Noteworthy

I can’t believe that Kool Keith prevails to make music. Not only does he continue on, but he seems to keep reinventing himself. It has been since 1999 when we last heard from the alter ego Dr. Dooom. The first track from Dr. Dooom’s last album illustrated him murdering fellow Kool Keith alias Dr. Octagon. After the latter’s dubious resurrection in 2006, Kool Keith and Kutmasta Kurt decided to bring back Octagon’s assassin. Kutmaster Kurt is once again on production bringing his signature erie beats and sinister melodies to the new record.

Check out the new video

More on Dr. Doom releases

Posted by Josh/Saturday September 6, 2008

Hold Your Breath

Track of the day

I posted an article about Milosh a while ago on YYY. I found his previous album You Make Me Feel, which I fell in love with. His latest effort in being released soon in the States, but is already out in Asia and Europe. You can cop now from K7

This new release is a continuation of the previous record, staying close in feel. If you have not heard Milosh, he uses a perfect mix organic and artificial sounds. Keeping a strong songwriting structure and also experimenting on the outer limits. I highly recommend the new record entitled iii, the cover art makes up for the plain album title.

Buy it now

Posted by Josh/Saturday September 6, 2008

Filfla

Track of the day

Wow. I really know very little about this group and the music and the band member(s). It seems that Keiichi Sugimoto is involved some how but I don’t know if this is “his” release or that of a group. He has been working under the moniker Four Colors but this track is from an album under the Moniker FILFLA titled Frolicfon. A little confusing but I plan on tracking any and every album he has made or has had a hand in making down and purchasing it. Kickingkey is such a perfect song for a perfect rainy day in Milwaukee.

Check him out on MySpace
Check out the WST Music Video

Get it here

Posted by marma/Thursday September 4, 2008

Noteworthy

FS Green and Full Crate – brothers in arms drop a very nice Mixing Monthly for August. One of the stronger releases in my humble opinion.

+ Raheem Devaughn – Marathon Ft. Floetry
+ Remy Shand – Take a Message
+ Buff 1 – Real Appeal Ft. Ab
+ One Be Lo – Rocketship (ZO!Remix)
+ Soulive – Doin’ Something Ft. Chali 2na & Akil
+ Madlib – Two For Pay Jay
+ Saukrates – P’s and Q’s
+ Now On – The Willows
+ Caucasian – Give It Up (Prod. FS Green)
+ Lizz Fields – I Gotta Go
+ Jill Scott Feat Eric Roberson – One Time
+ S1 – Neva Ft. Tone Trezure
+ Havana – Caught Up (Prod. Wajeed)
+ Steve Spacek ñ Fields
+ Madlib – Floating Soul
+ strange Fruit Project – Ooh Wee

Click the cover art to grab the mixes

Posted by Ness/Thursday September 4, 2008

Noteworthy

Duality, self-reflection, introspection, and the heebeegeebees are all superimposed and layered together in minimal void that could only exist in dark twisted mind of Adam Wills, the director of this video and guitarist for one of my favorite Brooklyn bands,
Bear In Heaven.

Check It Out

Posted by Bryan/Wednesday September 3, 2008

Bleep Bloop Blip

Returning to the studio to produce Resurgam following Collected Remixes(07), Alias gets back to his sampling roots. This album has new sounds to offer, too. The tracks have great sound diversity, unexpected arrangements, and lots of harmony built in. Resurgam, for the large part, is downtempo to up-beat and easy on the ears. Good electronic effort.

The gems are the more beat-driven tracks.

