cubikmusik

RIP Alton Ellis

I just heard tonight, via distinctly jamaican sounds, that Alton Ellis has died. Ellis was a key figure in the rocksteady scene leading the charge with a string of hits on Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label. He also positioned himself with a stance against the rudie movement with songs such as 'Dance Crasher' after some reggae stars appeared to glorify the rudies in Jamaica.

For some reason my Typepad kept on crashing as I tried to upload 'I'm Just A Guy' (featuring Phyllis Dillon) and as I rebooted everything up P Rice over at dilated choonz got it posted so instead I'll post Alton Ellis with the Soul Vendors and the amazingly slow-mojo 'Whipping The Prince'

Download 11_whipping_the_prince.mp3

Buy Mojo Rock Steady: iTunes, Amazon (US), (UK)

star trek

My apologies for the lack of posts of late. What with moving back to Ireland, playing catch-up with friends and family while partying quite a lot I haven't found the time or inclination to go out to track down new tunes. Tonight is different as I am trying to take a break from the madness and to maybe even get an early night. :)

With that said I just came across a great compilation on Compost. 'Elaste, volume2: space disco'. Compiled by Tom Wieland (7 Samurai) this is a trip into the world of, yes, you got it...space disco. I have to say though that this compilation knocks the proverbial socks off of most of the other compilations doing the rounds nowadays. According to Wieland “Most of these titles were fairly unknown when they were released, some became almost famous, and this is what this compilation is about: lost space disco gems and soulful Euro-boogie,” This is certainly filled with tunes that are somewhat less spacey and seem to be more dancefloor orientated with a keen eye on some old school flavours along with interesting interpretations such as the tune posted here.

This tune reflects some of the sounds of 7 Samurai with its disctinctive funky reggae hook and pace that is offset with some pretty trippy sounds that will have your head shooting into space as your body holds it down on the dancefloor.

I'd also recommend 'GI' by Panoptikum (another Wieland act) which is pure acid fun and the Rufus/Chaka Khan classic 'Ain't Nobody' that gets the Frankie Knuckles hallucinogenic remix treatment. I can't see it on any of the digial versions of the comp. but 20 Jazz Greats delivers the dub version for your listening pleasure.

Download 107_star_trek.mp3

buy: traxsource (US), juno (UK)

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

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).

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

Lightning Head

I remember the first time I heard of Rockers Hi-Fi was when !K7 released their Rocker's Hi-Fi DJ Kicks
which is my mind is the best in the series along with that of Kruder & Dorfmeister. I had the pleasure of seeing them play live in Dublin about 6-7 years ago and it was a top show. unfortunately they didn't play 'Transmission Central' (see below) despite my heckling! ;-)
After moving to the States I then came across the 'Lightning Head' album, Studio Don by Bigga Bush and loved the sounds. Lots of dub and reggae influences but with a more Latin and Caribbean feel with steel drums and batucada rhythms. This is an album that I reckon flew under the radar and never really got the attention it deserved.

Cheers,
Cubik

One tune tonight from Rockers Hi-Fi and another by Lightning Head.

Download transmission_central.mp3

Download 03_e.V.A..mp3

Buy DJ Kicks Rockers Hi-Fi, Kruder & Dorfmeister
Buy Lighting Head: Studio Don
Bigga Bush releases

RIP Desomd Dekker

Just read on BBC that Desomd Dekker had passed away. One of the original stars from Jamaica Dekker led the way for many others with his ska tunes supported by his backing singers, The Aces.
With tunes such as 007 (Shany Town) and the Israelites Dekker was a groundbreaker for many others to follow down the reggae path.

Today i am posting Pickney Girl, popular in Jamaica but not really big elsewhere.

Download 03_pickney_girl.mp3

A tribute to JayDee

Artist: Vin Gordon
Tune: Red Blood
Source: Studio One Scorchers

I was gonna post a tune or two by Jay Dee but decided against it. You can find a great remix here though:
(http://cubikmusik.typepad.com/cubikmusik/2005/08/i_belive_in_you.html).

Instead I said that I'd post a tune that I love dearly and listened to after I heard about Jaylib JayDee passing away and I felt that this song just summed it up-it has a beautiful melody that is almost bittersweet; sad that someone has passed away but happpy at the thoughts at what was achieved by the person and the great music (in this case) that we have as a result of Jaylib being around.

Jaylib JayDee-I hope you get to hear this wherever you are and that you enjoy.

Cheers,

Cubik

Download 13_red_blood.mp3

Treachery

Artist: Phyliss Dillon
Tune: Perfidia

I am trying a new method to pick tunes to bring to CubikMusik as I find that I recommend tunes that have my attention right now and that means that you miss out on all the great stuff from the past. I chuck on my headphones, turn it up and hit shuffle and wander around my library to find something.
I got this song originally from a Mark Lamar Compilation of Rocksteady and Ska tracks.
A classic old song that you may remember from the film, Mambo Kings, sung by Linda Ronstadt (don't worry, I won't impose that on you!).

Phyliss Dillons brings you a wonderful rocksteady version that is a great love song. I added this to a compilation for a San Diego shoe store about two years ago and the guys were telling me that on a Saturday, with a full shop, about 90% of the people would ask what the song was-it's just that kinda tune.
So, grab your partner by the hand and have a little dance together.
Download 18_perfidia.mp3

Tighten Up

Artist: Archie Bell & The Drells
Tune: Tighten Up

Had to post this one as a reaction to that kick-ass Ohmeha Watts
track....though it had  a similar kind of vibe, except, of course,
it's a '68 soul track. No matter...it's infectious bass line and
guitar lick will bring a smile to your face.

Note: Apparently Archie like to start all his tracks announcing that
they were from Houston, Texas in reaction to a DJ saying nothing good
ever came from Texas (after the shooting of JFK).

Download tighten_up.mp3

Recommended by Foges in Ny, Ny.

Skanking People

Artist: The New Establishment
Tune: The People Skanking
Source: Studio One Scorchers

A sweet, sweet instrumental reggae tune. All slow and low slung with a bassline that holds up a simple double melody from a pair of organs. This song just makes you want to sway your way through the day. If this is skanking then sign me up.
Download 06the_new_establishmentthe_people_skanking.mp3

Move On Up....Greyhound style

Artist: Greyhound
Tune: Move On Up
Source: PartyKeller compilation

What a feat it is to take a classic soul song, brought to us by the great Curtis Mayfied, and to do a reagge cover that just takes the tune to a new level.
Greyhound, covering Move On Up live, has managed to do just that without really making any changes.
The sweet bassline keeps us movin' and groovin' while the reggae riff sucks us deeper into these uplifting lyrics that can't help but please.
What I wouldn't give to see this live show.
Download 14_move_on_up.m4a