This hour long documentary explores how Prince revolutionised the idea of Black music during the 1980′s. The film was aired on BBC Four as part of their series looking at “four titans of African-American music: Janet Jackson, Prince, Lionel Richie and Public Enemy”. For Prince stans – there isn’t very much in the way of “new” information or insight here, but for those who aren’t too familiar with the Purple one’s story or journey – this will be an engaging watch. It documents his struggle to reach commercial success during the early years, as well as the game changing steps he took in his career – including the production of his Oscar winning, semi-autobiographical film “Purple Rain”.
… And if nothing else, after watching this – you’ll be trawling the Prince archives long and hard.
Unquestionably the most influential youth culture of our generation, the movement was celebrated over the course of five days by commemorating five classic albums, from five of the boroughs.
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick – Slick Rick, Enta Da Stage – Black Moon, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan, The Infamous - Mobb Deep and Diplomatic Immunity - Diplomats were revisited through a series of stage workshops, lectures and special concerts. Peep the video up top for all the highlights…
Beat wizards Jazzo & Melodiesinfonie are back with the anticipated follow-up to their acclaimed debut Ep “Treeology”; “Astro Funk & Weltfrieden” is a brilliantly crafted work packed with bewitched beats, odd-tronica melodies and fragile soundscapes. This cheeky little video offering was created in space by Dalai Limba. Not for those who suffer from epilepsy!
‘I’m Sorry’ is the final release of 2011 from the Numbers camp and what a way to bow out of a seriously successful year this is! Not the easiest words to say but Siban & Faun do it convincingly with their debut release for Numbers (Out December 5th). The Montreal-based duo produce atmospheric dance music with a lurking R&B/Vocal Garage influence and this really took it back for me. Glitchy groove on lock, headnod smash. Press play and support when it drops.
Sigmafly (Σ-Fly) is Manchester based Tom Holmes. He takes the musical aesthetics from the likes of Boards Of Canada, Lapalux, and Burial and produces his own emotive, melodic and beautifully deep take on the style. Layers of intricate sound, chimes, piano, vocal snippets and echoing percussion create truly crafted pieces of outstanding audio. Press play and enjoy a free download over on his bandcamp here.
Here is a cheeky b-side from Machinedrum which never made it onto the longplayer. This takes me back to some pirate fm days. Almost jungalistic, rolling bass, tin heavy drums with a nice layered synth and haunting vocals. Nice and dark, just how I like it. This could have been a Moving Shadow release back in le day. No plan for a release or download, so just enjoy the stream.
Very excited about tucking into The Roots’ newest concept LP, undun. Stream the entire set below, and support the record when it drops on December 6th. These cats seldom disappoint.
Always Strive And Prosper Rocky drops off brand new visuals. Whilst the video isn’t particularly eventful (in fact it’s ANY ol’ redundant DSLR business), the track itself with a monsoon-inviting Clams Casino production and strong verses rank amongst his stand-outs from LiveLoveA$AP.
Update: It was reported via the artists twitter, this is a video leak that isn’t an approved final version. Good news. We were expecting more from him & still are…
While Mar was in London with Full Crate for PinBoardLive’s inaugural event #THESUITE, he hooked up with the guys over at Taste Hub for an acoustic session which they filmed in East London. Those familiar with Mar’s collaborative EP with Crate entitled Conversations With Her will recognise ‘I Said’ – have a listen to it stripped back and raw…
Rocketing Bristol bass wunderkind Julio Bashmore has just dropped a sublime new 12 inch titled ‘Riff Wrath’. Adoring this A-Side right now, featuring the same rousing liquid hallmarks that made his ‘Battle For Middle You’ a humongously sexy, dancefloor footworker, whilst going more vintage on the four-four shuffles and olympian on the vocal sample. Luscious way to start the week, let it run with some sub and it’ll lift your spirits right up.
Gorged a healthy diet of Jazz in yoot times, getting deep into the later improv steez of Coltrane, Davis, Sun-Ra, etc. and to this day few things feels like the glacial swag of a dissonant chord or perverse polyrhythm getting worked like an outer-body summoning. So, checking these fresh young cats from Toronto (like the great bleeding reservoir of Earth right now) drop this cheeky live set of “Jazz Post-Bop” reworks flipping contemporary classics – kinda’ messed my post-Sunday 2am composure up a bit.
Standardly, shred of (buzz-based) scepticism was there before pressing play, then upon hearing the drummer syncopate for Wacka Flocka ‘Hard In Da Paint’ and go on to tear through Flying Lotus ‘Camel’, ODB ‘Brooklyn Zoo’, Slum Village ‘Fall-n-Love’ – the musicianship and instrumental collisions felt thoroughly dynamic. There’s traces of Hardcore and Pop Punk-mindedness in there aswell; I’m always hoping a perceptive bunch will come along and refresh the dire crust of modern Jazz’ image, making it enticing for the flummoxed info-age populace.
Look forward to studio material from this trio – with the right engineering and some killer grand theft auto compositions like ‘Salmonella’, they could create some of the coldest business out. Hope they collaborate extensively on affiliate Tyler, The Creator’s next album, it’s been made no secret that Hayley is starving to broaden his palette on 2012′s Wolf.
Florence + The Machine perform a cover rendition of Drake’s ‘Take Care’ for BBC Radio 1′s Live Lounge.
… Hearing this makes me wonder why Drizzy didn’t get Flo on the track originally. She not only sounds a million times better than Rihanna (who’s vocal on the original remains a big problem for me) but by having someone like Welch on there would’ve displayed a strong creative foresight on Drake’s part.
Be still all beating hearts, the third leak of four unheard tracks from Lioness: Hidden Treasures. That tortured romantic with a blasé contralto, she swags her sh*t out all over this Salaam Remi production.
Recorded in 2002 during the ‘Frank’ sessions – and you can hear it can’t you?
Velvety layers of electric piano and clarinet over an instantly discernible, impeccably swung ?uestlove drum groove. Plus that floaty outro from 3.20: one can get actual feelings of uplift and agony as the record makes it’s little ascension up, dissipating into a recording hiss. All a powerful reminder of Amy exercising her fondness for that Soulaquarian period in music.
