cubikmusik

polar crunk

Been sitting on this for a few weeks now and wasn't gonna post it as I thought I had picked it up from another blog. Tonight I went to try and find where I got it and realised that I bought it and I don't think its been posted elsewhere.
Pure party tune here full of top old school hip-hop feel and a new crunk feel that is guaranteed to get the booties shaking, rattling and rolling as its bassline drops and pops.
Prodcued by Mooqee and released on the Bomb Strikes label this is a must have for your next house party when the sun has been up and all are up for a top night.

Can you tell I am ready to get my party on? 
Soon. Soon....

A little about Moqee:
"In between creating tracks and co-managing infamous label Bombstrikes, Mooqee can be found pedalling his genre twisting sound through what are becoming legendary dj sets. Mooqee's sets are grown from the same philosophy as his music. Constantly bringing on the funk, it's all about fusing different sounds to rock the party. Mooqee has been gathering some serious heat over the last year with airtime from Radio 1 in the UK, hook ups with label mates Beatvandals and Russ from Cuban Brothers…..all with the usual Mooqee style devastation. In addition to the guest bookings he can also be spotted holding down a residency with leading Breaks, beats and funk night 'Sugarbeat club"

Download 01_polar_crunk.mp3

Buy: Dancetracks Digital (US), iTunes (US) Juno (UK)

new ghis mix

much thanks to Analog Giant for posting this superb mix by cubikmusik mate Ghislain Poirier.
Head on over to get linked up.

For Ireland and UK readers don't forget upcoming shows by the man himself at Fabric and Kaboogie and other cities in Europe between May 22nd (Paris) and June 14th (Goteberg). Check out his site for details.

godfather

Much thanks to Lifenotes and Erik Rico for providing this excellent version of James Brown's 'Make It Funky' in celebration of the godfather's birthday yesterday.

Erik Rico is an outstanding artist that has spent the last ten years exploring and developing his creativity and talent in music and beyond with his current album, 'Journey Back To Me'  featuring his soulful voice and definitive beats. To top all that he is a super nice bloke.

From  his label, Lifenotes.

Born into a diverse family of creative artists, Erik started his professional career 10 years ago as a self contained artist/producer on Sony's Columbia Records after being discovered by American Idol's Randy Jackson, then V.P. of Columbia Records. Randy quickly signed Erik to a multi album solo artist deal. Prior to Jackson's introduction to Erik via a songwriting demo, he had only briefly been producing, writing and arranging for independent hip hop and soul acts on the east coast. However, after only two years of being immersed in the confinements of the world of corporate music, Erik felt his creativity could be better expressed elsewhere. He broke his contract with Sony, and headed back east and then to Europe in search of musical freedom.
It wasn't long until Erik returned to California in pursuit of his musical career as an independent producer/artist where he was tapped to do his first major label production, coupled with various multimedia projects encompassing network and TV shows, feature films for the Showtime network, PBS as well as a two year stint as sound designer for famed photographer David LaChapelle.  Erik is currently working on several projects to  be released on Lifenotes Music.

Download make_it_funky.mp3

buy 'journey back to me': Amazon (US), Clickgroove (UK)

stand on up

Big shout out to my mate Adam and Unusual & Electric winning song of the week on Nemone's show on BBC  6 Music for their unreleased track called 'stand on up' that features Jay Stoner.
Download stand_onup_radio_edit.mp3

And if you're in London on May 10th you can check out a night of 'wobbly dubtastic technoid disco chunkiness' with U&E at Life in Shoreditch. Check out theirspace for details and RSVP.
Wish I was there.

happy birthday willie

Today is Willie Nelson's 75th birthday. In Texas he is an icon (see Texas Monthly magazine's current issue and hear KUT's hour long inteview, with Nelson biographer, Joe Nick Patoski, along with rare footage here) and he lives just outside Austin on his ranch. Thankfully I got to see him play a few years ago in his hometown and it was a privilege.  Throughout his years Willie has had his ups and down with IRS problems, houses destroyed by fire and whatnot but he continues to have an amazing attitude to life and all that surrounds him. He was a founder of Farm Aid (along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp) back in the 80s as he saw that so many family owned farms were going under and started BioWillie to "to help eliminate America's dependence on foreign oil, put the American family farmer back to work and clean up the environment." Way back when he realized that he was a terrible drunk  and so Willie became a proponent of weed since then he has appeared on radio shows, benefits to support its benefits and the need for legality which I am sure didn't help his case when his tour bus was famously pulled over and busted with a significant stash of 1 1/2 lbs of weed and mushrooms (at the time he was 73 and the other passengers were 75, 59, 54, and 50-what a trip!).

Apart from all of the great stuff above of course is that Wilie Nelson continues to endure as a master songwriter who has written timeless classics such as 'Crazy' (made famous by Patsy Cline) and was a part of the  country supergroup, The Highwaymen,  along with Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and  Waylon Jennings. The only dubious thing really, in my mind, that he has done has got to be his reggae crossover album, Countryman, which leaves a lot to be desire but we can forgive him for that one faux pas after so many great choices that he has made to this day.Each year he also throws the July 4th celebration with nothing but a good show  so if you're planning on being in Selma, TX check out this years event details here).

