New Animal Collective!

Out today is the newest from Animal Collective! Basically only for the hardcore fans. It's actually a hard one to recommend.

buy

New Look for 2010

I thought I'd put up some of my photo manipulations for you to enjoy. It's a new year and there is going to be much more art coming your way.

The word 'music' transformed into vectors and manipulated

ROCK - Peter Wolf Crier

The first thing I thought of when I heard this record was the sounds of clean Swedish pop bands put through the crunchy filter of White Stripes or the Black Keys. Quite good. I think they are self-published

LISTEN

Down Down Down

Hard As Nails

buy

END OF A DIFFICULT YEAR

I feel so greatful and excited of what's to come. Let's just say that 2010 will be a year of truth.

70s Chicago Soul Photographs

Losing My Edge - Basic Channel

Coming out of Detroit techno of the late 80s, two Berliners Mark Ernestus and Moritz Von Oswald created a style super-influential minimal dub-techno that has continued to morph into their fantastic Rhythm & Sound reggae influenced work. I was glad when LCD dropped their name since these guys have been so great for so long. A real piece of history for music fans.

LISTEN

Quadrant Dub I Edit

buy at iTunes store

back to Losing My Edge

Rock - The XX

I feel a little mainstream posting this but if you don't know this record you will probably hear it in some Ossington dinner joint and wonder what the hell it is. Pretty easy to like. I guess easy is a bit vanilla but once and a while you just want some music without the big challenge. Know what I mean?

LISTEN

Crystalised

buy at iTunes store

Jazz - Sun Ra

A stellar Mingus style record that is actually two records, We Travel The Spaceways from 1956 and Bad and Beautiful from 1961. For Sun Ra, this is extremely easy to get into, and is freaky good fun.

LISTEN

We Travel The Spaceways

buy at iTunes store

AfroFunk - Legends of Benin

Another stunning release from Analog Africa. I am seriously freaking out right now. A good mix of deep funky African grooves, James Brown breaks, and deep Latin track thrown in for good measure. This is a must.

LISTEN

Dadje Von O Von Non

buy at iTunes store

Rock - zZz

It seems like someone loves Death From Above 1979. Who doesn't? Stripped down to drums and organ. This is a pretty interesting and varied record. Maybe a sprinkling of Jim Morrison? Straight outta Holland. Thanks Henan for the tip.

A crazy cockfighting art video for Running With The Beast - youTube it.

LISTEN

Running With The Beast

Majeur

buy at iTunes store

Rock - Spiral Stairs

Garage Rock - Thee Oh Sees

'This is like meat and potatoes prepared by a master chef-- totally familiar but utterly delicious.'

- Pitchfork March '09

'Nuff said.

LISTEN

Can You See

Enemy Destruct

Buy at iTunes Store

Rock - Surf City

It's funny that when I hear a fantastic song these days I'm thinking to myself 'this would make a great iPod commercial song'. Well this whole EP is like that.

Basically 'The Strokes' go surfing. Love it crazy time.

See also: pavement, sonic youth, the clean, velvet undergound, the jesus and mary chain, the beach boys, the zombies, the boredoms

LISTEN

Headin' Inside

buy at iTunes Store

Lo-Fi - Kurt Vile

Man I love this record. Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Arthur Russel's World of Echo... this is a gem. Not everyone will get it, but I love its simplicity and devotion to a single riff. Basically just vocals and guitar with occasional drums. Plenty of echo and reverb.

I love the fact that the entire album sounds like it was recorded in one go.

LISTEN

Amplifier

Heart Attack

Buy at iTunes store

'Time After Time' by We Have Band

Rock - Dark Was The Night (compilation)

Wow this is a great comp! This is a must-have. I haven't even gotten to every track yet since I keep replaying over and over the first cd. I'm assuming that this is the only place you can find these tracks, since they are probably one-offs for this long-running benefit compilation. Kev, you once again manage to give me a little more info than I'm comfortable with.

Come on: Kevin Drew, Feist, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire, Yo La Tengo, Iron & Wine, Cat Power and more... For real?

LISTEN

Brackett, WI by Bon Iver

Tightrope by Yeasayer

I Was Young When I Left Home by Antony + Bryce Dessner

buy at iTunes

ROCK - Anne Soldaat

Great rock band out of the Netherlands, courtesy of my friend Henan, this is a great effort, a solid pop record. Some songs like Pray For Delay remind me of REM if I actually liked them, others like Runaway remind me of mid-70s Bowie/T-Rex/Supertramp, and finally Teenage View has a sick early-90s hook in the chorus.

LISTEN

Pray For Delay

Runaway

Teenage View

buy on iTunes

SITE DOWN

I WAS TAKEN DOWN BY MY PROVIDER SO SOME LINKS WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I GET A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING. SORRY.

E

ROCK - Animal Collective

Don't stare at this too long....

Yes, I know I need to get out more, find some bands that DON'T remind me of my love for mid-70s Beach Boys but hey, they are probably my favorite indie outfit going these days. Amazing production, so inventive, you have no idea where they are going, but you are happy to be taken on the ride.

LISTEN

My Girls

buy

Indie Soundz - tUnE-yArDs

An amazing record.

LISTEN

Sunlight

For You

Little Tiger

buy on iTunes

"In and around 2007 Merrill Garbus creates tUnE-yArDs. She thought the exasperating capitalization will buy her some time.

Merrill came from parents who sewed their lives together with music, and at age seven she proceeded to hum her way through days. She hummed her way through the family record collection: Old Timey fiddling, Revolver, Django. She hummed her way through mid-’80’s pop radio and an obsession with Christmas music. She hummed her way through folk music camp, through Smith College and a theater degree, through anarchist puppet training, through brazen, all-women a cappella singing, through heat rash in Kenya, through deeply scrutinized puppet performances in Europe, through her lonely, swirling 20’s. The hum seems to have become a yell.

