KUMO

Twitter is the shitter!

2009-05-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

I'm on Twitter, if you want to follow me then add me here.

Taking A Break

2009-03-12T10:07:00.001-07:00

I'm busy working on a number of projects at the moment including a clothing line and a record label, so I'm having a bit of trouble finding time to do the blog and I'd rather not do a half-hearted post every other week and as a result I'm going to cease posting for a while. Many thanks to all of you who have taken the time to read my ramblings.

HVW8 feat. Computer Jay at IAA

2009-03-03T16:23:00.001-08:00

Suite For Ma Dukes Videos

2009-02-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

Very special night indeed.

Suite For Ma Dukes Pictures

2009-02-26T21:59:00.001-08:00

As seen on Swindle Magazine.

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

2009-02-26T19:10:00.000-08:00

Easily one of the greatest records of all-time, and one that still gives me chills when I hear it. Originally on the Blue Lines album this cut sung imperiously by Shara Nelson cut through the musical hemisphere at the turn of the 90's like a daisy-cutter. This is still the blueprint to my youth and something that I have been playing incredibly loudly in recent days. Still love it!

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

Adidas Originals House Party

2009-02-26T18:57:00.001-08:00

David Axelrod - Holy Thursday

2009-02-26T00:33:00.000-08:00

I think this is the first time that I have ever put a David Axelrod track on the blog, which in all truth is incredibly shameful considering how I much I love the man's work. David Axelrod is a master musician who was the man who pushed the likes of Lou Rawls and Cannonball Adderly to the forefront of music during his time as A&R and composer at Capitol Records in the late 60's and early 70's. He has been sampled by just about ever person who has ever made hip hop and probably most famously by DJ Shadow who spearheaded the resurgence in his music by letting the whole world know about him through the grooves of Endtroducing. Holy Thursday is an incredibly beautiful and ambitious track that shows just about everything that is good about Axelrod's work and listening back to it you can definitely hear why so many people have sampled him and why he is so influential. This is meant to be played incredibly loudly.

David Axelrod - Holy Thursday

Edgar Müller

2009-02-24T10:17:00.001-08:00

I had never seen work by Edgar Müller before and it is a very interesting take on the street art that you see in cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice where people paint images on the streets quite regularly. It must have taken him ages to work out the dimensions on these pieces as well as constant reordering of the focal point. Pretty astonishing stuff.

Edgar Müller was born in Mülheim/Ruhr on 10 July 1968 and grew up in the rural city of Straelen in the outermost west of Germany. His great artistic talent to represent its surroundings graphically and picturesquely turns out early, fascinated by painting from youth. He attends the high school in the neighboring town Geldern where the internationally important competition of the street painters takes place for over 30 years now. Inspired by the transitory works of art which meet him on his way to school Edgar Müller take part to this festival at the age of 16 years for the first time. With 19 years he wins this competition with a copy of the picture "Jesus at Emmaus " (Caravaggio).

Within the years following on this he could decide many other international competitions for himself. Since 1998 Edgar Müller owns the title 'maestro madonnari' (master street painter) whom worldwide only few artists bear. This award will allocate on the best known festival of the street painters in the small Pilgrim town Grazie since 1972 in Italy.

Arround the age of 25 Müller decides to devote himself to street painting completely. He travels all over Europe and denies his cost of living with his transitory art. He gives workshops at schools and is co-organizer and member of committee of different Street-Painting-Festivals. Mueller sets up the first and so far only board for street painters in Germany - an internet forum designed for solidarity of the german street painter community.

Edgar Muellers open studio is the street. He presents the people the excellent works of old masters in their weekday, and draws his perfect copies to the observers feet. He invites his audience to his fascination about the old masters art, her expressed view of the world - seeing and understanding it in depth.

Despite courses among well-known artists and studies to the communication designer Edgar is actually an autodidact. He looks for new representation forms for himself again and again. Inspired by the three-dimensional illusion paintings (particularly by works of Kurt Wenner and Julian Beever) he follows this new art form and creates his own style. Based on his knowledge about traditional painting and modern communication Müller uses a more simple and graphic language for his art. He paints over large areas of urban public life and gives them a new appearance thereby, challenging the perception of the passers-by. The observer becomes a part of the new scenery offered. While proceeding their daylife the people are changing the painting's statement on and on. Numerous publications in press and television draw one's attention to its unusual art.

Suite For Ma Dukes

2009-02-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of attending an event that completely and utterly affirmed my love for music, Suite For Ma Dukes, an orchestral tribute to the music and memory of J Dilla.

The night kicked off with the legendary J Rocc of the Beat Junkies absolutely killing it after House Shoes had gotten the place all nicely whipped up.

Then the orchestra played with a cast that included the likes of Karriem Riggings, Bilal, Diana 'Decibel' Booker, Amp Fiddler, Talib Kweli, Posdnuos, Dweli, Illa J, Common and loads more all conducted beautifully and with an incredible amount of genuine emotion by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.

The show was shot by B+ and will probably be made available in the coming months but in the meantime check this sneaky film of the finale and the encore that has just surfaced on Youtube.

This was without a doubt a night of music that I would have loved each and every one of you to have been able to experience. I do not have the words to describe how incredible it was.

Tony Allen & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Documentary

2009-02-23T17:41:00.001-08:00

Fela Kuti v Kano - I'm an I.T.T.

2009-02-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

This is a more than decent mash-up of Fela's I.T.T. (International Thief Thief) and italo bomb I'm Ready by Kano, and is something that I've never gotten the chance to play out but will probably do so the next time I step up to the decks, whenever that may be. Proper dancefloor tackle for a Saturday.

Fela Kuti v Kano - I'm An I.T.T.

Tony was 18...once!

2009-02-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

This was a mix done by my partner-in-crime Paul Hughes for Tony Spaceface's 40th birthday celebrations that apparently went down an absolute storm at the Sally last weekend. Happy birthday Tony, and what a great gift. My 30th is coming up in a week and the gift of music is always welcome. Download the mix here.

Tracklisting - all unashamedly pre-88 party-bangers.

Love International - Dance On The Groove
Izit - Stories (stories mix)
Mano Negra - king kong five
Cry Sisco - Afrodizziact
Duke of Burlington - Flash 83 (dub)
Chris Rea - Josephine (version francais)
Evo e - Esta Amor
Dizzi Heights - Would I Find Love
Kongas - Anikan-o (tom moulton mix)
Mascara - Baja (dub)
Its Immaterial - Driving Away From Home (dead mans curve)
Scarlet Fantastic - No Memory (extra sensory mix)

Marlena Shaw - Woman Of The Ghetto

2009-02-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

The first female to be signed to Blue Note, who are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year, Marlena Shaw's deep take on soul mesmerized players and punters alike as she charged up the charts all in her own inimitable style. This cut, Woman Of The Ghetto, was famously being sampled in the 90's by Blueboy on their hit track Remember Me which seemed to be everywhere when it was released on Guidance, and was also sampled by St. Germain on one of my favourite cuts of all-time Rose Rouge at the turn on the century both of which if you haven't heard before you really should seek out. In addition to her time on Blue Note, Marlena has released records on Chess, Cadet, Columbia, Soul Brother, Verve and South Bay the majority of which are absolutely essential for any self-respecting record collector. Marlena was recently honored at the World Wide Awards in London and she continues to seduce with her sultry and dulcet tones the world over. Look beyond the dime-a-dozen pop strumpets littering the airwaves and sink your lugs into the real deal. This is one to play ear-bursting loud.

Marlena Shaw - Woman Of The Ghetto

Joe Crepusculo - Gabriela - El Guincho remix

2009-02-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

I know absolutely nothing about Joe Crepusculo beyond, and to be honest this is a guess, that he is Spanish and that his work can be at times very hard to digest, so it is with a huge sigh of relief that El Guincho has gotten his hands on a track and turned into what is admittedly just the right side of cod reggae with an incredibly full sounding reworking. This is just the sort of thing that the Balearic (slowly becoming a dirty word) massive should eat up. One for those days when the sun is shining.

Joe Crepusculo - Gabriela - El Guincho remix

Koushik - Lying In The Sun

2009-02-18T20:28:00.000-08:00

Koushik Ghosh is an interesting cat, not content with simply making hip hop he blends a health does of psychedelia in and the results at time are quite breathtaking. He's worked with a number of artists such as Madvillian, Manitoba, Four Tet and many more and has found a home on the increasingly psych-friendly label Stones Throw who have just recently released a great 45 of his. This track, Lying In The Sun, taken from his must have album Out My Window is an adventurous take on the beats cannon and sounds absolutely incredible in the sun, which finally peaked its head out today after a few days of snow. Buy the album, trust me.

Koushik - Lying In The Sun

Daptone Records Broken Into

2009-02-18T10:35:00.002-08:00

I've been asked to post this on the blog.

