cubikmusik

brief encounter

one of the most amazing horn sections in a tune ever...

Download Human.mp3

Much thanks to the superb Club Solid Gold for this...

sete

From the wonderful crew at Brownswood Recordings today:

"                                        BROWNSWOOD TRIP TO WORLDWIDE FESTIVAL

Come with Brownswood to Gilles Petersons' Worldwide Festival in Sete, South of
  France, Thursday July 3rd to Monday July 7th 2008. The festival, curated by
  Gilles Peterson, offers great music in a beautiful outdoor setting and is
  our favourite festival of the year, the line up this year includes:

Madlib, The Cinematic Orchestra, Benga, Laurent Garnier, Henrik Schwarz, Little Dragon, Zero DB, Toshio Matsuura.....

Get involved in the Brownswood  trip from London to the festival.

The line-up is below and is spread
  over 3 days in 3 venues, and we have found 2 accommodation options (please
  note that there is no on-site accommodation, so the choices are in public
  hotels and campsites).

OPTION 1 - £500
  This includes standard class return train travel from London St. Pancras to
  Paris (eurostar) and onwards from Paris to Sete, a VIP ticket to all 3
  nights of the festival, at least one meal with the organisers and some of
  the artists, and a 3* hotel room for 4 nights close to the venues. The hotel
  room is either a double or a twin room shared with one other person or a
  single person supplement is available if preferred.

OPTION 2 - £350
  All of the above, but substituting the hotel room with self-catering camping
  at a local 4* campsite next to the beach. You would need to bring your own
  tent and the campsite is approx 5 miles (8 Kms) from the venues.
  (Please note that the campsite also has 2 bedroom chalets which would be a
  good option for 3 or more sharing).

There are various optional activities being organised which you are welcome
  to join in (or not as you please).

PLEASE BE WARNED...!!! WE will be taking photo's of your antics for the BROWNSWOOD BLOG

The plan is as follows:

DAY 1 (Thursday July 3rd)

Eurostar from London to Paris first thing in the
  morning. Lunch in Paris followed by TGV train from Paris to Sete. Upon
  arrival you will be invited to attend the opening ceremonies and then the
  festival begins that evening.

"the bPm touchin' down in Sete"

DAY 2 (Friday July 4th)

the festival in full effect

"Gilles kicking of the festivities."

DAY 3 (Saturday July 5th)

the festival in even fuller effect!

"Simbaaaaaaaaad rocking out the Beach Party massiv."

DAY 4 (Sunday July 6th)

Day off in Sete or optional participation in organised activities including a local wine tasting.

"I think thats the VIP room at the end of the beach :-)"

DAY 5 (Monday July 7th)

return to London via Paris on TGV and Eurostar, to
  arrive back in London by early evening.

"Home Time :-( ..."

What I wouldn't give to be a part of that trip. Sponsorship welcome..I will wear your t-shirts, shoes or jeans whilst drinking your designer water/vodka and plugging you on cubikmusik every day. Etc, etc. :)

Check out some of last year's festival highlights...

A nice element to the festival is the talent search that is open to both solo artists and bands (signed or unsigned) from around the globe and unique in its purpose to discover original and ground-breaking artists. The Worldwide Talent Search is in the spirit of the Worldwide Festival music policy and Gilles's passion for eclectic music across many genres. Details here.

If you wanna just get a ticket for the festival you can do so here.

Some Brownswood releases to tickle your fancy here, here and here. Also towards the end of the video the  amazing  La Ritournelle is played out live. I have no doubt that this was magical to experience.

laid back

Picked this up today from Simian Mobile Disco's playlist on iTunes. Had never heard this tune before but its been around since '84 (or '83 depending on what you're reading). I'm generally not a major fan of a lot of 80's electronic/electro from Europe but this has such a killer deep ass bassline that won't fail to have your dancefloor swaying.
By MegaCC on discogs:
While Europe had "Sunshine Reggae" as an A-side and "White Horse" as a B-side to what was originally a double A-side single 7" release, the US simply reversed it all. Sire Rec's and Seymour Stein had signed Laid Back up on the reputation of "Sunshine Reggae" but soon found out that "White Horse" was hitting clubs. Next up was a 12", including a remix by Shep Pettibone, that helped launch the then-nascent 12" DJ / Dance vinyl format. By now, "White Horse" rivals the James Brown track "Funky Drummer" in terms of sample uses.

I was gonna post the video but I think it takes away from how superb the tune is.
Download 03_white_horse.mp3

Buy: iTunes (US), Juno (UK-12")

If you take a wander over to the excellent palmsout you can also find DJ Nature's Cocaine Bitch remix hanging out.

asimo

grande buffo

A cubikmusik exclusive pre-release from Scribble  here. Posted only for a limited time. Tonight I bring you 'captured live' by Dublex Inc who have been responsible for introducing artists, like cubikmsuik favourites, Inverse Cinematics and Sam Irl on their Pulver Records imprint.
Starting off with a bit of a lovely hint of disco and then rolling into a percussion led wonder 'captured live' is a dancefloor killer full of synthy goodness and funk oozing from every speaker. I would expect nothing less from the Dublex Inc and Scribble. Summertime tune if ever.

Also on the release:
"Twisted like a Brezel" is a downbeat atmospheric rework combining again live elements of Spanish guitar with Trip Hop percussive rhythms. "Bienvenido" is a Latin-Jazz dancefloor track, this track was previously released on a very limited press of 7's but we felt we had to bring this one back. Lovely Sax playing and brass hits, a summer tune for sure. "Bitte Drehn" finishes off with beat pressure and wicked dirty bass chops.

I gotta say that my second favourite tune on this EP is Bitte Drehn-double bass heaven.

Would love for some comments and reactions to be left here (or sent to Scribble) about the tune as they want to have it to post on their online store at the time of release.

Download CapturedLive.mp3

Distributed by Kudos Records so check there for purchase locations on May 25th.

Stay tuned  to Scribble for their 7" series kick starting in September with some bouncing bootlegs and remixes from B.d.i, Ishfaq and Mantenlo.

dream on (fun)

much thanks to my mate Neil for sharing this (via 'Why, That's Delightful'). Brilliant!

"Kill hours and hours of your free time believing that a single piece of good-looking software is your key to stardom. Then, after months of fiddling, end up with a track that sounds exactly like it was stolen wholesale from someone way more talented than you. But from three years ago."

Features:

Tub Thumper: Emulates the shuddering rhythms of famously poor time keepers.

Flattery: Imitate your favourite band at the touch of a button.

Gotta Split: Shreds the unified band sound /attempts to stick it back together in time for album release.

Shiny Shiny: No matter how bad your tunes are, this plugin will polish them up.

Pride: Gay beats to make it rain men on the dancefloor.

Dream On!

*Please note that I actively encourage everyone who desires to pursue any dream that they may have. :)

not afraid

A right little beat driven gem is this one. Totally irresistible voice of Jessica Fitoussi over some dillaesque beats and looped samples from Mister Modo and Ugly Beer Music. Too short but oh so sweet.

Check out the upcoming album, Modonut out on Favorite Recordings.

*May 13th: File removed at the request of label and replaced with stream*

Buy: iTunes (US), Juno Download (UK)

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"

(May 15th: Track removed after limited at the request of the artist/label.)

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.

***************************************************************************************
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.