R&B purists, awaken – the Sisters with Voices are back!
In an age where David Guetta is “R&B”‘s biggest producer, it’s difficult to fathom how one of the defining girl groups of the 90′s would reemerge and reestablish themselves, 15 years after their last release. Would Coko, Taj & Lelee stay committed to their natural roots of credible-commercial rhythm & blues or would they return with a mindless euphoric R&B anthem?
Thankfully our girls bring it home…
Boasting their trademark harmonies, a 90′s inspired melody and a traditional R&B arrangement (listen for those chords) – SWV reemerge with class. ‘CoSign’ is a mature and dignified comeback single; nostalgic enough for heads to rock to, but “cool” enough for 90s hipsters to connect with.
The praised Manhattan Alternative R&B solo outfit returns with this recent leak that sees Francis Farewell Starlight getting his Phil Collins/Drake-step on (no curveball considering he produced Thank Me Later track ‘Karaoke’). Here he enters his emosh element, as we drift along a lonesome highway of popping, filtered percussion and analogue pads with a frail, wounded falsetto on it’s quest for belonging.
Where Funeral and Neon Bible steadily built up their cult-following over the last half-a-decade gaining them European markets and imbibing critic circles, it was The Suburbs that truly gave Arcade Fire their mainstream-certified breakthrough moment with a surprising, but more importantly deserved win for Grammy album of the year. It was like rooting for the underdogs, and the underdogs won – which made it one of those rare, genuinely satisfying award show moments.
Some ruminated that 2010′s The Suburbs may be one of the greatest albums of the last decade, and after PinBoard finally got to see their rapturous live show at the Main Square Festival in France this past Summer – it’s spell had not worn off. Shalom to the one of the best bands in the world.
Up top’s their kooky new video, but also check out the interactive version here.
Marques Toliver’s marriage of varying styles amidst his Amp Fiddler-tinged vocals create a refreshing sound which alone would be inspiring enough, but combined with his talents as a violinist – sets him apart from any other contemporary.
Studying For My Ph.D uses traditional samples merged with mod influences, balanced cleverly atop an often subtle classical backbone. It’s a well-formed reminder of Toliver’s ‘mad scientist’ approach to music – incorporating insights and commentaries from the likes of Beyonce, Eartha Kitt, Roberta Flack, Nicki Minaj, news reports and disturbing pre-civil rights movement chants. Premiered exclusively on the Guardian’s website, the tape is an abstruse window into Marques’ inspirations, motivations and most poignantly, his political concerns – frequently using interview snippets, speech excerpts and loops to express his message(s).
Hands up who fondly remembers the tiny impact Blue & Exile’s Below The Heavens made in the worldwide underground hip-hop community circa ’07? That was a good year for turning points in music and rising new scenes – particularly the experimental nu-Leftcoast in LA.
Well, the good times return for all you starved of Blu spitting over hyper-Soulful Exile beats. After an interesting 2011 for the gifted emcee who dropped his brave debut NoYork to mixed-response (uber-critics loved it, ultra-purists were confused) and a quiet season for the producer, they’ve just decided to be cheeky and unleash this unfinished follow-up out of the blu(e) for legions of sentimental fans.
Recorded in 2009 – the same period they were leaking gorgeous cuts like ‘Love Line(s),Dedicated To Last Fe’vrier’ which despite not being on here, ensures it’s coming from a good place.
Watch as the incomparable Janelle Monae, backed by her orchestra, performs songs off her Grammy nominated debut album The Archandroid during the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. Along with ‘Cold War’ and ‘Tightrope’, she also covers the classic Jackson 5 song ‘I Want You Back’ before being joined for an all-star cast finale who together performed Curist Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’.
