Christian Prommer talking about his upcoming album Drumlesson Zwei, an immense collection of acoustic jazz covers of classic electronic tracks. Out April 2010 on !K7 Records. And while we're at it go for a trio of 'strings of life'.
by all accounts i reckon this is gonna be a top album of 2010. as Lefto says :
*March 10th, 2010 UPDATE: Just heard that Ghostpoet is joining the Brownswood family of artists which is great news. Needless to say he's happy about this latest development in his journey. Best of luck to Ghostpoet and Brownswood. I can't wait for the album!
been a while since our last installment in the series and once again I am honored to have our latest guest talking about his musical influences. welcome to ghostpoet , a musically talented mc/ spoken wordsmith and gent. i heard him a few weeks back on gilles peterson's bbc show and was immediately struck by the enthralling vocals and minimal beats to accompany. then we got to check him out at the WWAs and the live show was great. much livelier than one would expect and it had the crowd well engrossed.
good things in 2010 ahead of this particular musical poet who i very much look forward to supporting on his journey.
I’ve been toying with putting this together for awhile, really tried to dig deep and think of the song’s down the years, that has not as much influenced what I make now, pulled at the heart strings and brought a tear to the cheek.
1. Mos Def – Umi Says. I think it was the first neo/soul/hip-hop track I ever heard, it started something, planted a seed of sorts, it was that bass and keys. Mos singing to the heavens and creating that hot summer night’s vibe.
2. Fela Kuti – Water Get No Enemy. The welcoming of the brass, the piano plonk, the words . . . wow . . . The words were like fireflies, dancing amongst the afro jazz haze, I discovered Fela when I was really young and I was enthralled by the stories he weaved around those infectious grooves, love his work dearly.
3. Badly Drawn Boy – Camping Next To Water. Pure emotion, I was too young to appreciate it as a kid, I remember buying the Bewilderbeast album in Woolworth’s as a nipper, it was just so exciting, all that noise, experimentation, waves of sound . . . It’s one of those tunes I’ve always kept close like my house keys.
4. S.i.A - Little Man (Exeman Rmx). Maaaan, I was heavily into oldskool garage as a teen, dj’d and mc’d in my uni years. When Sia’s voice drop’s in, my heart just lift’s, it was the combination of her haunting vocal and production that was just so different for the time, I remember hearing this dropped in at raves and the noise! The joy on ravers’ faces! It made me really appreciate what music can do to people.
5. Wiley – Eskimo. When I got into grime in my teens and more heavily in uni, this tune was a like a firework set off in my brain, I couldn’t play any type of instrument (and still can’t) and here was this monster of a track made using a computer, my love affair with electronics had begun.
(streaming roll deep's eskimo although i prefer the instrumental version)
6. The Streets – Has It Come To This. It was a mish mash of the underground music I loved and I related to the words so much, such honesty and everydayness. So different from everything around at the time, a curveball of sorts and it was a great source of inspiration at the time.
7. Roots Manuva – Dreamy Days. Brings back so many memories! Such a contemplative tune, is it the piano melody? Is it the strings? Or manuva mc just doing what he does? Discovering Root’s Manuva made me really look at what I was doing musically. Him, Ty and The Streets gave me the confidence to just be me me me.
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Pin. New York Indie has a place in my heart, such great music. Loved this track for it’s energy, melody and dark lyrics, it just drew me in and didn’t let me go for awhile, was really captivated by there artwork as well, gave me real food for thought.
9. Bloc Party – This Modern Love. Just beautiful, the guitars intertwining, the gathering pace of the drums, Kele’s lyric’s get to me every time, mantra’s to a unseen lover, jostling for emotional positioning, great stuff.
