If one album this year (thus far) truly deserves the Funk stamp of approval, it has to be Kindness‘ debut World, You Need a Change of Mind. The way Adam Bainbridge successfully bridged the gaps of his own love for R&B, Funk, Soul and Go-Go across the songs on that album continues to bug me out. Not to mention – he backs it up with an electrifying and bewildering live show. Now though, comes the video for his single ‘That’s Alright’ – performed here by Trouble Funk, the group whose music was sampled to create Kindness’ version.
On speaking of the song, Kindness said: ‘That’s Alright’ is almost entirely based upon samples from the Trouble Funk song ‘Still Smokin’… Go-go has been on my radar since Rich Harrison first started putting out incredible songs with a go-go influence. As a DC area native, Harrison knew well the urgency and vitality of go-go, and its unswervable effect on an audience. Hence his use of go-go breaks in ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyonce, ‘One Thing’ by Amerie and ‘Take this Ring’ by Toni Braxton… In clearing a sample for use in a song, you have to send a copy to the original writers for approval and publishing clearance. So I knew that Trouble Funk ought to have heard the song already. For that reason I thought we might try and take things a step further. Would the band perhaps be interested in performing the new version of their song for the video? And could they find me something to do?”
Taken off his critically acclaimed debut album World, You Need a Change of Mind, Kindness releases ‘That’s Alright’ on September 3rd. Introduced by a sex-soaked saxophone the track quickly evolves into a 80′s explosion of Funk and dirty Pop. His guitar licks and that harmonised chorus is unquestionably Kindness’ nod to his Holy Purpleness. Fonky.
If you get the chance to see this man live – don’t miss it. His stage shows are wild. He’ll be playing some live shows next month, peep the dates after the jump.
Kindness releases a new video for his single ‘House’ taken off his brilliant new album World, You Need A Change of Mind. In it he discusses Pop music and it’s relevance to society before teaching a young kid how to play House. It’s kinda weird, but very sweet and probably the most original music video we’ve seen this year. Peep up top.
P.s Kindness is playing 100 Club in London tonight, if you can – suggest you reach.
Funk futurist Kindness has offered a full stream of his new album World, You Need a Change of Mind (March 19th). After dropping a couple gems (‘Gee Up’, ‘SEOD’) over the past few months, he manages to successfully back his palpable buzz with an excellent debut long player. Wonderfully combining low-fi ambiance, with raw unadulterated Funk – it’s gritty and rhythmic in all the right places.
Off the Wall motivated Disco and James Blake style vocals can be heard scattered throughout, while the guitar licks of tracks like ‘Gee Wiz’ will happily appease most Prince & D’Angelo fans.
It’s not easy finding music that genuinely sounds original – but this does. Stream the album in full after the jump…
Since Kindness is doing his damn thing, you funky mothers might want to keep this in mind for that playlist. Brand new single from the Brooklyn disco funk outfit Midnight Magic. Led by Tiffany Roth’s cocaine vocals, there’s more addictive twangings and spacesynth backed up by former Hercules & Love Affair grads Carter Yatusake, Morgan Wiley & W. Andrew Raposo. The video has some fine levels of gluttonous, oddball, self-deprecation aswell. Overall the record feel like, Studio 54 swag meets groovy robots from Tokyo, or something. Asses shall shake.
Lovin’ Kindness this morning, just the pick me up I (and you) needed. Nothing like a bit o’ Disco/Funk to spruce up your Thursday and ‘Gee Up’ is just that. An absurdly addictive bassline, with a Funky guitar section and to boot – a hilarious video. Probably one of the few videos that’s actually made me ‘laugh out loud’ in a while. “Low-fi with Hi-fi values”… Just watch!
Kindness’ debut album World, You Need a Change of Mind is due out March 19th.
‘SEOD’ is a seedy Funk-meets-Disco number birthed out of the imagination of London based producer Kindness. The track follows his lead single ‘Cyan’, which contrary to popular opinion – I’m not sure I prefer. Unquestionably, it too is a great and infectious 80′s inspired pop number – but I feel more of an affinity to the dark undertones of this, especially at 01:37 when that Chaka Khan style bass falls through.
Kindness is readying the release of his forthcoming album co-produced by Philippe Zdar which can be expected early 2012.
Here is the latest RZA track that dropped as part of the new ‘WUwednesdays’ This is from RZA:
“2 Left Shoes” features R&B singer Truth Hurts and Rev. William Burk – its a demo we did this summer. I want to share with you Wu-Disciples before it gets into final form.Verse one is about fake friends who I showed love to throughout the years yet they continue to stab me in the back and take my love and kindness for a weakness. Verse 2 explains how the true and living god put love above all things for love conquers all.The hook states ” loving you is like wearing two left shoes”. I choose it because I am a man who loves unconditionally yet that love sometimes is difficult to handle or live with or simply to wear’
