cubikmusik

the robots are taking over

btw: check out the big tune played on bbc1xtra tonight w/ mistajam, the streets and ted mayhem. the streets w/ giggs.
via @skinnermike
Download The Robots Are Taking Over

diego's donut

"For Corners is the first full length album from Diego Bernal, a civil rights attorney and beatsmith, located in San Antonio, TX. For Corners is Diego Bernal's love letter to the music, cultures, era and people that nurtured him.
The music is dusty and layered with Latin soul, from the triumphant blasts of horns to the laid back groove of lowrider melodies. It is a call to return to the simplicity and integrity of hip-hop's best moment and an invitation to enjoy a slightly different kind of southern comfort. Not so much dirty south as directly south. The full album is a completely free download. Enjoy!"

i particularly like " from the triumphant blasts of horns to the laid back groove of lowrider melodies". and the bit about being a civil right attorney.
kinda reminds me of tommy guerrero but with fuller, southern style beats and bass and more latin feel.

this one goes out to ya'll in atx (and cali) who'll bop their heads along to this at summer bbq's and parties, especially covert.

Download 13 MC Rakim Cool Kane and the Furiou

46 days of lent...day 7

for krissy

michna. that's all you need to know for this big up style, bad bwoy tune.

interesting stuff about michna:
"growing up in both NY and Miami, Michna (real name: Adrian Michna) is that unique breed of artist that draws from both the urban and the tropical. As a youngster, Adrian started DJing parties with cassettes and playing trombone in a band on the NYC bar circuit including the infamous Lion’s Den and CBGB’s."
...from ghostly

Download 02 Swiss Glide

also get over to rcrd labl for 'triple chrome dipped'.

buy: iTunes

cosmic rocker

a beat extravaganza filled with killer floor filling bass, latin rhythms, and breaks to die for.

From dancetracks digital:
"Mammoth Studio's "Rock'em Sock'em Robot Mix" of "Tonic" packs a solid punch from the first beat. Expressive percussion keeps this bad boy swinging deep and low. Fancy breakdowns, surprise left hooks, and a steady wide stance anchor this fighting track. Oh yeah, watch out for that cow bell. Mammoth Studios is the production duo of Jon Nedza (Community Recordings) and Ryel K (Pink Mammoth)."

Download 02_tonic_mammoth_studios_rockem_sockem_robot_mix.mp3

buy: dancetracks digital (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.

best deejay

I've had this tune for ages now and it never ceases to grab my attention and get me into the mood for dancing. its the kind of tune that you find and don't really wanna share here so that you can play it out every now and again so it surprises people. Its so simple yet brilliant in its cleverness.

A simple beat and rolling bassline accompanied by Melodee talking about the going out with her girls to see and unnamed DJ at a hot club. Definitely a tune to get the night started.
Taken of the Rednose Distrikt's excellent album 'Poes' on Kindred Spirits.

Download 03_best_deejay_featuring_melodee.mp3

buy: vinyl (europe-clone), europe-juno. download: (europe-juno)

While I'm at it I might as well include a mini-mix (with this tune included) that I put together for a set at the 'above the radar' show at sxsw last week. Its a 30 min (approx.) set...so short but I would say sweet set. Two skips in the set that I put down to computer error and please note that the term 'best deejay' was in no way a reference to my dj skills. I is a blogger not a DJ! ;)

Download from here

Best Deejay (Featuring Melodee)/ Rednose District featuring Melodee   
Loose Lips (Vocal)/ Seiji   
Things Change (DJ C Remix)/Warrior Queen and The Heatwave   
Weed Wid Da Macka (Modeselektor Mix)/Ninjaman/Modeselektor
Poison Dart (South Rakkas Crew Remix)/The Bug   
Hotter Than Them (Extended Mix) [feat. Kid Foreigner & Bigga Boss]/South Rakkas Crew

Eggsample

Why is it that a tune is released and its takes 3-4 years before you hear it!
I guess sometimes its just worth waiting for.

