The Mitchell and Dewbury Band: Beyond the Rains

My main album this summer (besides Soil and Pimp) has been the Mitchell and Dewbury band's new album "Beyond the Rain". The music is strictly jazz and soul, but is also great for the dancefoor. The whole thing really swings from beginning to end, with a coulple of tracks on the funk tip and a couple that really bump for the dancefloor. The duo is a UK based DJ and jazz head Russ Dewbury and producer and DJ Ben Mitchell. The songs are a collection of some new work and a few tracks from their first album "Rapping with the Gods" that they revisited for those who may have missed them the first go round. The album is ablsolutely incredible, I mean every track is banging, so i've been having a hard time deciding what tracks to post. My favorite track though features the group "Fertile Ground" out of Baltimore who is one of my favoite bands (i'll have to make a Fertile Ground tribut post next) of the last 10 years so it was no question that I was going to like the album. Most of the songs on the album feature guests, mostly vocalists, and include heavywieght jazz cat Terry Callier on the song "Darker than a Shadow", probably the most downtempo of the songs on the album. After long deliberation i've decided to post "Spaces and Places" featuring Fertile Ground and "Kaleidoscope (Wheel WIthin a Wheel)" featuring Lizzie Rendall.

On a side note, isn't it kind a weird coincidence that two fo my favorite tracks from this summer (see the Soil and Pimp post) are titled "Wheel within a Wheel" and are both original compositios? Makes you go hmmm.... doesn't it?

Download:
The Mitchell and Dewbury Band - "Spaces and Places" featuring Fertile Ground
The Mitchell and Dewbury Band - "Kaleidoscope (Wheel WIthin a Wheel)" featuring Lizzie Rendall

Soil and Pimp Sessions

Soil and "Pimp" Sessions has to be one of the craziest names that i've heard of for any kind of musical group. And what's up with the quotes around the "Pimp"? I kept seeing this name pop up with nothing but good things associated to it, but because the name was so weird I was very skeptical. After a while I figured out that Soil and "Pimp" Sessions is a band of young Japanese jazz musicians consisting of 6 members: Shacho (agitator, spirit), Tabu zombie (trumpet), Motoharu (sax), Josei (piano), Akita Goldman (bass) and Midoryn (drums). I guess they hooked up in Tokyo around 2001 and have been rocking shows since then. At somepoint in the last few years Gilles Peterson found them and got them to be one of the first artists on the Brownswood label with the album "Pimp Master". The music is some high energy jazz soul fusion for the new millenium. I've heard it described as "Death Jazz" and "Punk Jazz" and "agressive alternative jazz" but to me the "Pimp Master" album is nothing but soulful. It's full of these amazing mellow, soulful tracks, but at the same time there are some really high engery songs that i've never heard anything like before. Some of my favorites are "Waltz for Goddess", "Low Life", "Wheel in a Wheel", and a really nice version of Branford Marsalis's "Mo Betta' Blues". Part of what amazes me the most is that this new soul and jazz/hip hop music (new music with an old soul) underground movement is a global one that transcends language and culture. So there is this old spirit that we are tapping into, but playing a big part in this is the new technology that allows us to crate the music and share it instantly through the net. But enough rambling. I've posted the "Waltz for Goddess" and "Wheel in a Wheel" tracks for your enjoyment.

Download:
Soil and "Pimp" Sessions - Wheel Within a Wheel
Soil and "Pimp" - Waltz for Goddess

You can check out a live performance and some vidoes too:
Soil and Pimp Sessions Live - Live
Soil and Pimp Sessions - "Summer Goddess" Video
Soil and Pimp - "Mashiroke" Video

Roosevelt Franklin: Bare Food

Sick of getting turned down by record labels who deem them "unmarketable," Roosevelt Franklin (Kimani from the Masterminds and Mr. Len from Company Flow), have set out to show up the increasingly stagnant record industry by making their latest album Bare Food available for download for free via the internet. Their aim is to get the album out to as many people as possible, and since it is not available in stores, do yourself and your ears a favor and support the duo by downloading the album now.

Download it Here

From their Myspace page:

Roosevelt Franklin is a hip-talking, jive-walking, cooler than you phenomenon connected by both the Holland tunnel and a love for the Gonzo. Although the new york/new jersey duo of Kimani Rogers and Mr Len have only been together for a couple of years they have already injected the world with an LP entitled “Somethings Gotta Give” , two singles, and an ep, as well as attaining success, fame, heavy rotation on MTV 8, and a legion of willing followers.

Selling their bottled sweat and collages of their hair trimmings has proved to be the biggest money maker so far. Plans for the future include lunch boxes, kool-aid flavored “muppet juice”, condoms, and bed sheets.

Roosevelt Franklin’s sophmore endeavor ‘bare food’ picks up exactly where Guns N Roses ‘Appetite For Destruction’ left off... that is in complete silence. Everything from that point on bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever, save for the bands tendency to hold ‘paradise city’ sing alongs during their live shows.

