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A big thanks for those of you who have visited this blog on a regular basis and enjoyed the tunes, but being a father of three kids under four is taking it's toll on me from a time consumption perspective. So rather than contribute half assed posts, i will end it here. Peace.
MP3
Final Frontier(Instrumental) - RJD2
http://download.yousendit.com/0795187944C58B3D
As world leaders converge on Sydney's doorstep for the APEC summit, and decide best how to completely fuck up this earth a little a less, without infringing on their own trade and wealth, i thought i would visit a few protest songs from the past and present. Sydney itself has been essentially shut down to accommodate the likes of George W. Here's hoping the protesters can cause some quality civil unrest.
I am excluding the Public Enemy referenced title, as i had that CD pinched off me quite some years ago now.
MP3's
Big Man - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
http://download.yousendit.com/45CE098A12514830
War - Edwin Starr(King Britt Remix)
http://download.yousendit.com/4E63BC5A7FF7D339
The Needles Eye - Gil Scott Heron
http://download.yousendit.com/10DF69056081F409
Backlash Blues - Nina Simone
http://download.yousendit.com/06952268426FE741
Murderer Style (Vocal Mix) - Ashley Beedle
http://download.yousendit.com/16BFA9953727D114
Alice Russell is probably best known for her work done on the Tru Thoughts label, and in particular with Quantic. This Brighton soul singer is a very busy girl indeed and seems to pop up all over the place on various collaborations, as well as releasing her own solo albums. Here is a sample of some of her work done outside the obvious.
I have been battling the flu all this week, so i thought i would post a fave tracks that you can lay around and be happily sick to.
I haven't posted any funk for a while, so i thought i would give you a couple of tracks off a compilation released last year called "Fallin' Off The Reel". Enjoy.
Andy Rantzen was once one half of Sydney electronic outfit Boo Boo & Mace(formerly Itch-E & Scratch-E), the other half being Paul Mac(Paul McDermott). Paul, since the parting of their outfit, has had a successful transition into the commercial music scene here in Australia, and has most recently worked with Daniel Johns, forming The Dissosciatives, and then working on Silverchairs latest offering.
I have been struggling for time to post over the last few days, but here is a couple of disco tunes off a double CD release(1 mixed, 1 unmixed) called "Kenny Dope Vs. P&P Records". Obviously compiled and presented by the master Kenny Dope, it is filled with some quality disco cuts.
Do you ever get a song that just continually gets played when you have your MP3 player on shuffle, whilst others are neglected? I have one such song that has been red hot lately, fortunately i love it.
The funky Dutchmen that are Kraak & Smaak, have just released a double CD called "The Remix Sessions", and as the title suggests, an album of remixes filled with the Kraak & Smaak funky breakbeat sound stamped over them. I have picked out a couple of the lesser known artists for you to hear, including Australia's own Resin Dogs. I am a big fan of these guys, so enjoy these, and check out the album.
Here is a couple of cuts off the I:Cube album Picnic Attack(1997). An interesting listen from an artist around the start of the whole French filtered house scene blowing up with the success of Daft Punk's Homework, released for the second time the same year. One of the tracks in this post(Disco Cubizm), reminds me a lot of the Cassius track "Feeling For You", which was certainly a big success here in Australia.
Just a quick post of the classic Cymande track, "Brothers On The Slide", and a couple of housey remixes of the funky tune.
MP3's
Brothers On The Slide(Original) - Cymande
http://download.yousendit.com/0C321EA5571B4BFF
Brothers On The Slide(Brooklyn Mix) - Patchworks Ginger Express
http://download.yousendit.com/9966698566BE54D5
Bros On The Slide - Joey Polpette
http://download.yousendit.com/4407BBFD3FCCD3F8
When i first started purchasing music, i really had no idea about record labels and the role the played, especially in the underground music market. One of the first labels that i really got into was the now defunct label Nuphonic. I especially enjoyed their compilation series, of which i have a few of, so here are five of my favourite moments from Nuphonic.
I am a big fan of the work that the Glaswegian boys do over on the Ooft Music blog. And if you head over there at the moment they have a retrospective of some of their favourite edits they have posted this year, so if you haven't already, check them out.
There is something i have always found mesmerising about the piano. Out of all the instruments, it is the one that probably speaks to me the most, and that my ear tunes into above all other sounds when it is played on a track. So, here are three of my favourite songs, just a singer and their piano.