In 2008 she released BiRd-BrAiNs, which she had recorded over a span of 2.5 years on a hand-held voice recorder. Sampling snippets of her life as a nanny on Martha’s Vineyard and later as a young musician in noisy urban settings, she weaved sounds together to make substantial rhythms and then layered her ukulele and vocals over top. The album came out on recycled cassette tape to the chagrin of many, but was also offered by donation as an online digital download." -forcefield

Sing higher damn it!

I can just hear the producer in the booth saying "why don't we try this falsetto?"

Woods - Rain On

buy

Rock - White Williams

A strong debut with echos of Brian Eno, Smoke has lots of ideas but is so simple and clean. The production is easy to listen to, but not underdeveloped. Williams wrote produced and engineered this record.

LISTEN

Headlines

The Shadow

New Violence

buy on iTunes

re: mailer

In all seriousness though: we pray wickedness DEcrease. And cease. "Let righteousness cover the earth."

JAHlove everytime

Thanks Jeremy

Eric

Rock - Chad VanGaalen

Much like his first incredible record, this one just made me shake my head when I heard it. Every song is fresh and new with the freedom and drive of indie-rock and enough 'classic rock' in there to keep the peeps in the stadium happy. Wow, I'm so totally impressed. His voice is not for everyone, but it's singer-songwriter man, Neil Young has a weird voice too...

Wilco, Neil Young, Beck, Guided By Voices.

LISTEN

Phantom Anthills

Molten Light

Inside The Molecules

buy on iTunes

New from D.M.S.T./Broken Social Scene's Charles Spearin

http://www.happiness-project.ca/

Reggae - Jamaica Funk (Soul Jazz)

I'm on a Soul Jazz Records odyssey, trying to get as many as I can of the ones I'm missing. A sweet new addition to my collection is Jamaica Funk which pretty much sums up two of my favourite things.

LISTEN

You Can't Hide Love

R&B - Raphael Saadiq

This is up there for my record of the year and I've only heard it once. A classic R&B album in a Motown style, you get smooth vocals and vintage rhythms. Sounds of Smokey Robinson and Cornell Campbell, wow can this guy sing. Sounds best with the bass turned down a little. It actually sounds pretty good on a laptop.

LISTEN

100 Yard Dash

Big Easy

Buy on iTunes

Stone-cold 1980 Funk - Jackson Jones

I first heard part of this jem on the James Murphy Fabriclive CD but I had to hunt down the original. Put your pants on? This track will have your pants off in about 5 seconds and I doubt you'll ever wear them again.

LISTEN

Jackson Jones - I Feel Good, Put Your Pants On

zip

Fes, Morocco: Gnawa Music

I first heard something that sounded like Gnawa music when Ed Kent  loaned me and then gave me a bunch of cassettes that he had brought back from Morocco years earlier. One really stuck out, and as Andrew Whiteman will remember, it not only stuck out, it rocked our collective world.

I was walking here in the medina in Fes last week and suddenly heard something that sounded almost exactly like that old tape of Ed's. I stopped and asked what it was. 'Gnawa' replied Mohammad, who was bombing the music really loud in his tiny fabric shop. The next day was my birthday, so when asked what I wanted to do, there was no question that it was high time to hunt down some serious Gnawa (guh-nawa). We went back to Mohammad's shop and I ripped a bunch of cd's. He then told me that he knows some Gnawa musicians and asked if we'd like to arrange a concert. No-brainer. The next day we were in Mohammad's house with his family, being served mint tea and snacks, and rocking out to some serious Fessi Gnawa. What an experience!

That's what I love about Fes... it has the most friendly people I have ever met, and a great local tradition of music.

Gnawa is essentially Sufi music, since all of the lyrics are referencing God or about serving God. The band (and traditionally the audience) tends to get really high smoking Kef and drinking Berber whiskey as the music builds intensity. I personally love the call and response style the best.

Unfortunately none of the cd's had track listings...

LISTEN

Gnawa of Fes 01

Gnawa music from Morocco

Stay tuned for a few posts from Morocco. I'm here now and have collected a bunch of great music to share with you...

Funk

Great track:

George McCrea - I Get Lifted

from the Soul Jazz 'Miami Sound' LP

Unfortunately you can't buy any of the Soul Jazz LPs on iTunes... Check out the whole series though...

http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/

Soul

So amazing and so short

Bob & Fred -  I'll Be On My Way

NeoSoul - Musiq

Some will say, this is a travesty. All I know is that when I play this for a crowd, the girls get sexy, the crowd starts moving. As a DJ, I would say that this is a ten out of ten.

LISTEN

Miss You

NeoSoul - The Foreign Exchange

If you don't love D'Angelo then stop reading.

If you can't handle crazy weird shuffle beats, and the snare sounds off, I dig.

But otherwise, this is great great shit.

LISTEN

All Or Nothing/Coming Home To You

Thanks Steven Mann

buy

M.I.A. Remix

I must have listened to this 20 times today...

Inna dancehall style... no slackness...

LISTEN

Galang (Dave Kelley Remix)

Soul

Classic early soul - complete with talking section... Beautiful vocal performance...

All These Things - Art Neville

buy

My Wife Has A Blackbelt In Crazy...

In honour of getting her Blackbelt last weekend, here is a fitting tribute from the great Bo Diddley.

Mona

I Love This Song...

Dripping with phase, haunted with Lee Perry-esque animal sounds and heavy reverb and delay, this is a classic Wackies Rhythm cut. Wackies is a Brooklyn label that was in it's prime in the mid to late 70's and still puts out re-issues through our friends in Berlin at basic channel (Rhythm & Sound). 

http://basicchannel.com/label/Wackies 

LISTEN

Addis Ababa Dub

buy

Losing My Edge - Althea & Donna

Young Jamaican singers Althea Forrest (17), and Donna Reid (18), were are worldwide sensation in 1978 with their classic, "Uptown Top Ranking". It was produced by Joe Gibbs using a re-recording of the riddim of the 1967 Alton Ellis' song "I'm Still In Love", which had already been re-popularised in the 1970s by Marcia Aitken's cover "I'm Still In Love With You Boy" and the deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity.