What a tune this is from Ye:Solar, released in 2004 on Vinyl Vibes (also home to the excellent Curv)
""Berlins freshest trio at the moment" (soultrade.de) famous for their high-energy live performances, team up with Sonar Kollektiv´s dj/producer EVA BE to provide a huge club-event with fresh live music and a stirring blend of jazz/house and elektro!  While the crowd is dancing "like they were on trampolines" the three Ye:Solars make you forget that they're basically a trio with rhodes, doublebass and drums on stage. Together with EVA BE they remix themselves, switch from vinyl to live-music and even provide a video-show with freaked out visuals..."

Get me to one of those shows!
This tune kicks off with a nice beat accompanied by some oddball sounds and immediately your curiosity is piqued. Then you start to notice your body just kinda bouncing slightly and as you realise this the double bass gets going and you are hooked. Head bopping, arms swaying and your smiling at the beautiful keys that set it all off.
The songs takes a few slight twists and turns throughout its 7 minutes with the same foundation providing a backdrop to some tightly introduced influences (definitely a reggae vibe in there) that keep you with the flow just right.

Turns out that the song uses a sample from a tune by Inverse Cinematics who I mentioned in  a post earlier this week.

Download 02_eggsample_1.mp3

Buy it (all download): Dancetracks Digital, Soul Seduction, Beats Digital, Digital-Tunes, Bagpak

Rustie

So I'm a bass fanatic (in case you haven't noticed).
Can't get enough of the stuff in all honesty. It can shake my insides out and back again for all I care. Don't know where I picked up this little habit that I've got but its one that I don't intend to recover from. Now, my family and friends will tell you that I'm a tad deaf and as result can talk a bit loud sometimes (sorry ya'll).
Is this due to bass tones in my headphones? I have yet to see conclusive evidence to indicate as such so until such time....
Anyways, today I splashed out and got, with some Christmas money from Santa, a set of kick ass expensive headphones that I've been checking out for a while now. Every year or so I upgrade my headphones and each time I do listening to music (old and new) is just that little more fun as you hear sounds that otherwise were faint impressions in my ears.
Of course, if you have new earphones you need some good new music to go along with it. ;)

So, this is it. Out on Stuff Records.
Rustie who has had "his name uttered in the same breath as electronic luminaries Modeselektor and Flying Lotus and.... has been hailed as an electronic maverick of the highest order, Rustie marries the energy of hyphy with the low slung bass of dubstep while straddling the stuttering swagger of European electronica with the greatest of ease."

Boomkat Review:
"The production here is nothing short of TOWERING, double weight bass drops and sharp edits coupled with a filthy swing that permeates every moment of each one of the 5 tracks here with a primordial brilliance that's just too good to take in over one sitting."
 
Mixmag Review
"Crunked-up and dubby Scots electro : A kind of north-of-the-border equivalent to London 's great Werkdiscs, Stuff have been pioneering crunchy hip-hop-infused electro in Glasgow. Here, Rustie channels the spirit of Timbaland at his maddest and best....with an extra British, druggy, clubby twist, with sirens and other bendy sounds out the yin yang. Cracking stuff. "

Off the 'Jagz The Smack' EP this also one of the best covers I've seen in a long time.

Update: 01/04/07: file taken down at the request of the label.

(lower bit rate file will be up for 7 days at request of label)

Buy: Boomkat (UK)- Download Only, no vinyl/ 1 vinyl copy for sale at Discogs.

I want my kids to grow up to be....(part 2)

All I can say is that anyone who has doubts about the future of music and the talents that are out there needs to check these out.

Back in September I posted about these two wonders....

This time around its all about this 5 year old from Poland...

Picked this up from the Listening Post over at Wired.

All we need to do is get them together and we'll have a kids version of ....

Pimpin' Joytime

Some of the baddest, funkiest, kick ass beats are about to come your way...turn it up!

PJT's high Stepping is from The Pimps Of Joytime and is taken off their album, High Steppin' on Wonderwheel Recordings (label head is DJ Nickodemus). Hailing from Brookyln and New Orleans (with some kind of a stint in San Francisco) the sound is beat heavy and front loaded with some serious New Orleans style funk with an underlay of west coast groove that is next to impossible to resist.

Download 01_pjts_high_steppin.mp3

Buy: USA Download, Euro CD, USA EP, USA EP (cheaper)

Cheers,
Cubik

Under The Influence with...JLS/ Little-D Soundlab

Back again with another 'Under the Influence with..... 'post. This time around we have JLS/ from the Little-D Soundlab. Back in December we had an excellent post from 40Winks that includded tunes from  Kraftwerk, The Roots, ATCQ, and others. JLS follows up with another great posts and some cool insights into what has influenced him musically. Cheers mate. As ever, check out a JLS tune at the bottom of the post to see what these influences have turned out.