Friends and associates,As you may have heard through the grapevine by now, Daptone was broken into last night. Unfortunately, there was a lot of equipment (mics, pre-amps, monitors, turntables, guitars, amps, computers, etc.) stolen and damaged. It is going to take us a while to go through everything and take full stock of what was stolen, and we are not supposed to touch anything until the cops come back to collect fingerprints so we can only guess what’s missing from some mic drawers and cabinets.

And, no, we did not have insurance. We had been shopping around with different companies earlier this month but had not signed a check, so nothing was insured. We are working on replacing the gate in front, installing an alarm system, and getting insurance, but it is President’s day so it’s not going as quickly as we would have liked. Nydia’s computer was stolen (which wasn’t backed up) and the modems/ phone system was ripped out, so we’ll be relatively out of commission for a few days.

I would like to ask for everyone’s help first in keeping an eye out for all of our stuff showing up on ebay/craigslist/local music shops, and secondly (and more realistically) keeping an eye out for good deals on headphones, mics, pre-amps, etc. I could really use a heads up on any kind of studio package for sale or studio equipment to be possibly bought or borrowed as soon as possible. We have a session scheduled for Friday to lay down some music for (I know this sounds surreal) Rod Stewart, and I’m going to have to get the studio running by then. I know I’m going to need to find headphones, cables, mics, and pre-amps by then. I’m not sure what else yet.

Upon first glance we are definitely missing:
Fender Super Guitar Amp in case
Fender Deluxe Guitar Amp
A whole bunch of headphones and wires
Nydia’s HP laptop computer
One Desktop MacIntosh Computer
One Purple Audio API style lunchbox with
four Purple Audio Biz mic pre-amps
2 Yamaha NS10 monitors
Vintage Harmony Rocket Guitar
One steel string acoustic guitar
Martin Tenor sax in a gig bag
Technics 1200 turntable
Ion USB turntable
Teac Receiver/stereo amp
Sony dual deck CD burner/player
All of our modem/phone system stuff was ripped out and taken.
A whole bunch of condensor and dynamic microphones (I still need to figure out exactly what’s missing)
The power supply for my Trident console was tossed and the board was moved (probably not gently) so the status of that is still questionable.
A baldwin organ was tossed and is probably broken.
Lacie External hard drive.

Over the next few days, as we sort out the rubble, we are going to figure out what else we lost.

We are putting in a roll down front gate, alarm system, and finally getting our insurance happening this week. We are also going to hire a security guard to watch the house for tonight as the cops and alarm guy seemed pretty confident that they will be back with a truck now that they’ve seen what’s in here.

Thanks for keeping eyes open for us. AND PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US.

Thankfully, we all still have our health, ambition, tape machines, and sense of humor in tact. You can slow us down, but you can’t stop us. Sleep well knowing we here at Daptone will continue to…

Keep putting Soul up,

Gabriel Roth

You know what to do people! Keep an eye & ear out… any dodgy gear going for.

If you know anything contact the boys through their website.

Sushi

2009-02-17T13:11:00.001-08:00

Sushi is by far and away my favourite food and Tokyo is by far and away my favourite city, so this brilliantly simple idea really caught my imagination this afternoon.

A LEGO interpretation of the Obama Innauguration

2009-02-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

Simply ace.

Hot Rocks - Chopper - Extended Edit

2009-02-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

When Sebestian Tellier's incredible La Ritournelle was released a few years ago there was a rush of people seeking out alternatives to its undeniable charms and this cheeky edit that surfaced was hailed by one of Manchester's premier tastemakers, Jeff Plant, as being even better and over the years that I've been pulling this out I have to say that I couldn't agree more because as far as end of the night records go (and that is my favourite part of any night) this is exceptional, proper soaring, and dare I say it, emotional piece of work. Beautiful.

Hot Rocks - Chopper - Extended Edit

Matmos - Steam & Sequins for Larry Levan

2009-02-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

This is a bit of a mystery to me, I know who Matmos is but I'm not sure where this record is from but I'm assuming it is coming out on a new album at some point in the very near future. Matmos are of course American cut and paste producers whose work is as clever as it it bonkers, the majority of which would part a dancefloor like Moses but play their records at an afterparty and everyone and their dog wants to know what has just tickled their ears. I actually prefer Drew Daniels' The Soft Pink Truth stuff but this is a perfect example of what made Matthew Herbert to sign them to his Accidental label a few years ago. To be honest, I haven't quite made my mind up about this one - what do you think?

Matmos - Steam & Sequins for Larry Levan

Tony Allen Live!

2009-02-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

Now as many of you know I am a tad obsessed with former Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, and recently he played a gig in London at Karen P's Broadcasting night that included an incredible array of guest artists including the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, who are made up of eight of erstwhile Sun Ra Arkestra member Phil Cohran's sons, Ty, Natty and Senegal's legendary Baba Maal all of which was captured recently for RBMA radio and you can listen to it here. Truly inspirational stuff, and a great interview with the man himself through the broadcast.

Fake Male Voice - OMG!!!FMV!!!

2009-02-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is a venture into solo work from TV on The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and is from the superbly packaged 7" that comes accompanied by a DVD and is released on a Japanese label with a Brooklyn mailing address, hmmmmm. This does sound like a TV on The Radio record but without the heavy guitar and horn work that characterized their last must have album, and it has most certainly grown on me in recent days. Definitely something I would've played on the, erm, radio.

Fake Male Voice - OMG!!!FMV!!!

The Selby

2009-02-10T10:43:00.001-08:00

Todd Selby is a New York-based photographer who has been shooting movie directors, fashion models, designers, painters, writers and indie magazine editors in their homes in New York, London, Paris, Mexico City and Los Angeles and he posts the results on his brilliant website theselby.com which I have become fairly obsessed with in recent weeks since I was introduced to it via Tyler Askew's excellent blog. The one thing that I have learned is that if a house has a KAWS companion then generally I end up liking the person after a few hours of Google gymnastics. This is one of those little gems that makes the Interweb so great.

James Yancey RIP

2009-02-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

Born James Yancey, Detroit-bred J Dilla excelled as a hip-hop producer with a penchant for collaborating with the most versatile and underground of hip-hop performers. In the mid- to late '90s he conceived beats for hip-hop's most eclectic visionaries: De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Tha Pharcyde, the Roots. His producing style was never flashy, often exerting the right low-range mix of street funk and boho jazziness perfect for many of the aforementioned artists. The 32-year-old Dilla passed away from lupus complications on Fri., Feb. 10 2006. He will always be seen as a godsend to both hip-hop artists and listeners.

Gone but not forgotten.

Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses - Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve re-animation

2009-02-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

Krautrock-obsessed psychdelia masters Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve have somehow managed to make the house record of the year with their superb take on the new Franz Ferdinand single that is as good as it is surprising. This is very much a hark back to the times when Gourmet Records were at their zenith and every record that came out had a groove with just enough melody to keep the smiles on the faces as you danced the night away well beyond the witching hour. Superb stuff and a record that I can certainly see the more discerning selectors out there igniting discos with. You better be quick with this one as it is very limited.

Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses - Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve re-animation

Idjut Boys - Roll Over and Snore - Long Stayer Mix

2009-02-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

Dan Tyler and Conrad McDonnell are the Idjut Boys, two of the finest proponents of deep disco, well that is not entirely accurate as they were deep house when they first emerged and then cosmic disco came along and they were slotted into that camp, so I'm sticking with the lazy deep disco, and over the years they have released and recorded music as Pastrami Man, The Idjuts, Phantom Slasher and many, many more but I've always felt that they'd left their best dubbed out discoid moments for The Idjut Boys moniker and this wonderful piece of rolling dance music that came out on the sadly missed Nuphonic is easily my favourite. It is all about the piano-line, which is one that is just the right side of smooth and works an absolute treat for just about any crowd. A lovely record to have a boogie to.

Idjut Boys - Roll Over and Snore - Long Stayer Mix

Coming Soon

2009-02-07T14:08:00.001-08:00

Made in Japan.

Raise It Up For Ma Dukes

2009-02-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is James Yancey aka J Dilla's birthday and unfortunately we lost this incredible talent to a rare blood disease and sadly his mother is now afflicted with the same condition, so with that Stones Throw have enlisted the help of Dutch artist Parra to design an exclusive t-shirt where some of the proceeds will go to paying for her medical bills. An incredibly generous thing for the label to do and I have just done my part by purchasing the t-shirt. You can buy it yourself here or at the usual local stockists in your area.

Carlos Niño and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson will also be performing a Suite For Ma Dukes, a celebration of J Dills with a 36-piece orchestra on February 22nd in Los Angeles, the previous installment included the wonderful Ethio-Jazz legend, Mulatu Astatke, and with future shows by Brasilian master Arthur Verocai and the legendary David Axelrod this is something that if you're in the area you truly should try and get down to. Tickets and more information here.

Here is a taster from the series.