Check him out on MySpace

Get it here

Posted by chris/Friday August 29, 2008

Classics

I had to go to Mali to discover the blues. I never really identified with the seminal American genre that serves as the cornerstone of the music I love today. The second I heard Ali Farka Touré … The bonds between African music to blues to rock all fused before me… This track “ Hani “ off of the album Radio Mali is brilliant

“ Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré (October 31, 1939 – March 7, 2006) was a Malian singer and guitarist, and one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues. The belief that the latter is historically derived from the former is reflected in Martin Scorsese’s often quoted characterization of Touré’s tradition as constituting “the DNA of the blues”. Touré was ranked number 76 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”

Posted by Bryan/Thursday August 28, 2008

Noteworthy

It’s later than any normal person should be up, yet I find myself typing away at the wee hours of the morning. Today marks the third anniversary of Katrina striking New Orleans and impacting many peoples lives. Myself and Kenneth included. I wanted to just take a moment to remember the day. I’ve posted three projects I’ve done over the course of the last few years. Given we are predominately focused music on YYY – I’ll post a track that the very talented Joe Minadeo scored last year for the What’s Going On? project. I simply asked him to interpret some of the haunting images taken by Lee Crum Needless to say it’s a beautiful piece he composed.

Three years | Three Projects

Posted by Ness/Thursday August 28, 2008

Contests

Congratulations to the two lucky winners (Emeka and Justin) who responded back that “Cheescake Backslap” is a track off the latest Samiyam EP titled Return on Hyperdub Records. Apparently, to one of our readers, Cheescake Backslap is also when you spend too much money on chesscake trying to impress your hot date… works for me! We caught up with our two underground music aficionados and found out a little more about their obscure tastes…

What album do you most frequently listen to?
E According to Last.fm Meccaad. It is Fat Jon’s Humanoid Erotica and I’d say that is pretty accurate. It is one of my favorite Instrumental albums.
J damn. that’s a hard one. i listen to so much! right now, probably Los Angeles by Flying Lotus.

If life imitated music, what album would you sound like?
E Gorillaz Demon Days. Musically it is varied enough to sync up with all the ups and downs of my every day life. Although it is a little to interesting to be my backing music.
J I would sound like a mixtape made by Einstein for his mistress if they were alive right now and still getting it on… I think.

What’s the most interesting show you’ve seen live?
E Unfortunately I haven’t been to many shows but I would have to say it was seeing Justice live at the beginning of the year. The lighting, crowd interaction and re-edits of basically everything they played made it really hard not to give them your full attention.
J Hmmm…. Gnarls Barkley.

In your opinion, who is producing the most innovative sound today?
E To me what J*Davey, TV on The Radio and Little Dragon among many others are doing is very innovative. Post genre music I don’t even bother trying to classify it.
J Wow. That’s a lot of props for one person! i’m feeling this movement that’s happening right now with hip hop instrumentalists. Hudson Mohawke, Fly Lo, Samiyam, Muhsinah… those are a few of the folks who have really been getting me open lately!

If you could ask any artist past or present one question, who would that be and what would you ask?
E I would probably ask Nas if we can finally get a full length collaboration with AZ. Thats something I have been wanting since I was 12.
J I want to know how Fly Lo gets compresses his music to get it to be so fat and loud and still so warm.

How does music inspire you?
E It inspires my mood, my thoughts, my general state of mind. Whenever I find something really good I am on cloud nine and want to tell everyone! Then I remember that no one I know really cares about what I like and just going about enjoying my new found discovery alone ha.
J Music keeps me moving. It helps me deal with struggles. It helps me escape sometimes. It helps me think through things other times. It inspires me to live and love and create.

What two producers would you like to see collab and/or battle?
E I would love to hear what a FatJonXFlyingLotus album would sound like. That would have to be amazing.
J Jimi Hendrix. Benga.

What kind of shoes are you wearing right now?
E Air force1 low clear soles.
J Discount.

Well thanks to you both for taking the time to answer these questions and taking part in our sweeps. Peace!

Purchase the Return EP

Posted by Kenneth/Wednesday August 27, 2008

Inspiration

Either you love him or you don’t but you can’t deny that he puts out that hot ish on the regular. He puts out so many albums that there are three I didn’t even know he had. And I call myself a fan, ugh. Ha! Canadian Rappers Stand Up! Hip-Hop heads like Moka and Shad are holding it down.