1. Moms Record Collection

I played with the records a lot when I was a kid, often leading to me running around the house with my mom chasing me after I ruined a vinyl piece with scratching haha. Lots of soul, reggae, jazz and funk was inside my moms crate, and also a lot of Kawina records (a hi-speed percussion based style from my native country Surinam), Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley, Roy Ayers(!) Motown compilations Stevie Wonder etc etc. The one that I really loved back then was Curtis Mayfield's "Roots" album.

Download 01_we_got_to_have_peace.mp3

 

2. Radio Patapoe
A Pirate station in Amsterdam that played the nicest tunes. I remember making tapes with my first deck of all the songs they played(I was..pff 10/12 at the time so this was 90/92. Lots of dub from perry and king tubby that made me fall in love with the low bass sound, you know the one you feel in your gut when played loud :) also recorded lots of house and experimental beats at the time.      

Download 07_king_tubby_king_tubby_dub.mp3

 

3.Ice Cube -Lethal Injection
Young kid looks up to cooler older nephew who rocks mad ice, had cool car posters and a gangsta cd-collection that was crazy!! still listen to Ghetto Bird a lot.
Download 02_ghetto_bird.mp3

 

3. Yuzo Koshiro - Streets Of Rage 2 Soundtrack (sega)
Why select a videogame soundtrack you ask? Well when I was 13 me and my little brother saved up all my money for the 16-bit revolutionary device "sega megadrive" and one of the first games whe bought was Streets Of Rage II a very good beat'm up game, but the thing I remember the most: The soundtrack! heavily influenced by the rave sound from the 90's, Koshiro made tracks that me and my brother danced on with the option screen on till 3 am in the morning.
One of the reason why I started looking for that house and jungle sound and investigating what you could find on vinyl and cd! . Thanks Yuzo!!
Download spin_on_the_bridge.mp3

 

4.Leviticus - Burial
With another kid in my class I got obsessed with the jungle sound from the uk, probably because of the low basses and hi-speed percussion (kawina!!) can't remember a lot of releases from that time (all on tapes and some cd's I can't find anywhere) but this track really got to me back then!
Download burial_lovers_rock_mix.mp3

5. Old Dirty Bastard -Brooklyn Zoo (remix? if you could find it, pass it to me!!)
Hiphop was starting with one of it's first transformations and I remember listening to a radio show called Dutch Masters, It was and is in my opinion one of the best radioshows I have ever heard with a great chemistry between hosts and an amazing tracklists. I remember hearing this song on my tape deck when I was 14 and it I was a wu fan from that moment on... just as any other urban kid at the time hahaha

Download 04_brooklyn_zoo.mp3

 

6. Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia
Got this on a tape from a good friend from the UK and ever since then I was obsessed with a certain sound within hiphop and started the actual collecting and trying to spin it on decks, subconciously collecting a lot of j-dilla produced tracks in the process and a lot of work from the native tongues...essential for my musical upbringing and a turning point to.

Download 03_drop.mp3

 

7. Dillinja - Acid Trak
Goldie, Digital, Dillinja and Lemon D really came with an amazing sound filled with amen breaks and low basses that I fell in love it. it was funny but the scene splitted in two back then but I loved it both, I remember dancing on Acid Trak for a very long time. Classic and one of the reasons that I started dabbling with a sequencer and sampler. 

8. Roni Size -Brown Paper Bag.
The other side of the Drum&Bass spectrum I really liked was more jazz influenced and had a different dynamic (melodic,warm) in the productions. this is again one of the tracks that kept me up till late at night and influenced me production wise.