DJ Hell - The Angst

2009-02-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

Munich's DJ Hell may be to some associated with the blink-and-you-missed-it Electroclash scene but I first heard his records when he released the incredible My Definition of House Music, which still sounds fresh today, and his work when he launched International Deejay Gigolos and his spellbinding work with the immensely talented Anthony Rother all of which are body music and not limited to haircuts. This track is a bit of a case of two steps forward and one step back with Hell making a record that is almost balearic but with those electronic touches that we've come to know and love from the man. Next to MDOH this is to my ears his best track! Seriously good stuff from a man who can.

DJ Hell - The Angst

Raphael Saadiq - Big Easy

2009-02-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

Former Tony! Toni! Toné!, Lucy Pearl and D'Angelo writer/producer/performer Raphael Saadiq has just released an absolute gem of an album, The Way I See It which features performances by Joss Stone, The Rebirth Brass Band, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z and Rocio Mendoza all of whom contribute to what is a scintillating piece of modern soul that really deserves to be a lot bigger than it waswhen it was released, but fear not its charms have been revealed to the record buying community by the likes of Gilles Peterson and dancefloors are throwing some serious shapes to records like this one, Big Easy which to my ears is the very epitome of Saturday night gymnastics on a 7". I absolutely love this. Play it loud and I defy you to not clap your hands while you listen to it. Sunshine.

Raphael Saadiq - Big Easy

Crowhead - The Bends

2009-02-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

This is really ace. Salfordian man about town and all round good egg, Woody is about to release an album on ATIC Recordings in the summer and this track entitled The Bends is the first sneak peak to have emerged and what a teaser it is. He's the resident DJ at Friends & Family all over the world but as with all the lads involved in the night he is a music man and his album promises to be a true representation of all of them. Can't wait for this to come out on vinyl. Big!

Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye - Music

2009-02-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

Here is a real Monday morning jam, something that gets the week off to a perfect start. Erick is of course one half of legendary hip hop band EPMD who recorded this jam for the soundtrack of a film that I never saw and in truth can't be bothered to look up and obviously years of sampling the likes of Eric Clapton, Zapp and the like hasn't been lost on our man who expertly blends legendary soul man Marvin Gaye's dulcet tones into what is an exceptional piece of hip hop. Just imagine if sampling laws weren't as stringent as they are now, we'd be swimming in genius and not having to fight through piles of violence that seem to fill most records that spew forth from the Tri-State area these days. Big up an original, and yes that was one sentence!

Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye - Music

Yaw - Where Would You Be

2009-01-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

This was easily my single of the year for 2008 and even though I have listened to it hundreds of times it still kills me each and every time. Emotive backing, solid lyrics and an arrangement to die for, this is modern soul music at its finest. Nothing much more to say than turn it up loud and drown in the beauty.

Yaw - Where Would You Be

Janelle Monáe - SIncerely, Jane

2009-01-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

Janelle Monáe is destined to be absolutely huge, and I was introduced to her by Geoff over at Pass The Feeling On and what is abundantly clear is that this is pop music made perfectly with great arrangements that are as interesting as they are catchy, none of that watered down Britney (bar Toxic, which is a tune!) shit but rather a tune with a massive Northern groove and a singer who sings the cut to perfection. She has been nominated for a Grammy this year and anybody who lists her influences as Judy Garland, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Jackie Wilson, Grace Brown, Karen O, Lauryn Hill, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Outkast, Nona Hendryx, Bach, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Fiona Apple, Björk, Anita Baker, and The Hives is ok in my book. Check her performing in the video below for some serious delivery and dance moves - I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the near future. (Oh, and judging by her band and the clips somebody has thrown some serious cash behind her!)

Janelle Monáe - SIncerely, Jane

Bill Withers - Harlem - Eamon Harkin edit

2009-01-29T22:18:00.000-08:00

This is quite simply the best edit that I have heard in years. All of those of you who take scissors to tracks let this be a lesson to you, he's kept the quality and feeling of the original in tact but at the same time he has given it loads of bite and this is screaming to be played to the heaving masses. Now just who is Eamon Harkin? Well, he's an Irish-born New York-based DJ who plays pretty much across the board because like he says, "In this day in age, with few exceptions, it’s really quite boring to hear the same genre played seamlessly all night." Never a truer word uttered. He's played alongside everyone from Afrika Bambaataa to Crystal Castles to The Glimmers to A-Trak everywhere from Paris to London all without selling his soul to the commercial devil and playing music true to his tastes, and with his edits appearing on Wurst and other projects on the horizon I think it is time that we took note of the man as he's on the verge of being very big indeed. This edit is banging!

Bill Withers - Harlem - Eamon Harkin edit

The Superimposers - The Northern Song - Ashley Beedle's Southern Psychedelic Mix

2009-01-29T21:56:00.000-08:00

The Superimposers are a band that should be a lot bigger than they are, what with them sounding like the bastard love child of The Beach Boys and The Mizzell Brothers and on this single The Northern Song they have been aided by studio wizard Ashley Beedle and the result is just the sort of thing that will sound absolutely incredible in the sun surrounded by all of your mates. Check their wonderful website and radio show, which recently featured he of impeccable taste Sir Moonboots, for more of the magnificence. Here is an excellent interview with the duo that you really should read. All around sublime stuff.

The Superimposers - The Northern Song - Ashley Beedle's Southern Psychedelic Mix

Black Devil Disco Club - Never No Dollars

2009-01-29T19:53:00.000-08:00

Now this piece of Italo-inspired goodness may not be to everyone's tastes but lately I have been playing this one mega-loud at 5pm when I get home from work and trying unsuccessfully to get my cats to throw some shapes with me as I make a vague attempt at turning my front room into a frankly rubbish recreation of Typhoon. Now this isn't even the sort of record that Bepe Loda would've played but it is definitely late-night heads down tackle that deserves Saturday night plays, so get on it if you haven't already. The guys behind the record Bernard Fevre and Jacky Giordano made this pretty much from scratch playing all the parts or so legend goes. I heard a rumour that the whole obscure found in a vault story is nothing more than their label trying to create legend in a bid to shift units but at the end of the day who cares really as long as the music is as good as this. Play it loud and drown in the synths.

Black Devil Disco Club - Never No Dollars

Animal Collective - Brothersport

2009-01-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

Animal Collective are avant-garde musicians from Baltimore, MD who even when they're making tracks that may not be instantly palatable they never fail to make you listen and there aren't too many acts that you're prepared to lovingly sift through the dirge to get to the incredible and this is one of them. This is the last cut from their new album Merriweather Post Pavilion and was supposedly originally based around a sample of a Moodymann record but I can't hear it but this is the type of record that you could definitely play it towards the end of the night when a bit of clapping and jumping about is required before you step out back into the real credit crunched world after a night of intoxicated escapism. Buy the album, trust me.

Animal Collective - Brothersport

Fabulous Souls - Take Me

2009-01-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

This record was unearthed by Egon for his Now Again imprint a few years ago during his Mid-West funk digging phase (last I checked he is busy mining Korean and Turkish funk) and pretty much all I know about this superb energetic slice of get up is that they released two versions, one done in their native Indianapolis and one in Los Angeles which was the norm for touring bands eager to put their tracks out wherever they went. I can't help but wonder how many closets and storage vaults have masters to other touring bands letting off some steam at some pitstop on the way to the next dance. Actually Egon probably knows the answer to that and I'll ask him when he comes up here in February. Records like this reaffirm why I love music so much.

Fabulous Souls - Take Me

John Martyn RIP

2009-01-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Scottish music legend John Martyn this morning. I have written about his epic track Don't Want To Know off the essential Solid Air on this blog previously here and truly words can't do justice to the big man who always thought that the music was way more important than the adulation or the fame, which is incredibly rare in the current music climate where people seem only content on getting famous and not taking the time to think of the longevity of what they are putting out - it is always a shame when people dilute the message. John's theme was life and all the ups and downs that go along with it and he did it in a way that made you think. I always play John when the mood calls for something serene.

I was introduced to this clip by Kelvin Brown a few years back and is what started me off on the road to enlightenment about our hero and is something that I've watched on plenty of occasions and seems appropriate for today.

RIP.

The Designers Republic

2009-01-28T15:52:00.001-08:00

Sheffield-based The Designers Republic were shut this week by what is effectively a perfect storm in the advertising world - they lost a few major pitches, a client owed them a massive amount of money, a huge tax bill came through that should've been rectified and they lost a couple of clients. You're pretty much dead in the water if one or two of those happen but if all four occur at the same time then you're done.

When I was at Michaelis, everyone in the Design & New Media department idolised Designers Republic simply because they were doing everything that we wanted to do, namely working with cutting-edge record labels on artwork where money wasn't an object (to a degree). I mean who doesn't want to work for Warp? 23 years in the business has seen them work from a multitude of clients that most agencies would give their front teeth to have, and especially have those same clients who pretty much gave them free reign which is almost unheard of. They were anti-establishment but at the same time they did embrace brash consumerism and this juxtaposition lead to arresting work that still catches the eye all of these years later. This is of course the agency that had the balls to open their own shop in Shibuya, The Peoples Bureau For Consumer Information™, in an area that is so heavily trafficked ideal space isn't the easiest to come by and did so with aplomb.

