Ah, something rather beastly in time for the Friday night mash out…
The original rightfully set a fair few online ears on fire this week, and now South London’s ever germinating production duo Disclosure, have turned Brixton baby Jessie Ware‘s incredible latest Sade’esque number ‘Running‘ onto it’s backside and beaten it up a bit. It results in one of their most mature remixes thus far – pummeling, bassy, old school Garage-House for the grown and wavey.
It’s really great hearing these two (UK) artists on a record together, their voices mesh beautifully. Make sure you grab that tape, if you haven’t already!
BBC Sound of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka continues to demonstrate his promise with that remarkable time-capsule voice of his. The official video for his single ‘I’m Getting Ready’ (taken off his EP of the same name) has just been released and sees the 24 year old North Londoner in a run down diner adorned in depressed neon-lighting as a story of heartbreak unfolds. No need for thrills when your subject sounds like that.
After releasing a two extended players (I’m Getting Ready& Home Again), Kiwanuka is now working hard on putting the finishing touches to his debut album due out in March.
Matthew Halsall’s cover of Alice Coltrane’s track ‘Blue Nile’ is nothing short of beautiful. From her album Ptah The El Daoud released on Impulse! Records back in 1970 this cover captures the original vibe nicely. Alice herself played piano and harp on the original recording, and here Matthew Halsall adds his expressive and spiritually tonal trumpet playing to enhance some wonderful harp and flute playing from Rachael Gladwin and Lisa Mallett. I strongly suggest you check out his back catalogue and check out his live date at the Pizza Express Jazz club.
After last month’s brilliant track & vid combo for ‘Big Mouth‘, supreme Philly madame Santigold pops up looking all kinds of fabulous alongside a Basquiat-cut sporting MC Spank Rock. This is the brand new video of her collaboration from Spank Rock’s 2011 album Everything Is Boring and Everyone is a Fucking Liar
Driven with a contagious Post-punk Funk rhythm and Santi’s charmed turns, you can almost play it in your imaginary vintage Porche 911 turbo with the top down and breeze against your arms. The wardrobe styling in the video is smash, as is the minimal yet ornate set design, powder wash colour grade and gradual conclusion with Avatar blue boobs & polythene. It’s got low budget, high art swag.
Another silky Electro-Pop offering from Alpines, this time featuring highly promising team Craze & Hoax (who you may remember producing Javeon McCarthy’s recent cracker ‘Lost Time’).
‘Gold’ is the third single taken off their collaborations project which sees the South London duo working with “cutting edge” (real talk) names in Electronic music. This track combines the sounds of producer Bob Matthew, with vocals from Catherine Pockson. It’s wonderful how the ethereal elements collide with the 808s forming some theatrical, rustic R&B offshoot (particularly the breakdown).
According to Miss Info, Rihanna’s new single ‘Birthday Cake’ will feature a guest appearance from none other than her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. As you’ll remember Brown was convicted of assaulting the ‘We Found Love’ star back in 2009, after an violent incident on Grammy night. This year marked Chris’ return / reacceptance to the industries biggest night where he performed twice and walked away with the “Best R&B Album” award (an irony unto itself).
Speaking of it’s remix producers Da Internz told MTV that “the feature [on the remix] is gonna shock the world” – I must say I’m less shocked than I am disappointed. It takes a lot to genuinely shock people in 2012, in fact, I reckon most people saw this coming (eventually) – however, that doesn’t take away from the point that maybe it shouldn’t happen. Relationships like most aspects of ones personal life can be complicated and in many cases not understandable to outsiders. And while it’s not right to judge, it’s near impossible to not criticize this reunion.
If true, not only is this sending an utterly deplorable message to young men and women, but it’s also a slap in the face to all those who have encouraged and supported Rihanna through it all, while many were seemingly (and stupidly) blaming her for what happened. During Brown’s Grammy appearance hundreds of young girls from around the world took to twitter to proclaim nonsensical statements like “I’d let Chris Brown beat me any day” and “Chris can beat me, call me boo” (read this for more shocking absurdities) – what a way to reinforce a message.
I don’t often entertain the idea of artists being ‘role models’ and in actual fact it’s Rihanna’s ‘don’t give a f*ck’ attitude that is most appealing to me (very few artists in Pop have been afforded the freedom she plays with) but at the same time – she should feel some sense of responsibility here. If not to her fans, than at least to herself.
Controversy and gimmicks sells. Rihanna’s built a career on it. And while I hope morality wins here, I can already see this going down a storm. We’ll see how it plays out. All I do know is though, I never saw Ike remixing a Tina Turner song.
London producer Toby Davis aka Tarqwin Smythe aka Planas (Gentleman’s Dub Club, Vagabondz) whom some may know through his work with Dionne Bromfield, Bink Griptite (The Dap Kings), Tim Hutton (The Prodigy/Groove Amada), Alex Clare and most recently L-Vis 1990, has a smashing new single coming out titled ‘Breathtaking’.
The bass hungry, Garage inspired production immediately swallows the air it pierces – with a thundering low end, it uses sustained chords to create a thick ambiance; while tropical drones interject, accompanied by percussive bongos which help conclude this dilatant textured production. Kudos to Ed Thomas too – his vocals aid the song well – hearing some Usher Raymond in that hook too.
The single also gets the D-Bridge Soul Steppers remix, peep that here…
Featured first on PinBoard, singer/songwriter Natalie Duncan gets the co-sign from the legend we know to be Goldie who features her on his new single ‘Freedom’ (out April 2nd via Metalheadz). This monstrous song harks back to what makes Goldie… Goldie. Drum & Bass to it’s very core, it’s relentless percussions and utterly grimy bassline resounds like a slap across the face.
… Out to all the fuddy-duddy neighbors out there, this ones for them.
Since news broke (and we all know what it means when the feature spots start becoming more frequent) that we’re due to expect a possible album from Missy Elliot this year, it’s been great to hear her back on top form. She jumps on this remix with Weezy, Breezy and Busta, which got it’s first play on Funk Flex’s show recently.