Download 102_brown_paper_bag.mp3

 

9. Mos Def - Universal Magnetic
Much sentimental value for this one.. It reminds of a time of going out with my friends, hanging out with girls and coming back late at night, a great time. Every time this track played I jumped away from friends moved to the dancefloor and sang the lyrics out loud and dancing with fellow fans of the song. I think I can spit this one backwards haha
Download 04_universal_magnetic.mp3

 

10.Dj Krush - Holonic self mega mix
Turning point. I remember hearing something on the radio that amazed me, beats like I heard on radio Patapoe when I was young and again amazed: no vocals but still the music creates an instant visual in your mind. Not knowing who the artist was, I rushed to every music store to find it, humming the sound to the people from the store, finally finding this cd, I fell in love with krush his way of producing and composing and with instrumental hiphop in general. labels such as ninja tune and mowax got my attention since then from a graphical and musical standpoint. Playing the cd over and over till this very day. And on my funeral.

Cubik note: I couldn't get a tune from the album mentioned above so I am posting one of my favourites. Sorry JLS.
Download 07_days_end.mp3
      
11. Richie Hawtin - DE9 Closer to the edit album.
I was part of a vj-crew called Prime Meridian back in 97/98. And one of our first sets in Amsterdam in the mazzo was a techno based night from Estroe. It was a fantastic experience to see our graphic designs and video on the big screen for the crowd that really liked it to, I remember being mesmerized by a song that was playing and asking the dj (can't remember who it was could have been Estroe but whoever it is... THANK YOU!) what it was. he/she said that it was a Richie Hawtin track from the Closer to the edit album. Hawtin created an unprecendented mix cd by cutting up 300 12" in pieces and making one big puzzle piece with it. It's minimalistic approach to the music really pushed me to look deeper in to the techno sound then I already did.

 

12. Basic Channel - The Climax (Carl Craig Basic Reshape)
Like finding eldorado at the age of 19. big inspiration to me and got me into a lot of labels in that mindset like Scape, planet E, delsin and many others.

Download the_climax_reworked.mp3

 

13. Stones Throw Records.
Big inspiration to me as a label, and one that has transformed the face of independent hiphop and labels in general in a very positive way. Always experimenting, always ignoring set rules..and making new ones in the process, Madlib's amazing array of styles, Peanut Butter Wolf and Egons managment skills(the amount of work they had to do in the begin stages had to be crazy) and musical knowhow, Jeff Janks art and design...in short: heroes. They had a great and tough year this year but I hope that they continue the way they do.

Download soon_to_be_large.mp3

 

14. The Little-D Soundlab Roster.
The initial start for me to start a label was to bring sounds that I really liked and that we're able to translate the way I thought a label should sound like: trying new things, defying genre rule sets, fusing older styles and mastering a few. Akida,Jolynn,40 Winks, Nono And Estroe really do things already with their productions and ideas, and that really pushes me to do my job a lot better everyday, I don't know what the future for Little-D will bring but the idea that i'm helping to push the sounds of these amazingly skilled artists to the world, makes me very happy.

Now-check out what the sounds above have turned out from JLS in the Little-D Soundlab.
Download Aftersurfdub.mp3

 

Under The Influence with...40 Winks

40 Winks hail from Antwerp, Belguim and are made up of Padmo and Weedy. They produce 'hip hop with a twist' and they are coming to you as the first installment of a three part Under The Influence   series from the excellent new lablel Little-D.
Cubik note: I love these guys; beats & musical treats for sure.  Check out one of their tunes below.

Cheers

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Under the Influcence with...Padmo from 40 Winks
In no particular order, and impossible to complete, some of my influences:

1. The Nonce - Mix Tapes (from the album "World Ultimate" - 1995)
The video for this song is what persuaded me to get my first mixer and turntable.
I recorded the music video off MTV and kept watching it over and over again.
It wasn't just the video though, the simple scratches during the chorus and at the end of the song really made me understand how you use a crossfader to cut and scratch sounds.
This was the start for me to get into turntablism at a later stage. Now scratching is something you'll keep hearing come back in my songs, one way or another.
Download the_noncemix_tapes.mp3

2. Quasimoto - Goodmorning Sunshine (from the album "The Unseen" - 2000)
This album was the first album from Madlib (aka Quasimoto, aka ...) that really showed his wacky/cratedigger/jazzy/collage of soundbites style. I think the song "Goodmorning Sunshine" sums up everything i love about this album. The style of this album really influenced the direction I initially wanted to go with 40 Winks.
Download quasimotogoodmorning_sunshine.mp3

 