Moka Only’s album “Clap Trap” is out now on URBNET.

Moka Onlys MySpace.

You can cop his new album Clap Trap from iTunes.

Posted by marma/Tuesday August 26, 2008

Noteworthy

Object 47, the new album from post punk pioneers Wire has already cemented itself in my top 10 albums of 2008. For a great overview of the band please check out either the bands site or this blog that posted a great survey of the bands work.

“ Wire are arguably the most important British band to come out of the punk and post-punk explosion. More inquisitive than The Sex Pistols, poppier than The Au Pairs, more experimental than Gang Of Four, the art school foursome also had the talent to constantly change and evolve their sound. From 1977’s ‘Pink Flag’ through to 2007’s ‘Read And Burn 03′ EP, every release offers something different to the listener. With a new album, ‘Object 47′, released later this year, the band aren’t on some nostalgia/revival trip; this is important music pushing 21st century boundaries in the same way the band changed music so radically in the 1970’s.”

Pick up Object 47 here

Posted by Bryan/Tuesday August 26, 2008

Noteworthy

If I had the guts I’d try to file an assault charge on GZA for this song. This track sprained my neck, wore out my headphones and broke the rewind button on my ipod.

Posted by Bryan/Monday August 25, 2008

The Beats

Found this the other day, not really sure where or how you can buy it. It’s on the 2007 Redbull Music Academy Mix. Everyone from Muhsinah & Jake One, to Om’Mas Keith is featured on the album. Such a great collection of sounds to add to your library. On the cover I can see Waajeed and Spacek, who unfortunately aren’t on the album. I was able to find out some information about the “Various Assets Not for Sale” album by doing some google trickery. You should look around the net for this. A must have for beat lovers. Just imagine what an album would sound like if you got all your favorite producers in the same room with some instruments. Look around on the site. Always some good news about music there. I know there’s some Redbull vets out there, but for those who don’t know, give it a peep. Only posting half the track this time peoples, because of the rarity. Let the search begin!

Posted by Kenneth/Monday August 25, 2008

The Beats

Once again some great beats I discovered from the Synflood Summer Mix. The goodies just keep coming. And… you can get some of these for free on his blog.

Here’s part of the biography from his blog:
The career of a young music addict: Being introduced to the world of audio sampling with 4, mixing tapes with 9, djing at clubs with 12, producing beats with 14 and finally releasing the debut album with 18 on Megahertz Records. After releasing his critically acclaimed ‘Forget and Remember LP’ and some EPs on Tokyo Dawn Records, compilation requests from all over the world followed as well as remix jobs on major labels. Even major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Motorola and Chevrolet starting using his music for advertisements. Now he’s discovered new instruments to play and has started recording new bands and MCs to present. His latest beat bomb, the “Never Look Back EP” droped on Swedish Brandy Recording 2007. His new album “Polyshufflez” is already in production and will be released end of 2008.

Can’t wait to hear “Polyshufflez”!

Purchase the Never Look Back EP from itunes
Download Free Tracks from Lastfm
Download Free Tracks from Comfort Fit’s Blog

Posted by Kenneth/Monday August 25, 2008

Noteworthy

Damn mash-up, like no other mash-up! How many tracks can you melt together for a head banger? Girl Talk answers with as many as he could find. The album Night Ripper was released in 2007, but because of the heat it drew, was later pulled from emusic.

Get it now, back on emusic.

Posted by chris/Monday August 25, 2008

Noteworthy

Fans of J Dilla can feel a little happiness knowing that his little brother Illa J is releasing his solo debut, and carrying on the family tradition of wrecking it.

From Illa J’s myspace: “John “Illa J” Yancey, younger brother of late great genius producer James Yancey (AKA Jay Dee AKA J Dilla), is currently completing his debut album for Delicious Vinyl. With the multi-talented Illa J rhyming and singing over a treasure trove of previously untouched Jay Dee gems, the project represents both a full-circle collaboration and a whole new beginning in the story of the musically exceptional Yancey brothers.

