Mash-up of the Day: 'Shadow The Jewels' (DJ Shadow vs Run The Jewels) by DJ Skarface

DJ Shadow and Run The Jewels are two of my favourite acts in the world. So what could be better than a mash-up of 'Endtroducing', a snatch or two of 'The Private Press' and 'RTJ1'? Pretty much nothing, this is fucking perfect apart from the fact that it's only 20 minutes long - I could happily listen to this all day. To top it off you can download it for free so grab it while it's hot AF.

Recommended music: 'Golden Tongue' EP by Magana

 

This haunting 4-track EP was released towards the end of last year on the reliably independent Audio Antihero label. It's the debut release from Jeni Magana, currently based in Brooklyn as a musician and photographer, and over the space of four songs it slowly pulls you in and absorbs you.

My favourite track here is probably 'Inches Apart', a sparse track which is mostly  just guitar and vocal and which really gives her voice the space to captivate you.

This is a really promising debut, one that leaves you disappointed with its brevity as much as satisfied with its charm. Lyrically it's intriguing - this line from 'The World Doesn't Know' is one of my favourites: "Every cell in your body belongs to the thought in my brain" - while musically it hints at the sort of depth of career that St. Vincent or PJ Harvey have carved out.

I'm hoping we'll get to here more from Magana in 2017 but in the meantime you should really give this debut a listen.

Track of the Day: 'Things' by Oddisee

A new Oddisee album, The Iceberg, will be with us next February, and is surely something we all need in these trying times. A plea for understanding and for us to recognise our common ground, it will feature his trademark intellectual insight and rapid-fire rhymes.

Lead single 'Things' sets out the album's stall as, over an infectious dance groove, Oddisee runs through the things that are getting him down, and talks about how we should share our concerns and experiences. I can't wait for the whole album, but until it arrives I've got 'Things' on repeat.

Recommended music: 'My Band Is A Computer' by Chuck

I knew I was going to like this record from the moment I saw its title. The first release from Old Money Records (part of the Audio Antihero empire) is an introduction to the sad and wondrous world of Charles Griffin Gibson, who as Chuck has put out a load of records independently, from which these tracks have been culled. Despite this it flows pretty seamlessly as an album piece, telling tales of life, love and loss in New York.

With a vocal style that's part Jonathan Donahue, part Jonathan Richman and part Ezra Furman, Chuck plays the role of outsider as he narrates his tales of New York life. 'Bushwick Girl' is one of the highlights, as the 'L' train announcer gives way to a whimsical tale of an imaginary idyllic life in Brooklyn. 'Phoebe's Lips' (one of many songs about girls on here) is a darker love story about Mikey & Phoebe though, with Mikey's erectile issues contrasting with how easy love was when he was younger. Meanwhile 'The Internet' is possibly the the saddest feeling and most acoustic song ever written about a day in the life of a computer - "chatting with girls who claim to be ex-men, selling your dad's wedding ring, videos of rappers with expensive things" - all human life is here.

'Death' and 'Wipe Out', are as you can imagine from their titles, not the happiest of tracks, but perversely they're two of the most musically upbeat tracks on here. The album closes with 'Let's Make Out', a mournful tale of the end of the night (and possibly the end of the relationship) - "In the darkness on your couch, with nothing left to talk about...Let's make out, let's order take-out" - like most of Chuck's stories you're not sure if this one has a happy ending or not.

There's lots to love about this record - like all good things in life it has some darkness to highlight the light, and it's comfortingly lo-fi approach feels warm and reassuring. The album is out on September 9th and you can order it here.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-22 Days: Oddisee

You don't have to go very far in the pages of this blog to find me singing the praises of Oddisee. One of my favourite rappers ever, he's as brilliant live as he is recorded, as you can see in the live video below.



If you were expecting raps about drive-bys and bitches hopefully that's put you straight. Oddisse is much better than, with an intelligent, lyrical flow that deals with weighty subject matter without ever resorting to cheap shots.




Prodigious in output, he's already released a free EP and a full-length instrumental album this year, and I've no doubt there's more on the way from him too.



I love so much of his stuff it was hard to know what to put on this page, but hopefully there's more than enough here to get you into him. Wherever he's playing (I suspect West Holts or John Peel) I'll see you down the front.

Recommended music: 'Alwasta' by Oddisee

It's hard to fathom how Oddisee can continue to make records with as much quality as this and yet still be relatively unknown. Maybe it's because, as with this release, he sometimes gives his stuff away for free, that people fail to attach a proper value to it. Or maybe he's just too good for this world of mass-produced, mass-marketed and over-hyped mainstream media shit. Whatever the reason, the world is a crazy place, and all I can do is be grateful that he's doing this stuff and I get to hear it.

From the lush opening strings on 'Asked About You' to the slow jamz and harmonies on 'Slow Groove' this release is packed with quality moments' Fast paced lyrics on 'No Reservations' tell the tale of his ambitions and how he lives with no plans and no regrets, while 'Strength & Weakness' continues the autobiographical lyrics, while also giving his great band a chance to show off their musical prowess.

