Very busy sorting out my monster set for New Years Eve at PA, some amazing remixes, some brilliant originals and no setlist; fully expecting to smash this one.
Quickly however, I'd like to point you to this incredible remix of one of my favourite Daft Punk tracks.
Certain tracks are difficult to touch, every now and then a song is simply so perfect in it's composition that it needn't be changed. At all.
Something About Us was one of those tracks until I stumbled across this remix a few months back. You may remember me posting Twin Sister performing this brilliant track way back at the beginning of the year.
However, this version blows that out of the water. Sit back, enjoy and may your 2011 be a happy, prosperous and stable one, to anyone that reads this.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Christmas TV
Christmas leaves me feeling extremely melancholy; it is a reflective time of year to process what has occurred and been learnt in the previous 365 days and what can be built upon in the next. Though I'm becoming increasingly impulsive, often to my detriment, I still enjoy those quiet moments alone to collect my thoughts and take stock of what has occurred.
Christmas for me personally is a brilliantly romantic time of year, the joy of an almost universal holiday period is palpable and the particularly wintry weather this year has lead to quieter trains, picturesque city scenes and an altogether Christmassy atmosphere. I also think I benefit from my birthday being so close to Christmas as while others are excited and then sick of Christmas by the beginning of December, I am yet to even think about Christmas and so the two weeks in between are still exciting and almost magical.
Anyway, in my low-key family Christmas, music plays a fairly small part. I will spend some money on music, I will be gifted some by others. The song that soundtracked my slightly upsetting Christmas last year is the brilliant Christmas TV by Slow Club and though I've listened to that album incessantly over the last 18 months, Christmas TV still takes me back to cold lonely nights in my old flat when the intensity of the song really struck me.
Now, if you haven't heard the song, please don't expect a ballad or choirs of school kids; this is a straight up boy/girl/guitar song that happens to talk about Christmas. It's also miles better than any of the Christmas songs you'll hear this winter.
Have a great Christmas people, thank you for all your encouraging words this year, all your supportive messages when times were tough and for making this year the most popular year I've ever had on this blog.
Say Hi to your mother for me.
Christmas for me personally is a brilliantly romantic time of year, the joy of an almost universal holiday period is palpable and the particularly wintry weather this year has lead to quieter trains, picturesque city scenes and an altogether Christmassy atmosphere. I also think I benefit from my birthday being so close to Christmas as while others are excited and then sick of Christmas by the beginning of December, I am yet to even think about Christmas and so the two weeks in between are still exciting and almost magical.
Anyway, in my low-key family Christmas, music plays a fairly small part. I will spend some money on music, I will be gifted some by others. The song that soundtracked my slightly upsetting Christmas last year is the brilliant Christmas TV by Slow Club and though I've listened to that album incessantly over the last 18 months, Christmas TV still takes me back to cold lonely nights in my old flat when the intensity of the song really struck me.
Now, if you haven't heard the song, please don't expect a ballad or choirs of school kids; this is a straight up boy/girl/guitar song that happens to talk about Christmas. It's also miles better than any of the Christmas songs you'll hear this winter.
Have a great Christmas people, thank you for all your encouraging words this year, all your supportive messages when times were tough and for making this year the most popular year I've ever had on this blog.
Say Hi to your mother for me.
Monday, 20 December 2010
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Hotflush takeover 1Xtra
Only 3 days left to listen to the Fantastic scuba take over 1Xtra for 3 hours and talk all things HotFlush/Bass Music/Dubstep/Electronica/You know what I mean.
Among other things, also features an brilliantly vibrant set by George Fitzgerald and very few 1Xtra tags
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/wy78m/
Among other things, also features an brilliantly vibrant set by George Fitzgerald and very few 1Xtra tags
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/wy78m/
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Friday, 10 December 2010
Friday Eargasm - Nujabes
Hip hop rarely makes it onto my iPod and when it does, it tends to be fairly obvious stuff. Anyone that knows me knows of my love for all things Beastie but I prefer my Hip Hop on the more chilled out side probably due to my minor addiction to Prefuse 73 during university.
One such artist is Japanese hip hop producer Nujabes who mixes Jazz, Disco and Big Band with Hip Hop to create songs with swing instead of swagger. This is no more obvious than in today's choice Thank You.
Modal Soul was Nujabes final release back in 2005 before he was tragically killed earlier in 2010 in a car crash. An artist that shied away from interviews, live appearances or any kind of general public attention, his reputation quickly grew from the underground Japanese Hip Hop scene into the more diverse world as his work became imported and spread over the internet.