When Jay Dee passed away from complications relating to lupus in February 2006, he left behind an extraordinary legacy of production work, including hits for Common, Janet Jackson, and Busta Rhymes. One mother lode of previously untouched beats dates from his time working on the Pharcyde’s sophomore LP, Labcabincalifornia (Delicious Vinyl, 1995). As Delicious Vinyl owner and founder Michael “Mike Floss” Ross explains: “From ’95 through ’98 Jay Dee was my go-to guy for hot beats and remixes. He was always making beats, always. So there was a select amount of tracks that he composed for me during that time, tracks as good as anything he’d done, only they never got used. When I finally met Illa J last year, I gave him a CD containing those unreleased beats.”

It was a case of pure serendipity, since 21-year-old Illa J had just relocated to Los Angeles and constructed a studio built around Jay Dee’s own recording equipment, dubbing it Yancey Boy Studios in tribute to their fraternal bond. “Dilla was twelve years older than me,” Illa J says. “So back in the day in Detroit I was just a little kid, sitting on the stairs in our house, watching him make those first beats for Slum Village. So I always felt my brother’s tracks and had an instinct for what I wanted to do over them.”“

Grab the exclusive from iTunes

Posted by Josh/Monday August 25, 2008

Horse Feathers

Track of the day

I’m a little bit behind on this and I’m okay with that. The only thing that matters is that it showed up on my radar at some point right? The album is not out yet but the religious, soulful, calming, folktified single “Curs In Weeds” is. Call me a sucker but I’m in love with this genre of music right now. I can’t put my finger on why but I can tell you that good music is good music no matter what genre it happens to fall under.

Horse Feathers new album “House With No Home” Will be out on September 9th on the Kill Rock Stars label.

Horse Feathers MySpace.

The amazing image was taken by Serolynne.

Posted by marma/Monday August 25, 2008

Classics

Simone organized and led a group of young Italian musicians called Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, or the “New Company of Popular Music,” who were devoted to creatively interpreting Italian history in song. They released a record in 1976 called La Gatta Cenerentola, which is a rock opera of themed around Cinderella.This track is going to blow your mind.

Posted by Bryan/Monday August 25, 2008

Classics

Polyrock was an American post-punk/new wave band formed in New York City in 1978 and active until the mid-1980s. Strongly influenced by minimalism, the group was produced by the composer Philip Glass and Kurt Munkacsi. The band, led by singer/guitarist Billy Robertson (formerly of the group Model Citizen), had a keyboard-heavy, pattern-based sound strongly reminiscent of Glass’s work; in fact, Glass performed on their first two albums.

Polyrock’s lineup also included vocalist Catherine Oblasney, guitarist Tommy Robertson, drummer Joseph Yannece, and keyboard player Lenny Aaron. The group signed with RCA by 1980, and delivered their debut album that same year. Another album followed in 1981 (Changing Hearts), but Polyrock disbanded in 1982. The band are sometimes said to have released another album in 1981 (Electro-Romantic), but, apparently, no such album exists¹

They were often compared by critics to Talking Heads, another band of the same era, though they never approached that band’s fame.

( From Wikipedia )

Posted by Bryan/Monday August 25, 2008

The Beats

We all know Cannibal Ox as a group of pioneer emcees with great production work. Vast Aire was probably, in my opinion, the stand-out emcee of Can Ox fame. Until today. A long awaited solo release from Vordul Megallah a.k.a Vordul Mega entitled Megagraphitti exceeds expectations.

This album is putting N.Y. back on the east coast map. The sound is in essence what helped the New York scene in the early nineties, raw, and full of personality. The attitude on Megagraphitti is aggressive, the lyrics profound, and the flavor hot. This is a bangin’ effort full of guest appearances and production surprises. Out on Backwoodz Studioz, reppin’ Definitive Jux.

Buy it here.

Vordul Mega’s MySpace.

Posted by chris/Sunday August 24, 2008