10. Square pusher – Lambic 9 Poetry. There was not one person I played this tune to who wasn’t moved in some way, it just trot’s along, starts to swerve left and right, then opens out into this opus of beauty, I still listen to it today and time stands still, nothing else matters for 6 minute’s and 56 seconds.
via boycott magazine comes news of an upcoming movie about A Tribe Called Quest featuring Pharell, Nas, Mos Def, Travis Barker, Ludacris, Beastie Boys, Santigold, Mary J. Blige, Monie Love, Busta Rhymes, Pete Rock, Common, Large Professor, De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers and much more…
back in January I announced that this year cubikmusik would be releasing a compilation of music to raise money for charity. today I am so very happy to give an update on this project that has received amazing support from so many people that I know or have been introduced to in recent weeks.
first off, the charity: we have decided to support just one charity (as opposed to multiple charities as originally considered) and this charity is Nordoff Robbins. much thanks to charlie dark for suggesting this absolutely worthy cause.
a bit about Nordoff Robbins:Nordoff Robbins is the charity that specialises in transforming the lives of children and adults constrained by illness, disability, trauma or isolation, through the power of music.Clap your hands. Tap your feet. Sing out loud. Dance or stomp. Shout or cry. We all react to music in different ways. But we all react. Because music has a universal power to reach us, touch us and make us feel different.
secondly, the music: just a reminder that the compilation will have one common theme and that is for it to be suitable for babies/ kids as lullably or 'waking up' music. an alternative for 'baby mozart' type CDs with music created by contemporary artists. some of these artists will be known to cubimusik readers and others will not so I hope that this compilation will also help these artists reach a wider audience.
at this stage can I just say that I have been overwhelmed by the responses of those that i got in touch with. amazingly grateful i am. i have been contacted by artists that haven't been featured on cubikmusik to offer songs, etc. (which I of course gladly accepted) and at this stage we have 16 artists that will contribute tracks to the compilation. i'm not going to release artist names yet but expect an update in about 2 weeks. i can assure you that you won't be disappointed and most likely excited to hear the outcome.
thirdly: we are also exploring other ways to promote the release and to further support Nordoff Robbins so expect more updates in a few weeks. i'll leave one hint though and that's just to say that Orsii might be involved and if you know Orsii that can only mean good things....
i look forward to this latest avenue for cubikmusik, to working with the amazing people that are supporting it and also to hearing from you with your thoughts, ideas, etc.
upcoming documentary that looks at just some of britain's beat making scientists. looks interesting as there is so much great beats coming outta there.
first off in this post a big shout out to gavin over at jus' like music on the launch of his new label of the same name. with this as his first release I am delighted to be able to write about BUG, a producer from London that Gavin is promoting and is getting great props from the likes of Eric Lau, Ty, Debruit and Ohmega Watts.
"24 year-old Londoner, BUG, is a keyboard player, songwriter and producer. Under the moniker, BUG, he creates an experimental, instrumentally grounded style of music with a compositional approach. The BUG sound encompasses the finer elements of hip-hop and neo-soul, yet the real beauty is in the delivery. Think the smooth richness of the Dam-Funk vibe, the solid construction of a Dilla beat, the electronic wizardry of Flying Lotus and the soulful melodies ofLonnie Liston Smith's jazz."
I gotta say that ouf the two tunes i'll go for 20 Winks as the better one for its deeper beats and rich keys that a layered just so. decide for yourself but checking it out below and grab both tunes for free here.
Very nice job on a debut release. Good things to come from this label.
Keep an eye our for the upcoming Oscillations compilation that Jus' Like Music and Apple Juice Break are working together to release next month.
international man of mystery (otherwise known as clutchy hopkins) is back with some new music and so far i'm liking the sounds of it.
The Story Teller is out on April 13th on Ubiquity.
at the end of the day i really don't give a shit about who this may be or if he is:
"Fact or fiction? Is Clutchy Hopkins an alias? Or is this the true name for a reclusive musical powerhouse? Are his recordings vintage, new, or a mix of both? Some may wonder about these things, along with why some dudes have a long pinky nails or whatever happened to myspace, others may ask if any of this really matters? While the mystery surrounding the artist is no longer news, the music only gets better, maturing like a fine wine."