The original Losing My Edge Post is here

LISTEN

Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna

Bonus Folk Version - Uptown Top Ranking - Scout Niblett

back to Losing My Edge

African Scream Contest

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Clearly I have won this round. The first round however went squarely to Gabo Brown & Orchestra with their fucking great track 'It's a Vanity'.

I had to mail away to Dusty Groove to get it. Totally worth it. It's also on LP which I also bought.

Samy who put this record out has a great blog

LISTEN

It's a Vanity

Leki Santchi

Rock - The Black Keys

It's nice to find a good rock record that's not The White Stripes. Hailing from Akron OH, this LP was produced strangely by Danger Mouse. I like it. You like it.

LISTEN

Oceans and Streams

I Got Mine

Indian Classical - Ustad Kamal Sabri

I shot this footage of Kamal the night before he left. For those of you who saw his concert, you know how powerful it is to see this instrument (the Sarangi [Sa-run-gi]) live in person. The audio is very high quality. It is formatted for iPhone.

Subscribe to my Sabri Academy podcast for the iPhone/iPod

Oliver Schroer - R.I.P.

Now I don't really listen to Classical music much, though from time to time I really enjoy it. And you know what, I'm not even comfortable calling this music classical since it is really quite experimental. When I first heard Schroer's music on the CBC in early June 08, I immediately tried to get tickets for the show that turned out to be his last, but to no avail.

Schroer's Camino was recorded in various churches during a 1,000 km journey Schroer made along the pilgrims trail 'Camino de Santiago' that runs between France and Spain. Google it if you want to know more...

Please buy this record and help support Schroer's family.

LISTEN

Field of Stars

buy

Dirty Blues

I love the 50s and 60s euphemisms for fucking. Here's two dirty dirty tracks for you. (Now a 'back door man' isn't necessarily what you might think. It IS the 60s, not the 90s remember...)

LISTEN

I'm a King Bee - Slim Harpo

Back Door Man - Howin' Wolf

Some Slim Harpo notes from a web site:
As cool rocking names go, Slim Harpo is in the freezer. His sonic stylings are just as frigid. A narrow minded man would say he sounds too much like Jimmy Reed. An eloquent man would talk about his lazy-sounding vocal style, the sinewy guitar, the backbeat you can drive a Cadillac through, how less is most deliciously more. But I’m neither of those.
Instead I’ll mention some titles: ‘I Need Money’, ‘Shake Your Hips’, ‘Baby Scratch My Back’….What economy and directness. The lyrics are just as straightforward, stories of simple pleasure that often contain well-observed truth.
Did he make this up right before the tape rolled? --
Ohhh, I dig those crazy clothes Let me feel those fishnet hose Cut low at the top And high at the bottom In fact, I don't see How we ever did without 'em
Slim is from Louisiana. Maybe that explains his magic.

 

VFest 2008

I had another great year playing at Toronto's Virgin Festival. Got the 'thumbs up' on my set from Paul Weller and Oasis and no, it was not me that shoved Noel. Stop asking.

My set list is here

Pop - Electronic - butchersomething

This is a great pop-electronica record. It’s nice to hear actual songs, rather than just building a song around a loop. I like this record because its influences are such a great combination of familiar and obscure.

LISTEN

Solitary Architects of Heaven

His Only

Folk ~ Rock - Bon Iver

Sounding like Bon Hiver (good winter), this is a solo effort of Justin Vernon. Recorded in a cabin in remote Wisconsin over the winter of 06-07. Its a very nice quiet acoustic record.

LISTEN

Flume

Lump Sum

buy

Happy Anniversary!

It's hard to believe that it's been two years already. I think I've made it past the milestone that seems to stop most weblogs. Hopefully this year I will be adding a couple of new contributors and we can bring you even more of the music we love.

Cheers,

Eric

Are you up for the challenge? Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti

If I worked in a coffee shop, I would probably play this record over and over. Separates the men from the boys it does.

Sounds like: Wham!, Guided by Voices, Ween, Beefheart, Hall & Oats, Mantler

LISTEN

Howling at the Moon

buy at iTunes

I Love This Song...

My Morning Jacket - Golden

buy

Echo Rock - Beach House

I'm totally in love with this record. A mix of Yo La Tengo and Nico with lots of great echo-y guitars, organ and drum machine. It's beautiful. Victoria Legrand's vocals take you on a trip to far-off fairy tale lands. 

LISTEN

Wedding Bells

Gila

buy it at iTunes store

California Post-Rock - Fleet Foxes

Actually, they're from Seattle. Riding the seemingly unending wave of bands sounding like The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Zombies etc.., Fleet Foxes have made a record that is really really interesting to listen to. Especially the first half of the record. You hear all of the influences, but are still pleasantly surprised at each new turn of melody. Interesting arrangement. Produced by Seattle's Phil Ek (The Shins, Built To Spill, Mudhoney LP's) It's a really good record. 

It also got me to go back and listen to Bundy K Browns 'Directions In Music' - a classic. Thanks to Kev for tipping me to the FF record.

UPDATE

wtf, FF cancel Toronto show July 16th to drive to Chicago to do pre-Pitchfork party. Bummer.

LISTEN

Ragged Wood

edited - please buy it

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

edited - please buy it

Oliver James

buy it at iTunes or go to your local record store for fucks sake.

Montreal Rock - The Besnards Lakes

Running in the same circles as fellow Montreal bands like Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade, this BL record came out last year but I only just heard it on CBC late night radio and went right out and bought it.

Falling right smack dab in the middle of my current Beach Boys/Cali Rock obsession, this is a beautiful and quite experimental record. Reminds me also of The Flaming Lips, and at times Yo La Tengo.

LISTEN

For Agent 13

also listen to Rides The Rails

buy on iTunes

Rock - Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains

Sebastien is former of Death From Above 1979. His EP came out yesterday. Only $3.99! Looks like the album will have quite a few treats on it. I love this Way To Come Home track. Once you dig it, you should buy it, then listen to the demo which is fucking great too.