3. Kraftwerk - Computer Love (from the album "Computer World" - 1981)Coming from a hip hop background and being into the sample based side of things,i didn't learn to appreciate electronical music at first. What better way could i have found to get introduced in how it's properly done than by listening to Kraftwerk.
Download kraftwerkcomputer_love.mp3

4. The Roots - 100% Dundee (from the album "Things Fall Apart" - 1999)
The Roots' organic approach to hip hop (heavily influenced by J Dilla) influenced hip hop a lot. I picked this song because it's so out there.
Download the_roots100_dundee.mp3

5. Common - Nag Champa (from the album "Like Water For Choclate" - 2000)
This track is produced by J Dilla. This is just one of his many faces in music.
The way he combines the soft/soulful with the hard/clear drums, perfect.
Download commonnag_champa.mp3

Under The Influcence with....Weedy from 40 Winks.
Tracks that influenced me… here are some that I think of right now. It is not a coincidence that they were all released around ’96 because that’s the time when I started paying more attention to beats and instrumental Hip Hop… enjoy!

A Tribe Called Quest – Beats Rhymes & Life
The Hop
It’s just a small part that they sampled from, but they managed to make a superb track with it… It’s always been my favourite track on the album.. The ummah has real good productions, but this is actually the only track on the album that isn’t produced by them…
Download The_Hop.mp3

The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia
Splattitorium
I don’t know how many times I listened to this album… but it ‘s a lot.
Splattitorium is really dope… nicely chopped up by Jay Dee and the various adlibs complete the vibe of the beat.. dope.
Download The_Pharcyde_Splattitorium.mp3

DJ Shadow – Endtroducing…
Midnight in a perfect world
I have always liked instrumentals of raptracks, it’s with this album that I discovered that instrumental hiphop can actually go further than just beats to rap on…
Download Midnight_in_a_perfect_world.mp3

David Shea & Grazzhoppa - Down River Up Stream
Morning Jacks
An album that influenced my beatmaking a lot.. Belgian stuff and bringing instrumental Hip Hop to another level!
Download Morning_jacks.mp3

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And this is what all those influences (and more) deliver in the 40Winks sound.
Download Wakeup.mp3

Under The Influence with...Dubble D

When you start something like 'Under the Influence' you know that you are gonna get to hear some great new tunes and hear about artist's influences. A bonus of doing this is that you also get to be exposed to the passion that people have for music. All I can say is that if anyone in this world has passion for music it is the one and only Dubble D (bio)! It is infectious.
When I emailed him a few weeks ago, to ask if he'd be into contributing, I wasn't expecting a response in all honesty but within a few days I recieved an excitied response and he was signed up. Today we get to see what Dubble D is under the influence of-it is a treat!

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                                                        Dubble D.  Under the Influence.

What a buzz! Imagine, receiving an e mail asking you to make a selection of  tracks that have influenced your career! What a great gig!
Anyway, after days of dilemma, here goes; I have to say, not as easy a task as I’d originally thought.
(I could go on for ever!!). A lot of the artists I have chosen are influential through their entire careers rather than the specific tracks here so I encourage you, if you can be bothered, or are inspired, to check out their discographies and  collaborators and get diggin’!!!!

1.Miles Davis-“so what”.
Taken from “a kind of blue” Miles’ seminal album. The best selling jazz album of all time. I first heard this as a kid and it continues to inspire me today. An amazing band and beautiful compositions. ANY and ALL of Miles’ work is worth checking out; a true innovator and visionary and an inspiration for life!!
Download 01_so_what.mp3

2.John Coltrane-“you’re out of this world”
Taken from the Impulse album (check out the rest of the label’s releases too!)  “Coltrane” an amazing groove featuring one of my favourite drummers; Elvin Jones and indeed one of my favourite ever groups. Coltrane really soars on this track. Another one I continue to hammer and hear fresh things each time I do.
Download 102_out_of_this_world.mp3

3.Eddie Palmieri-“justicia”
As a percussionist, I naturally fell in love with afro-cuban music. In particular New York Puerto Rican salsa. Eddie Palmieri is a genius/pianist/bandleader. This is a fania recording from the 70s. Check out the groove and the ridiculous solos! Amazing!
Download 02_justicia.mp3

