cubikmusik

silhouette

Much goodness from this broken beat/ nu-jazz/nu-soul powerhouse team of melody makers with Bembe Segue (see video below with Mark de Clive-Lowe), Kaidi Tatham (Bugz In The Attic: track below with Mr.Scruff) and Dego (4hero, see previous post of Les Fleur),  and for this second release (on 2000Black) they are joined by Philadelphia's Lady Alma (of 4hero's "Hold It Down" fame and who appears on King Britt's latest album, The Intricate Beauty). I am particularly loving the tune below and also 'We Used To Run Steady' which evokes summer and bbq's and chilling with friends with laughter and tunes. 

Check the tour dates (US only for now).

Download 01 Constant Questions (Original)

Mr Scruff & Kaidi Tatham 'Fresh Noodles' by Mr Scruff

Buy: 2000Black  dusty grooves, iTunes , 

jump in the air

yes, yes, yes. erykah badu is getting ready to return with New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh.

New Amerykah was for sure one of my favourite albums of 2008 with honey and soldier topping the charts. check out this seiji remix of honey that will bowl you over as well as two remixes featured in last week's soundcloud special.

one of the most innovative and exciting hip-hop artists around so expect an album that will stretch your imagination and keep you wanting more.

Download Jump In The Air (Stay There)

plastic beach

 
picked this up today from spine magazine

Gorillaz f/Bobby Womack & Mos Def off the upcoming album, Plastic Beach. Loving this tune. great sounds that will definitely get people curious about where the album direction will take us with plenty of collaborations to keep it fresh.

(Update: just read that this was a leak so I've removed the track. apologies).

KrystalKlear

for sure a name to watch in 2010 is KrystalKlear from Belize. his sounds have been very well received by the deviation crew checking Benji B's show every Sunday night. electro-boogie sounds with warm synths that wrap themselves around your ears while the slow beats and bass get you into a proper 'electro' feel with some ace squelchy 303 action to keep you acid heads happy. now this is electro from the 80's that i'm talking about, kinda miami / 808 style and not what is commonly referred to as 'electro' these days (which offends me somewhat to be honest). not much known about KrystalKlear for now but hopefully we'll have an 'under the influence with...'post in the next few weeks to shed some light. so for now njoy the tune.

Anteater by KrystalKlear

toeachizown

well Dublin, the time is almost upon us for the one that goes by the name of dam-funk to come and share his funk with us. we've been watching, listening and waiting for this so get ready for a superb show.

choice cuts are bringing LA's ambassador of boogie funk to twisted pepper next friday (october 23rd) which for me will be the highlight of the DEAF festival. so get your ticket here.

almost a year to the day i said this about dam-funk. "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..." so, my wish is about to come through. over that time i've had the pleasure to chat to the man himself in various ways and i have got to say that you'd be hard pressed to meet anyone who is more of a gent than him. he is truly inspired and grateful for all the support he receives for his music and shows. 

so what can we expect? well as it's the album launch i am sure we'll have much future-funk sounds to groove to. the album, toeachizown, is released on october 20th but up to now has been digitally fed to us with 4 of the 5 planned volumes coming out over @ stones throw. each volume has a particular feel and theme but with each you can start to feel the soundscapes building and working together. below is a run through of each volume as described in dam-funk's own words.

volume 1: LAtrik has 7 tunes with 'on &on' and mirrors being two of my faves.  "LAtrik is more of my ‘electric style’ (hence the title of this volume) which is influenced by, yet never bitin' such great artist as Juan Atkins (Cybotron) & Prince to name just a few. It also highlights the more modern sounds of L.A. based Funk right now"

volume 2: Fly's  "first 3 tracks Flying V Ride (which is a reference 2 the fabled UFO that many have reported seeing in their lifetime), Candy Dancin’ & Burn Straight Thru U co-exist as a 'suite' called ‘The Move Suite’. Yes, 3 songs that are joined together as 1."My fave tune (of the entire album has got to be rollin' which invokes west coast perfectly. every time i listen to this song i am instantly back in my car, cruising down highway 1 along the pacific ocean with the sun setting. a beautiful thing.

