This one caught my ear based on Tommy Mas’ production, which you’re really forced to describe as “beautiful” by default based on the title. It’s well deserved though and you’ll also enjoy Bronsalino’s flow and quotables, which on this track is very Ghostface with echoes of Big Pun and maybe even Kool G Rap, but all in good ways. The new album “Well Done” with producer Statik Selektah drops July 5th. “Doctor Lector”, his current project, is on iTunes now.
Something a bit different for your Thursday morning.
During a recent concert in the Netherlands, one of my favourite British dance duos, Basement Jazz, paired up with Metropole Orkest to recreate some of their biggest hits. The dutch orchestra and the Jaxx sounded so much like a perfect match that the recordings are now scheduled for a full album release.
I really dig the sounds offered by the orchestra, taking away the dancey element and letting the 60 symphony band shine and explore each track. It definitely works. Listen to a couple of the reworks down below and hit the jump for the full tracklist.
Also if you are in London, you can catch this new set up live at the Barbican on July 14th & 15th, more details can be found here. You can also view a short preview of the show after the jump.
Basement Jaxx vs Metropole Orkest out July 11 on Altantic Jaxx
J. Cole’s new single is here. The track, entitled ‘Work Out’ samples Kanye West’s ‘New Workout Plan’ and comes off his much hyped, much needed debut album. While blogosphere hype is something we all must keep in check from time to time, it can’t be denied – Cole has been consistent if not anything else. He’s managed to produce a good body of work before even releasing a full LP. This tune is dope addition to that catalogue.
Everything Abel Tesfaye (you know him as The Weeknd, pronounced ‘weakened’ and not ‘weekend’ for those misinformed) brings to the overcrowded table right now is absolutely one step ahead of his peers: from attitude and image to production and melodies. ‘The Birds (Part 1)’ is no exception despite being his most digestible (for dummies and Breezy stans) track yet, whilst retaining a rhythmic, pause-and-start swag we’re just not getting from mainstream R&B cookie-cutters today.
As an artist I’m genuinely excited by this year in particular, he’s one of the very few in our diluted online community. In fact, along with Rochelle Jordan there could be a very exciting ‘post-Drakestep’ scene over there in Toronto that’s bred a plucky new semblance of leftist ‘R&B’ challengers.
Believe the buzz, as we look forward to the scheduled mixtape-albums Thursday (Summer T.B.C.) and Echoes of Silence (Autumn T.B.C.) following up on brilliant debut, House of Balloons – which if you ignored because you thought you were cooler than all the cool people who jizzed their cyber-pants – you lost.
This is really quite beautiful. The Senegalese and French vocalist, Anais Aida, has journeyed from Toulouse, France to Oakland to New York City to develop her skill and pursue her dreams as a musician.
Here is her version of Janelle Monae’s “Say You’ll Go” that she’s put together with Queens-based producer, DannyBe. Not a fan of covers normally but this one tugs at the heart strings and is so well recreated. Her voice is divine. She is currently studying at NYU, Anais and her partner, Alejandro Ghersi, are crafting their debut with a single and video called “Love Can Burn” planned for this summer. Shouts to GS I look forward to hearing a lot more from her. Dope ish.
Coming straight out of the Stones Throw records camp comes some new visuals for Jonti’s ‘Firework Spraying Moon’ which is set to drop on a cheeky 7inch in August
Chris Brown dropped this viral over on his blog, Mechanical Dummy and I have to say I am feeling Breezy’s rhyming skills. The subject matter may not be that varied, but alongside Hud Mo production, this is sounding nice. What do you think? Hip Hop mixtape next maybe.
Here is a really dope video offering from the Random Axe collective (Sean Price, Black Milk & Guilty Simpson). This music video directed by Todd Angkasuwan cuts real nice between film and illustration and comes from the self titled ‘Random Axe’ longplayer that you can pick up now.
Reignited Neptunes sound with N.O.R.E riding the beat. No, it’s not 1999 again. This is brand new. With Lil’ Wayne on board too, is this the beginnings of that long awaited Neptunes produced LP…?
Van Hunt has always been a bit of a ‘marmite artist’ for many – some love him, some hate him. I for one belong to the former group. His first album got rinsed hard back in ’04, his second album was strong too (although I didn’t love it as much as his first). No question, he is a bit of an odd-ball artist and this is reflected in (most) of his music – but if you’re like me, you won’t necessarily see that as a bad thing.
After a three year hiatus Hunt is back with a new single called ‘June’, taken off his forthcoming album What Were You Hoping For, which is scheduled for a September 27th release (digital). “June’ was written to mirror a person’s complicated moodiness” says Hunt. “Some people are called pessimists because of their persistent dourness, but I think they are optimists. Sorely disappointed optimists. The song is my attempt to make one, in particular, smile”.
Listen below and download (in exchange for an email address) via the app up top.
According to various sources two men have been arrested outside Joss Stones isolated country home in east Devon with “a cache of weapons inside their car including swords, rope & a body bag”. The two unnamed men, aged 30 and 33, also had aerial photos of her property. They are now in custody being questioned over alleged conspiracy to “cause her some really serious harm”.
Actual insanity.
As we reported yesterday, Joss is readying the release of her new album LP1 – listen to the first single here.
Today has been a good day for Soul music – just scroll down the blog – and it keeps on coming. Now we have a brand new Jaguar Wright track to play with – she’s back! ‘Switch/Change’ featuring Peedi Crack shows off Wright’s Jazzy vocals and fiery attitude. Not sure where this comes from but I hope it signifies her official return.
‘All the Kisses’ is taken off a new project The Foreign Exchange are putting out on June 28th named Dear Friends: An Evening with The Foreign Exchange which will, along with new music, include a live CD/DVD. This song features sisters Amber & Paris Strother from KING – a band we featured not too long ago.
After hearing Tanya Auclair’s reworking of Roy Davis/Paveen Everett’s ‘Gabriel’ right here on PinBoard, I was on a feverish hunt to track her down at a live gig. My mission came to an end last Thursday at the launch party for her new EP Origami held at Servant Jazz Quaters in Dalston. What can I say? I am in love with Tanya Auclair! Not even two songs into a set of 10, Auclair had already played five instruments. This is a woman who loves to play with music to see what she discovers.
It’s worth mentioning that I was stood in the midst of some hard-core Hip Hop fans who had been talking about seeing Mos Def and Talib Kweli live and who were sad to hear about the death of the legend, Gil Scott Heron. It was, by anyone’s standards, a tough crowd. By the middle of her set, standing pretty much under her nose- not a psycho fan, I promise- I turned around to see a packed room of people swaying to the good vibes coming from Auclair’s beautiful and at times, haunting music.
It’s easy to dismiss an artist like Auclair as merely being about the gimmick of using the loops. I’m sure many of y’all have been to gigs and open mic nights where the loop is used as a sure fire way of proving musical worth and breadth of talent. But, the fact is, not many, really only very, very few, can match the rich musicality of Auclair. I felt like a kid seeing ET for the first time watching her create music from seemingly nowhere.