'Wouldn't Be Surprise' is probably the weakest track here, one that never really finds its groove, but weakness is relative in a canon of work as good as Oddisee's. To prove the point 'Lifting Shadows' follows immediately, with beats that Jay-Z would kill for and some fantastically fast-paced lyrics. Topped off with a sung chorus it showcases the depths of Amir's talent, which will be on display again very soon as he's already announced that he's releasing a new instrumental album next month called 'The Odd Tape'.

You can stream and download this release below. Catch Oddisee and his band Good Company at festivals all over the summer, including at Glastonbury in the UK in June, where I'll see you down the front.

Track of the Day: 'No Sugar No Cream' by Oddisee

As the sun makes an appearance so does this lush new instrumental from Oddisee. Not content with dropping the free 'Alwasta' EP on us last week, Oddisee has now provided us with a taster from his forthcoming instrumental album 'The Odd Tape', which will be released on May 13th. Proving that he's as good a beat-maker as he is a rapper this is a proper tune to kick back and mellow out too.

Stream the track and download it for free below.

Recommended movie: 'Rubble Kings' (and free mixtape)

A fantastic documentary about gang wars and gang culture in New York in the early 1970s, and how the eventual peace that settled over the streets saw the subsequent rise of hip-hop. Dance battles and rap battles replaced armed warfare (at least for the most part) as the gangs chose peace over war. Directed by Shan Nicholson, it really gets under the skin of the socio-economic conditions of the time and pulls together the story of how their circumstances shaped the lives of the kids in the gangs ad how they overcame the struggle. If you're a fan of hip-hop or 'The Warriors', or want to understand how modern-day New York was formed then this is a movie you'll want to see.

As well as the movie there's a brilliant mixtape that's been put together evoking the different musical styles and tribes of the time. It's brilliantly put together in 4 parts, include some dialogue from the film (as well as a snatch of 'The Warriors') - just click on the cover below to download it.

Track of the Day: 'Rubble Kings (Dynamite On The Street)' by Run The Jewels

The latest instalment in the Adult Swim Singles series for 2015 is also the the first track to be released from the soundtrack to the  Rubble Kings documentary. The film tells the story of how hip-hop culture arose from the gang era in New York City, and features. As well as RTJ the soundtrack, which is out on October 30th on Mass Appeal Records, will also feature the likes of Bun B and Mr Muthafuckin Exquire.

Musically the vibe is similar to 'Crown' off last year's RTJ2 album, with a driving rhythm and a stuttering vocal sample. You can listen to it below and download it for free here.

Track of the Day: 'Aim High' by Joey Bada$$

Exclusively available via ScionAV, this fresh track features a minimal, dark backing and over which Joey spits stories of struggling to exist. Weirdly he seems to be censoring all the swear words out himself, but apart from that it's a great track, less pop-sounding than some of the stuff on his recent album and all the better for that.

Listen and grab it for free below.

Recommended music: 'Meow The Jewels' by Run The Jewels

OK, so it started as a joke, a random suggestion that a cat-themed remix album could be crowd-funded to make it happen. Things snowballed (as they do on the internet) and pretty much a year after 'Run The Jewels 2' came out here we are. Along the way the project has picked up some major names from both sides of the pond - the remixes feature the likes of Boots, Dan The Automator, Zola Jesus, Geoff Barrow (from Portishead) and 3D (from Massive Attack).

The weirdest thing about this is that the inclusion of the cats doesn't make this a sweet sounding album. If anything they bring a really sinister, eerie feel to the tracks, may of which feel more menacing than in their original versions. This must definitely be the darkest cat-themed project ever born. Also, never has the line "lick my pussy real good" seemed more appropriate!

Better than it deserves to be? Miles better, and another step on the road to Jaime and Mike's well deserved world domination.

You can get the whole album for free here.

New band of the Day: Bones & Beeker

(Photo: Jules Ameel)

Freshly signed to the Brooklyn-based Wax Poetics Records, Minneaoplis duo Bones & Beeker make hip-hop and soul infused songs that at times seem to have come from a different time or a different planet (or maybe both). Anthony Newes and Brendan Kelly (aka BK-One) are both multi-instrumentalists who've worked cross-genre and seem to be able to turn their hand to just about anything. Joined by stalwart Minneaoplis bassist Chris Bierden, probably best known for his role in Polica, and guitarist Nate Collis, the music they've given birth to almost defies classification. Take 'Lupine', the first track they put out - a slinky bassline melds with a hip-hop beat, congas and even a whistling refrain to slowly weave in and out of your ears.


Meanwhile 'Each Time I Die' has a darkly electronic undercurrent which is lifted by castanets, brass and a bank of multi-tracked vocals in a riot of colourful sound.


The album is due later in the year and personally I can't wait to hear it, especially if they take it on tour - imagine the vibe if they play this stuff live.

Watch this space for more news on the album nearer the time.

Remix of the Day: 'Teach Me (Château Marmont Remix)' by Joey Bada$$ feat. Kiesza

Fresh from France and fly as fuck, this sultry, sexy remix slows down the beat but turns up the heat. The dancefloor filler becomes a bedroom thriller as they change the mood and make 'dancing' a euphemism for a much more intimate behaviour. If you play this out in a club its hard to believe that people won't actually be having full on sex by the end of it, It's hot and horny as hell. Even better, you can download this slice of sexiness for free if you follow the link below.