Seriously. The music is ace. Lets just leave it at that.
speaking of ubiquity, andrew meza who works for them has this excellent set-up over at bts radio so be sure to check it out. amazing mix from dego waiting for you.
Hailing from Canada, signed to Strut Records, The Souljazz Orchestra have just released 'Rising Sun'. Full of raw grooves with Afro and Latin rhythms fused to create an astounding energy. If you've been watching and listening to all the buzz around fela's reissues on knitting factory records or the fela musical in NY then you'll be well into this release.
You know i'm well into anything that gets a review starting like this:
"What I love is when an artist takes awhile to for their musical story to begin, long drawn out introductions lure me in, just like anticipation of a movie starting and the credits seem to last forever. It takes almost three minutes for the Souljazz Orchestrao to finally kick things in gear, and when it does, you wish life would sound this great 24 hours a day." via okayplayer
here's a video for Agbara off the album.
check out the tour dates and do try to support as "The Souljazz Orchestra will be donating a portion of the proceeds generated by the "Rising Sun" album release tour directly to families affected by the earthquake, as well as to NGOs working on the Haiti relief effort."
also on Strut, check out the upcoming release 'Next Stop...Soweto'. I can't wait for that!
it was with great sadness when I heard that simon goss, co-founder of the amazing label Wah Wah 45s, had passed just months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. by all accounts he was truly a gent in the world of music. when attending the Worldwide Awards in London a few weeks back I got to meet Scrimshire (featured here) who is a part of the Wah Wah 45s family and we talked a bit about Simon, his family and his absolute love of music. he will be missed by those that knew and loved him as well as those that got to hear and appreciate great music as a result of all that he did.
As a testament to all that Simon did you can check out the Simon Says event on March 25th in the Jazz Cafe in London where you can go to hear an absolute stunning lineup of artists and support The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Check out the facebook page for more details and please, if in London, go along and support the night to honor Simon, his family, friends and the music he wished to share.
found out tonight that a friend of mine of way back was found dead this morning. we're not sure how yet. hadn't seen him in ages. great memories from years back when he was part of our posse that partied out in Dublin, dancing the nights away into the early mornings and growing up.
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.
back in July we featured greymmatter on our 'under the influence with...' series. we're back with him again as he prepares to release his album, mind over matter, with the album launched mid- Feb and the launch party on Feb 19th in London. You know I'd deffo be there if in London that weekend to support this launch. The line up is Greymatter (Unique Uncut), Alex Nut (Rinse FM / Eglo), Illum Sphere (Hoya:Hoya / Fat City) w/ Kev Luckhurst and Simon See.
This all happens at Life, 2-4 Old St, London EC1V 9AA / 9-2am / £3 concs / £5 door / £10 inc album.
We've already heard We Are One/ Watch This both produced with another past guest Domu who has since retired from music. Today I bring you Eu Fumo w/ Deize Tigrona. This is baile funk with a London twist. Massive tune to blow up the dancefloors.
Check the tune, find the album and be sure you don't forget the 9 exclusively digital remixes from the likes all-star line including Illum Sphere, Klic, TRG, and Karizma, and early supporters include Simbad, Jus Wan, Mr Lager, and Sinden.
Nice one Greymatter. Great to see 2010 kicking off so well and we look forward to continuing the support while enjoying the fruits of your labor.
much thanks to the wonderful mint collective for turning me onto this EP by The Shelltoes. Coming from Australia The Shelltoes are Glen Coates (now based in San Diego) and Kyla Sexton. This tune, Requiem, is off their latest EP, I Was Told There Would Be Refreshments. Requiem reminds me of some of the old Nightmares On Wax sounds from Carboot Soul with luscious vocals and warmth from the organ playing. Elsewhere on the EP is a great take on 'I Love You Porgy' and three other tunes.