They've designed everything from record sleeves to the packaging for Wipeout to their own Swatch watch to rebranding an entire city, Quito in Ecuador, not bad, eh? How you ever get the chance to rebrand a city is beyond me. In an age where cutting-design slowed down and because dull and monochromatic they stepped forward and produced work that at times felt like someone was eating your brain out with a spoon - check the Aphex Twin 'Windowlicker' cover for further proof - and for that I salute them but this may just be a turning point in tDR story as Ian Anderson's parting words do give me a glimmer of hope that this great design institution hasn't had its last laugh just yet - "I’m looking out the window and it’s a lovely sunny day - as it always is in Sheffield - and I think there are a lot of plus points. The Republic is dead… long live the Republic."

Obama Inauguration

2009-01-25T22:56:00.000-08:00

Dustin Ross is an excellent New York-based photographer who recently went to the historic President Obama inauguration last Tuesday, and the above picture just shows the sheer size and scope of the momentous occasion. Check his other entries on his blog for more excellent work.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - How Long Do I Have To Wait For You (Ticklah remix)

2009-01-25T22:08:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of seeing Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings in San Diego and they were absolutely firing. Sharon is a master frontwoman who had no qualms calling up people from the crowd to dance with her all while showing off her impeccable timing and unbelievable charisma that had the entire mob who showed up well and truly eating out of the palms of her hands. They sang just about every tune that I wanted to hear off their three incredible albums all in just a shade under two hours and there wasn't one moment where I thought about ducking off to the bar or having a chat with my nearest and dearest. Easily one of the top ten shows I have ever seen in my life (which I have learned is a very American thing to do, walk out of a show and declare it in your "top ten ever", so fuck it, when in Rome). This remix by Ticklah who used to be in The Dap Kings but now front Antibalas is an absolutely gorgeous slice of soulful reggae that has had me dancing around my front room on many a morning before work. Definitely a label and a band that can do no wrong in my book and one that if you haven't invested in then buy all their albums, you won't be sorry.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - How Long Do I Have To Wait For You (Ticklah remix)

Amadou & Mariam - Compagnon De La Vie

2009-01-25T21:34:00.000-08:00

Mali's Amadou & Mariam are two blind musicians whose music doesn't necessarily fit into any stereotypes that you'd expect artists from the region but who take a wide array of influences from all over the African continent and stick them into a blender that is equal parts groove and soul. This cut is from their album that they released late last year Welcome To Mali and is the type of tune that I could see burning through some of the more discerning dancefloors out there. Not a clue what they are on about but this is a record that is on serious rotation here at Casual Towers.

Amadou & Mariam - Compagnon De La Vie

One Hundred Project : Paul & Marc

2009-01-22T19:59:00.000-08:00

Yeah, this is me but I've been sitting on this one for a while waiting for Paul to get his answers to the questions back to me but seeing as he is understandably busy with his radio show on Salford FM and his ever lovely brood of kids keeping him fighting fit, so I thought I'd take a stab at it. This is also the last time that these questions will be used for the One Hundred Project as I'm going to do different questions for everyone who braves the challenge. So without further ado here I go...

What is on your stereo at the moment?
Moonboots' incredible Primavera mix that takes in everything from Brasilian bits to beardy genius from a while back, which I have been playing in my office of late at the end of the work day as I unwind and it has been pure bliss. Record-wise I have been on a 45 buying frenzy and have unearthed some gems most notably this single by Yedi Ormanin Sesi who I think is Voice of The Seven Woods but packaged to look like a Turkish single from the 70s and is really exciting me at the moment. I can't wait to see if more come out from this project - ears firmly to the tracks on this one. I've also been playing loads of The Undisputed Truth, Norman sure knew how to make psychedelic soul music - check Smiling Faces Sometimes for proof of the sadly departed man's genius.

3 records that changed your life. Why?

Goldie - Inner City Life
My initial forays into clubbing were an absolute mess with me going anywhere and everywhere that would let a 16 year-old in, and as you can imagine they were never the most stellar of establishments filled with people who are probably six feet under now but what I'm grateful for is that I got to listen to a real smorgasbord of music at the various nights from thumping techno to jungle to electronica to soul to house and all points inbetween and going to these places is probably why I still have a schizophrenic approach to listening to music - I'm as likely to listen to thumping Surgeon records as I am to blissed-out balearic beauties and I'm truly grateful for this. This is a cut from Goldie's incredible album Timeless released in 1995 and was at the tail-end of the early years and I can remember the first time I heard this, I was in a club listening to a DJ who was pretty shit in all truth and on my way out the door when all of a sudden Diane Charlamagne's voice came over the system and I was well and truly instantly charmed and I had to have the record immediately, so I went charging over to the DJ booth and begged to know what it was as this was still during the dark days of the cover up and thankfully I was told and rushed out to buy it that morning and must have listened to it from start to finish at least a hundred times over the course of that week. This is one of those outstanding records that still makes me stop in my tracks nearly 14 years later. Sublime stuff and for a short time was the future.

Pepe Bradock - Life
As with just about everyone else at the end of the 90s I went through a deep house faze and liked nothing more than playing every record at -8 while getting lost in the groove and while the majority of the records released during that time have aged incredibly badly this gem by Pepe Bradock has well and truly stood the test of time and I even pitch it up a bit now, how times have changed. If I were only allowed to keep one record from my collection this would be it. Magnifique.

The Cure - Lullaby
I blame my older sister for my blatantly unhealthy obsession with The Cure. During what I now see as her goth days - hey it was the early 90's - she would listen to this continuously on her stereo and amongst the absolute drivel that got played this would always get me excited. Now I have never been a goth or even remotely coffin kiddish and I used to get a lot of stick off my friends for playing this but when a record is this good I simply couldn't not play it even if it did clear the occasional dancefloor. Years later when I found out this was an Ibiza classic when the white isle was still a magical place to go I have to admit that I did feel more than a bit vindicated.

What are you looking forward to?
I'm driving down to San Diego tomorrow to go and see Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings at this warehouse club near the Gaslamp District with some good friends and am looking forward to shaking my tail and getting a few drinks down the hatch. I'm also looking forward to kick-starting my record label later this year...watch this space!

What couldn’t you live without? Why?
The obvious answer is music but I'd be nothing without my wife who is truly the most fantastic person I have ever met. She keeps me fairly grounded and my eye on the prize.

Most memorable gig?
I've had a few really good ones in my time but the most memorable one was the night that Paul & I clicked at Northern Disco when we came on in the back room and played a few too many house records at a strictly disco party while severely inebriated all while jumping about like the overexcited fools that we are with a crowd of people well and truly into it. It was that night that I became the left deck and Paul the right deck and unfortunately we're separated by a continent and an ocean but if we weren't we'd be jumping about absolutely everywhere that would have us. There is always something special when I get to play alongside Paul. I'm also the Godfather to his daughter which was something that I am truly honored to be and was incredibly touched when Paul and Gaynor asked me.

Who/what are your influences?
Paul Hughes, Manchester, Pierre Bruwer, Shibuya, Jif, dark basements, John Trailer Trash, Manchester City FC, Ryan Hunn, digging through dusty piles of records for hours and unearthing a real gem, Ryan Hunn, sushi, Kelvin Brown, Taipei, Bruno Morphet, dancing to records till well after the sun has risen, Laurent Garnier, grafitti on the highways and byways of the world, Moonboots, demented people on the bus, Quincy Jones, adidas, Steven McNulty (and his burping robot) and loads, loads more.

What is the best and worst thing about the city that you live in?
I live in a tiny little town on the top of a mountain in Southern California where there truly isn't that much to do but I do work at an Arts High School and I have to truly say that the kids are the best thing about being up here as they inspire me in small ways that always fuel my next thought which is a great thing, that and they do genuinely make me laugh more often than not which I appreciate. The worst thing is that it is in the middle of nowhere and getting anywhere is a mission but you can't have it all, eh?

Given the accelerated pace of modern culture, what are we due a revival in?
Long carefree disco nights...

Hero? Why?
J. M. Coetzee, Helen Suzman, Nelson Mandela, Breyten Bretenbach and my grandfather. All explain themselves really.

Is there anything else that you feel that we should know?
Besides the fact that I feel like a bit of a prat for interviewing myself nothing much. Enjoy the mix.

Paul & Marc - One Hundred Project

Paul & Marc - Transatlantic Lovin' Spree

2009-01-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

This is a mix that was originally intended for Another Night On Earth's Press Play series to which we've contributed before with our Get High, Then Go To The Beach installment - which pleasingly has been downloaded damn near 2000 times now - but it got lost a bit in Chris' incredibly high quality line-up of mixes that he hosts on what is easily the best leftfield disco blog on the highways on the ol' Interweb. It has dated a bit over the months, so we have decided to record something fresh for Chris and host this one on here. This one is full of the usual heavy hitters, Quiet Village, Mark E, Toby Tobias, Debbie Jacobs and plenty more. Cheekily this mix was originally called Nat's Norks after a certain forum member's, erm, assets. Enjoy.