Track of the Day: 'Where I'm From' by A La Sole feat. Domo Genesis

A new track from the Pro Era stable, this is the perfect mix of West and East coast. Let's hope A La Sole's album 'Elixir' drop sooner rather than later. And then maybe the time is right for a full-on Odd Future / Pro Era hook-up - imagine what a tour that would be...

Recommended music: 'The Good Fight' by Oddisee

It's hard to know where to start with Oddisee, without expressing equal measures of anger and surprise that he's not one of the biggest rappers in the world. The beats he puts together are some of the best in the business - soulful, funky, surprising and sexy, Meanwhile his lyrics are intelligent, knowledgeable, heartfelt and full of quality and positivity. The breadth of the music on this record is wider than before, partly due to the guests (including Gary Clarke Jr and Tranquil) and partly because he (Amir Mohamed in real life) sings more than he has before.

The fact that he makes all of his own beats (he producers other rappers too, but it certainly sounds like he keeps the best for himself) gives him the opportunity to shape and create the album as a whole. In doing so he's produced a cohesive, soulful record that, while undoubtedly still hip-hop, stretches into r'n'b and soul to great effect. You can feel the workmanship and effort seeping out of every track, and you get the sense that his quality-control level is set so high that anything he doesn't feel is a 10/10 gets left behind.

Stand-out tracks on here include 'Counter-Clockwise', 'Belong To The World' and 'A List Of Withouts', while closer 'Worse Before Better' (featuring the afore-mentioned Tranquil) is a definite change of style for him that works surprisingly well. But really you'd be hard pushed to dislike anything on here, the standard is so high. 'The Good Fight' in the title refers to the battle to produce real and uncompromising art, on the the evidence presented it's definitely a fight that Oddisee is winning.

The album is out now through Mello Music Group and via all your favourite outlets. You can stream the whole thing below.

Video of the Day: 'CounterClockwise' by Oddisee

As the excitement builds for the launch of Oddisee's new album 'The Good Fight' (out on May 5th), this new video has just been released. Shot over a few nights around New York, the backwards / forwards video brilliantly reflects the music and lyrics. Check it out, my favourite bit is the guys taking the garbage out of the truck and putting it back on the street.

Video of the Day: 'Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck) by Run The Jewels feat. Zack de la Rocha

This a pretty powerful song in its own right. But this new video by AG Rojas takes it to another level. On the face of it it's just another white cop beating on a black kid. But it makes no judgements as to the cause - we're dropped right into the middle of the action, and during the course of the video each has the upper hand at times. It's designed to provoke a response, and hopefully a discussion, one that Killer Mike will no doubt be heavily involved in since he became an unofficial spokesman in the wake of what happened in Ferguson.

The buzz around Run The Jewels just gets bigger and bigger, and I'm pretty sure that seeing them at Field Day in June will be one of the highlights of the summer.

Track of the Day: 'That's Love' by Oddisee

A new track from Oddisee is always a reason to celebrate, especially when it heralds a new album from the man. 'The Good Fight' is out on May 5th, and from it comes 'That's Love' - fast but not furious, it's a meditation on what we'll do for the people that matter to us, and what they'll do for us. It's upbeat and summery and fills me with excitement for the album.

New music: 'Tomboy' EP by Tomboy

This new electronic duo from Brooklyn, NYC have just released their first EP (an album's on the way later) and it's an intriguing mix of melodic pop hooks and pounding hymns. It's clear that they've got a deep understanding of how to build a song so that it sounds equally as good on your headphones or on the dancefloor. They've been working together since 2013, having previously carved out individual careers as musicians and songwriters, and seem to have a great chemistry, with the resultant sound being somewhere between La Roux and Sylvan Esso (to my ears at least). You can stream the whole EP below.

Recommended music: 'B4.DA.$$' by Joey Bada$$

I've been singing the praises of Joey Bada$$ since back in 2012 when the '1999' mixtape first appeared. That was followed by two more, first 'Rejex' and then 'Summer Knights', which both served notice of a major talent on the way. So here we are in 2015, and 'B4.DA.$$' doesn't disappoint at all. Sure to feature as one of the best hip-hop albums of the year, it mixes the music and style of old-skool hip-hip with the swagger and commercial sensibilities of the best of today's rap acts. He shows that he can switch from the likes of 'Paper Trail$' to the pop smash of 'Teach Me', which features Kiesza and shows that big-time collaborations can be done with style and panache without having to pander to the lowest common denominator r'n'b clichés. I particularly like 'On & On' which features UK singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre, but really you'd be hard-pressed to find a track you couldn't like on this album.

As a bonus you can download a free track below called 'Born Day (AquariUS)' that Joey gave away on the day the album came out.

I expect Joey to pretty much be on a worldwide tour for the rest of 2015, this album is so good it's going to smash open the doors for him. You can stream some of the album below, but really you should be spending some of your hard-earned bucks on this. It's the first essential purchase of the year.