cubikmusik

46 days of lent...day 2

gotta admit that i picked this up from recloose just yesterday but reckoned it was a good follow up to yesterday's post.
a gem of a tune from the nite-liters that really is a study in drumology. pure percussion funk to brighten up your spring day.

Download The Nite-Liters- Drumology

check out more by the nite-liters over at discogs and dustygrooves.

galactic fun

stepping it up a little from the last post but equally as beautiful in my mind.
first heard of dam funk back in july over at the  ridiculously good 'another night on earth' where chris rightly said about dam funk "California's Dam-Funk is creating timeless music. I'd say if he's making music right this minute it's sure to be timeless."

this one goes out to my mate sam who not only dj's in the ukiyo bar and tripod (with  dj bubbles) every weekend. shameless plug for him but i'm trying to nudge him into starting to write for cubikmusik. he has a superb collection that never ceases to impress me with a few absolute gems, including some fine edits by a group in dublin (their name escapes me).
well i reckon this absolute gem would be something that sam would be into and if you're into also leave a comment to give sam a nudge also. ;)

dam funk creates boogie funk that has so many sweet southern california sound elements with heavy synth, crisp kicking beats that just almost knocks you over.
Out on stones throw. now i just wish someone would bring him to ireland for a show...
buy: downlad (from stones throw), vinyl (juno, sounds of the universe)

Download 03_galactic_fun.mp3

Butterfly

This is Sunday morning music at its best- warm, lazy, melodic, and melancholy yet really sweet.
I am way behind on this tune as it was released on NYC label, Chez, back in 2003 but to me it is timeless.

How is it that a tune can be so full of life and make you smile with its beauty while at the same time make you yearn for something else in life, something perhaps from your past, or something that you need but cannot have?

Download 02_butterflysiji_remix.mp3

Buy iTunes

Happy Birthday to....

...me!

33 years old today (in Irish time).

Life is nothing but big old adventure really; full of music, wonder and laughter and I've got my parents, family and friends to thank for helping me live 33 years with all of that in abundance. So today as I celebrate my 33 years here I will be thinking back on the great living, loving, laughing and listening that I've shared and look forward to many more years of the same.

Kinda weird that I found this tune by Future Loop Foundation today along with story behind the album and the great video that goes with it.
The album 'Memories From A Fading Room' is constructed using recordings from family interviews that have laid dormant in an attic somewhere in the north of England for almost a quarter of a century and comes with an accompanying 50 minute film edited by BAFTA nominee Annie Watson. FLF have assembled a highly personal and organic album around these speeches using electronic and acoustic instruments to present a synth-centred orchestral album that will be released worldwide in June 07.

 

What a glorious tune this is.
Artist: Future Loop Foundation
Tune: Sunshine Philosophy
Download 01_sunshine_philosophy.mp3

Buy tune: Clickgroove
Buy album: Amazon ,Play.com ,iTunes

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

 

Carnival

I just love the sound of steel drums-there is just sometime about their sounds that immediately remind me that I need to go to the Caribbean someday and not just to experience Jamaica.

So, driving home tonight I overheard a brief story that was a tribute to Carlos Lezama who developed the West Indian Carnival on Labor Day in Brooklyn which by all accounts is an amazing time for all. Carlos Lezama died earlier this week.

From Caribean Beat Blog:
EVERYBODY’S Caribbean Magazine publisher, Herman Hall, says, “As a young member and director of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association in the early 1970s. Lezama influenced, motivated and inspired me. I knew what Mr. Lezama endured to develop the annual carnival on Labor in Brooklyn. He brought recognition to the Caribbean-American community, united us and played a major role in enhancing the quality of life in New York City. He was admired and respected by governors and mayors of New York State and City respectively. He was a great and charismatic leader.”

Check out some photos from the carnival here.

So, in honour of Mr. Lezama, I am posted this amazing tune by the Trinidad Steel Drummers. It is a cover of The Meters classic track, 'Cissy Strut' taken off the amazing Mystic Brew compilation on Fat City I hope that he enjoys it.