I must admit, i had not heard of keyboardist Carlos Franzetti until stumbling across this reissue of this apparently once rare 1977 (i did find one source that stated 1970, but most say 1977) release "Grafitti". Upon further digging, you find this Argentinian born musician has a long list of impressive credits listed here. This album has a fusion of 70's jazz, funk, disco and latin, and on the whole, is a pretty good listen.
MP3's
Cocoa Funk
http://download.yousendit.com/23F4FF7A038EC1D9
Lady Soho
http://download.yousendit.com/A9516A2D2A569BF6
Just a quick post on a nice disco reissue from a while back called "Take Me I'm Yours" by Mary Clark, originally released in 1980 on La Shawn Records.
Kindrid Spirits have released "Witness Future Vintage Vol .2", full of many different soul/hip-hop/jazz/funk sounds coming from different artists off their fantastic label. Here are a couple of the funk tracks on the compilation, which includes another outstanding Nomo tune, and one from Chico Mann, whose album i have since bought but have not yet had a good listen.
If you are familiar with the label Sonar Kollective, then you no doubt would have seen or heard of Outlines. With a couple of quality 12" releases and subsequently turning up on few compilations, the wait for their first full length album "Our Lives Are Too Short" has finally arrived, and it doesn't disappoint. Here is a couple of their previously unreleased cuts.
I picked up a nice compilation by the name of Uptown Soul, Downtown Funk(2007) off Emusic last week, and i think it should probably be renamed to Downtown Disco, as most of the tracks are are kind of low key soul disco numbers. I haven't actually heard of most of the artists, but there is some pretty good stuff on there, here are a couple of my favourites.
A couple of tracks off an album they came out last year on Altered Vibes. Gum Drop is the project of London producer Rob Scott, with help from a few other vocalists and musicians.
This album and band isn't so new anymore, as they dropped mid last year. But, as i am on a bit of a funk rampage at the moment, i had to post a couple of tracks from afro funk ensemble Nomo. Not just your straight up deep funk like some of the other stuff i have posted, but if you like your funk a bit more cosmic and worldly, check these guys out.
DJ Jazzy Jeff has a new EP called "The Return Of Hip Hop", out on Rapster Records. On it, he teams up with legend Biz Markie to rehash a familiar chorus.
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While i am on a funkin' roll, i thought i would go to the Godfather, and post a couple of tracks off a CD that was released a few months ago, but was just ripped to Emusic this week. James Brown's "Family Affair". Here is a bit about the CD.
I have a couple of funky cuts for you out of a label called Social Beats. The compilation i have taken them off is called "Socialized FunkBeats", released earlier this year.
In case any of you are either late comers to Quantic(Will Holland), or you have never checked out any of his music, i thought i would give you a couple of tracks of his 2002 album Apricot Morning on Tru Thoughts.
Another embarrassing loss to Iraq last night in the Asian Cup should spell the end of coach Graham Arnold short reign as the Socceroos coach. Let the campaign to get back Guus Hiddink begin!
On a musical note, i posted a track of Andre Zimma's The Turbulence EP a while back, but the track i really like off the release is M.U.S.I.C. (mp3)
Also, here is a little quirky disco number courtesy of Mr.Chin off Rong Music.
Meeceeko From Japan.(mp3)
When i started this blog a couple of months ago, i decided that i was going to have a certain structure to it, and i created my regular weekly post like Gearin'up and Loungin'. However, due now being a father of three kids under the age of 4, on top of a full time job, i need a way to keep this blog rolling along without it consuming too much of what little time i have. Therefore, i am going to take a more random approach to my blogging. I am sure none of you who visit could care less, as you are here for some good tunes after all. Needless to say, whatever i post, i deem to be quality. And, don't be a freeloader and go out and buy some good music, preferably not from any of the large chains of music stores(use my links). Cheers.
The pictures are in reference to former Australian Labour Prime Minister Paul Keating, comparing current Prime Minister John Howard to Adolf Hitler. Love your work Paul!!!
I was listening to a Brothers Johnson CD the other day when a cover of the Lennon/McCartney penned Beatles tune "Come Together" from Abbey Road(1969), bounced into my headphones. So i thought i would do a bit of searching and find out if anyone else has done a cover of this track, and i found quite a few versions in the Emusic catalogues. I won't post the original, as you would probably all be pretty familiar with it. However, along with The Brothers Johnson, i have an Ike and Tina Turner take which turns up on a couple of their greatest hits. And the other is a live version by a guy out of Boston called Bobby Bell, which is a nice funky cover of the original.
