Here’s another snippet of a previously unreleased track from Alicia Keys’ Songs in A Minor days. This, like ‘I Won’t (Crazy World)’ will be featured on a special 10 year anniversary edition of her debut album, being released on June 27th.
… And just like the last, I really need this in full quick time. The hook on this track is killing me. I really hate snippets.
A new track off SBTRKT’s (self titled) debut album was played on Annie Mac’s radio show last night. The good folks over at Young Turks just uploaded it for our listening pleasure, have a listen.
… We told you about what SBTRKT was bringing to the table when we posted his first single with Little Dragon’s Yukimi. We were fortunate enough to have been given the album a couple months back and honestly speaking – it’s been on heavy rotation ever since. STBTRK is on something else.
A track which was recorded for Cee-Lo’s Lady Killer album but didn’t make the final cut. Not sure why, released as a B-Side to ‘It’s OK’ (I stand corrected). This 70′s inspired, Neptunes produced track is pretty nice.
Shouts to H
Yesterday we posted How To Dress Well’s new EP titled Just Once, which features 4 orchestral versions of his tracks. I haven’t stopped listening to it. This is a ideo of him making ‘Suicidal Dreams 3′ a track he wrote after loosing his best friend last year – just watch this.
$1 of every 10″ sold of Just Once will be donated to MindFreedom.org to benefit those with Mental Health Issues.
Shouts to SKoA
I rarely post snippets. When I do, you know it’s worth it.
As Alicia readies the release of her special 10 year anniversary edition of Songs in A Minor, a previously unreleased track (which will appear on the anniversary disc) has surfaced. Titled ‘I Won’t (Crazy World)’ the song is reminiscent of the sound Keys so brilliantly captured on her debut. Featuring that sexy lower register she rocked back then (something I really miss) and elaborated instrumentation – bongo’s included – this was the Alicia I fell in love with.
I would love her to produce music like this again, her first two albums were undeniably her best – the more pop she became the more diluted her music sounded. She needs to return to this.
New single off Curren$y’s upcoming album Weekend at Burnies (June 28th), have a listen…
Canadian up and comer Rochelle Jordan covers Drizzy’s latest – makes sense too. Like Drake & The Weeknd, Rochelle is pushing a sound seemingly specific to her native – their brand of nu-R&B is quite invigorating. It’s been a long time since R&B was exciting, maybe this is the beginning of something strong.
Her cover of ‘Marvin’s Room’ is really nice – I like what she did with it. Love her voice.
Download: Rochelle Jordan – ‘Marvins Room’
Jean Grae will be giving away a free Mix-CD next Thursday called Cookies or Comas, this track produced by Boogie Blind is the first ‘single’ to come off it. The project is hosted by DJ Drama and will feature appearences from Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Styles P & Royce D 5’9.
Download: Jean Grae – ‘Casebasket’
A little madness for your Thursday evening courtesy of Om Unit & Lorn. An amalgamation of 80′s electro, sci-fi sounds and Bambaataa-esque influences result in ‘Obsidian’ being a bit of a beast of a record. It’s advisable to listen to this loudly…
Download (for free) via the player below…
‘Hawaiian Air’ is the first single / video taken off Friendly Fires new album Pala…
Hailing from Kansas City, Miles Bonny mixes just the right amount of classic, future and alternative Soul. Melt that with his Jazz influences and you arrive at his debut album Lumberjack Soul due out on June 24th.
The LP consists of a mix of original and cover songs – Bonny bravely takes on Raphael Saadiq’s ‘Still Ray’ (renamed ‘Still Miles’) and The Meters ‘Handclapping Song’, not to mention Kermit the Frog’s ‘A Song from Kermit’ (renamed ‘A Song From Miles’). But Miles holds his own, convincingly and impressively. Production comes the likes of from 74 Miles Away (who he collaborated with last year), DJ Day and Suff Daddy, with appearances from Fleur Earth and Ahu.
The feel and texture of Lumberjack Soul is rich and ornate, but conversely stripped back and inherent. Bonny’s voice is defined and controlled throughout and floats effortlessly over the grooves found within this impressive debut.
Stream the Lumberjack Soul via the bandcamp player below…
New music from Toddla T and Roots Manuva called ‘Watch Me Dance’, which comes off Toddla’s new album (of the same name) due out in August. This is some groovy sh*t, am fully involved here. A version of ‘Watch Me Dance’ will also feature on Manuva’s new album 4everevolution.
Onra just dropped a new demo via his Soundcloud called ‘Drop It On the One’, sampling the Bobby Brown / B. Brown Posse classic (of the same name). And like most things Onra-produced, this is of course very Funky and very… erm, swarve (spelt just like that). Need this fully mastered!
C’est bon, as they say.
OFWGKTA’s Frank Ocean drops the official video for (the best track off his Nostalgia/Ultra mixtape) ‘Novacane’. Have a look-see…
Tom Krell otherwise known as How To Dress Well released a somewhat unique album last year called Love Remains. Bloggers across the interwebs dissected it to high heaven, even we got in on the action and while many loved it’s odd-ball audacity, others were perplexed at the extreme low-fi nature of his productions. I fell somewhere in the middle. I didn’t find the album the easiest to consume, but once digested it was something that, on the surface at least, I admired. I’d definitely recommend you check it out – for exploration if nothing else.
HTDW is now releasing a new EP titled Just Once which is comprised of 4 orchestral versions of his tracks, “a one-time only approach” to his sound. The project is dedicated to his best friend who passed away in September 2010. $1 of every 10″ sold will be donated to MindFreedom.org to benefit those with Mental Health Issues. I’ve just given it a little listen and I must say – this really is beautiful. Gone is the glitchy, ghostly low-fi of Love Remains and present is a graceful, almost painful, sound only achieved through a live orchestra.
Just Once is released on July 12th, you can stream it below until then.
Shouts to HP