volume 3: Life's "songs focus on relationships; good ones & weird ones (if U will). These songs also include vocals on all the tracks."

volume 4: Hood is extra special and "is for my true Funksta's, G-Funksta's, Gangsta's (keep it mild-mannered though y'all!), & just ALL genuine appreciators of this 'Modern-Funk' music coming outta Los Angeles, California at this moment." 

volume 5: ?.

as a taster of what to expect from the album check out this tune which the man himself kindly shared a while back.

06 Visions - DâM-FunK (Unreleased)

Download 06 Visions - DâM-FunK (Unreleased)

not sure if a dj set is planned also where its all wax, many original pressings of boogie-funk from the 80s and thereabouts. either way. we'll get to be a part of dam-funk's journey for this one night and to me that will be a pleasure. i highly recommend that you check out this set from deviation's first birthday to get a feel for what to expect. this set has been lauded as one of the best nights in london for many years.

support on the night comes from beardyman so check this mini-mix for annie mac's show. great stuff. 

while you're here, go here to support dam-funk and stones throw by checking out at the store. buy the album, some tunes, or this fine t-shirt which will shortly be joining my collection. ;)

nirvana

a great album from one of the most creative minds out there right now. shafiq husayn of sa ra' s
his first album as a solo artist. Shafiq Husayn came up around the Zulu Nation in the 80’s and paid his dues producing for Ice-T during his heyday, from there he has grown as a producer, songwriter and arranger. As a founding member of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Shafiq has been responsible for some of the most innovative music in the past ten years. For his album he has collaborated with the likes of Count Bass D, London's top vocalist, Fatima (on the beautiful track, Lil Girl), Om'Mas Keith and others to produce an album that will appeal to those of you looking for sounds that go just a little deeper with their meaning and content. Album comes out on Plug Research.

Download 02 Nirvana

Album sampler mixed by Lefto: Shafiq Husayn - En' A Free Ka Album Sampler by TheSmokingSection

if you like this, also check out shafiq husayn appearing with aqeel

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

lentfest...days 20 and 21

yes, its becoming a bit of a habit this whole two day posts in one. my next series will be the 3 for 2 posts!

so, paddy's weekend is over.
great fun. lots of hanging out with mates, drives to the country, good food, afternoon drinking, top music and a hint of the summer. back to work today for just a 3 day weekend so hoping its all smooth sailing.

first up tonight is the absolutely delightful remix of platinum pied pipers 'on a cloud' by bearded babys (teebs and cof.fe
Download On a Cloud PPP REMIX
via yeyesyall

and then, apparently this dude is gonna be releasing a new album soon. that'll be an interesting discovery.
Download Bbydhyonchord 

also: gotta go to kickinthepeanuts for some wale (Feat. Curren$y & Tre of UCB) and produced by 9th wonder along with some kid cudi (retiring from music after his next collab album (?)) pure rollin'.

46 days of lent...day 11 & 12

missed yesterday. was at my folks house with no computer. realized when on my way there that i had no music. need to start digitizing my dad's music collection now in case that happens again!

so, two days of tunes now with some gary davis (previous post) getting his groove on with smash hit music co. (with greg wilson mixing it up) and hot 8 brass band (previous post) laying it down with diesler doing his thing on tru-thoughts.

Download 04 1 Lifetime (Greg Wilson versi

buy: junodownload

Download 18 Get Up (Diesler remix)

buy: jundodownload, etch shop (label),

wake up

to follow up the dam funk post we've got some more LA boogie future funk.
Aqeel "is the name of the vocalist, composer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Lover of music since the days of singing in church as a youth with his mother before dedicating his time professionally as a musician AQEEL spent ten years as a barber. In 1998 he worked with Erykah Badu on a demo, she produced and he wrote the lyrics, but the project didn’t see light because AQEEL wasn’t as prepared as he thought he was. This made him more determined in taking his craft seriously. Shortly after he had another opportunity, he worked three days along side Dr.Dre on ‘The Chronic 2001’ project offering backing vocals and lyrics."