It was not necessarily done by plan that after featuring Jimi Tenor last week that i should now be doing the same to his wife Nicole Willis. However, i had heard a little bit of hype surrounding Willis over a year ago, but never really followed it up until a couple of months ago when i stumbled across Nicole Willis's CD "Soul Makeover"(2000), at a market. I had a couple of listens to it, really couldn't get into it, and forgot about her. But when Emusic released Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigator's "Keep Reachin 'Up"(2005), a couple of weeks ago, i thought i would give her another listen. I am glad i did.
Have been buying an increasing number of mixes from an artist known as Llorca. He, along with fellow Parisian David Duriez are responsible for the Brique Rouge label, and have been banging around since the mid-90's french hous explosion. You'll find some of his earlier stuff on Laurent Garnier's F-Comm label (which gives him instant cred in my book). His latest mixes of artists like Art of Tones and Snax have been on heavy rotation. I thought I'd give you a taste of his take on 20:20 Soundsystem's track "High" which he twists into a cool disco-chugger.
http://www.yousendit.com/download/OGhmeW41MGtwM2swTVE9PQ
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This week on Gearin'up i have a quality tune for you by a french producer named Erik Rug called "Tribute". The title is alluding to a tribute to the old school hip-hop pioneers of the late 70's, early 80's in this disco mix, under some throwback rhyming done by Dynamax of The Zulu Nation.
Brisbane band Regurgitator have forged quite a career and following here in Australia. With their ability to cross over between many genres including rock, punk, hip-hop, pop and funk, they managed to maintain quite a good and varied standard of releases from Tu-Plang(1996) through to Mish Mash(2004). Although much of their music is not what i would post here on Give Me Aural, there is one particular track which is not only my favourite from Regurgitator, but one of my favourites of all time.
I have selected a couple of tracks from Jimi Tenor's Intervision(1997) for Loungin' this week. Released on Warp Records, i used to love throwing this CD on at the end of a weekend to chillout to, with its cruisy jazzed out vibe. I didn't dig every song on the album, but a couple always found themselves on my chillout compilations i would put together.
I have also added a bonus track from an album he did with West African afro-funksters Kabu Kabu, Joystone(2007) on Ubiquity Records. I have only listened to this album a couple of times, but "Ariane" immediately jumps out at me. Kind of mellow start to it, but
This edition of Cover Me, centres around the wonderful Stevie Wonder song "Superwoman(Where Were You When I Needed You)", off one of my favourite albums, Music Of My Mind(1972).
Gearin'up this week features The Rhythm Slaves. Strictly a producer, one time Londoner Richard Gow, fused his love for both house and jazz to start releasing under the moniker of The Rhythm Slaves back in 2001. You can check out a bio and most of his work on soussol records.
Here is some new stuff that have glanced my ears lately.
We here in Australia like to claim talented New Zealanders as our own, and Melbourne based Lanu(aka Lance Ferguson), is definitely one of the most talented and hard working musicians doing his thing at the moment.
I have a bit of blue eyed soul for you this week with Loungin'. Benny Sings drops his third full length release (Benny....At Home 2007), on a fave label of mine, Sonar Kollektiv. Although on my radar, i never got around to purchasing his other two LPs(Champagne People 2004, I Love You 2005), but after a couple of quick listens to this album i may have to do a bit of back cataloguing.
My posts may be a bit light on over the coming days as my wife has just given birth to our third child. Young Miles was born naturally around 4am this morning after a quick labour, and he and mother and doing fine.
This week Gearin'up features west coast cat Capitol A (aka Antoine Green). His name may or may not be familiar to you, but quite possibly you may have heard him lend his MC skills to some of the biggest artists and producers, particularly in the nu-jazz/hip-hop scene. He has collaborated with the likes of Jazzanova, Jazzy Jeff and King Britt to name a few.
This edition of "Cover Me" features a reworking of a George McRae classic "I Get Lifted". The cover comes off a six track Ep i have been diggin' by funk outfit Orgone, on Ubiquity Records. Described as cosmic funk, their version sounds like it could come straight off a Brand New Heavies album, but is probably a little uncool to call it acid jazz.
I haven't really posted much in the way of brokenbeat stuff on this blog yet, so i will hook you up with a couple of new tracks that have come my way recently.
I was originally going to have this as a bit of a regular chillout/after the weekend post as an alternative to my Gearin'up posts. But after the Darondo post i did, i never really followed it up like i had intended.