So Willie, happy birthday sir. Keep on doing what you are doing as it must be right with so many people taking a dance, a smoke or raising a glass in your honour on this day.

Cheers
Download 09_blue_eyes_crying_in_the_rain.mp3

under the influence with...HerelDeduke

A few days ago I featured 'shudda' by HerelDeduke and since then two things have happened to HerelDeduke and I am excited about both in all honesty.

- First off 'shudda' won "tune of the week" over on one of the bbc radio 2 shows. Nice one mate-well deserved.

-Secondly Oliver from HerelDeduke wanted to continue the 'under the influence with...'series and  sat down to tell us about the musical influences in his life. Always fascinating to hear the sounds that help form the musical talents that capture our attention.

After the jump hear the great bootleg of Massive Attack's Angel by HerelDeduke.

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Captain Beefheart - Grow Fins
It might not be that obvious but Captain Beefheart has been a massive influence on me.   I'll admit that a lot of his music is not so easy on the ear but if you have the patience you can find some real inspiration. I could have made the whole list out of Beefheart tracks.   

Massive Attack  - Angel
This track has influenced me massively.  From the electric guitar and live drums mixing with synth bass and drum loops, to the instrumentation with the fast bassline sitting with the slow drums.  Its got a hell of an atmosphere too.  The influence was so strong that I had to make a bootleg of it.  (See below)
Download 01_angel.mp3

Bootsy Collins - Id Rather Be With You
A few years ago I went through a P-Funk stage and all that west coast stuff.  I feel the more funky dance side of it has been over used but the ballad side not so. You can hear a subtle influence on 'All I Know' from my album Country Bumpin.
Download id_rather_be_with_you.mp3

The Prodigy - Weather Experience
For me the first Prodigy album was the best.  I can see why the later albums were popular but 'The Prodigy Experience' far out stripes them as far as I'm concerned.  Its one of the reason I got into making music I think.  Some of the melodies and arrangements are brilliant.  I could have chosen a number of tracks from this album.   

Muddy Waters - Tom Cat
If I'd made a list of my top favourite tracks it would be totally different.  There are lots of tracks I like but they don't really influence me when making music.  But this track would make most lists.  It works on every level.  It still sounds fresh now, it must have blown peoples minds when it came out in 1968!!

Missy Elliott - Lick Shots
Ok here it comes…. Yes I am influenced by Timbaland, and yes I know, just like everybody else!  I found this period particularly inspiring, although I'm not a huge fan of everything he does.

Happy Mondays – Hallelujah
Indie/dance crossover at its finest. Also the Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches album is definitely worth a revisit.  Forget the reputation, the album is an original sounding classic.
Download 16_hallelujah_club_mix.mp3

Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart- Muffin Man
Yes the intro and the lyrical content may be a bit comedy but when that main riff kicks in, and then the mental guitar solo… Works for me.  You can hear an obvious influence on 'Father Said' on my album Country Bumpin.
Download frank_zappa_muffin_man.MP3

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Download angel_hereldeduke_bootleg.mp3

Buy the HerelDeduke EP at iTunes (US), Dancetracks Digital (US) , JunoDownload (UK), Juno

Get the album from iTunes here, emusic here or Juno Download here.

 

blog fresh radio

another installment of blog fresh radio today with me talking about blundetto's "bossy" as mentioned last week.
the show also features these other great blogs:
SONG BY TOAD (Edinburgh, UK), EARDRUMS (Norway) and QUICK BEFORE IT MELTS (Ontario, Canada) with these artists/ tunes featured:

1. THE FALL - 'Wolf Kiddult Man'
2. MODERNAIRE – 'Bloodshed in the Woodshed'
3. COLD MAILMAN – 'The Great Escape'
4. BLUNDETTO – "Bossy"
5. --BLOG FRESH CHART--
6. CHART SELECTION: MY MORNING JACKET -  'Call it a Ritual'
7. THE COURTEENERS – "Not 19 Forever"

check out the show here.

shudda

You know that the summer is arriving as you continue to find new music and hope that you get to see the names on the festival lineups  with the hope that you can hit up as many of them as possible.

I just discovered Hereldeduke tonight and reckon that if you get a chance to see him this summer (and beyond) you should grab it. Something tells me that the live show, like the album Country Bumpin, is all quality.

"Country Bumpin is a release like nothing else… On first play, you would be forgiven for mistaking HerelDeduke’s debut album Country Bumpin for a new collaboration between Ian Brown, Timbaland and the Beta Band....twists and turns faster than an electric eel plugged into a scalectrix... “Growing up in the bleak surroundings of east Cumbria, and then learning the tricks of my trade in Brighton remixing and producing Skint Records artists like Freq Nasty, Tiga and Roman Flugel, I’ve got a different perspective - like nothing else, I guess.” With its quirky double time beats providing a backdrop to Brown’s Northern realism rhymes, that perspective has created an album with the kind of unique sound and off kilter production that wouldn’t seem out of place on the Mercury nomination list."