LISTEN

Ways To Come Home

buy on iTunes

I also liked the hot little funk track SG released last year "When You Go Out"

On The Way To Come Home (demo)

Also, go buy this lovely track on a record dedicated to Bellwoods Park. Young Mothers

If you like the heavy sounds of DFA 1979 more, try this one: Let's Make Out

Bootleg - Zakir Hussain show feat Niladri Kumar on Sitar

I told a few of you about Zakir Hussain coming to town. I managed to catch up with his tour in Vancouver when I was out there shooting. I was really taken by his sitar player. Here is a clip taken from my stills camera. It's poor quality but really worth a listen. Reminds me of 'Brothers' from the Paris, Texas soundtrack by Ry Cooder.

LISTEN

bootleg

READ

nice review by the Toronto Show

More Beach Rock - Grizzly Bear

I'm still liking this Beach Boys influenced post-rock, done very nicely by indie darlings Grizzly Bear.

UPDATE: See them on Letterman July 23rd.

LISTEN

Knife

buy @ iTunes

African Funk - Nigeria Special

With nary a Fela Kuti song in sight, Soundway Records has brought out another astounding collection of Afro-Funk and Highlife. I'm speechless.

Go buy a copy in your local record store - it's a great looking package.

LISTEN

Amalinja

Okwukwe Na Nchekwube

or buy on iTunes

Rock - The Kills

This record is a new direction for duo The Kills and sadly I'm not a fan. But I like these tracks:

LISTEN:

Last Day Of Magic - buy

U.R.A. Fever - buy

i love this...

Edith Piaf - Les Trois Cloches

buy

i love this...

Animal Collective - Grass

buy

Reggae - Bim Sherman

One of my favourite vocalists, he sang on some seriously deep rhythms.

Slummy Ghetto + version - 1982 (10,000 Ethiopians Rhythm)

10,000 Ethiopians

Fit To Survive


buy

Experimental Pop - Panda Bear

I love this new track from Panda Bear, a NYC'r transplanted to Lisbon, Portugal. Dreamy Beach Boys melodies. Love it.

LISTEN

Panda Bear - Comfy In Nautica

buy at iTunes store

Hip Hop - Cool Kids

Though I've long felt like hip hop is so ten years ago along comes this pair of killer beat makers from Chicago: Cool Kids. I heard this song in a store and tracked it down as soon as got home. Get this: they don't have a record and although the hype on them has been HUGE since last summer, you can barely buy any of their stuff. This track is supposedly coming from their new EP, but up until now there is only one track for sale at iTunes called Black Mags, but this one is the shit.

LISTEN

Mikey Rocks

Losing My Edge - Exploded!

You might know the song from two summers back, but admit it, are you really hip enough to get all of the references to obscure bands listed in this song? I had really only heard of half of those bands so I have taken on the task of looking up the ones I don't know and linking to them here. This will be an ongoing series so let's start with the full version of the original track (please buy it if you like it). I will post the lyrics and link a band each month to its post on this blog.

LISTEN

Losing My Edge - LCD Soundsystem



LYRICS (and links - updated monthly)

Yeah, I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
The kids are coming up from behind.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids from France and from London.
But I was there.

I was there in 1968.
I was there at the first Can show in Cologne. (post)
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids whose footsteps I hear when they get on the decks.
I'm losing my edge to the Internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1962 to 1978.
I'm losing my edge.

To all the kids in Tokyo and Berlin.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Brooklynites in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered eighties.

But I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge, but I was there.
I was there.
But I was there.

I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
I can hear the footsteps every night on the decks.
But I was there.
I was there in 1974 at the first Suicide practices in a loft in New York City. (post)
I was working on the organ sounds with much patience.
I was there when Captain Beefheart (post) started up his first band.
I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."
I was there.
I was the first guy playing Daft Punk (link) to the rock kids.
I played it at CBGB's.
Everybody thought I was crazy.
We all know.
I was there.
I was there.
I've never been wrong.

I used to work in the record store.
I had everything before anyone.
I was there in the Paradise Garage DJ booth with Larry Levan. (link)
I was there in Jamaica during the great sound clashes.
I woke up naked on the beach in Ibiza in 1988.

But I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent.
And they're actually really, really nice.

I'm losing my edge.

I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody. Every great song by the Beach Boys (post). All the underground hits. All the Modern Lovers tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Niagara record on German import. I heard that you have a white label of every seminal Detroit techno hit - 1985, '86, '87. I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '60s cut and another box set from the '70s.

I hear you're buying a synthesizer and an arpeggiator and are throwing your computer out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Yaz record.

I hear that you and your band have sold your guitars and bought turntables.
I hear that you and your band have sold your turntables and bought guitars.

I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.

But have you seen my records? This Heat, Pere Ubu, Outsiders, Nation of Ulysses, Mars, The Trojans, The Black Dice, Todd Terry, the Germs, Section 25, Althea and Donna, Sexual Harrassment, a-ha, Pere Ubu, Dorothy Ashby, PIL, the Fania All-Stars, the Bar-Kays, the Human League, the Normal, Lou Reed, Scott Walker, Monks, Niagara,

Joy Division, Lower 48, the Association, Sun Ra,
Scientists, Royal Trux, 10cc,

Eric B. and Rakim, Index, Basic Channel, Soulsonic Force ("just hit me"!), Juan Atkins, David Axelrod, Electric Prunes, Gil! Scott! Heron!, the Slits, Faust, Mantronix, Pharaoh Sanders and the Fire Engines, the Swans, the Soft Cell, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics.

I know what you really want. (x15)

Losing My Edge - The Modern Lovers

Recoring their first album in 1972, it didn't hit stores until 1976 but it was perfect timing. A huge influence on the emerging punk movement, it's worth noting that the Sex Pistols first single was a cover of 'Roadrunner'. You can also here a similar vocal style in 'She Cracked'. I personally really love the Velvet Underground influence on their music. In fact, it was recorded by VU's John Cale. It also featured Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads on organ. Very cool.


LISTEN

Roadrunner (alt version)
She Cracked

buy at iTunes store



Check out this interesting article

back to Losing My Edge

Losing My Edge - The Beach Boys

Most people don't knw that the Beach Boys were actually an experimental group because they were so hugely popular, but the rest of us know that they were really cool and far out when you dig a little deeper than the radio hits we all know (and sometimes cringe at). I'm not going to go to far with this post because there is way too much out there already about this band. I'm posting a few of the more unheard tracks for you to enjoy.

LISTEN

Little Bird
All I Wanna Do
Wild Honey
Meant For You

buy at iTunes

back to Losing My Edge

Losing My Edge - Captain Beefheart

Zappa-esque. Too far out for most people but you can understand its importance.

The best available record on iTunes

Wiki

Losing My Edge - Suicide

The first album from Suicide sounds a lot like the Silver Apples. Sounds pretty cool now in a early-punk nyc grungy way.

Rocket USA
Ghost Rider

open in iTunes


Wiki

Losing My Edge - Can

Can are one of my favourite bands. Hailing from Germany in the late 60's and with their best work in the early to mid 70's they are probably one of the most influential bands on indie rock and electronica. They inspired everyone from Sonic Youth to Kraftwerk. Mad drummer. I'm not a prog-rock fan whatsoever, but Can definately rocks my world. Please just go buy Ege Bamysi.


LISTEN

One More Night - buy
Vitamin C - buy


Future Days - buy


Can Wiki

Ike Turner meets Papa Legba

Here's a great article on Ike Turner written by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen. While reading, I opened up iTunes and searched for the track that is mentioned to help put it in context. Good stuff. Did you know that Ike was one of the first people to hire Jimi Hendrix?

http://www.slate.com/id/2180162/nav/tap3/

Robot Rock - Teenage Bad Girl - Cocotte

Fuzzy electro-rock from Paris in the Ed Banger style (Sebastian, Justice, Mr Oizo etc) this is a great record.

LISTEN - buy

Cocotte
Vaccum
Beel

Electro/Hip-Hop - Spank Rock's YoYoYoYoYoYoYo

Loving this dirty dirty record. If you feel there is not enought 2 Live Crew in your life, (and I'm sure there isn't) then head over to iTunes and pick this mofo up. Solid Maimi bass beats with fuzzy electro production. It's great. Good party record because it's not so dirty that it will put anyone off in a 'mixed company' situation.

LISTEN - buy

Touch Me

Backyard Betty

Sweet Talk

Hip-Hop - Kids In Tracksuits

Heavy heavy heavy distorted beats, this is old school meets new school - worth checking out.

LISTEN - buy

Uprock Theme

We Make It Rock

Rock Single - No Love Lost

Another rock gem from a LCD Soundsystem single. Late 70's/Early 80's brash UK rock.

(also...if you like John Cale's contributions to the Velvet Underground, check his version of 'All My Friends' on this EP)





LISTEN


LCD Soundsystem - No Love Lost (buy)

Rock Single - Yr City's A Sucker

Sounding like Brian Eno/Talking Heads on the incredible Remain In Light LP (buy), James Murphy yet again rocks my world with this brilliant jam that sounds like he did it on his 4-track, and mixed it in his pyjamas at home. Amazing.

LISTEN

LCD Soundsystem - Yr City's A Sucker (buy)

Virgin Music Festival

I was the DJ on the main stage of VFest last weekend, playing tunes between bands for more than 40,000 people. Here are some of what I was spinning:

LISTEN

Hot Chip - Over and Over -

Justice - Phantom Part II -

N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move (DFA Mix)
Muse - Supermassive Black Hole -
Spoon - I Turn My Camera On -
The Go! Team - Panther Dash -

Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen - buy

Electro - Mr. Oizo Remix

I dropped this insanely heavy remix during my set at VFest and WOW, it sounded amazing that loud. New New Super crunch electro out of Paris from Mr Oizo (he is on 'Ed Banger Records' - Daft Punk's record label). This new sound makes all other dance music sound so lame and weak by comparison.

Oh yeah, it is a remix of one of the darling bands/tracks of the last decade: Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name Of...'

LISTEN

Killing In The Name Of...

RIP Joe Zawinul

Legendary Keyboardist Joe Zawinul past on today so here are a couple of my favourite tracks of his, the first he wrote and recorded with Canonball Adderly, the second is his performance with Miles Davis on the In A Silent Way album.

Listen:

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (almost whole track)

Buy It

Shhhh, Peaceful (part 2)

Buy It

Indian Music - Gulfam Sabri

Last night Mona and I had the privilage of hosting Gulfam Sabri for an intimate concert in our home for a few lucky people. The evening was to celebrate the birthday of my favourite father-in-law Abbas who turned 5 years old ;)

This show was truly fantastic and inspiring and I am posting an mp3 for those who missed it. I'm hoping for the opportunity to do a proper recording with Mr Sabri in the coming days.

-------

So in addition to this great music I am also turning you onto a series of my favourite Classical Indian music tracks starting with Ravi Shankar's live performance at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971



Bangla Dhun is a light Raga (a predetermined set of notes or 'scale') based on a Bengali Folk tune.



LISTEN



Bangla Dhun

sitar – Ravi Shankar

sarod – Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

tabla – Ustad Alla Rakha

tamboura – Kamala Chakravarty

2005's LCD Soundsystem

Even though there is a good new record from James Murphy aka LCD, I've been listening non-stop to the first album from '05. This is one of the classics. It is a collage of influences that range from Can to Bowie/Eno to Stooges to Talking Heads to The Fall to David Gilmour and is then mixed up and poured into a tall cool glass in NYC. Buy this record now.


Listen

Disco Infiltrator
Losing My Edge
Too Much Love

Single - Kevin Drew - T.B.T.F.

Bringing you the first listen of the new K.D. solo album (Broken Social Scene). Great album that continues the great melodies and lyrics of BSS and just builds on it. Brilliant.

Also, you get the whole track here kiddo... No 2 minute limit...

LISTEN

To Beautiful To Fuck

Postmodern R&B - D'Angelo

The first, second and third time you listen to this record, you will probably like it ok, but most likely won't be blown away. Then after the fourth and fifth listen, you will say "Um... this is one of the greatest records of all time." It happened to me. It will happen to you. This LP is a mash up of sex, funk, and 70's R&B which takes you back to Sly Stone, Al Green, Hendrix and Prince. Not every track is perfect, and frankly some of the rap is cringe worthy but hey, the rest shines. Unparalelled production.

Sounds like: Smooth R&B, Marvin Gaye, Prince

LISTEN

The Line

One Mo' Gin

The Root

Feel Like Makin Love

Postmodern R&B - D'Angelo Part 2 - New Shit

There is a new D'Angelo track floating around the Net. ?uestlove from The Roots plays on it and also seemed to have leaked it.

LISTEN


Really Love

Jazz - Alice Coltrane

Now that the spring is here, it's time to open the windows and doors on a warm Saturday and put on a great album. This is my record this month, and it's also yours if you like John Coltrane, coherent late 60's Jazz (especially Miles), or contemporary bands like Cinematic Orchestra. F'ing wicked.

Listen

Journey in Satchidanand

Shiva Loka

Stopover Bombay

African Gems - May

This month is all about the Carribean/Tropicalia influence on African music. Though most say that all music comes from Africa, it's fortunate that the influence went the other way as well. No-one can lay down heavy Cuban rhythms like Africans, and dirty funk never sounded so tight.(Next month will be about the James Brown influence of the early-mid 70s' - A Funk Explosion!)


From Joe Tangari's great article on African music:

"Cuban music had more of an impact on Africa's far western coast than it did along the southern coast of West Africa, but it shows up now and then. K. Frimpong was one of Ghana's most innovative guitar players, slyly funky and a skilled, fluid soloist. His "Cubano Fiestas", as they're credited here, were actually Vis-à-vis, a prolific and quite capable band in their own right. The song's Cuban feel comes mostly in the vocals and chord progression, while the bounding, anti-gravity rhythms are all Ghanaian Afrobeat."


Listen


K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas: Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena

(Ghana, 1977) Available on Ghana Soundz: Afrobeat, Funk & Fusion in 70's Ghana (Sound Way) (Amazon.ca)



The Black Star Sound - Nite Safarie

Great tropical sounds with blaring Mexican horns. Fantstic sound quality, I love the way this was recorded.

Available on Ghana Soundz: Afrobeat, Funk & Fusion in 70's Ghana (Sound Way) (Amazon.ca)




T.P. Orchestre - Gendamou Na Wii We Gnannin

Twangy Cuban guitar riffs merge with a sexy laid-back Afrobeat rhythm. Hot hot hot!

Available on Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-1980 (Amazon.ca)

Rock - Deerhunter

Cryptograms. So far the most talked about record this year. Great experimentation, solid hooks. Pure street cred.

Listen


Cryptograms
Lake Somerset
Octet
Strange Lights

African Gems - April

This is the first in a series of posts to highlight the riches of African music from the 50's to the present. If you think that African music is 'world' music, you will be surprised to find heavy funk, dirty cuban rhythms, psychedelic rock, ry cooder soundtracks, and gospel music.

Listen

Kelen Ati Len - Orchestre du Bawobab - not available on iTunes

A Funk classic, one of my favourite tracks of all time.

-

Emnete - Mulatu Astatke - link

Mulatu is the father of modern music in Ethiopia. He played the vibes and was a bandleader. You've heard his stuff on Ethiopiques 4 and the Broken Flowers Soundtrack. Smooth.

-

Hihache - Lafayette Afro Rock Band - link

You've heard this sampled a million times:

Biz Markie’s “Nobody Beats the Biz”

LL Cool J’s “Jinglin' Baby”

Nas’s “The Foulness”

Public Enemy’s “Can't Truss It”

Pop - Peter Bjorn and John

iTunes link

"Peter Bjorn and John's third album deserves every bit of attention and hype it's received, from large media outlets right down to the lowliest blog (touché - ed.). It's a major work of post-everything indie rock that has enough hooks, production genius, and emotional strength to make other rock acts (indie or otherwise) sound like they are just wasting everyone's time. " - AllMusic.com

This is not a listening record but is still a great one to put on when your friends come over or for your next hi-fashion photo shoot.

Listen


Young Folks
Amsterdam

Soul - The Lasting Impression of Curtis Mayfield

Justin Russell

Considering most people only know Curtis Mayfield for the (I'm Your) Pusherman sample used by Ice T, I felt it's time to let you in on a snapshot of his career, begining with his time with the Impressions and then his solo career that lasted from 1971-1976. He shocked the recording industry by putting out his solo records on his own label 'Curtom' - quite daring for a black man in the 70's.

As a young man in the mid-sixties his work with the Impressions was very influential in the US but also in Jamaica where the effect changed Reggae music forever.



Listen to the following Impressions track and then the Bob Marley version:

(The first link goes to my two minute sample and the subsequent[link] opens the iTunes store)




The Impressions - People Get Ready [iTunes link]
Bob Marley - One Love (original version) [iTunes link]


Impressions

My Deceiving Heart [iTunes link]
Seven Years [iTunes link]
I'm Loving Nothing [iTunes link]
You Want Somebody Else [iTunes link]
Fool For You [iTunes link]

Curtis Mayfield - Solo

1971 - Power to the People (Demo Version) [iTunes link]
1973 - I Plan To Stay A Believer [iTunes link]
1973 - Future Shock [iTunes link]
1974 - Ain't Got Time [iTunes link]
1975 - So In Love [iTunes link]

Soul - Eddie & Ernie

A little known duo sing with a passion and beauty that makes you wonder why they aren't listed among the greats such as Otis Redding. They were not on a big label so the recordings are not as slick as Otis', but make you feel that you've unearthed a rare gemstone - a mix of awe and excitement.