Paul & Marc - Transatlantic Lovin' Spree

One Hundred Project : Red Rack'em

2009-01-20T08:32:00.001-08:00

Danny Berman aka Red Rack’em is well known for his naughty pirate soul remixes and disco edits which have been supported by the likes of the Unabombers, Todd Terje, Swag, Yam Who, Prins Thomas as well as institutions such as Fat City and Piccadilly Records. But this is only one small part of Dannys musical voyage. As a DJ he is known for his club rocking, genre busting eclectic sets and this diversity is reflected in his broad output as a producer. He makes cutting edge detroit 2 step as Marlinspike, wonky disco and cosmic boogie as Hot Coins plus beatdown house and glitchy hip hop as Red Rack’em. His work is respected by heroes such as Carl Craig, the Idjut Boys, the Rush Hour crew and Domu. The biggest supporter though, has been Gilles Peterson who has played several tracks on Radio 1 and recently commissioned a Red Rack’em guest mix for his Worldwide International Show. He has also been invited to play at the 2009 Worldwide awards alongside his heroes Jazzanova.

Danny recently returned to the Hot Coins disco project with the Laissez Faire EP on Society Records which was awarded record of the week by Piccadilly and was well supported by Prins Thomas, Chris Duckenfield, Soul Mekanik and Bill Brewster. The lead track Norway Man was licensed to Fred Deakins ‘Nu Balearica’ comp on Ministry Of Sound. This led to him signing an album deal with the mighty Tirk Recordings who have just released the Valiant Truth EP which has also been well received. Danny’s unique take on beatdown has also been well received, with EPs on Untracked and Autodiscoteque pushing a distinctly housey sound. He is currently hard at work on the Loose Change album for Tirk which should be out by summer 2009. (Taken directly from his bio on www.redrackem.com)

Read the interview here.

Red Rack'em Influences Mix

1. 3 Bag Brew – In Between Mouthfulls
2. Upsetters – Tackio
3. Funkadelic –Back In Our Minds
4. The Beatnuts – No Equal
5. Black Moon – Shit Is Real
6. Brian Eno + David Byrne – Mea Culpa
7. Jimmy Edgar – Sheer, Make, Serve
8. Patty Blingh – Brother ,The Point - 2562 Remix
9. Harmomia - Watussi
10. Motorbass – Neptune
11. 2 Lone Swordsmen – Don't Call It Jerk
12. Da One Away – Trash The Junk
13. Pepe Bradock - Ghost
14. Radiq – The Genetic Code

Download the mix here.

Tings 'n Things

2009-01-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

Some exciting things are happening up here and at the school that I work at, so there should be plenty of interesting things on the blog in the coming weeks.

First off, Egon and Aloe Blacc from Stones Throw are coming up to the school and there should be interviews with both of them as well as some exclusive little bits 'n pieces for all of you to enjoy. We also have Carlos Nino from Ammoncontact and Build An Ark coming up and I'll have an interview with him up here in audio form with hopefully some exclusive bits being played from his forthcoming projects. Then we have HVW8 coming up and they're bringing Computer Jay to come and show us his box of tricks. Ryan Hunn and Jonny Dub of hoya:hoya/Sketch City infamy are also coming up to conduct a little producing session with the kids and I'll be speaking to Ryan about his new EP, which he finished the other day (aren't Facebook status updates essential?).

I've also just finished another One Hundred Project installment, this time with Red Rackem aka Hot Coins that will be up on Monday and makes for very interesting reading. This interview will be both here and on Basic Soul who will also get interviews with Clyde and one of my absolute heroes Charles Webster that should be up by the end of the month. Couple that with my record label that will be up and running come May and 2009 is looking like a bumper year.

And, yes that is a picture of where I live.

Egon's Blog on NPR

2009-01-09T00:23:00.001-08:00

Just a quick heads up for all of you beat heads to keep an eye on Egon of Stones Throw General Manager and founder of Now-Again Records' blog on NPR. The guy who he calls Franco in the Africa post is Frank from Voodoo Funk who I have interviewed here on this very blog before. Read Egon's blog here. Proper beat head is our Egon.

Faux Pas - Rose's Lament/Renfield's Dream

2009-01-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

Fucking hell! Where did this come from? All I know about Faux Pas is that he/she/they are from Melbourne and have a nifty website that sells everything from CDs to t-shirts and that they've only gone and released the best stone-cold balearic tune in eons. There is something incredibly enticing and sophisticated about the melodies and arrangements in these tracks, elements that would make these absolute anthems if Manchester's legendary Sunday session Aficionado was still on - although these aren't out on vinyl so you'd have to break a few rules to play it there but for tunes this good I'd gladly wear a record sleeve on my head all night long. Absolute quality and I do believe that the beards have found someone new to fawn over.

Faux Pas - Rose's Lament

Faux Pas - Renfield's Dream

C. Denner - Not The Indian

2009-01-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

C. Denner aka Pilooski dropped this cut on the mysterious Moxie imprint late last year and its teutonic disco goodness immediately sucked me in. This is just the sort of late night thumper that is made for sweaty basements filled with people rolled up in a fist-pumping frenzy. Great track from a producer always coming up with something new.

C. Denner - Not The Indian

Seasick Steve -Thunderbird

2009-01-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Some seriously heavy blues here from Seasick Steve a man with as colorful a history as any man who has ever treaded the boards as a musician. He's been a hobo, has lived in over 50 houses with his Norwegian wife and makes his own instruments one of which is called the Three String Trance Wonder. You have got to love this man and his music is absolutely burning, and when I say burning I mean BURNIN'!!! I have spent a huge portion of this week listening to his records and every time I play them that much louder. Inspiring stuff.

Seasick Steve -Thunderbird

RIP Helen Suzman

2009-01-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest South Africans ever sadly passed away today. Read more about this courageous woman here. RIP.

A reader writes...

2008-12-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

This is a first, and probably a last, but I got this email from Sledge today:

"Hey Marc !

I thought some of your readers might be interested in this purchase...

Please hit it up on your site, I want this great LP to go to a good home."

...and having heard of this band before I thought I'd share with you an article that appeared in the Guardian written by Duncan Brooker a few years ago.

This is an extract from the article.

One of the bands I was most interested in was Air Fiesta Matata. A Kenyan 10-piece, Matata produced east Africa's finest funk in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1969 they played with Miles Davis in Germany, and Davis was impressed enough to invite them to America. In 1971, the BBC World Service crowned them Best Band in Africa.

Read the full article here and let me know if any of you have it or indeed if you buy it.

Oh, and while you're at it check Sledge's blog here.

Have a great New Year everyone.

RIP Freddie Hubbard

2008-12-31T11:07:00.000-08:00

Jazz legend Freddie Hubbard passed away on Monday aged 70. Freddie is known for having recorded literally hundreds of tracks with the likes of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Cannonball Adderley, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and many others. His worked earned him Grammy awards and his playing influenced generations of trumpet players who held him awe due to his blazing virtuosity and unmistakable tone. Those of you who remember as fondly Pepe Bradock's genius track Deep Burnt as I do will recognize the opening strings to Freddie's awesome Little Sunflower, a record that I am playing as loud as I can here in my hotel room in Mountain View in honour of the great man. RIP.

Freddie Hubbard - Little Sunflower

Pepe Bradock - Deep Burnt

El Guincho - Palmitos Park

2008-12-28T19:14:00.000-08:00

Pablo Díaz-Reixa is Spain's answer to Animal Collective and he's heavily influenced by the likes of Brasil's Os Mutantes, who if you're not into already you really should go out and buy everything by them immediately - but what sets him apart is his genius use of sampling that can take in everything from folk melodies to afrobeat and this track was one of the standouts on an album of highlights that, again, if you haven't bought then stop dicking about and run to/click on your most trusted record emporium and rectify the situation. I must have played it at least a hundred times since I've gotten it and it gets me each and every time. Great album!

El Guincho - Palmitos Park

Live at the HVW8 Gallery

2008-12-28T14:20:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, Dam-Funk, Computer Jay and J-1 got together at the HVW8 Gallery just off Melrose down in LA for a jam session that Tyler and Max recorded for our aural pleasure. Check the pictures here and download the podcast from here. Look out for HVW8's collaboration with Charlie Ahearn and the Dam-Funk t-shirts in store. It is the Festive Season, so why not spoil yourself?

Pacific! - A Tree - Poney Poney remix

2008-12-28T12:03:00.000-08:00

For the all the underground stuff that I listen to I do appreciate the occasional bit of well made pop music and Gothenburg's Pacific! certainly make the sort of radio friendly fodder that makes me listen. This is the sort of record that I'd play very late on in an evening after I've flexed my chin-strokkery muscles and I can definitely see this track getting the girls on the dancefloor, and lets face it that is what it is all about, isn't it? A lot of journalists are comparing them to the Beach Boys which seems a bit lazy to me given that they sound nothing like the Beach Boys but they do have the ability to craft well made pop songs like the California boys and I can see a lot of attention coming their way. I'm really feeling the art direction on their website as well.