The blurred lines of hip hop have been crossed and a new sound
emerges as Mr.Len and Kimani Rogers serve up their second offering
as Roosevelt Franklin. "bare food" is a genre crossing, comedic,
emotional, mind altering experience that will make you want to erase
other albums from your ipod. This is not one of those sit back and
enjoy records..no my friend, this is jump up and slap the ass of a
girl or guy around you music and laugh about it as you attempt to
sing along.

After locking themselves in a Transylvanian cave for 3 months,
surviving on only ramen noodles and old reruns of the Munsters they
emerged ready to take the world by storm. Then Kimani was diagnosed
with a rare form of alien bird flu and was forced to live in a
bubble. Len was also called into service by the recently reformed
Alliance Of The Orange and spent days on secret missions in the
midwest. Obviously filthy rich off of the multi-maple success of
there first record, they decided to "charge it to the game" as the
young people like to say nowadays on american idol. This is what it
sounds like when thugs cry.

There is no watermarking here. No hidden animal noises. Share it
with everyone. This is our gift to you. You get it first. Play it
forward. Send the link to everyone you know. Post it on your blog or
some message board. burn copies and give them to old ladies. help
spread the world, that roosevelt franklin is better than your
grandma's apple pie.

Brazil2Detroit : Sacrafice Califa

I'm posting a mix by Sacrafice Califa available for download here (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2945206bf3e92e

Sacrafice Califa aka DJ Riff Raff hails from Sacramento Cali and currently resides in the Bay area. He made his mark on the Sacramento music scene as a DJ with the Twelves Wax DJ crew and has shared the stage with the likes of Mark Farina, The Pharcyde, Digable Planents, Aceyalone and the Crown City Rockers, among many others. He also is responsible for holding down Open Sleep, the longest running hip hop show at KDVS 90.3 FM in Davis, Ca.

This new mix is an acute expression of his versatility as a DJ. I'm really digging the song selection and fluidity of the mix, especially in regard to the beat matching. If your itching to groove to bossanova, broken beat and bangin techno, this mix is for you. The Track listing is as follows:

1. Tim Hutton - Colours (Freeform Five Mix)
2. Wei Chi - Heaven
3. Joaquin Claussell & Kerri Chandler - Escarvos De Jo (Robust Horns Mix)
4. Tom & Joyce - Para Bailar
5. Kankick - Samba Prints/Mystery's Babies
6. Sakura - Think about it (Domu Mix)
7. Chaser - Life in Loisaida
8. Victor Duplaix - Lookin' for Love (bugz in the attic Mix)
9. Dj Rels - Sunrise
10. Alklimatize - El Uno
11. Q-tip and Seiji - Loose Tip (Breath and Stop)
12. Afronaught - Transend Me
13. Dj Rels - Diggin in Brownswood
14. 4 Hero - Hold it Down
15. Theo Parrish - Chunky
16. Deee Lite - Electric Shock
17. Derrick May - Rhythm is Rhythm

Tommy Guerrero - Salve

Download:
Tommy Guerrero - Salve f. Curumin
From From the Soil to the Soul [Quannum Records]: 2006

I've bought a few of Tommy Guerrero's albums over the past few years and although I like him and feel like he is a solid producer, none of his individual songs have ever made a lasting impression on me. Until now that is. For the most part his music light and simple; its the kind of stuff you might listen to while chillin in your yard on a Sunday afternoon with some friends or while you are hanging out and relaxing in your room. Generally however I don't feel like there is tons of diversity in his predominately instrumental style, which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Salve. The song (which features fellow Brazilian label mate Curumin on vocals) is the perfect cure for a dry, dreary day. The guitar intro and drumbeat which comes in about half a minute into the song are perfectly juxtaposed with Curumin's vocals, giving the song a soft, pretty edge. My only complaint with the song is that it ends too soon. Maybe the reason I like this song so much is because I find Portuguese to be such a beautiful language. Whatever the case is, Salve is on constant repeat in my CD player (yea, I still use one).

If you would like to hear more from Tommy Guerrero or Curumin, their music is available (as always) on Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/tommyguerrero
http://www.myspace.com/curumin

ps - can anyone translate for me?

Free album download from Adult Swim

Adult Swim just released a free internet album to promote their show, Warm and Scratchy. I admit, I haven't listened to it yet, but I thought I'd give everyone a heads up. The album is all indie rock, and I'm guessing its good because there are some really good bands on the album.

The tracklisting is as follows:

01. Me-I - TV On The Radio
02. Dead Sound - The Ravenettes
03. The Equestrian - Les Savy Fav
04. Crimson Red - The Rapture
05. Justine - 120 Days
06. Canada Vs. America - Broken Social Scene
07. Color of the love You Have - SOUND Team
08. The Bunting Song (acoustic version) - The Good, The Bad and The Queen
09. Half Century - The Brother Kite
10. Silver (Original Beats) - Jesu
11. