cubikmusik

Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life

So last night when I got home after a few beers I had this post written and as I was about to publish it my dog managed to literally pull the plug on my computer! I now start this again but I can't imagine it'll be the same without the influence of some beers and the high of a new music purchase. :-)

For those of you that know me, or read CubikMusik regulary, will know that I don't buy albums too much at all. I have stuck with individual songs and compilations pretty much for 10 years and I can't remember when the last time was that I bought a complete album by an artist. They just don't appeal to me at all.
Anyways-that changed last night as Ben Westbeech's album, Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life, came out. What a cracking album it is.

I've posted on Ben before on the amazing tune, Get Closer. Pure infectious music does Ben and the band of talented musicians that play with him deliver. A drum 'n' bass classic.
Check out this live clip.

I first came across Ben Westbeech back when the first (of many?) Brownswood Bubblers compilation came out with his song, Nothing Else. His soulful voice, honest words and upbeat melodies captured my attention. The along came 'So Good Today'- a top summer tune that cannot fail to get you in the mood for hanging with your mates way into the late night.

Last week I also got Hang Around from iTunes so I managed to benefit from their new 'Complete My Album' deal that credits you when you buy a song from an album.

Man-I just can't get over the tunes from this guys.
Choice.

This post goes out to P. who I know will just love this stuff. Enjoy P. :-)

Buy the CD here.

Buy the tunes here.

Skint

New series here at CubikMusik again as we try and provide readers with some label profiles to compliment the sounds. We will only cover the labels we like.

First off is Skint, home to many great artists such as Goose, Kidda and Fatboy Slim.
Based n Brigthon, England and started by JC Reid and Tim Jeffery, Skint, along with Wall of Sound, were the leaders in the big beat sound that came about around the mid-90's. Since then the label has broadened it's horizons to include some great house sounds (X-Press 2) and singer/songwriter tunes that just blow me away (Lucky Jim).
On their debut album 'Bring It On', Goose create dance music with ferocious metal teeth. Buzzsaw synthesisers, sternum-shaking drums and electric shock riffs combine to make something that is aggressive as it is compulsively danceable. Songs like singles 'Black Gloves' and 'British Mode' show a state-of-the-art rock band making music like a DJ plays a set, with breakdowns, building tensions and ecstatic release.
Download some Goose @ Skint here (registration required)

My favourite artist on Skint has to be Kidda who has been featured on CubikMusik before wth his amazing track, All I Need.
Strong on cut-up, soulful vocals, afro-funky percussive rhythms, bugged out synths and playful moods, Kidda sounds is definitely refreshing and with the debut album including vocal contributions from Gary from Snow Patrol, Pyhco Les from Beatnuts soon to be big rapper Lo Max and Blak Twang amongst others it's sure to grab peoples attention
Download Kidda @ Skint here (registration required)
You can also expect, in the near future an 'Under the Influence with....Kidda' post. Can't wait.

Artists:
Fatboy Slim
Kidda
Goose
X-Press 2
Midfield General
Ralfe Band
Alloy Mental
Lucky Jim

Buy from Skint Records.

Cheers to Dave from Skint for some new sounds and for Kidda (and his manager) for working with me.

Cubik

Who Stole The Booty?

Who stole the booty indeed! A cracking bluesy tune, from the album 'Drew Missisippi'. Brought to you by the great Boo Boo Davis on the Black & Tan label from the Netherlands.
The blues with a big beat that will have your head bopping like you were hip-hopping away.
Nice one sir-a great testament to your musical tastes and talents. 

Artist: Boo Boo Davis
Tune: Who Stole The Booty?
Album: Drew Missisippi
Download 03_who_stole_the_booty.mp3
Buy tune here
Buy albums here
For those of you into live shows check out Boo Boo Davis as he comes to your town (check out all those European shows).

Now I may be like many others having being introduced to the blues (in a roundabout way) by Moby from his 'Play' album (V2) that seemed to be just about everywhere when it was released (mainly due to the fact that all 18 of its tracks were licensed for TV spots, advertising and films). The other unique aspect of the album was that it mixed electronica and the blues. Not in a cheesy way but in a way that was respectful to the blues style ( I hope I don't invite the wrath of hardcore blues fans by saying that, it is just my humble opinion). Why do I like the blues? I think becasue it has a drive to the sound that just displays energy and emotion in a way that other genres fail to do. Every note is emotive and raw. The blues isn't all about having the blues at all..its about the feeling of being alive and the good and bad that goes along with that.

So, way back when 'Play' was released I was inspired to go a digging for some more blues and along came a great compilation called 'Natural Blues' which happened to include some of the songs sampled on 'Play'.
Here is one of those tracks, Vera Hall singing 'Trouble So Hard' along with Moby's 'Natural Blues' that sampled it. The sleeve notes from Natural Blues, for this Vera Hall track tell a lot about how music was produced and recorded back then with little or no recording studios and people who would travel around finding unique songs and record them in any way they can. Trouble So Hard was 'Recorded in a field by A&J Lomax'.

Artist: Vera Hall
Tune: Trouble So Hard
Compilation:Natural Blues (buy)
Download 02_trouble_so_hard.mp3

Artist: Moby
Tune: Natural Blues
Album: Play (buy)
Download natural_blues.mp3

So, hopefully for those of you that havn't heard the blues by now will find some pleasure in listening to these songs.

Cheers,
Cubik

Kylie's got the feeling

Where Is The Feeling (Da Klubb Feelin Mix)
Kylie Minogue
Deconstruction Records/BMG

I would just like it to be known that this is the only Kylie Minogue record in my collection and I didn’t pay for it. That said this is a gem – a filthy Felix Da Housecat remix of one of Kylie’s lesser known numbers. 11 minutes of filthy filtered house music from one of the finest (at least in my eyes) producers to ever come out of Chicago.

Kyles never did it for me, but on this little beauty she comes over all sex kitten. Enjoy.

Download: Where is the Feeling (Da Klubb Feelin Mix)

Note: despite extensive searches I haven't been able to find this for sale anywhere online. Let me know if you know otherwise