What better way to introduce our latest guest for the 'under the influence with...' series than to have the man himself talk about his musical journey so far before singling out the tunes that are key influences over the sounds we hear from his edits, productions and dj sets. much thanks to Blackjoy for taking time out to share these stories.
enjoying listening and reading into the sounds of Blackjoy.
Born
in a small town, raised in a just a lil bigger one, I had no clue of
what "growing with the commercial radios" was. I was trained under the
influence of Bernard Lenoir on France Inter (french John Peel), and I
got the feeling music is my favorite part of life. Later I went into
Jazz, Soul, House, Techno, Rare Grooves and so on. I got my first radio
show on Radio Campus Dijon for which I was playin' the early french
touch bands as Alex Gopher, La Funk Mob, Daft Punk and Mighty Bop. My
studies and connections made a job possible at Yellow Productions in
1998 and I started djing around Europe and Canada... I took the
decision of touring less and went deep into making music. A mpc2000, 2
turntables and a zip disk...and here we are: I met the incredible
keyboard player François Faure, I knew Thomas Naïm from Tom & Joyce
from the Yellow years and this outstanding guitarist became one of my
closest friend... And last but not least Guillaume Farley, « the » bassman.
Is Blackjoy
a band? Yes and no. I'm the brain and I handle the science. I do drums,
some keys, arrangements, editing, producing but the instrumentalist
parts of the music couldn't exist without the team...
The
first EP, Untitled was released in 2002 and got heavy plays from
specialists and legends such as Kenny Dope, Phil Asher, Lil' Louis,
Kerri Chandler, Benji B, Dj Deep... Then I started to work on remixes
but the next big job came with the production of Moustache for Yellow
in 2005. Still doing remixes I was going deep into producing the first
album which I started to work on in 2001. The album was released in
France since October 1st 2007. First
single was a song from General Elektriks', who’s signed on Quannum.
Then the second single Metalbossa included the remixes from Phil
Asher's Restless Soul. The album is called TIME and contains 2 songs
from Shawn Lee, a Weather Report's cover and diverse blues and soul
atmospheres.
Now back behind the desks, I spin the Blackjoy
disco sounds and vibes around the globe with more pleasure than ever.
Several Edits and Remixes have been released (Blackjoy Edits
Vol.1&2, Blackjoy Versions) and a new Blackjoy record project is in
process, with featurings from Sandra Nkaké, De Tropix and Aqeel.
My name’s Jérôme Caron, hope you’ll like the sound of Blackjoy.
This
is my first time being scared by music images on TV. I was a kid when
the main shows broadcast the Thriller video. That's my most honest
memory about it. I didn't know anything about funky music, I was way
too young and my parents didn't have a big music background. My father
used to play some piano and guitar, he still does actually, but no big
record collection. A nice taste to music but... Back to Michael, I
maybe didn't know about the groove or the funkyness, I've been
listening to this album till he broke. For a long time Beat it was my
favorite, but now I'd say The lady in my life is maybe my diamond in
there. The ad lib is just insane.
Drumming
is something I can't do but this is anyway a passion. I love drums, I
can spend 2 days on a drum programming and John Bonham is responsible
for that obsession. Communication breakdown used to to make me jump
every on my bedroom when I was a kid. Of course the rest of the band
was amazing to me but the strengh Bonham had in his playing was
pure fascination to me.
English
music was my biggest influence until I got to my 20s. Manchester's
bands were very important and I was proud as hell to be able to go to
Manchester at 15. I actually discovered this Roses first album several
years after it's been released but Fool's Gold never went away, I
always kept that song somewhere. I love the idea that pop can be funky,
I mean this is a lazy melody on a funky drummer type of... somehow it's
insane but it works. Big tune.
Being
obsessed with England, I even went to Darlington for my holidays... in
the County of Durham. That's where Dirty from Sonic Youth became my
holiday friend. I was killing the tape I had the album on and Shoot had
a funky feeling that was always taking over the other songs. With few
more years I'd clearly say this album isn't my Sonic Youth favorite but
Shoot is my favorite groove from them.