Thank You is the perfect encapsulation of everything Nujabes strived for. Beginning with big brass stabs and double tracked drums, the track is purposeful without the typical Hip Hop aggression. Lyrics are provided by New York MC Apani B who talks of her gratitude at the opportunity to travel to Japan and do what she loves with Nujabes. Rarely in Hip Hop is there a genuine appreciation of the life stars lead but Apani B's honest and almost conversational style of rapping leaves you with a sense of genuine thanks. As expected, the production is smooth with reed organs and luscious strings forming a glisteny and sumptious canvas for Apani B's lyrics.
If you're not a Hip Hop fan, I think there'l be something in this song that you'll love; be it Nujabes wonderful compostion, the bold jazzy sounds or the touching lyrics, he will undoubtedly continue to be missed.
One such artist is Japanese hip hop producer Nujabes who mixes Jazz, Disco and Big Band with Hip Hop to create songs with swing instead of swagger. This is no more obvious than in today's choice Thank You.
Modal Soul was Nujabes final release back in 2005 before he was tragically killed earlier in 2010 in a car crash. An artist that shied away from interviews, live appearances or any kind of general public attention, his reputation quickly grew from the underground Japanese Hip Hop scene into the more diverse world as his work became imported and spread over the internet.
Thank You is the perfect encapsulation of everything Nujabes strived for. Beginning with big brass stabs and double tracked drums, the track is purposeful without the typical Hip Hop aggression. Lyrics are provided by New York MC Apani B who talks of her gratitude at the opportunity to travel to Japan and do what she loves with Nujabes. Rarely in Hip Hop is there a genuine appreciation of the life stars lead but Apani B's honest and almost conversational style of rapping leaves you with a sense of genuine thanks. As expected, the production is smooth with reed organs and luscious strings forming a glisteny and sumptious canvas for Apani B's lyrics.
If you're not a Hip Hop fan, I think there'l be something in this song that you'll love; be it Nujabes wonderful compostion, the bold jazzy sounds or the touching lyrics, he will undoubtedly continue to be missed.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Monday, 6 December 2010
2010: A Review
I will aim to keep this a musical review, I have no need or desire to regurgitate what a journey 2010 has been.
A quick statement though. There are people that read this who I have mistreated this year, for that I'm sorry. There are people that read this who have mistreated me, I apologise for my not always adult reaction. Most importantly, there are people that read this who are my friends and have helped me through a difficult year. My life has been pretty cushty so far but this has been one of the more difficult periods.
You mean more to me than this blog, the music I write about or my little black rectangle that contains all that music and fits in my pocket.
Thanks for everything.
2010 started off with a musical bang back in January (the traditional time to start a year) as I was struggling at the end of 2009 to summarise the previous decade's worth of output and eventually came to no conclusions. 2010 allows me to look back at just one year's worth of musical output yet I find myself as indecisive as I was this time last year.
You can't see my screen as I type this but below is a list of the albums that I've enjoyed this year, currently standing at 20. I know that I've forgotten albums. 20 is hardly a concise list either so I'll make it clear now that 2010 does not have one defining album. It certainly has 2 or 3 albums that were heads and shoulders above but just 1? Not in my world anyway.
2010 has been an excellently productive year for new music with many large acts releasing big albums to critical acclaim, as was to be expected after the relative dearth of 2009. We had hyped returns from New York Afro-punk's Vampire weekend and Bristol Trip-Hop pioneers Massive Attack star-studded affair amid exciting new albums from Delphic, Mount Kimbie and Warpaint to name but a few.
I'm almost unaware of how my age is affecting my music tastes though I'm sure it is. My days of more visceral guitar bands are dwindling, instead replaced by music that takes a conscious effort to listen to & that challenges on each listen. Mount Kimbie provided an excellent follow on from the sublime Maybes in their LP Crooks & Lovers, a delicately put together record with density in sound and ideas proving that Electronica really is the genre that is most forward-thinking for the moment.
However, brilliant guitar albums from Foals, Warpaint and The Tallest Man On Earth have shown that guitar music can still be relevant and interesting and this diversity is important and worth celebrating. We truly are spoiled for varied and exciting music, especially as bands such as Kings of Leon get washed away in a wave of banality.
2010 ultimately has ultimately been an enjoyable year for music. My top 10 is in no conscious order, this does not mean however that there is no order at all. It is more a way of me avoiding having to choose one record over another. I have also chosen to only mention album's released in 2010. If I were to include two albums of other years, my top 2 albums of this year would read 1) Burial - Untrue and 2) worriedaboutsatan - Arrivals.
It should also be mentioned that 2010 marked the loss of my favourite ever DJ, Mary Anne-Hobbs, from our airwaves. Though her stirling work continues, her show already is and will continue to be sorely missed.
Anyway, here goes. My 10 favourite records released in 2010. Perhaps at the end of 2011 I'll look back at this list and laugh, perhaps I'll still be listening to all of these albums. I hope it is the latter.
