music. Minimal instrumentation, great songwriting, an urgent voice... Following up on her three 7" releases, Manchester's Julie Campbell produces one jewel of a debut album.
The single 'Intuition' I received earlier was accompanied by a peculiar but fitting postcard promoting the 'Manchester Modernist Society'... Class!!
Check this impressive artist person in Paul Morley's interview on the guardian website
Lonelady ''Nerve Up' is out now on Warp Records
Lonelady page on Warp | Lonelady on Myspace | Facebook | Lonelady Website
If he weren't too busy because of his newborn son, music writer Joe Muggs would probably think I'm stalking him. Truth is, I've been following him on Twitter for a while and realized we approve/disapprove of similar things in music (i.e. the music industry). I started looking up on stuff he'd written and music he'd recommended earlier, which turned out to be a very satisfying endeavor. It resulted in me listening to loads of new tunes, getting more background info on stuff I had heard before, learning new things and indulging in plain reading pleasure. The most impressive is maybe his Mary Anne Hobbs interview... If it were in my power I'd bestow on him a prize for "best music interview" for said piece.
Luckily Joe Muggs is making some of his best work accessible on his website ververymuch.com. Check this extract from his interview with Rob Gordon:
Rob Gordon: ...a good sound is hard to obtain these days. I’d like to hear a good soundsystem these days – there’s a lot of loud ones, but we have a few problems. The first problem was that Mosfet amps came in, they came in in the late 70s, and they were really loud and really cheap and whatever, but they had no warmth in the bass. Then the next stop was the disco mixer. The disco mixer had a crossfader on it but it was never going to sound as good as that custom pre-amp that you used to use, but everyone had to have one because it was the fashion. Then the next thing was the CD, that killed it. Each step you’re getting less emotion, and when you turn it up loud it sounds like a noise instead of beautiful music like you’re in heaven. It sounds like… earplugs! You see people in clubs now with earplugs! Back then you’d see people hugging the box – it’s different sounds!
... and read the full Rob Gordon interview on veryverymuch.com
What Joe Muggs does for us is a bit like digging through dusty records and reporting from cutting edge club nights at the same time. Urban UK music has been at the heart of my interest for over 15 years now. To impress me it takes someone with the ability to take in new movements and sounds with an open mind, while reporting those findings with knowledge and respect for what came before, - be it in 140 characters or across five pages. Joe clearly masters both.
I was struggling to stay creative and productive after the birth of our son, let's hope Joe has the energy to keep it up – and that he will get the sleep needed to stay on top of it! In that sense (but by no means limited to) I wish him all the best! ~
Kevin Mueller aka DJ Kev the Head was a member of the Dachstock Concert Collective between 1994 - 2006, promoter of the Echo Club (2000 - 2004) and is a founding member of the CUE Institute and the Mouthwatering Records label. You can follow him on Twitter.
I just came across this Video via my new favorite Blog Pink Tentacle ( thanks BD for sharing).
Saitone takes Michael Jackson back to 8bit Isn't it just great ?
I wish I would have been there once. On this dance floor, with these kids. Fantastic music, amazing vibes and even more amazing dancing.