4. Flora Purim-“moondreams”
From “butterfly dreams” and featuring fusion giants Stanley Clarke and George Duke as well as her percussionist/husband Airto.(a major hero and influence). The tune is written by Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti (another big influence; especially his recordings on the ECM label which I have rinsed!!). I’m a massive fan of Flora and Airto and was lucky enough to collaborate with her and her daughter for a track on my album “Reachin’ Out” (2020 vision). Totally trippin’ . What a buzz!!!!
Download flora_purimmoonbeams.mp3

5.Herbie Hancock-“spider”
I think that in centuries to come people are going to look back upon Herbie Hancock as we might do Mozart. Except, of course that Herbie is a whole lot funkier. This track is from “Secrets”. Herbie’s use of synthesizers was completely innovative and still influences electronic funk producers everywhere today. Awesome….Firm favourites of mine are also “Manchild”, “Thrust”, “Sunlight” and “Headhunters” but it’s well worth checking out anything he’s done.
Download 03_spider.mp3

6.Lonnie Liston Smith-“Expansions”
Amazing groove. Beautiful sentiments. A club classic in Manchester which never fails to take me back to my early clubbing days!! I could also include anything by Roy Ayers at this point but in particular “everybody loves the sunshine” and “we live in Brooklyn baby”. Still kicking it live with an awesome band, another amazing musician who is an innovative producer.
Download expansion.mp3

7.Marvin Gaye-“what’s goin’ on?”
I don’t go anywhere without this album. A message more important today than ever. True soul. How can we ever get close? Beautiful.
Download 06_whats_going_on.mp3

8.Public Enemy-“Don’t believe the hype.”
This record changed my life. I heard it in my mate’s bedroom when I was about 14 years old. It ripped my head apart and still does. It made hip hop a part of my life and everything I do.
Download 04_dont_believe_the_hype.mp3

9.A Tribe called Quest-“We got the jazz”
From “the low end theory” I also love everything else they’ve done. In particular “midnight marauders”, and  “beats, rhymes and life”. Intelligent, witty and poignant lyrics and killer beats and production. Check the brilliant Busta Rhymes cameos on this album too!! Hip hop does not get better than this!!!
Download 02_jazz_weve_got.mp3

10. Common-“the light”
Common. For me this guy is on another level lyrically. His album, “Like water for chocolate” is amazing. J.Dilla is, (along with Pete Rock, ) one of my production heroes and this is one of his best. Deep!!! Also check out Dilla’s “Donuts” album. Made on his deathbed, it is a true testament to innovation in hip hop production.
Download 12_the_light.mp3

11.DJ Krush-“yeah”
Mo Wax came along in the early nineties and blew me away. This track from Krush is taken from his album “ Strictly Turntabalised”. I love the dirt and the swing. This album realy made me think about producing beats myself.
Download yeah.mp3

12. Fila Brasilia-“weasel out the muck”
Funky drum loops. Great Samples. Hip references. Great synth sounds and programming. I love Fila Brasilia. Their albums “maim that tune” “mess” “old codes, new chaos” and “luck be a weirdo tonight” were a revelation. Tying jazz, hip hop and house production values in a way that nobody else did. I was lucky enough to work with the guys and have nothing but love and respect. Indeed, it was Steve Cobby who convinced me that I should be producing. The ethos behind their then label, Pork Recordings, was completely refreshing and all about the music. Check it out!!
Download 10_weasel_out_the_muck.mp3

13.Daft Punk-“revolution 909”
Homework is one of my favourite albums. Daft Punk have the funk. In a massive way. What can you say? Probably nothing. Turn it the fuck up and dance!
Download 01_revolution_909.mp3

14.Future Sound of London “Papua New Guniea”
I loved going to raves. I was lucky enough to witness the social change brought about by ecstasy in the late 80s. This tune takes me there. Amazing. I love it and still play it whenever I get the chance!!!!
Download papua_new_guinea.mp3

15.Aim-“Cold Water Music”
From the album of the same name. When I first heard this tune I was completely blown away. At the time I was quite heavily involved with Grand Central records; playing drums with Rae and Christian. I was lucky enough to go on to play with Aim live through whom I met Q n C and Kate Rogers with whom I recorded for my album “Reachin’ Out” (2020 Vision). (C’mon, that’s only 2 plugs so far!!!!)
Download cold_water_music.mp3

