Friday 9 August 2013

SLL Oz Listening : Jan-Aug 2013 (Spotify Playlist)


Using a rather sexy lil' app called Unify, I've managed to collate a lot of the stuff I've been listening to in Oz into one bumper Spotify playlist, for your aural pleasure.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend peeps!




Album Review : Get Lost IV mixed by T.E.E.D. (out now on Crosstown Rebels)


Check out this wicked vid from Damian Lazarus' Crosstown Rebels label. The latest edition of Rebel Rave follows Orlando Higginbottom - better know as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - on his hectic gig schedule in the US, whilst promoting his latest edition to the 'Get Lost' compilation series.



In true T.E.E.D. style, the mix is a truely eclectic selection spanning future beats, cheeky techno delights and epic deep house thumpers, including Orlando's collab with Eats Everything, as featured on last month's Soulful Eivissa 2013 Mix. Expect big names such as Underground Resistance, Trus'me, Breach, LFO and Âme.

And thanks to the wonders of the interwobbles, you can take a listen to the whole comp via Spotify.



If you like what you hear, you can grab the whole album in DJ-friendly, unmixed format via Juno Download here | crosstownrebels.com

** UPDATE - FREE CROSSTOWN REBELS DOWNLOAD **


Crosstown Rebels is giving Damian Lazarus and Mathew Jonson's 'Going To The Desert' away for free, all in exchange for a like on their Facebook Page.

Cashback!


FREE MUSIC FRIDAY #FMF - 9th August 2013


There's been a bumper crop of great free releases this week. Here's my pick. Go download!

HAPPY FRIDAY! #FMF





1. Lost Midas - Love Undone (feat. Taylor O'Donnell) (Tru Thoughts)







2. Superhumanoids - Bad Weather (Tropics Remix) (Innovative Leisure)








3. Tremor - Huella (Frikstailers Rmx) (WONDERWHEEL Recordings)







4. Positive Flow - Sunflower ft Donna Gardier (Native Source)







5. Carlos Rodriguez - Summer In Brazil (Extended Mix 2001)               (Soulplate Records)







6. Drake - Hold On We're Going Home (Ron Allen Deep House Remix) (White)







7. Alex Agore - Alex Agore EP (Kolour Recordings)













8. Volta Cab - Jamelia (Voyeurhythm)







9. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat (Aaron Snapes Rework) (White)







10. Pig&Dan - Breadrin Beats (Soma)





Thursday 8 August 2013

Nu Soul Review : Starship Connection / K-Maxx - A Taste Of Tempo Dreams Vol. 2 (Bastard Jazz)





The Vibe


Bastard Jazz have unleashed yet another modern classic this week, a dirty electro boogie package from San Fran's B.Bravo and Teeko as Starship Connection. And the second track - featuring vocals from K-Maxx - are as 80s RnB as their alter ego suggests.

Both tracks offer-up a slice of timeless lo-fi, key driven, guitar led electronic funk with throbbing bass rhythms. As a teaser for the full length 'Tempo Dreams' compilation, you'd have to be made of stone not to be excited by the prospect of the EP.

Sounds like


Mark Farina's Mushroom Jazz meets Tokyo Dawn. Now there's an idea...

Serving suggestion


One for the lovers. Best enjoyed at the back of the room, cosying up with the most gorgeous guy or gal in the room. Hearts will melt to this. It might as well be classed an aphrodisiac.

Did you know?


B.Bravo's studio setup consists of an MPC 2000XL for drums, Arp Odyssey, Juno 60, JP 8000, DX-7, Motif rack and MicroKorg. (via this great interview in The Quietus)

'A Taste of Tempo Dreams Vol. 2' is out now on Bastard Jazz via Juno Download | bastardjazz.com

World Review : Da Lata - Um Amor A Mais feat. Luisa Maita (forthcoming on Agogo Records)




The vibe


South America meets the Middle East via the 1950s on this incredible full-flavoured afrofunk groove, topped by the sultry vocals talents of Brazil's Luisa Maita. Difficult to believe the Da Lata outfit hail from good ol' London...

Sounds like


A naughty Caipirinha-fuelled beach party on a moonlit São Paulo beach.

Serving suggestion


The perfect soundtrack to any bright day by the ocean, be it Brazil or Bognor.

Did you know?


Cuts like this are termed 'organic electro skank'. Now there's a new one...

