French beatsmith Onra just posted up a new jam on his soundcloud called ‘L.O.V.E’. Despite the track being a demo, the permeating funk still seeps through – can never go wrong with this guy.
Picture courtesy of Mikael Columbu
Producer Shade Cobain’s latest release, Them Fighting Words Presents: Cobainish Theory is an instrumental project that’s all about him. In the past he’s given us two other “theories”, Cassette Theory: Beat EP and Anti-Love Theory, but now we get to peek into the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania native’s brain through some cool Hip Hop, snythy, jazzy, soulful beats.
It opens with Charlie Sheen talking about how his brain works followed by an instrumental with a sample saying “Step Up”. Indeed the rest of the album challenges the listener to get into producer Shade Cobain’s brain. Don’t worry, the album doesn’t decent into what some are calling “Sheenery” these days, nor is it an exercise in self indulgence. Instead Cobain cherry picked samples to illustrate his thoughts and feelings on Hip hop marketing, his motivations and a major theme for him- love. He’s a smart guy so listen close.
There’s lots to dig through here and none of it is as dark as the cover might portray.
Standouts for me include: ‘The Chase (Drum Snobs)’ with it’s warbled horns, ‘Black Friday (The Price)’ a clever take on the popular game show ‘The Price Is Right’ theme song, the head-nod track ‘S.O.U.L. (Reference)’ and throwback feel of the bonus track Get Down.
Check out all of Shade Cobain’s ‘theories’, download them all. Listen to this one in full via the bandcamp player below…
We’ve been quietly watching and enjoying Friendly Fires from a far for a while now. Their 2008 debut earned them a Mercury Music Prize nomination, as well as a couple Brit Award nods and received rave reviews. Currently signed to XL Recordings, the British natives are readying the release of their follow up LP Pala, which is expected to drop on May 16th.
This track, which comes off said album, is pretty neat – I really like ‘their sound’. While I’m no expert in this arena (rather a distant appreciator), I like that I can hear a distinct difference in what they produce, in relation to everything else my ear lends itself to.
Shouts to SKoA
The masked one we call SBTRKT has officially announced that he’ll be releasing his selff-titled debut album this coming June (via Young Turks / XL Recordings). After a series of miscellaneous tracks and several EP’s, the producing G is about to unleash a full on 11 track long player which will, I know, blow your musical minds.
I know this because we’ve been fortunate enough to have been given an advance copy of the album a few weeks back and have been gleefully blaring it (hello neighbours!) ever since. It’s a corker. His productions are sophisticated and complex, influenced by house, garage and soulful sounds. The material found on his LP is, however, somewhat different to the stuff he’s previously put out – so expect a little unexpectedness.
The albums first single features Little Dragon frontwoman Yukimi Nagano and is, by all means, an outlandish introduction. Yukimi’s vocals work insanely well over SBTRKT’s funky-soulfulhouse-pop hybrid composition. You’ll love this, just trust me…
Download: SBTRKT Feat. Yukimi Nagano – ‘Wildfire’
Shouts to XLR8R
And whilst we’ve taken a little stance to not post any more leaks after ‘Tron Cat’ and ‘She’ for his homeboy (make your Goblin a purchase, just trust us right now, it’s worth it), that’s not preventing we from dropping new Hodgy (via his tumblr).
Download: Hodgy Beats – ‘So Long’
‘Peace Talks’ comes off Pursuit Groove’s upcoming album Frantically Hopeful, expected to drop this June. The sombre merging of her eclecticism makes this a really interesting listen. The low-fi glitches amalgamated within interjecting synths and tender vocals results in an empyreal sounding canticle. I dig.
Suiting the mood of how London city feels this morning outside our ninth floor PinBoard office window. The degrees are down, but there’s still a tangerine glow in the distant cloud lining for all the escapists.
Brand new visuals from their freshly incepting EP that we threw a little light on last week.
Coco’s voice… like butterflies in your belly.
As Ledisi prepares to release her new album Pieces of Me on June 14th, another track from it has surfaced. This one, called ‘Shut Up’ once again displays the sublime nature of her Soul drenched voice. I’d be a massive liar if I said I was a huge fan of Ledisi’s music, because I’m not but I’ve seen her live and admire her voice hugely. Not sure of many others who can, vocally, compete with this lady – even when she’s not indulgently singing.
Shouts to OP
Jimetta Rose dropped a super dope album last year called The Barbers Daughter, we told you about it here. We also featured an exclusive track of hers on our Feed Your Ears, Vol. 1 EP.
I love everything about Rose’s voice, it’s so powerful and so soulful. I love the way she writes and structures her songs too – from the BV’s, to her melodies – it’s all so right.
She recently released a new video for ‘America’ which is taken from said album – have a look see.
…Honestly, if you haven’t already you really should check her LP – especially if you’re a lover of contemporary Soul.
I’m still buzzin’ off our OFWGKTA weekend, but here goes the full version of Tyler’s new single ‘She’ featuring fellow Odd Future member Frank Ocean.
… Reckon this will be the new high school sweetheart anthem? Ha, swag!
Goblin drops May 10th via XL Recordings.
Shouts to RD
With hip hop, actually scratch that, with MUSIC becoming increasingly exciting again and benchmarks being raised daily, Swizz Beatz needs to come much harder than this lead track from the new album Haute Living.
Like his #MonsterMonday offerings, this is (once again) nothing special. It sounds lazy. I mean the beat is cool but still not a banger that we know Swizz can deliver. Even when Eve comes in, my momentamery excitement soon fizzles out as she failed to deliver like the Ruff Ryder Philly chick we are familiar with. *sigh*
Basement Jaxx make their debut as film score writers on Joe Cornish’s new urban sci-fi horror caper “Attack the Block”. This new track entitled ‘The Ends’ is the films final piece…
… Can’t say I’m loving this one, it’s a little uninspired.
A few weeks back we attended Jamie Woon’s Mirrorwriting album launch party at Corisca Studios, the event was put on in cooperation with Boiler Room. RBMA were also in the house, recording Woon’s entire set, which they’ve just released for the masses to enjoy.
We’ve made no secret as to how much we love this album – I’m not sure anything in 2011 will top it (for me, personally at least), I can’t recommend it enough really. Press play and have a listen to how Jamie performs his compositions live – you won’t be disappointed. He pretty much runs through the entire album too.
Buy Jamie Woon’s debut via iTunes now.
Man, my love for DâM-FunK’s productions runs deep. This is why. Listen to his swagged out interpretation of Ariel Pink’s ‘Fright Night (Nevermore)’ (off their Haunted Graffiti album).
With his trademark keytar sounds very much present, DâM adds a ‘dre 3000 style drum pattern underneath – resulting in a rather L.A bike-ride-on-the-beach sounding ode. Swagnificant.
That art(re)work is a #win too. Lol.
Download: Ariel Pink – ‘Fright Night (Nevermore)’ (DâM-FunK Remix)
New J. Cole – it’s disgusting.
Ha, apologies – had to. This one dropped a little earlier, only just now getting round to hearing it. Like most things created by Cole, this is a smash. Can’t hate on his flow or production. Not too keen on the singing intro, but other than that – I’m feelin’ this.
Download: J. Cole – ‘Disgusting’