16.Kerry Chandler-“bar-a-thym”
This, for me, is what house music is all about. Kerry is soul and this record makes me want to jump around like a lunatic and whistle. YES YES YES!!!!
Download bar_a_thym.mp3

17.Mary J.Blige-“M.V.P.” (feat. 50 Cent)
I love soul, (some people call it R & B!!!) particularly girly soul, and Mary J. Blige is the queen. No question. This track tells her story. Genius. I’m a BIG fan. One day she might marry me.
Download mvp.mp3

At this point I must also mention some of the DJs who have been huge influences on my musical development.
Ralph Lawson
Mr. Scruff
James Holroyd
Francois Kevorkian
Derrick Carter
Norman Jay
Ashley Beedle
Chris Cruicks
Theo Parrish
These guys have influenced me as much as any individual record. Thank you.

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Now check out the sounds that Dubble D brings us.

Taken from his debut album, Reachin' Out, these two tunes display the breath of influences that we read about above. My gosh- truly stunning. It is so hard to pick two tunes from this album as it is really solid. As you know, Cubik is not the biggest fan of albums and sticks to songs or compilations but Dubble D's hits the right buttons with this one. Check out this BBC Review.

Squelch: Download 09_squelch.mp3

Big Fish: Download 12_big_fish.mp3

Buy Reachin' Out: USA/ Europe

Cheers Danny,

Cubik

So Fine

"Alright everybody help us out with this one if you would
If you know the words sing along
If you dont;
Clap your hands
Stomp your feet
Snap your fingers
Beat some man over the head with your purse
Start a fight
Get involved
Lets have a good time
So fine"

THE best lines from a song. Ever!
Driving home tonight this tune jumped at me so I turned it up and my whole body had goosebumps.
Solid beats, steady bassline and beautiful horns.

Artist: Sleeve & Lowman
Tune: So Fine
Source: GoodTimes 5
Download 116_so_fine.mp3

Keepintime

"I don't know anything about that jigga jigga stuff-you play that and I'll play this..."
-Paul Humphrey, 2000

if there is anything that I love more than music it is the influence of old sounds on new.
The documentary film, Keepintime, delivers on both counts. I am gonna use the info. directly from the makers to discuss this documentary. See a trailer below.

Keepintime started as a simple idea, let’s bring some of the most revered and notable L.A. session drummers together for a photo shoot. Then have them talk about the famous (to us) recordings that we (those whose ears have been opened through hip-hop) treasure, sample and discuss endlessly.             The musicians (Roy Porter, Earl Palmer, Paul Humphrey and James Gadson) were excited at the prospect of sitting together and discussing old times, old friends and the business. The first problem we encountered though was that to our ears the famous sessions were in fact often beyond the reach of our musician’s memory.
Babu, J.Rocc and Cut Chemist (along with Numark, Madlib, Derf Reklaw and Shortkut) are fishermen of the elusive. Cumulatively, they have a half-century of beat shopping experience. Similarly, they are the best turntablists in the City of Angels. As a result they would be the  best way to snatch up those almost lost glimpses of music and represent them to their creators, that was the moment when we knew we had a film.The puzzled smiles of Paul Humphrey and Earl Palmer speak multitudes on the perceived gap that exists between the musicians of today and their forefathers. However, lest we forget these men were progressive risk takers in their respective professions and a few turntables weren’t going to get in the way of a good conversation.

All I can add is that it is a must see for music lovers and especially any beat junkies out there like myself; the interaction between these beat masters is just unbelievable and such a  pleasure to see as much as hear.

Brought to you by Mochilla and B+ (a fellow Irishman).

The project also brought us some fine remix tunes-here are my favourites.
Artist: Charlie Dark
Tune: Keepintime Theme
Download 01_keepintime_theme.mp3

Artist: King Ruly & Toy Selectah!
Tune: Bumpin Time! (Sistema Local Mexmix Version)
Download 04_bumpin_time_sistema_local_mexmix_version.mp3

You can't to be able to buy the DVD anywhere but the CD is available.

Also see Brasilintime a similar project between some artists and turntabilists from the Keepintime show and Brasil.  I love my DJ Nuts tshirt from this show.