'Um Amor A Mais' is out on 19th August via Agogo Records and you can pre-order from Juno Download here | agogo-records.com

Thursday Throwback : In Honour of George Duke (1946-2013)


It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of legendary keyboardist, composer, singer and producer George Duke this week, aged just 67.

From the 60s right up until this year, Duke had been one of the foremost pioneers within the jazz and mainstream scenes, releasing over 30 solo albums during his illustrious musical career. George was also famed for collaborations with countless music legends and session musicians including Frank Zappa, Miles Davis and Michael Jackson.

So in honour of all the wonderful music George bought to us, I thought it was only fitting to dedicate this week's Thursday Throwback to three of my favourite Duke tracks.

So sad to have had another legend taken from us at such a young age, but safe to say George Duke's incredible music will endure forever.

RIP George Duke. January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013.

1.George Duke - Dukey Stick Live in the Studio with Sheila E (Epic/CBS, 1978)




2. George Duke - Diamonds (Columbia Jazz, 1977)




3. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (Epic, 1979)





Wednesday 7 August 2013

Deep House Review : Tomson - Waiting EP (forthcoming on Illusion Recordings)




The vibe


This latest four-tracker from the Northern boys at Illusion Recordings is serious, driving, old skool deep house business. 'Waiting' features a killer, uplifting synth hook which'll have you rocking the floor into the early hours, with 'Washerman's Deep Chord Remix' tightening the beats even more with some classic Detroit-esque rhythms.

There's more of the same on 'The Drug Dealer & The Bookmaker', with one massive exception - an acid bassline that would make Josh Wink blush. Finally the EP rounds-out with John Dimas on remix duty who offers-up a funky techno take on the original.

Check out 'The Drug Dealer...' on the first edition of the SLL Nouse Mix series here.

Sounds like


...Stimming in the earlier days, or anything from any of the MoTown house heavyweights.

Serving suggestion


Best taken in the wee small hours, preferably as you hit your second or third wind.

Did you know?


Tomson and label co-boss Tom Craven lived down the road from each other in Manchester, only realising when Tomson sent his demo over to Illusion. Check out the interview with the label's head honchos on Australia's Pulse Radio here.

The 'Waiting EP' is out soon on Illusion Recordings | illusionrecordings.com

Label Profile : Rhemi Music



Over the last few months I've been introduced to some great new labels through the various music PR peeps I keep in contact with.

One of the standout new labels I've been introduced to comes in the shape of Rhemi Music, the brainchild of UK house legend and Soul Heaven A&R man Neil Pierce and Ziggy Funk, who has also had a string of successful releases through labels such as DJ Spen's Quantize Recordings. The two met following an introduction by Sy Smith and after a few subsequent studio sessions it became clear the two had a great musical connection.

Neil Pierce

They began releasing joint projects under their Rhemi guise, collaborating with soulstress Kele Le Roc on their first single 'Friends', going on to release a further two successful singles on 'Warning' and 'Call On Me'. Remix work quickly followed, with the team having already produced remixes for DJ Spen, Marlon D and Booker T to name but a few. And all this from a collaboration only formed in April this year!

Ziggy Funk

The Rhemi sound is timeless, classic house music with exceptional production values across all their output. Joining the dots between vocal, soulful, deep, disco house and US garage, the ethos behind the label was Pierce and Funk's desire to release great house music, without compromise, free from the preconceptions created by pigeon-holing music into infinite genres and sub-genres. Here, quality is the only prerequisite, with that philosophy playing out on very first listen.

The future is looking great for this young production team and label with a host of remix work and original material in the pipeline. Particularly, look out for new releases featuring the vocal talents of Lynn Lockamy and Nicole Mitchell, and that's just for starters. In an age of abundant, mediocre house music, it's great to see a label staying true. Check out the Soundcloud set I've put together of all Rhemi's releases to date: http://snd.sc/1cuHHuE

In the meantime, have a listen to their latest release, Rhemi's 'Bang For Your Buck EP'. And if you fancy hearing it in the mix, I've included 'Just A Feeling' on the first Nouse Mix I put out this week.



As ever - enjoy, and please support this fantastic new outfit.

facebook.com/Rhemiofficial
twitter.com/rhemimusic
soundcloud.com/rhemimusic
youtube.com/RhemiMusic


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