From there he headed off to Spain and continued to hone his skills, working with many producers and touring around Europe.
An interesting story that should be heard.
Out on the great 4Lux label and ft. shafiq husayn of sa ra with the remix by syrafin also well worth checking out.

Download 1223566534431_1_1_320

buy: download (UK)

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

figure me out

much thanks to the excellent floorman for posting this superb edit of Jamie Lidell's 'figured me out'.
I'll let the man himself say a few words:

"Here's something I've been playing out for the past couple of weeks -my Jamie Lidell edit. The new album has had a mixed reception, and I think the production's a bit disappointing in places - possibly playing it a bit too safe - but there's no denying the man's got some voice for a skinny white bloke, and he can cut it live: just hope he retains some of the madness of his old live shows now he seems to be heading for the mainstream..."

i highly recommend you add the floorman blog to your regular reading list as he posts some great stuff (for a limited time). i hope to get to see him play out some day soon as i reckon its a great show.

Download figured_me_out_floorman_extended_edit.mp3

Soda

Funkstorung has always been a band that I have known about, owned some of their music but have never jumped out and grabbed me like some others. They released through Compost and had their logo and some great covers from The Designers Republic. When I got this tune tonight I didn't recognize the name at all and so it was only after some looking around did I realise that Michael Fakesch was one half of Funkstorung that had disbanded in 2006.

This tune starts off with a sweet beat and is then not so subtly joined by a menacing bass tease that eases into a funky bassline. Vocals are provided by Taprikk Sweezee across this tune, and on the album, while the four four stomps along while the sweet acid/303 that was hinted at from the very start begins to slowly infiltrate and move to the fore after an amazing breakdown at around 4 mins.
Cracking tune all round.

This is the Munk remix off the Soda EP released on !K7

Download 03_soda_munk_remix.mp3

Buy Soda EP: US Download/ UK Download/
Buy Album 'Dos': US Download/ UK Download/ US CD/ UK CD

With You

Got this beauty earlier this week from Kyri over at the wonderful R2 Records.

Gonna shout out to DJ BBQ who is a reader that sent me a great email last night which I woke up to today. Got me off to a great start for the day and I know she'll dig this tune.

This is short but oh so sweet and comes from Kissey Asplund who shares her time with Malmo and Stockholm in Sweden. Kissey brings on the sultry/ smokey voice with some laid back broken beats and hats that will have your head nodding.

This tune,“With You” is the first release taken from the forthcoming album “Plethora” and typifies Kissey’s unique blend of sweet vocals and jazz infused hip-hop grooves.

Kissey recorded the entire album with Paris based hip-hop collective Papa Jazz Crew,

after collaborating with various producers she met via ‘myspace’, bringing her silky sweet vocals to a variety of hip-hop and soul beats. However, it was when she hooked up with Papa Jazz that something clicked.

The resulting album is a journey through jazz, hip-hop, electronic soul, all with a fresh future twist as Kissey takes us through a range of day to day stories of love lost and found, friendships betrayed, relationships on the rocks and even astral traveling.

Download kissey_asplund_with_you_mastered.mp3

If you like this check out these posts: Places Everyone, Love Dat, Hygh and Inna Blink.

If I Ever

I'm in a slowed down kinda mood tonight. Maybe its the red wine or the busy day. Or maybe I was just meant to find this tune. The preview is all slow and full of R&B (the old R&B-not that newfangled stuff) and thats why I bought it. Then as you start going through the tune it starts to go into a great soul driven segway and back again.Its hard to describe these kinds of tunes, especailly for one like me who's not into writing too much. :-)

Perhaps, to borrow from the artist's way of describing what he sounds like is "a box of old records falling down the stairs then landing on a record player, some in key, some not."
A good description but doesn't do the amazing sounds of this album enough justice.