Cheers,
Cubik

 

Transcendence

Artist: Nujabes + Fat Jon
Tune: Transcendence
Album: Departure [Samurai Champloo OST]

The 'shuffle' does it again. As i drove home tonight I had my iPod on shuffle no matter what I just couldn't get a tune that I want to hear. Then along came this with its bongo intro. that just intrigued me. What follows is a tune that is multi-layered percussion at its best. Some piano accompanies this but isn't piano a percussion instrument also? An amazingly well produced track.

I have no idea where I got this from. I am sure it is from another mp3 blog somewhere so if it was you please let me know. There are comments in the file so here they are:
This is a track off one of the soundtrack CDs for Samurai Champloo. Samurai Champloo is an excellent anime by Shinichiru Watanabe, the man who brought us Cowboy Bebop. It's worth checking out, especially if you are NOT into anime.

Check out the low down on the series of sounds here or see Amazon's 'collection' here

Download Transcendence.mp3

Even though I am not into anime I now want to go buy the soundtrack AND the DVD of this anime! Sounds great.

Cheers,
Cubik

Feeling Free

Artist: Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators
Tune: Feeling Free (If Music Stringstrumental)

I included this on one of the CubikMusik mixes a few weeks back but reckon that it deserves its own post here. An epic tune that will appeal to any fans out there of Les Fluer (the most popular tune on CubikMusik) with its orchestral arrangements, complex beat structures and overall beautiful sounds.
Download feeling_free_if_music_stringstrumental.mp3

Digital Soul

Artist: Taylormade Sounds
Tune: Digisoul
Album: 10 Beats

I got this tune tonight over on Click Groove
It is short but is certainly super sweet; a very simply track that is rich in emotion and wonder. Clean hip-hop beat with some beautiful guitar (played by TaylorMade himself) laid down over soft horns.

Download 03_digisoul.mp3

Please buy some of this guys tracks-this is a beautiful album (all instrumental) and will have something to satisfy many aspects of your musical tastes. Here is some background:

"Taylormade, a.k.a. Taylor Rivelli, brings his A-game—and it shows. As sole owner and operator of Taylormade Sounds, LLC, and Hotbox Studio, this audio wizard has made a name for himself by producing, recording, engineering, and playing guitar for a long list of future and present hip-hop legends. Taylor effortlessly blends the flavors of the RZA, Jimi Hendrix and Vivaldi with that ol' boom-bap. And as a graduate of the prestigious music programs at New York’s Purchase College and legendary Laguardia High School of Music and Arts, Taylor has got the technical know-how to back up his raw musical talents. Taylor has produced and played guitar for John Legend, Juelz Santana, Kanye West, Three-6 Mafia, Keith Murray, Immortal Technique, Jim Jones, and Saigon, to name a few."

Watch the Taylormade space!

Cheers,
Cubik

Oh Come On Now

I first heard this tune about 5 years ago on a compilation/mix that I got when I first moved to the USA.
As far as I can remember it was a free CD from a magazine and it was a mix from Rae & Christian of Grand Central Records fame.
As regular readers know about 90% of my purchases are of compilations but I rarely buy mixes as although they turn you onto great music sometimes it can be hard to track down those (unmixed) tunes that you gotta have.
Well-this is one that I had to have and at last I have the unadulterated version. Nice.

This really is a basic tune that has a wonderful housy feel to it to get you grooving, with some nice sonic sounds to get you going topped off with a dirty, stomach shaking bass that feels like it is rolling all over you!
I like my beats (and musical treats ;-) but really I am just a basshead at heart.
Download come_on.mp3

Cheers,
Cubik

Shake n Dance

Ok- I have spent the evening gathering up a load of great new tunes and I wanna post them all but can't. This is my first post tonight but I expect some more later on.
This does happen every now and again when I get a tune and just fall in love. It just hits all the right spots for me! For anyone who enjoyed Boogie Beat back in April I dedicate this to you.
From Amplified Orchestra on the excellent Dutch label, 4Lux.Shake n Dance (Instrumental) is a rockin', slowed down, masterful piece of music that is disco/soul/funk inspired with a house beat that just swings the night away. Goes to show that these guys just have the funk in their bones.
Download 02_shake_n_dance_instrumental.mp3

Cheers
Cubik