This really belongs in JC's Vinyl Room as it was taken from his excellent collection.

Download cissy_strut.mp3

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

CubikMusik....digs in the archives(3)

This tune goes out to some great people that I get to see soon.
They are: The Foges Family. Brian Foges originally recommended this album in CubikMusik: Two.

I found out today that I am heading home to Ireland for Christmas. It was touch and go as to whether I would get back but it all worked out. I get to go home after 2 1/2 years since I was last there.
As I was driving home tonight I was trying to find a tune in my trusty ipod that would cover the feelings that I have about this great news. As those who know me will attest I am a sentimental old fool so the choice of this tune will not surprise them. Well, not the tune itself, rather the title.
'As If You've Never Been Away' just sums it up really. I will walk in the door of my family's or friend's homes and it will be like I never left. Isn't that what it is all about?

So-this tune is really not just dedicated to the 'Foges Family' but to all my family and friends that I get to see at Christmas.

So, here is Brian's recommendation:
Artist: Ulrich Schnauss
Title: Far Away Trains Passing By
Label: City Centre Offices
I love this dude's name. This was actually released in 2001 but I only got wind of this last year. Lovely  slice of shimmering electronica -  very melodic and hook-laden. Not unlike The Cocteau Twins in bed with  Boards of Canada. Might be a bit twee for some tastes, but I found it  infectious. Great for these frosty winter mornings....

Download Ulrich_Schnauss-As_If_Youve_Never_Been_Away.mp3

5am: Listen to the Drums

Update: (02/07/07-file removed)

Artist: Outlines
Tune: Listen To The Drums
Remixed by: Jazzanova

A synth driven track with flowing melodies that will just sweep you away.
Beautiful.

Cheers,
Cubik

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

A bit heavy. More funky?

...Continued from the previous post (Nothing can stop us).

The party requested more tunes, saying "A bit heavy. More funky?" This is my response. :-)

I'm off to bed (as are they).

Artist: Dillinger
Tune: Cocaine in my brain
Download 04_cokane_in_my_brain.mp3

Artist:Admiral Bailey & Chaka Demus
Tune: One Scotch
Download 01_one_scotch.mp3

Artist: Exotic Pets
Tune: Bish Skank
Download 06_bush_skank.mp3

Artist: 9th Wonder
Tune: Beat 2
Download beat_2.mp3

Artist: Cuebism
Tune: Made It
Download 05_made_it.mp3

Cheers,
Cubik

Groovy Leprechauns

No, this does not refer to my homeland in any way! :-)

Artist: Jean-Jacques Perrey
Tune: Groovy Lerechauns

This excellent tune comes of the (also) excellent compilation 'At Home With The Groovebox' that was released in 2000 on the now defunct Grand Royal label. "The Groovebox is a compact programable synthesizer containing sounds from some of the most popular sound machines evcer produced: the 808 & 909 drum machines, the 303 bass machine and a library of vintage and more recent synthesized sounds....The goal of the project was to the same "band in a box" to a variety of artists and then collect and distribute the results." Including tunes by Money Mark, Air, Sonic Youth and more this is a great compilation for your collection.






Jean-Jacques Perrey, the artist on this tune, is even moreso remarkable than this little machine. Born in 1929 (yes, you won't believe it when you hear this tune) he is a leading figure in electronic music with a wealth of releases.
The tune kicks off with a motor starting and is then launched into a electro space pop sound with a heavy and steady beat that seems to fit in a multitude of sound possibilities from the Groovebox.

This tune goes out John at Roomthree, himself a pupil (or perhaps now a master) of the Groovebox. :-) Cheers John.

Download 01_groovy_leprechauns.mp3

Cubik

Border Crossing

I just found these guys on Beathut.com (a truly excellent source of choice tunes).
On the mark is all I can say.
This tune is the perfect tribute to the one...the only RootsManuva.
An electro bass sonic assault that will get your future funk on (with maybe a little hint of some two step in there!).