1) Four Tet - There Is Love In You Spotify Play.com
2) Bonobo - Black Sands Spotify Play.com
3) Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers Soundcloud Play.com
4) Warpaint - The Fool Spotify Play.com
5) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening Spotify Play.com
6) Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here Spotify Play.com
7) Ikonika - Contact, Love, Want, Have Spotify Play.com
8) Vampire Weekend - Contra Spotify Play.com
9) Foals - Total Life Forever Spotify Play.com
10) Actress - Splazsh Spotify Play.com
A quick statement though. There are people that read this who I have mistreated this year, for that I'm sorry. There are people that read this who have mistreated me, I apologise for my not always adult reaction. Most importantly, there are people that read this who are my friends and have helped me through a difficult year. My life has been pretty cushty so far but this has been one of the more difficult periods.
You mean more to me than this blog, the music I write about or my little black rectangle that contains all that music and fits in my pocket.
Thanks for everything.
2010 started off with a musical bang back in January (the traditional time to start a year) as I was struggling at the end of 2009 to summarise the previous decade's worth of output and eventually came to no conclusions. 2010 allows me to look back at just one year's worth of musical output yet I find myself as indecisive as I was this time last year.
You can't see my screen as I type this but below is a list of the albums that I've enjoyed this year, currently standing at 20. I know that I've forgotten albums. 20 is hardly a concise list either so I'll make it clear now that 2010 does not have one defining album. It certainly has 2 or 3 albums that were heads and shoulders above but just 1? Not in my world anyway.
2010 has been an excellently productive year for new music with many large acts releasing big albums to critical acclaim, as was to be expected after the relative dearth of 2009. We had hyped returns from New York Afro-punk's Vampire weekend and Bristol Trip-Hop pioneers Massive Attack star-studded affair amid exciting new albums from Delphic, Mount Kimbie and Warpaint to name but a few.
I'm almost unaware of how my age is affecting my music tastes though I'm sure it is. My days of more visceral guitar bands are dwindling, instead replaced by music that takes a conscious effort to listen to & that challenges on each listen. Mount Kimbie provided an excellent follow on from the sublime Maybes in their LP Crooks & Lovers, a delicately put together record with density in sound and ideas proving that Electronica really is the genre that is most forward-thinking for the moment.
However, brilliant guitar albums from Foals, Warpaint and The Tallest Man On Earth have shown that guitar music can still be relevant and interesting and this diversity is important and worth celebrating. We truly are spoiled for varied and exciting music, especially as bands such as Kings of Leon get washed away in a wave of banality.
2010 ultimately has ultimately been an enjoyable year for music. My top 10 is in no conscious order, this does not mean however that there is no order at all. It is more a way of me avoiding having to choose one record over another. I have also chosen to only mention album's released in 2010. If I were to include two albums of other years, my top 2 albums of this year would read 1) Burial - Untrue and 2) worriedaboutsatan - Arrivals.
It should also be mentioned that 2010 marked the loss of my favourite ever DJ, Mary Anne-Hobbs, from our airwaves. Though her stirling work continues, her show already is and will continue to be sorely missed.
Anyway, here goes. My 10 favourite records released in 2010. Perhaps at the end of 2011 I'll look back at this list and laugh, perhaps I'll still be listening to all of these albums. I hope it is the latter.
1) Four Tet - There Is Love In You Spotify Play.com
2) Bonobo - Black Sands Spotify Play.com
3) Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers Soundcloud Play.com
4) Warpaint - The Fool Spotify Play.com
5) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening Spotify Play.com
6) Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here Spotify Play.com
7) Ikonika - Contact, Love, Want, Have Spotify Play.com
8) Vampire Weekend - Contra Spotify Play.com
9) Foals - Total Life Forever Spotify Play.com
10) Actress - Splazsh Spotify Play.com
Friday, 3 December 2010
Friday Eargasm - Big Poppa E
Something a little different this week, to look cultured and stuff yeah? I'm not just about the choons, you get me?
Big Poppa E is a Californian slam poet, National Poetry Slam Champion, campaigner for Amnesty International and Men Against Violence and all around interesting and funny guy.
I'm terrible at describing poets/poetry (my music description's aren't too hot either) so I'm going to let Big Poppa do the talking.
However, if you like what you hear, there are two albums of him performing available on Spotify, here and here.
I highly recommend them both.
Big Poppa E is a Californian slam poet, National Poetry Slam Champion, campaigner for Amnesty International and Men Against Violence and all around interesting and funny guy.
I'm terrible at describing poets/poetry (my music description's aren't too hot either) so I'm going to let Big Poppa do the talking.
However, if you like what you hear, there are two albums of him performing available on Spotify, here and here.
I highly recommend them both.
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