Milestone soul performances.

LISTEN


Young Man
That's The Way It Is
Lost Friends

Rock - Apostle of Hustle

Andrew Whiteman leads this great trio of members of Broken Social Scene. Their sound is varied including cuban influenced rock to melodic BSS post-rock moments. Great records for playing when people are over. It's worth picking up a few of these 'singles':

LISTEN

National Anthem of Nowhere

My Sword Hand's Anger

Sleepwalking Ballad

Energy of Death

Post Rock - Talk Talk

Laughing Stock

Released on Jazz label Verve Records after their breakup with EMI, Talk Talk made a legendary record that defies description and is one of the best recordings I own. It's a dramatic dark, swirling introduction to a musical style that was few more years away from full-blown acceptance: post-rock. Recorded in 1991, it still sounds relevant in today's musical landscape. Amazingly the iTunes review is the only well written one on the web. "A work of staggering complexity and immense beauty". One of the greatest records of all time.

Listen

New Grass
After The Flood

[Please listen to it on a real stereo, not your laptop... or wear headphones]

For us studio-heads there is interesting technical info on the recording here:
http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/

Feist - The Reminder

iTunes link

Now that 'My Moon My Man' has finally been released in Europe, the Year of Feist has officially begun. I've been dying to write about this record, but for now I can only let you in on the fantastic 'My Moon My Man'. The track is so well produced (by Gonzales and Feist) and yet so simple, it really allows her voice to be the main instrument. This holds true for the whole album.

The thing I love about this record is how perfectly and effortlessly walks the line between experimentation and accessibility. Turn this song up loud and you can hear Ohad and Charles guitar freakout after the second chorus. Other songs get freaky at times too, and should attract more and more legions of fans who want music to listen to. Ten out of Ten.

Check back here in a few weeks and I should be able to have an early sneak preview of the rest of the record.

Listen

My Moon My Man

COMING SOON: Full preview of Leslie Feist's - The Reminder.

Rock - Do Make Say Think

Another solid release from Constellation Records' Do Make Say Think: "You, You're A History In Rust"

Kicking out the jams for 10 years now, the new release seems even more true to their spirit and at the same time is more accessible to the average ear. I love that there is singing on this record, (the band has been instrumental up until this point). The production is stellar and must be heard.

Saying that, you have to see them live to fully appreciate what DMST are. Not to mention they have two drummers. What else do you need to know?

I'm listening to A Tender History In Rust these mornings, it's a very beautiful instrumental.

Listen

A Tender History In Rust
A With Living


http://www.cstrecords.com/

Rock - TV On The Radio

An LP made up of sounds from the past, TV On The Radio's 'Return To Cookie Mountain' has sounds that range from Arcade Fire to David Bowie and the music of Berlin in the early 70's. I also hear the influences of Gil Scott Heron and the psychedelic period of the Beach Boys (Dirty Whirl Wind). It's a definate must-listen.

One of the members produced the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Machine EP and they have made their own stop-frame animated music videos as well as for the YYYeahs.

Listen: [Extra Long Samples]

Province

I Was A Lover

Wolf Like Me

Blues - Junior Kimbrough

(US Link)

Junior Kimbrough - You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough


Most Things Haven't Worked Out

I used to think that I didn't really like blues that much. I found the traditional 1-4-5 chord progression of 12-bar blues (the Blues structure that we are most familiar with) a bit predictable and often too happy. I was really thrilled to stumble upon Junior Kimbrough at 'Rotate This' and hear that Blues can be dirty and dangerous and frankly more rock and roll. JK doesn't mess around with frilly things like changing chords - he finds a groove and digs in until the whole affair winds up somewhere down the road. Some songs literally fall apart. It's really down home blues the way Junior played it in his house. In fact, many of his recordings were made on a portable cassette recorder, so the sound is often low-fi but that that only adds to it's charm. You may have to dig around to find his records, but it's worth the effort. For my US readers the iTunes link works for the top LP and everyone else will have to either buy it from Fat Possum (great label) which is linked to the 'Most Things...' LP above, or go to their local indie record store. Enjoy.

Listen:

Song [Album]

Leave Her Alone [You Better Run, Most Things Haven't Worked Out]

Meet Me In The City [Meet Me In The City]

Baby Please Don't Leave Me [Meet Me In The City]

Vintage Reggae - Sugar Minott

Sorry, this record is not available on iTunes, grab it at Rotate or Soundscapes

Soul Jazz is one of the best Reggae re-issue labels out there. This Sugar Minott collection is a great way to get familiar with the sound and songs of Studio One (the studio that made practically every reggae star). It's a great collection and a good soundtrack for dinner parties (if you want to expand past the fantastic Dynamite series).

Sound: Chilled out old scratchy Reggae without the scratches

Listen

Is It True

Come On Home

Vanity

Roof Over My Head

Tom Waits - Drinking Music

This new limited edition release was named an instant classic by Mojo magazine. If you aren't familiar with Tom Waits, please don't pass this over, check out some of the tracks below or on your iTunes (click the cover above).

It's interesting is that half of it is older unreleased work which makes you wonder why he's been holding on to it for so long. The record (at a whopping 56 tracks) is a bit pricey, especially the online version, so I would recommend picking up a track here or there. I recommend these tracks:

01. Lie To Me
07. Ain't Goin' Down The Well

10. Road To Peace
13. Walk Away
16. Rains On Me
24. Tell It To Me
41. Books of Moses
45. Dog Door
54. On The Road

The only good thing about the CD release is that it has lyrics which, for some of the more unleashed tracks, are compulsory.

Sounds Like: Tom Waits

Listen

Walk Away

Road To Peace
Dog Door
Lie To Me
Tell It To Me

Bob Wills - Western Swing

I never really thought that Jazz and Western music really had anything in common, and I certainly never have imagined combining the styles, but Bob Wills proves me wrong over and over again on this excellent collection. Now that I listen carefully to it, I can hear that Blues-based Jazz from New Orleans and Western/Country music are both coming from similar traditional folk music roots. I think traditional American music is a beautifully rich form, and I like hearing it's imprint and influence on this LP. Please check it out.