Download searching_for_mr_manuva.mp3

This is a great review of who these guys/gals are.
http://www.counterculture.co.uk/album-review/border-crossing-ominous.html

One night in Tokyo.....

Artist: Colder
Tune: One Night in Tokyo
Album: Again

I am not the biggest fan in the world of dub but this is a futuristic take on dub that kicks ass.
Much thanks to Pat for sending me this CD/DVD for my b'day a few years ago.
This track kicks off with a city soundscape that really does put you in Tokyo. After about a minute the train arrives and away you go with a driving bassline, cosmic flicks and a great take on a reggae piano loop for company.
This is tight tune- not all cheery but a great track to go driving with.

Download 03_one_night_in_tokyo.mp3

Mo' Mess

Artist: Poets of Rhythm
Tune: Mo' Mess On My Thing

A super top track from the Poets of Rhythm on the mighty Quannum.
Thank you to Josh in San Diego for introducing me to this. Man- we would play this out at our bar show and parties and it would be such fun.
A funkfest at it's best-such tight production with that sexy bassline, organs grooving and horns to blow your mind.
A great compliment to the Funk Divas posted earlier today.

Download 09_mo_mess_on_my_thing.mp3

Cheers,

Cubik

The Message

Artist: Dr.Dre
Tune: The Message
Album: Chronic: 2001 Instrumentals

There is something to be said for instrumental versions of hip-hop tracks. I dunno what it is about them but they seem to take on a new life, and excuse the pun, a new message.
I will be honest an admit that, if one exists, I have never heard the version of this tune with singing/rapping and I don't think I want to. This track, with its laid back, West coast beat and amazing orchestral melodies has a clear message for me and that is, Dr. Dre is one amazing musician with a ear that could easily have been classically trained and primed because he knows how to push those musical buttons.
This is a song for all so if you have never listened to any Dr.Dre before let this be your introduction.
Download 20_the_message.mp3

If you like this, also check out this five minute blunt from Terence Parker.

Japanese Mathematics

Artist: Sharpshooters
Tune: Japanese Mathematics
Album: Twice as Nice

This tune hit me in a similar way to 'This Room' posted a few days ago.
I am on my way to get some more of it these guys here.
It is such a tight and well produced song with a slow and funky driving beat and some great japanese string samples with some amazing horn playing that seems to tell a story without any words (my favourites). A song for sitting with some beers in the sun with your mates or just driving around.
A sweet, sweet track.
Download japanese_mathematics.mp3

5 and a half minute blunt

Artist: Terence Parker
Tune: Home Coming
Album: 3 minute blunts, Vol 1.

This compilation came out a while back on the amazing !K7 label and it is primarily an instrumental compilation of Detroit Hip-Hop. Full of groovy beats and sweet melodies this is a must for your collection. Volume 2 came out and (to me) was not as good.

Ternece Parker's 'Home Coming' kicks off with a solid beat and a hint of techno influence in the background followed by some beautifully simple piano. You can tell that this track is influenced by the house and techno history in the city with the slow build up and groovin' movement but this song definitely has hip-hop in it's heart and soul. It reminds me of the instrumental verison of Dr.Dre's 'The Message' that I got my hands on last week.
Download 01_home_coming.mp3

Pickpocket

Artist: Andy Votel
Tune: Pickpocket
Album: Styles of the Unexpected

A deceptively brillant song from the co-host and lable mate of Badly Drawn Boy over at Twisted Nerve in Manchester.
I don't have the year of this handy but its at least 4 years old now. The song is made up of seemingly non-related parts and melodies by a variety of instruments including a xylephone, guitar, bass, piano and what sounds like a creaking bed! Don't get me wrong.... this is not a jumbly mess at all. It is a beautifully melodic tune that gets me every time I hear it.

Download 04_pickpocket.m4a