Machinedrum’s album Room(s) is easily considered one of PB’s favouite LP’s of the year. The producer amassed a beautiful concoction of atmospheric sounds, gorgeously polished within his impeccable skills behind the boards. Now, as we approach the end of the year it would seem the masked masquerader SBTRKT (who’s own album also occupies within our favs this year) is intent on unloading any loose ends – and thus, has just released his revision of ‘U Don’t Survive’. Listen up…
Here’s a dope joint. It hit the net a few months ago, but whilst on a trawl of the ol’ download folders, this struck as an essential post. Better late than…
‘Obtaining’ reminds of that Soultronica vibe that was prevalent a few years back in the European post-Dilla boom, but this feels grittier with the lo-fi fried vinyl crackles. Austrian producer Mez’s snares and kicks stumble beneath his Vienna-based muse Soia, working her honey-wail reminiscent of Badu (the ever influential neo messiah), as minor chords oscillate and teleport us elsewhere through hypnotically kush wormhole synths.
Plus good news on these two – they’re producing an EP together scheduled for Spring 2012.
The homie Full Crate played this beast of a tune on NTS yesterday – effectively breaking everyone’s neck at once. So, it’s only right we share it with you and yours (braces at the ready)…
Following the break-up with longtime collaborator Perquistite, A’Dam’s native Pete Philly recently released his debut album One. ‘Gemini Solo’ taken off said LP features sexy successive chords, dirty drums and bass injections that will bunsen burn the coldest of hearts – his production here takes on a life of it’s own, all that is asked of you is that you buckle up and enjoy ride.
Episodes 1 & 2 premiered with a few weeks between them but we get 3, 4 & 5 all in one go. Have a look at The Throne’s documentary chronicling their historic tour across the United States…
Indeed it’s been a year of quasi-weird R&B revivalism from Holy Other to Weeknd to Active Child to a heap of pitch shifting underground knob-twiddlers. One postnatal act still bubbling under the surface is LA via LDN outfit Young N’ Sick. If like myself you’ve had the brilliant ‘Room 48′ on repeat in recent months, followed by the cold, calculated ‘S.E.X.X.X.‘, then here’s another wonky, paranoia-inducing bit of acid and blues.
It’ll be interesting to see weather ’11s intellectual embrace of indie-R&B lasts into next year. Personally like any nostalgist of it’s glory days, I’m hoping it does, as it’d been a long-time since the genre was considered… Risky.
Lest we forget one of the more under-rated but commercially very successful R&B offerings of the early Noughties was this woman’s first album.
On ‘The Woman You Love’ she belts for her career back over this thumping, angry cut alongside everyone’s favourite uncle Busta. It coulda’ very well been Euphoric Trance&B or some mid-35s ’tissue music’, but she’s come out the gate swinging – sh*t knocks and the BV layers are tight.
There’s alot of births happening recently with such unprotected pop titles as ‘Born This Way’ and ‘Born To Die’, but after penetrating the bloggosphere in 2010, Brooklyn’s Sleigh Bells are set to reawaken everyone using their brand of trendy apocalyptic punk, with ‘Born To Lose’.
The lead single here is another crashing, grizzly, handclap smash. Their noise gets poppier, but whilst singer Alex Krauss augments her melodies against the feedback, it delivers something evolved and exciting to look forward to come their sophmore album Reign of Terror , dropping Valentines Day 2012.
Search engine optimization lacking indie-rock band Tennis have dropped off this freshly recorded gem. Full of shimmery guitar, cymbals and 50s sci-fi mellotron, it serves up an honourable cover of the 2005 original by Broadcast.
Word’s been Tennis’ forthcoming album ‘Young & Old’, for release Feb 20th on Fat Possum Records, is produced by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. Should be a corker.
Despite having never been a huge Jeezy enthusiast, I’m easily won over by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production. Always bombastic and cocaine-cartel-life indulged, they’ve created an ideal backdrop for a chap who once called himself The Snowman.
With Jilly from Philly gettin’ gully in tow, it’s a surprisingly effective, retrospective banger about escaping the hardships of the trap. Available on TM103 Hustlerz Ambition out Dec 20th.