And speaking of festivals. If you're lucky enough to be around for any of these (Great Escape, Kendal Calling, Loop and Beach Down) you can check Hereldeduke  out live and let us know how it goes.

Download 01_shudda_radio_edit.mp3

Please vote for Shudda to be record of the week on BBC Radio 2 NOW!!!!!!

Simply send an email to: radcliffe.maconie@bbc.co.uk
And title the email:  Pick and Mix: Hereldeduke - Shudda

Voting ends on Monday at midday (28th April) so do it NOW! 

 

Buy the EP at iTunes (US), Dancetracks Digital (US) , JunoDownload (UK), Juno

Get the album from iTunes here, emusic here or Juno Download here.

bossy

Last week I mentioned a tune in a post that I just had to have. Well, mission accomplished. It took some digging and emailing but I managed to get a copy emailed to me (cheers Max).
Keils may have brought all the boys to the yard but Blundetto brings everyone to the dancefloor with this perfectly mashed-up Bossy

Out on the every excellent Stix label that brought us Taggy Matcher's 'My Adidas" amongst other greats.
Keep your ears peeled for Blundetto's next releases with some Missy Elliot laying it dow and if you wanna check out Blundetto and you happen to be in Lyon in May you gotta go to Nuits Sonores where you can also hear Pilooski and many others. By the way Nuits Sonores translates to 'Noisy Nights' so you know its gotta be good.

Buy Bossy (7" vinyl only release): Banquet (UK) Phonica (UK) Picadilly (UK), Conch (NZ), JetSet (JP)
Also check out other Stix releases over at Dusty Groove

honey

In all honesty this is not a pairing I would have made but damn it works out just fine.
Much thanks to Mad Decent for getting this out. A blissed out Seiji deep bass and broken beat Erykah fest.
I love the lady Badu with her super cool fro and (excuse the pun) honey drenched voice. The original was produced by 9th Wonder (who also produced the fine tune, beats).
Download honey_seiji_mix.mp3

Buy Honey: iTunes (US) DJ Hut (US), Fat Beats (US)

bird's eye view from Austin

One of my favourite Austin artists Bird Peterson is on xlr8r TV this week showing us around the fine town of Austin. Fair dues to him for wearing a t-shirt for the excellent Table Manners Crew that played at our party during SXSW. Those guys can lay it down something special. Top blokes and choice tunes.

Anyways, back to BP.
Remixing the likes of Cadence Weapon, Spankrock and Wu-Tang Clan Bird Peterson is one of the few top quality beat makers coming out of this rock ' n' roll town. The tune below, Bills is a mix of some Mexican influences, Dirty South, glitch and hip-house. All marvelously wrapped up in some serious bass and spit out through the woofers.

Download bird_petreson_bills_feat_mugsy_flowz.mp3

Watch xlr8r TV slot:

Buy some BP over at Gigacrate.

Update (04/16): I have just realized that my title is almost the same as over on xlr8r and that I am posting a video from there along with a song that I downloaded from their mp3 section. xlr8r, if you are reading this, I am sorry. Don't they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Even if it is un /subconscious.

lucious life

Congrats to my great friends Des and Louisa who had a beautiful baby girl this week. Wishing you all many years of joy and I look forward to seeing you all soon. Put me down for babysitting duties. :)

Its a luscious life so celebrate your dreams...

Download 08_luscious_life.mp3

Buy: Amazon (US, CD), (UK, CD), iTunes (US)

step forward

My mate Adam from Unusual & Electric sent me a top reggae mix today and so while in search of the opening tune I came across this one for the third time this week. I had noted somewhere along the way that I must buy the tune so tonight was the night.            

Jaime Finlay hails from Manchester and is on the up & up and according to DJ Mag "Jamie Finlay sounds like a heaven-sent hook-up between Prince, Plantlife, Bootsy Collins and Recloose. Class"
Class indeed. Lovin' this big summer tune.
His debut album, 'Pocket Science', drops in October 2008 so check out his label, Wah Wah 45 for updates.

Download 01_step_forward_mr_fraziers_mix.mp3

Buy Step Forward: iTunes (US),  Bagpak (US), Juno Download (UK), Juno Vinyl(UK).

fight test

Probably my favourite The Flaming Lips tune remixed here by the well talented Backyard Bangers.
Not too much done with it to be honest but some simple effects, and a slowed down bass beat. Keeps the original intact beautifully. Lovely stuff.
If you ever get a chance to see the Flaming Lips play live please do anything that you can to be there. Its an experience that shouldn't be missed by many people in the world.

Download 01_fight_test_backyard_bangers_remix.mp3

(Photo by kk+. See more from that show).

kop this

Nice one to the Kop for winning the Champions League quarter final game against Arsenal today.
Celebrating with us tonight is Riuven with 'Tha Liv'. Great stuff..I just hope he's a Liverpool fan! ;)
Download 01_tha_liv.mp3

buy: 7Digital (UK Download) iTunes (US Download)