Aldo Vanucci has been around for a while now, after having put out releases on the mighty Catskils label he landed with Good Living Records and has released the album that this track is taken from, Straight Lift. The album covers everything you could expect to hear from Plymouths 14th Best DJ "a bit of soul, a suggestion of funk, some party style hip hop, a cheeky cover version and some firing jazz"

Download 05_i_love_you_baby.mp3

Buy
Download  US / UK         
CD: US / UK

Cheers,
Cubik

Paint it Red

Coco Electrik is partly made up of Anne Booty who sure is one interesting lady. First off, and Anne I apologize for any offense that this might give, what a name!
Born in Brisbane in the late 70’s to a teacher and an accountant Anne now resides in England, dividing her time between London and Shoreham-by-Sea. An English and philosophy graduate, sporadic journalist, and one time Ken Russell associate. Favourite authors include Flannery O’Connor and Jean Genet. You can check out a short story, Jack & Jill, by Anne Booty over at Scarecrow Short Fiction.

The upcoming album from Coco Electrik, Army behind The Sun (pre-order), was recorded with the help of Matty (Skylab) Ducasse on guitar, Adam DeGruchy on bass and Martin Dean on drums. The album
" features slices of esoteric pop and slipped-up-slowed-down psychedelic punk funk in equal measure. (Bandwagon) and is "full of spikiness, zeal and slutty, filthy funk, the latter of which it’s drenched in" (IDJ Magazine).
For me Coco Electrik reminds me somewhat of Roisin Murphy (mentioned here before and who also has a new album coming out soon). There are similar kinds of feels to the sound they produce however, I reckon though that Coco Electrik will appeal to those that prefer a bit more electro and (dare I say it) booty in their music. You really gotta check out the cover of Soft Cell's Tainted Love also-very nicely done.

This tune is actually from Royal Appointment and features Coco Electrik but is being released on the upcoming album. Originally released in 2005, this is the Dub it Red version of Paint it Red (emusic), released on TummyTouch. Slightly more minimal and funky than the original, with a bouncy rhythm that will certainly appeal more to shaking 'it' as the party gets started.

Download 04_dub_it_red.mp3

Cheers,
Cubik

Give It Again

The best term that I have heard for this tune comes from Gilles Peterson who called it "a bad bwoy tune".
Nuff said Gilles.
A  top tune from Overtone that gets a killer remix by one of my favourite acts around, Inverse Cinematics, this brings with it a dirty rolling bassline,  some fine futurefunk sonics, and feet stomping tech-dub to get the dancefloor going.

From Redbud's page fro the release:
"Redbud's 9th release "Give it again" hails from an up and coming Lithuanian-based producer, Paulius Kilbauskas. Dubbed by some as the "hottest producer on the eastern bloc", Paulius has been producing as Overtone since February 2004. His wide-ranging electronic music style embraces all elements of funky beats: dub, drum'n'bass, hip hop, breaks etc. Already causing a stir amongst European and stateside beatmakers, this electronic dancefloor tune kicks off with moody, dark synths and modulated voices, bursting into heavy, rugged dub steppa beats. The track also features another Lithuanian native -MC Second Man on the mic, delivering his signature ragga style vocals."

Download 02_inverse_cinematics_mix.mp3

Love Dat

Short post before bed.
The much anticipated release, The Venus Album,  from the Stockholm wunderkids Up Hygh, came out last week and it is a cracker.
The tune posted here is from The Gift EP so no surprises here so check out the album. Also check out The Gift.

Dusty Groove says about 'The Venus Album': A tight batch of hip hop groove from Stockholm duo Up Hygh -- not only a strong piece of the global cultural patchwork that is hip hop music -- but an impressive blend of of straight up funky beats and soulful sounds -- the kind we could just as easily get from an Okayplayer!