Pacific! - A Tree - Poney Poney remix

Nite Jewel - What Did He Say?

2008-12-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

Italians Do It Better are surely one of the labels of 2008 releasing essential record after essential record and this track by Nite Jewel most certainly keeps the quality of the label up. Deep, mellow and not sounding a million miles away from the magical Presence stuff that the mighty Charles Webster released ten years ago and is something that could almost be called lo-fi shoegaze and is all the better for it. Ramona Gonzalez, for Nite Jewel is she, has recorded something that I can see being a slow-burner in the coming months as more and more people get to hear it. This one has legs.

Nite Jewel - What Did He Say?

Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word - Hot Coins remix

2008-12-28T11:38:00.000-08:00

Danny of Red Rack'em and Smugglers Radio infamy has a lot of balls to take on what is a firm classic that just about everyone who has ever set foot on the floors of more discerning discos will know and love, but what he has done is made it well and truly his track by kind of making it sound like Bullion goes house with a bit of the Singers thrown in for good measure, and deeply effective it is as well. It is by no means going to be the definitive version but I can see this one being snuck in late in the night instead of as the ubiquitous last track of the night. Well done Danny, and be sure to check out some of his other stuff on the always brilliant Tirk. A producer to keep your ears on.

Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word - Hot Coins remix (Taken down at the request of the artist)

TV on The Radio - Love Dog

2008-12-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

It is no great secret that I love this band. I went to go and see them a few weeks ago at some corporate event down in San Diego and they absolutely blew the roof off the place with one of the most energetic shows I have seen in a long, long time. This cut off Dear Science is another great track to listen to on a mellow day and Gilles Peterson recently kicked off one of his shows with it, which just goes to show what an impact this 'art-rock' band has had on the musical hemisphere in 2008. I personally can't wait to hear more from them but I can do without the wife, who has been into them for time, telling me how right she was when she told me that I'd love the band.

TV on The Radio - Love Dog

Cro-magnon - Beyond The Summer

2008-12-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Japan's Cro-magnon are easily one of my favourite bands out there with a musical style that while being jazzy takes in everything from deep house to cosmic jams and all the while endearing themselves to everyone from Gilles Peterson to Prins Thomas, which is no mean feat. This cut from their Mellow Out & Acoustic CD that they recently released on Jazzy Sport is one of those tracks that expertly locks into a groove and holds it with a few key changes here and there that keep you interested - something for early doors or the messy afters. I was listening to Charles Webster's superb Presence album in the car yesterday and this is something that perfectly compliments it - I'm definitely in a mellow mood today.

Cro-magnon - Beyond The Summer

Best of 2008

2008-12-26T12:29:00.000-08:00

Best Single

1. Yaw - Where Would You Be
2. TV on The Radio - Dancing Choose
3. Bullion - Get Familiar
4. Laughing Light of Plenty - The Rose
5. Pepe Bradock - Intriguing Feathered Creature

Best Album

1. TV on The Radio - Dear Science
2. James Pants - Welcome
3. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
5. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles

Man of The Year

1. Shepard Fairey
// Barack Obama owes a huge debt of gratitude to Shepard as his graphic practically mobilized an entire army of people to get out and vote. //
2. Barack Obama
// Fairly obvious choice but he gets it for not wilting under the Republican pressure and hopefully he'll be the change we need. //
3. Graeme Smith
// For scoring tons of runs and getting right under the skins of the English and Australians with his tactics and aggressive lead from the front approach. //

Best Clothing Label

1. Rebel8
// I'm a strictly jeans and t-shirt kind of guy and everything from the graphics to the printing techniques to the quality of the overall product has struck a chord with me this year. Truly can do no wrong in my eyes! //
2. Stones Throw
// Bit of an odd choice but with the Parra and Brent Rollins shirts making their way onto the market there wasn't really much doubt that they'd be in here. //
3. adidas
// Everyone who knows me will attest to my being a slave to the trefoil. I do fear that they're going a bit off the boil but we'll see in 2009. //

Sporting Moment of The Year

1. South Africa beating Australia by 6 wickets chasing 414 to win
2. South Africa winning the Test Series in England
3. Spain winning Euro '08

Loud-E - Robolove

2008-12-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

Loud-E is a Dutch DJ whose love and dedication to the disco cause is ten years deep and after rummaging through countless flea markets and warehouses he has unearthed some truly special records that make him easily one of the best jocks on the planet at the moment. I hear him play in Manchester last year on a rainy, windswept afternoon in a bar and he blew the roof off the place - cue early rave hands from all and sundry and an extremely messy night ensued from there forth. This is an edit of one of those gems that he has kindly released on Steve Kotey's Ambassador's Reception label to rapturous response in my front room and I'm assuming dancefloors the world over. This is an absolute bomb!

Loud-E - Robolove

KUMO is one!

2008-12-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I have been posting here for a year now, and 370+ posts, 55000+ hits, 34 One Hundred Project entries and a couple of new friends along the way have made this a fairly successful start to my blogging life. This next year my goal is to finish The One Hundred Project and to take the plunge and stick my own edits and productions up here - I've snuck on a couple this year, see if you have spotted them - and hopefully get a bit of merchandise going. Most of all though, I'd just like to have a place where you'd like to come back and read every post. I'm also looking for contributors, so if anyone thinks they'd like to post here on Kumo then email me and we can make this an even better blog together.

The Del-Rays - Night Prowl

2008-12-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

Wow! This is one of those records that I stumbled upon in a charity shop somewhere here on the East Coast and it is an absolute burner! Check that bassline, those keys, those horns and that absolutely firing groove that makes this an absolute winner in my book. I think this has something to do with the legendary Booker T of Green Onions fame and to be frank, if you're not dancing to this then you're dead or cloth-eared or both - easily my favourite find this year.

The Del-Rays - Night Prowl

Nathan Detroit - Znoid

2008-12-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

This came out on Bear Funk in 2001 and is one of those records that has stuck with me through my travels from Asia to America, and was one of those records that would've been termed 'deep house' when it first came out but now it is firmly in the cosmic camp. I especially love the jangly - technical term that - guitar over the funky and loose percussion work. This is one of those records that could add a bit of a twist to just about every type of set out there. A proper DJs tune and one of those tracks that gets better the longer it goes on - turn it up! It doesn't hurt that Dan is one half of the Idjut Boys either.

Nathan Detroit - Znoid

Paul & Marc - Last Rites One Year Anniversary Mix

2008-12-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a mix that Paul and I did for the Last Rites One Year Anniversary party nearly 20 months ago in February 2007. After having a rummage through his hard drive Paul found this and big Rob over at Northern Comfort, which is an ace blog that you should check out if you haven't already, has been kind enough to host it for us. Whenever I hear these records I get a bit excited and a bit misty-eyed with all the memories of easily the best 18 months of my life playing records in basements and bars across Mancunia. Heady times indeed. You've all heard these records before but don't let that stop you from cranking it up and raising a glass to the spirit of acid house while shuffling about in a slightly embarrassing manner around your front room. While you're at it, why not join the Last Rites Facebook Group or join in the fun on the message board where there are rants, raves and free music - basically it's fucking ace.

I'll post a tracklisting to this later.

Paul & Marc - Last Rites One Year Anniversary Mix

Kev Macca - Space Jammin' 3

2008-11-29T13:34:00.000-08:00

East Lancs' finest , Kev Macca, has posted a great mix up on his Podmatic site that takes in just about every quality record that is floating about at the moment taking in everything from spaced out grooves to discoid thumpers to four-to-the-floor lushness all with an added bit of balearic cheek thrown in for good measure. Download the mix immediately, you need this in your life.

Download the mix here.

Blair - Hey Sexy Mama

2008-11-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

This is another cut from the Blair album, which some people have unfairly decreed to be a one track album and it is anything but. Virgo Princess is a great piece of shimmering boogie and this track - albeit a bit jazzy -, Hey Sexy Mama, is probably my favourite cut off the album. Check the horns in the breakdown and the great vocal hook interspersed with a great slo-mo groove that pushes this record to being perfect for those small sessions with like-minded people getting down and dirty. Great track.

Blair - Hey Sexy Mama

The Congos - Congoman

2008-11-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

I've only ever known the Carl Craig edit of this track that came out on London's Honest Jon's but a few weeks ago having a shuffle through a few record bins I came across The Congos' album, from where this cut is culled, Heart of The Congos and took a punt on it and what a record it is! Filled to the brim with great Lee Perry produced reggae conscious vibes that are all ripe for early doors/early morning sessions, this is one of those albums that will get serious needle time in mi casa and dare say it, the original version of this cut is better than the Carl Craig edit. Still that's not to say that the Carl Craig edit is bad by any stretch.

