Friday 26 September 2008

Solange 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams'

Photobucket

Beyonce's little sister, and former Destiny's Child backing singer, Solange recently released her second album - 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams'. It, perhaps surprisingly, is really, really good. Cee-Lo Green, Mark "anything for a few quid" Ronson, Q-Tip, Neptunes and Lamont Dozier all worked on the album. She also samples Boards of Canada on 'This Bird', Marvin Gaye (on 'Ode To Marvin') and The Dap Kings (on '6 O'Clock Blues').

It's a 21st century re-imagining of Motown's 60s pop and Philly soul. Lead single, 'I Decided' has a nod to two of the best songs to come from peak period Motown - Martha & The Vandella's 'Heat Wave' and The Supremes 'Where Did Our Love Go?' (which it samples). It's just fucking brilliant.

Solange - 'I Decided'



Martha & The Vandellas - 'Heat Wave'



The Supremes - 'Where Did Our Love Go?'



I watched her on the Tyra Banks show this morning, where she talked about not having ADHD and that she fancies John Mayer (apparently he's quite famous in America). There was also a bit about single 'moms' (which Solange is) and how they can't afford to pay their gas bills and stuff, so Solange and Tyra "holler" Banks gave them a load of Solange's 'Baby Jamz' toys ("a hip-hop/rhythm inspired toy line for preschoolers") and set up spa sessions for them. So if you want some new hip hop/ rhythm based kids toys, check eBay. I'm pretty sure those single mothers are going to sell that shit and pay the bills as soon as Tyra's back's turned.

She also played two songs, 'I Decided', and 'Sandcastle Disco', which is the next single in the US:



According to Wikipedia - "She is currently working with a Private Equity firm to help finance special projects in distribution, promotions and marketing music with Music World Entertainment and Geffen. The Private Equity firm is focusing on buying and selling music licensing rights to the movie industry and consumer products like Coca-Cola, Alcohol beverages and Proctor & Gamble Company products. The music for commercials will be the first deal of its kind for a female R&B singer."

Skills.

Friday 19 September 2008

Sun Ra 'Space Is The Place'




Sun Ra--space-age prophet, Pharaonic jester, shaman-philosopher and avant-jazz keyboardist/bandleader--lands his spaceship in Oakland, having been presumed lost in space for a few years. With Black Power on the rise, Ra disembarks and proclaims himself "the alter-destiny." He holds a myth-vs reality rap session with black inner-city youth at a rec center, threatening "to chain you up and take you with me, like they did you in Africa" if they resist his plea to go to outer space. He duels at cards with The Overseer, a satanic overlord, with the fate of the black race at stake. Ra wins the right to a world concert, which features great performance footage of the Arkestra. Agents sent by the Overseer attempt to assassinate Ra, but he vanishes, rescues his people, and departs in his spaceship from the exploding planet Earth.

Trailer:

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Watch the whole thing here

Sun Ra Arkestra playing at the Natural History Museum:

Tuesday 16 September 2008

Samuel Buck Rosen



Sam Buck Rosen is somebody we've been in to for a long time now. He was recommended to me at 4am in a Belgian jazz bar by Vampire Weekend's Rostam. Since then I've amassed quite a collection of Sam's music - 33 songs at the moment, which is quite a prodigious output for a 19 year old.

It takes in distorted tropical dance pop, country death songs, a glitch-y take on dub-step via 50s crooned ballads (all completely lo-fi of course).

There's going to be a UK 7" soon-ish, which will probably have this song on there. It's the first song I heard by him and is called 'Trenchtown'

Sam Buck Rosen - 'Trenchtown'

He has toured the US with friends like Vampire Weekend, Nat Baldwin etc etc and has also tipped up on the indie credibility barometer - Daytrotter - performing four songs, including a newer version of 'Trenchtown'.

Sam Buck Rosen - 'Liquidator (live)':

Saturday 6 September 2008

Benji Hughes 'A Love Extreme'




Benji Hughes is a genius and his album, 'A Love Extreme', is brilliant. Go and buy it. It's just come out on New West Records and is two discs of psych country pop, space synths, torch songs and ode's to the Flaming Lips.

You can download an MP3 of 'Why Do These Parties Always End The Same Way' from Spinner

'Waiting For An Invitation' (live):



'The Mummy' (live)

Friday 5 September 2008

MIT 'Rauch (COMA Remix)'




MIT, who released their critically acclaimed debut album 'Coda' in March, have posted a free download of 'Rauch (COMA
Remix)' on their myspace

Feel free to use the download for whatever you want, re-posting etc.

COMA are signed to Kompakt records and are based in MIT's hometown Cologne.

We will be releasing a 12" single and download of 'Rauch' early next year featuring remixes by Luke Abbott (Border Community), Shitdisco and more TBA.


MIT = HOTT