Love Dat feat Aaron Phiri is hip hop-soul with future beats. Nuff said!
Download love_dat_feat. Aaron Phiri.mp3

Buy it: Europe / USA

Cheers,
Cubik

Hygh

Artist: Up Hygh
Tune: The Gift
Source: Urban Visionaries: Jugglin' With Raw Fusion (Compilation).

This is pure physchedelic funk with a down and dirty beat and low bass. From Sweden, Up Hygh are a gem that have yet to really hit the USofA the way they have in Europe. These guys deliver some more of that future funk that has me hooked right now. This track is basically about the gift of music that is being delivered......"this music is mine, but I'm giving it all to you......we got the funk for you, I know you need it....soul music, music from the soul, theres no music without soul, share your soul, set your soul free but whatever you do don't sell your soul."
Ok, so it might sound all hippiness and I'm generally not sold on that but man this tune just gets me everytime. Perhaps I should use it as the CubikMusik theme. :-)
On the Swedish Brandy label you can find their stuff in various formats online so please check them out.
Download 09_the_gift.mp3

Also check out this Nordic wonder
Artist: Jimi Tenor
Tune: Outta Space
This track goes out to Sandra-yeh! :-)
6.5 minutes of cosmic funk like you've never heard! A heaving bassline with a saxaphone and horn intro brings us into sweeping organ funk and swinging beat that sweeps you off into space "hang on, hang on, hang on. keep grooving in outta space....s.p.a.c.e.d o.u.t"
This track is like a big band classic of the future-Glen Miller meets Platinum Piped Pipers.
Turn this one up in your headphones and feel your head bopping.
Download 01_outta_space.mp3

If you like these check this out-'I believe in you'

Cheers,

Cubik

Sessions

Just got this compilation, by Gilles Peterson, of live tracks from the Worldwide sessions that have been run for about 5 years. The compilation provides a mixed bunch of live tunes by such artists as Beck, The Roots, Roisin Murphy and The Matthew Herbert Big Band. This is just volume one so watch that always excellent Worldwide space.  You can also catch Gilles Peterson's radio show on Sundays.
So, here are my top three pics from this compilation of 28 tunes.

Artist: Amp Fiddler
Tune: I'm Doin Fine
As Depeche Mode would say 'I just can't get enough'. This tune is a stomper for anyone who likes funk, house or downtempo (and more I am sure).
With a driving beat and a sweet ass bassline that is as tight as any tune can get.
Coming in at 7 minutes long I highly recommend putting this on as you get in your car with your volume up and bass down low- you'll be on your way and groovin' in no time.
Download 203_im_doin_fine.mp3

Artist: NERD
Tune: Improvised Jam
This tune is a grower (took me 3 listens to get really into it) with Pharell providing a free vocal journey through this 7 1/2 minute funk jam this is an uplifting tune that reminds me of some great old soul classics that sweeps you away into the clouds (or space ;-)
Download 114_improvised_jam.mp3

Artist: Fat Freddy's Drop
Tune: This Room
You know when you hear a song that turns your world upside down and when you Google the artist you discover that there is a party that revolves around them and you wish that you'd been invited in sooner? Well, if not, this is what happened when I heard this tune. :-)
This is a New Zealand outfit with an album, Based On A True Story, out on Sonar Kollective.
'This Room' is a slow sway with some of the most melodic horn playing ever accompanied by an intriguing story about sitting in a room watching someone on the street. This song have me just moving away in my chair with joy while making me want to cry and I can't figure out exactly why. Amazing track.
You can thank (or curse) this song for getting me back on Cubik today-this just moved me so much I had to get it out there.
Once this is uploaded I am off to buy the album.
Download 113_this_room.mp3
Actually, I just bought it for 7.99 Euros at the Sonar Kollectiv site-am downloading it now. Sweet.