Classic.
Unmissable. This tune painted part of my teenage years. The complete
Beatles post Rubber Soul made me what I am in term of harmony. But if
I'd pick one song that would be it. It's funny when you listen to
Caetano Veloso's cover of Billie Jean 'cause he's skipping at the end
to Eleonore Rigby, and you could think it's the same song..
The
music on this record has been more influential than the rapping but I
loved this record. Boombass beats killed me. Same as Bonham, Boombass
got me into drumming, fat sound. I just got the chance to spend 1 hour
with him to do an interview for my show on Redbull Music Academy Radio.
It was hard not to tell him how much his music has been important for
me. I still love what he does but Nouveau Western was a revolution in
my world. I wasn't into hip hop but this even gave me a certain
sensitivity to go to electronic beats too.
Herbie
is the man who made me found in love with jazz but I didn't know...
short story but! Check that. I was talking to guy who was a drummer in
a funk band to get tips 'cause I didn't know about funk. I had my pop
rock background when I arrived in University. This guy is telling me
about Herbie Hancock, how much funky stuff he did. So the day after I
run in a record store and I found that little boxset witht the 3 first
albums Herbie recorded. Came back home and discovered these jazz
record. At first I was kind of disappointed but Invention &
Dimension changed my life. Literraly. I even try not to listen to it
too much 'cause I can't do anything else than listening when this is on.
Best
house / techno / whatever album. When this came out, I chased it
because these guys were involved in the Mc Solaar sound I loved so
much. When I finally got it, oh my god. Zdar is maybe one of my
favorite sound engineer. Plus this urban sound disappeared a little bit
in the newer stuff people are trying to produce now, especially for
albums. There was no single in there but who cares? This hasn't been
played on the radio but who cares? Best dance music album.
Disco
in France is a bad word, a nasty style. Disco means pop dance here. So
when Dimitri from Paris got big I was not sure being very french
myself... but he gave a disco mixtape to a friend of mine and we
listened to it so much. The breakdown version changed my vision for the
style. Disco was cool and dark too. This tune will stay top 10. Huge
vibe.
I
could have had Here 'my dear' from Marvin Gaye on that selection but
somehow Voodoo is even bigger because it's more new. D'Angelo has lost
himself, sad, very sad. What I know is Voodoo influence but way of
doing music, of thinking groove, and once again this album has one
single but this was a tv single because of the video more than a radio
single. But who cares? Fuck radios. I love album, this is one great
album.
this week's show has a little bit of a twist. i've been spending a bit
of time lately wandering the virtual corridors and rooms of soundcloud,
taking in a massive amount of music. it really is an amazing way to
find new music, artists, producers, labels and like-minded fans. with a
half a million users (and growing) its an exciting way to discover and
be discovered. fair dues to the team behind it.
so, onto the show. track-listing and links to each of the tracks on soundcloud for you to download most of them. enjoy.
as ever, feedback welcome. cheers
p.s. this show, and the opinions expressed in it are in no way endorsed by the management of soundcloud.
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).
1974-2009 bday mix. consecutive years. me hope u like it.