The Congos - Congoman

Blair - Nightlife

2008-11-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

This is a stone-cold rare groove classic and one that goes for serious money when copies surface on places like eBay, Discogs and the like. I found a copy of the album hidden deep in the crates at Amoeba in Los Angeles for a shade under $30, which is an absolute bargain. Barney Perry was a guitarist for legendary group The Blackbyrds and the quality of the musicianship on this cut is absolutely first class. Nightlife has recently been re-released on a bootleg for cheap which you can get from here, and to be honest unless you're willing to pony up serious hard-earned for the original album then I'd go for this economical alternative. True Eyes Down burner.

Blair - Nightlife

KAWS

2008-11-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

Right so I'll be the first to admit that the blog has gone to shit a bit recently with my job taking precedence and everything else getting put on the back burner. To be honest I haven't really been all that inspired and that is why I'm also thinking of changing focus and making this more along the way how it was going for a short time earlier this year with the emphasis shifting away being purely about music and more about trying to cover everything from art to music. I'm more comfortable with it being that way in all truth.

So without further ado I'd like to feature an artist who I am slightly obsessed with, KAWS. He's been working on the streets since the mid-90s and has pretty much cornered the market with his designer toys, urban vinyl if you must, some of which he sells through his website Original Fake and you have to be incredibly quick off the mark to buy any of it as it all sells out in a matter of minutes. The best introduction to the man and his philosophy is best said in this video that i-D Magazine did.

I absolutely love his companions and if you want one you'll have to scrape together your Christmas money and be prepared to live off dry bread and water as they cost an absolute fortune.

Here he is working on the streets of New York and Tokyo with commentary by Ron English.

I do enjoy the man's work and you should check his blog for more.

RIP Mama Afrika

2008-11-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

RIP Miriam Makeba

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - The Dap Dip

2008-11-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings have been favourites of mine for a few years now, they eschew modern recording methods in favour of analogue equipment and with their sound that updates the 70s funk sound with aplomb. This cut taken off their first album is absolute unbridled fun, with great horns, Sharon's killer vocal and is a great dance record to boot. Play this one and watch the dancefloor burn.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - The Dap Dip

Yes, We Can!

2008-11-04T23:38:00.000-08:00

Download the excellent Obama mix by Z-Trip here.

$olal - Luna's Song - Robag Wruhme remix

2008-10-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

This errs just the right side of being a record for a student with a lisp and pants that they've been shoehorned into and is all the better for flirting triumphantly with student danger. Robag Wruhme is an alias of Gabor Schablitzki who is also one half of one of my favourite production duos The Wighnomy Brothers, and what he has done with a fairly run of the mill but great alt-country record is the stuff of genius. As with everything produced by him there is a bounce intertwined with a kookiness that makes for a record that I can see myself coming back to in the years to come. This definitely won't be lost in the shuffle. If you're on the lookout for leftfield techno records that are as interesting as they have bite then Gabor is your man. Be sure to check the slice of perfection that is My Gloomy Head - seek and ye shall find!

$olal - Luna's Song - Robag Wruhme remix

Windsurf - 2 Light As Daylight

2008-10-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

As the last days of what has seemingly been an endless summer, no complaints, wash over here in California Windsurf's Coastline album has been the ideal soundtrack. There is something very special about the combination of Dan Judd and Sam Grawe who effectively make the most balearic records this side of the, well, Balearics. This track in particular speaks to me as it isn't something I'd necessarily play out unless the sun was going to come at some point while I'm on duty but it is something that after a long night of reaching for the lazers would make absolute sense while holding onto someone you love surrounded by like-minded people. I think it is absolutely superb and I can't recommend their album highly enough - buy it!

Windsurf - 2 Light As Daylight

As an added bonus here is an interview with Sam Grawe on the always excellent Cosmic Disco. (And yes I knicked the image from them)

Tony Cook - On The Floor - Joakim edit

2008-10-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

I first heard the original of this on Danny Tenaglia's Choice compilation a few years ago and was instantly drawn to it. It is almost b-boy house or electro funk as it was known back in the day, and is record that is distinctly American record to my ears. I don't know much more about Tony Cook or his other records but Joakim has once again stepped up to the plate (how American is that?) and taken the tune by the horns and twisted and turned it to within an inch of its dancefloor slaying life. Great record and one that will rock just about everywhere from Tokyo to Manchester. Strictly for the heads.

Tony Cook - On The Floor - Joakim edit

Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra - You Gotta Case

2008-10-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

This sweet little gem is from the original soundtrack from the 1974 film Together Brothers, which is a film about a group of kids helping find out who killed a popular police officer. The movie isn't particularly great but the soundtrack from the Walrus of Love is absolutely firing! This cut comes sprinting in at just under 90 seconds but in that time the energy of the record absolutely engulfs you. This is one of those b-boy classics where the likes of Jazzy Jay would rock two copies back and forth to get their dancefloors absolutely screaming. I don't say it often but this cut needs an edit, can you imagine the carnage if this went on just a bit longer? An absolute masterpiece from the sorely missed Mr. White.

Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra - You Gotta Case

Sound Stream - Dance With Me

2008-10-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

Frank Timm has been releasing records as Sound Stream for nearly a decade now and it has only been recently that his records have really begun to take off thanks to the championing of them by Ame at various gigs across the planet. I have no idea what the sample to this is but I know I'm going to kick myself when I find out as it is annoyingly familiar. This is one of those records that prove that house music is a feeling, that house music when made well can raise your spirits and make you shout 'Fuck Yeah' at the top of your lungs. This is great, simple, well-produced music that must sound absolutely incredible in the dead of the night after a few hours of dancefloor gymnastics. Top stuff.

Soundstream - Dance With Me

The Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces Sometimes

2008-10-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago the great Norman Whitfield passed away and the word genius is bandied about a bit too much nowadays but this was a man who genuinely fitted the billing. He worked with everyone from The Temptations to Marvin Gaye and had his hand in just about every seminal moment from one of the greatest and most influential labels of all time, Tamla Motown. If you're not aware of the man's work then you should go out immediately and buy whatever you can find on sight as everything he ever produced is absolutely all killer with no filler whatsoever. I'm an old soul boy at heart and I remember reading an article on him when I was in university many years ago that described his sound as 'psychedelic soul' and that was enough for my 18 year old self to run off to the local second hand store and rummage away looking for records by him and it wasn't until I found things like Ain't Too Proud To Beg, Ball of Confusion and this gem that my thirst for the deepest of records was quenched. He's a man whose impact on modern music is absolutely immeasurable, a once in a generation musician who will be sorely missed. RIP Norm.

The Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces Sometimes

James Yuill - This Love - Prins Thomas sneaky edit

2008-10-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

Who is James Yuill? He seems to be a London-based folk artist who cites everyone from Iron & Wine to Midlake as influences and has been given plaudits by The Guardian, NME and the like. This is the first that I have heard of him and I've just put in an order for his album on the back of this. Cosmic denizen Prins Thomas has made this into a lush, early morning groover and this is the sort of record that would sound incredible when the sun comes up after a solid night of partying. I love this.

James Yuill - This Love - Prins Thomas sneaky edit

Demi Roussos - I Dig You

2008-10-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Originally a member of Aphrodite's Child, Demis Roussos has been crafting his musical magic for over four decades now and this track, which is one of my all-time favourites, is at the very summit of all things beardy balearic with its superb use of melodies and great feelgood lyrics delivered with aplomb by our hero. This is one of those records that you stick on and it immediately puts you in a good mood. Great record.

Demi Roussos - I Dig You

Matias Aguayo - Minimal - Markus Rossknecht Remix

2008-09-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

The minimal bubble seems to have burst. The days of atonal soulless records seem to be on the way out with a much needed and welcomed injection of cheek into the records played at the likes of the Panorama Bar, Watergate etc. That is not to say that every minimal record was rubbish but the amount of hours I spent wading through the bland in places like Phonica I'll never get back - but the same could be said for just about every genre in all fairness. Matias Aguayo is a welcome addition to the dance music cannon and he's been around for a while now but this track should surely appeal to everyone from the beards to trendy haircuts with its tongue in cheek refrain and deep chords that make this a late night surefire winner. For this track he enlists the help of his Broke bandmate, Markus Rossknecht, to add the necessary funk and with the two forming a burgeoning production partnership they most certainly are a pair of names to keep an ear out for. Absolute winner.

Matias Aguayo - Minimal - Markus Rossknecht Remix

Runaway - Brooklyn Club Jam

2008-09-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

Here is an absolute party monster that I am sure that all of you that have been out anywhere decent over the past few weeks have heard booming out of speakers and getting the arms in the air. This is a proper 3am peaktime monster that really comes alive well beyond the witching hour when the dedicated come out to do their dancefloor gymnastics. Runaway burst onto the scene with their superb pair of edits on Wurst that were absolutely essential a year ago or so and this track should put them well and truly above the precipice. One of those records that makes you anxious for what they come up with next. An absolute monster of a record.