Listen

Playboy Chimes

Papa's Jumpin'

Blues For Dixie

Funk - Fallin' Off The Reel vol. 1

I could not get to my computer fast enough to write this. I love this type of funk and breakbeat soul and El Michels Affair are laying it down proper. A group of young kids playing classic instrumental funk from the 70's, these guys have it down. I discovered them on what I thought was re-issue vinyl and started looking for the original, only to find out it was the original and has only been out for a year. My favourite note is that they worked with Raekwon from Wu-Tang Clan and produced 4 classic Wu cuts, instrumental-styleee of course.

Solid.

The whole record is worth getting and is great for parties. It's a compilation with 10 artists from the 'Truth & Soul' label in NYC.

Sounds Like: The Meters, The Bar-Kays, David Axelrod, The Poets of Rhythm, any old breakbeat 45

Listen [3.8mb]

C.R.E.A.M.

Glaciers Of Ice

Folk - Karen Dalton

Sounding almost crazily like Billie Holiday, this record from 1971 sounds incredibly modern at times. A couple of the cover-tunes I can take or leave, but I'm really glad I got turned on to this one.

Sounds Like: Billie Holiday sings Neil Young

Listen

Something Is One Your Mind [2.95MB]

Are You Leaving For The Country? [2.95MB]

Single - Pop Levi

I decided to post singles as well if I don't like a whole album. Especially since it's so easy to buy single tracks on iTunes. This track made me think that Pop Levi had alot of potential... but the album was a bit dissapointing, but check it for yourself....

Listen

Blue Honey [4.57MB]

Rock - Brightblack Morning Light

This self-titled debut record on Matador is a dreamy indie-psych-rock late-night special. Breathy female vocals float over great vintage production and arrangements. Barely there sometimes, the sound is stipped down to Fender Rhodes, cymbals, guitar and maybe piano. Oh yeah, and reverb. Lots of reverb. Worth a listen.

Hear it: here at iTunes Store

Sounds like: Royal Trux, My Bloody Valentine

Listen:

Everybody Daylight [3MB]
Amber Canyon Magik [3MB]
Black Feather Wishes Rise [3MB]

How To Speak Hip vol.1

Instructions are here - [1.5MB]

Rock - Yo La Tengo

One of my favorite bands of the last 10 years is Yo La Tengo, a husband and wife + 1 outfit from New Jersey. Their latest release 'I'm Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass' is a fresh direction for them but not a total departure from their usual sound. There are still great three minute pop songs and yet they still find time for a couple 8min+ Rock soundscapes.

Sounds like: Stereolab, Grandaddy, and they are an influence of Broken Social Scene.

Listen

Black Flowers [3.2mb]

Daphnia [3.2mb]

Electronic - Soulwax

Soulwax. A guilty pleasure for sure. Heavy and danceable. Nite Versions contains many instrumental versions of tracks from 2005's Any Minute Now LP which is also good. You'll want this on vinyl. Listen below...

Sounds like... Basement Jaxx, Daft Punk, Prince

Soulwax - 2005 - Nite Versions

Listen

KracK

Another Excuse

Dub Reggae goes Electronic - Rhythm & Sound

'Showcase'. Deep and Heavy. Another all-time fav of mine. Every time I play 'What A Mistry' for people, it gets the place moving - sexy and slow. Lots of bass so I recommend it for the car. Also great music to work to. 10/10.

Sounds like: Nothing you've heard...

Listen

What A Mistry - [3.7MB]

Never Tell You - [3.7MB]

Ruff Way - [3.7MB]

Experimental - Arthur Russell - World of Echo

World of Echo (1986) is one of my all-time favourites. Repetative, melodic. Only voice, distorted cello, and echo machine. It tends to send people into the Fuck-I-Love-It or Ahh-Not-So-Much camps. I think it's the shit. One of the best records of all time. [This one is for you Kev]

Sounds like: Nick Drake, Can, Sonic Youth, John Cage

Listen - [4.2MB]

Soon To Be
Being It
All Boy - All Girl

Acoustic - José González

Beautiful and dark. Very personal. It feels like he's sitting in the room with you playing guitar. From Sweden (you'd never know it) and some occasional hints of his latin roots from time to time. This is a great LP and I get a lot of people thanking me for introducing them to it.

Sounds like: Nick Drake (if you don't heve 'Pink Moon' - BUY IT)

Featured in the Sony ad - [18MB]

Listen - [3MB]

Lovestain
Heartbeats
Slow Moves

African Funk & AfroCuban - The Dakar Series

I have officially fallen in love with this Dakar series. Incredible recording quality: lots of single mic recording. Classic break-beats. Great melodies. Real Afro afro-cuban music. You name it, you'll find it in this fantastic series. One of the best finds this year. Absolute classic and the volume one is a must-have.

Sounds like: 1950's Afro-Cuban music with a heavier rhythm section.

Listen - [3.5MB]

Macakki - from No1 de No1 (Dakar vol 6)

Roots Music - Latin Playboys

A record I consider a classic. This is what happens when great players and great producers work as one. Heavy American southwest roots mixes with traditional Mexican instruments and crazy sound snippets to create a layered sound unlike any other record I own. A listening record and truly unbelievable.

Sounds like: Uhhhh.. indescribable...

Listen:

If [3mb]

Mira! [1.4mb]

Ten Believers [2.7mb]

Crayon Sun [2.7mb]

Night Time - Richard Hawley

Light Night Final is Richard Hawley's best record. A great singer songwriter who often gets compared to Nick Lowe and Ron Sexsmith (both mainstream favorites of mine). This is great for playing at night and especially if it's raining.

Sounds Like: Ron Sexsmith, Nick Lowe

Listen

The Nights Are Cold [4.5MB]

Can You Hear The Rain, Love? [4.5MB]