under the influence with...domu
under the influence with...scrimshire
chaka demus & pliers: tease me
joe pass: a time for us
arthur russell: "Instrumentals" Volume 1
under the influence with...greymatter
edwin starr: get up whirlpool (extended version by pilooski)
sharpshooters.: japanese mathematics
soldiers of twilight - believe (new mastersounds remix)
marva whitney: i am what i am (parts 1 & 2)
the streets: the robots are taking over
poets of rhythm: more mess on my thing/ hypnotic brass ensemble: balicky bon/ major lazer: pon de floor/ motor city drum ensemble: raw cuts 2
smoove & turrell: you don't know
shoot out in dublin
muddy waters: the blues had a baby (and they named It rock N' roll)
ann sexton: i want to be loved
robbers on high street: cool it now
the clash: the magnificent seven
mor thiam: ayo ayo nene
benji hughes: all you've got to do is fall in love
mojo: let's get ugly/ fabulous souls: take me
major lazer @ sxsw
kid cudi: switchin' lanes
bearded babys ppp remix: on a cloud/ aphex twin: bbydhyonchord
j jabre & mc melodee: and you don't stop
admiral bailey: boom youth
tony devivo: percussion suite (osunlade yoruba peoples remix)
ann sexton: you've been gone too long
beastie boys: groove holmes
raphael saadiq: seven
marlboro dj: marlboro medley
reflection eternal: internet connection feat. bootsy collins
gary davis/greg wilson, hot 8 brass band/diesler
el remolon (w/ mc marina): vem que tem
five six media/king britt: cobbs creek ft. de la soul/ jazzy jeff
'joshie' jo armstead: you cut up the clothes
dj mujava/mark pritchard / casio social club
terry callier: i don't wanna see myself without you
diego bernal: for corners
soil and pimp sessions: fantastic planet
yila (feat. alistair mcneill and polarbear)/ audio bullys: i'm in love
junior boys/ jaydiohead/ oscar peterson (video)
mr. scruff: stockport carnival
the nite-liters: drumology
floating points remix: water get no enemy
the kickdrums: just a game
richard swift: lady luck
midnight express: danger zone
pursuit grooves: too much time
bersa discos: djpanik/ toy selectah
carrie cleveland: make love to me
simon resoul: night pack
tony orlando: don't let go
under the influence with...blackwax
jazzmutant
ok_ma: edits
best of '08
robert johnson: travelin' riverside blues
eartha kitt: c'est si bon
redux002: missy does a pill
kotchy: sing what you want (rusko skwee remix)/ javeline: flutey flakes/ drums of death: dodfucksupanescorttune/ escort: starlight (darshan jesrani parks dept. dub)
aqeel: wake up (feat. shafiq husayn of sa ra)
moses dillard: tribute to wes
chris flew: christmas on ward #7
the cool kids: black mags
nick chacona w/ anthony mansfield: oh snap! (greg wilson remix)
president brown: shake it up
ruby andrews: you made a believer out of me/ q-tip: won't trade
dam funk: galactic fun
amycanbe: 24 hours (yellowtail with bedford stuyvesant youth orchestra reedit)
beem: Ep9
little dragon: fortune
christine renee: mix
lady tigra: bass on the bottom (troublemaker remix)
mia: 'boyz' remix featuring jay-z
dj sandrinho: montagem percua (stream)
the bug (feat. warrior queen): poison dart (south rakkas crew mix)
sidot (feat. teba shumba): badder than/ andy h: kick kick
alton ellis: whipping the prince
lil' kim: lighters up
kraftwerk.dj mehdi.busy p
róisín murphy: you know me better (toddla t remix)
pulp: sorted for e's & wizz'
freddy fresh: give you love
el remolon: mxtape pibe cosmo
nigo: freediving
evan dando w/ juliana hatfield: drug buddy
little jinder: polyhedron
handsome boy modeling school feat. sean lennon, money mark & father guido sarducci: sunshine
hot 8 brass band/ hot chip: sexual healing
thedeathset: impossible (dan deacon remix)
dan black: hypntz
fiona apple: i know
blue boy: remember me
air: ce matin la
vulcans: star trek
soundcheck: live show
roots manuva: buff nuff (video)
gene autry: can't shake the sands of texas from my shoes
jamie lidell: figured me out (floorman extended edit)
Although this is a method of sharing files it is not my intention to disrupt the flow of commerce between consumers and musicians.
This blog is a way for me to share some of the great music that I come across (legally 99% of the time) so that others can get a sample in order to support the artists by purchasing music or going to a show.
If some of the music posted here is yours please email me at cubikmusik@gmail.com with a request to remove and I will gladly do so.
Thanks and I hope you enjoy cubikmusik.
cheers
cubik
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