Runaway - Brooklyn Club Jam

Carl Craig - Undisputable

2008-09-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

Today was the last Bears Upstairs radio show at the Beehive and seeing as it was my stomping ground every Thursday for over a year I thought I'd share one of my favourite records from when Paul and I did the KUMO radio show. This is an edit of The Undisputable Truth's Sandman, which is absolutely killer in its own right but what Carl Craig has done is stretch it out into an absolute dancefloor winner. This is a get out of jail record if ever I have heard one and a tune that makes me get misty eyed when I think of all those great nights having a laugh above Sankey's in cold Manchester with some of the warmest people known to mankind. I'm massively missing Manchester at the moment - great place, outstanding people.

Carl Craig - Undisputable

Jacques Renault - Sweet Rollin' On

2008-09-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

1100 copies of this were pressed and it is already sold out and in this day and age that is absolutely incredible. New York's Rvng Intl. have been doing their own thing with aplomb for a couple of years now and they've never been one to follow trends - although it does seem that popularity has caught up with them somewhat - and everything from hand screen-printing the record sleeves to pressing their singles on the best quality wax makes them an absolute breath of fresh air in these troubled times. Jacques Renault - a member of the group Runaway who just released the absolutely monster track Brooklyn Club Jam - is fairly new to the scene and this EP should elevate him to a higher place amongst the disco cognoscenti and I'm not sure what the original source material for this is but it does go rather well with the Fela tune below. A great record from somoeone to keep your eye our for.

Jacques Renault - Sweet Rollin' On

Hercule - Little Green Man

2008-09-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

Originally released in 1978 this Italo bomb has been known to change hands for upwards of $500 and thankfully a couple of kind souls have re-issued us saving some of us a small fortune and probably absolutely pissing off the collectors who paid the silly money. This is as quirky a disco record as you could ever find and play this after Bumblebee Unlimited Lady Bug and you'll have all the fans of the weird wonk absolutely eating out of your hands. Check that bassline for some proper heaviness. Ace tune.

Hercule - Little Green Man

Freda Payne - Unhooked Generation

2008-09-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Detroit's Freda Payne has been lighting up airwaves since 1963 with her polished voice that has had everyone from Quincy Jones to Duke Ellington clamoring to work with her. She's probably best known for her track Band of Gold that was written by the incredible production team of Holland/Dozier/Holland and was included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. This cut is absolutely incredible and has been a carnival favourite for years and was included on Norman Jay's Good Times Vol. 3 a few years ago and as a result I played it to death but it is more than due for a revival. What a voice!

Freda Payne - Unhooked Generation

The Mole - Ain't The Way It's Supposed To Be

2008-09-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Mole makes chuggers, records that groove and lock in and take you all the way across the rhythm spectrum to a place that is half techno/half house/all damn good tune and this cut from his latest album As High As The Sky - which is a soaring album if ever I have heard one - is the very epitome of the genre-not-grenre. Warp your ears around this one.

The Mole - Ain't The Way It's Supposed To Be

I've been massively busy with my new job and haven't really had much time to do much of anything and until things calm down I'll be on hiatus for a while. Hopefully all back to madness within a week or two.

Welcome Back SWP

2008-08-31T13:01:00.001-07:00

After a few years wasting away playing for Chelski, SWP has returned home and scored two goals in the shirt he was born to wear.

1 Chelsea 3 5 7
2 Liverpool 3 2 7
3 Man City 3 4 6
4 Arsenal 3 3 6
5 West Ham 3 1 6
6 Middlesbrough 3 1 6
7 Aston Villa 3 1 4
8 Bolton 3 1 4
9 Man Utd 2 1 4
10 Blackburn 3 -2 4
11 Newcastle 3 -2 4
12 Hull 3 -4 4
13 Wigan 3 3 3
14 Fulham 2 0 3
15 Stoke 3 -2 3
16 Portsmouth 3 -2 3
17 Everton 3 -3 3
18 Sunderland 3 -3 3
19 Tottenham 3 -2 1
20 West Brom 3 -2 1

September sees us playing Chelski next at Eastlands, then Omonia Nicosa away in the UEFA Cup, then Pompey at Eastlands, Brighton away in the Carling Cup and Wigan at the JJB. Could be a very good month indeed.

The Dirtbombs - Kung Fu

2008-08-31T00:51:00.000-07:00

I was listening to a Seth Troxler set from Killer Robot in Cape Town that was posted on E-vent recently and his second last track was this beauty from the Motor City's The Dirtbombs who are fronted by Mick Collins of The Gories infamy. This track, which is a cover of a Curtis Mayfield cut of the same name, was initially released on their 2001 album Ultraglide in Black and more recently dance music deity Kenny Dixon Jr. released it on his Mahogani imprint and pretty much everyone from house DJs to balearic DJs were playing its off-kilter yet brilliantly simple groove all over the shop. This is just the sort of thing I like to play when I DJ out (granted that hasn't happened in a while) because it is utterly unique and bit of a curve ball for the dancers to deal with. Superb stuff from a great band.

The Dirtbombs - Kung Fu

The Chap - Ethnic Instrument - Joakim remix

2008-08-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

North London's The Chap have been making post-punk dance music since 2001's Fun EP which has had them traversing their own path through music that is akin to the likes of LCD Soundsystem, They Came From The Stars (I Saw Them) but they haven't managed to quite reach the sort of pubic reaction that those bands have managed to. Cue the input of the truly brilliant Joakim who has sliced, tweaked and diced their new single expertly and turned it into a balearic gem that has a bit of balls to it. It's brash, it's loud and it's fucking brilliant. Buy it now.

The Chap - Ethnic Instrument - Joakim remix

SK8OLOGY

2008-08-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

SK8OLOGY is an exhibition that combines skateboard counter culture with the world of fine art with 150 artists from various backgrounds who have all lent their craft on the decks, which are being auctioned off to support Now That You Know, which is a non-profit organization that helps to provide ambitious girls from developing countries a secure environment for learning and growth. You can start bidding on these decks, of which I have chosen my favourites below. I particularly like the Jon Chase deck, which is beautifully executed.

Tocayo

Seth Haak

Munk One

Mark Cruz

Keith Renner

Jon Chase

Haubs

Bryan Sheffield

Mark 4ostia - Disco Music Fantastic Music - Rodion Remix

2008-08-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun party record and then some! Rodion has been traversing his own unique course through cosmic waters for a while now and his remix of Box Codax in particular got me excited about his work with its great breakdown and driving bassline. This record has that bouncy drum synth line that will get people bouncing off the roof. It may not be the most original thing that you'll ever hear but it is definitely the sort of record that people in the death of the night will remember with smiles and whoops and hollers. Great Saturday night dance music.

Mark 4ostia - Disco Music Fantastic Music - Rodion Remix

Kode9 & The Spaceape - Konfusion

2008-08-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

The more I've been exploring the whole dubstep scene the more I've come to realize that it is impossible to stick it into a box as the scene is characterized by an almost playful disregard for the rules. I find tracks like this one to be raw unadulterated party music and if I was 18 years old dubstep would be like the second coming. The music is raw and I particularly like the conscious lyrics on this one. Is dubstep going to take over the world? I'm not sure but I can assure you that if the quality of output is as good as this then it'll be an exciting couple of years as the genre continues to develop.

Kode9 & The Spaceape - Konfusion

Andres - Salvador de Bahia part 1

2008-08-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

This KDJ executive produced bomb came out in 2003 and to my ears is as balearic as it gets really. My theory on what is and isn't balearic is a simple one, if it sounds as good in the sun as it does in the dead of night and makes you want to get some sand between your toes then it is balearic. Now that probably includes every record ever made but who gives a shit really, it is all subjective when dealing with the white isle. This is one of those records that is all about the rolling bassline that permeates through the whole track accentuating every element. It is as perfect as it is simple and is an often overlooked Detroit classic. Oh and if you ever get the chance to go and see Andres DJ then do so, the man is a demon on the ones and twos.

Andres - Salvador de Bahia part 1

The Aloof - Never Get Out The Boat - The Gosh Mix

2008-08-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a beauty that came out at the turn of the 90s and was a record that I played well into the turn of the century at which point it was put on the bottom shelf and we all know what happens then. I might even resurrect this one as it has to my ears stood the test of time and deserves a further play or two. The vocal sample comes from one of my favourite movies the epic Apocalypse Now as uttered by Captain Benjamin L. Willard played incredibly well by Martin Sheen. I had forgotten all about this record and it is something that I would've loved to have played on the radio in England just to see what the reaction would've been. For us in Cape Town this was as underground a record as it gets but I get the feeling that all and sundry in England would've known about this one, which kind of proves my point that every man and his dog older than 30 in blighty has large chunks of the 90s missing from their memories and to that I doff my cap.

The Aloof - Never Get Out The Boat - The Gosh Mix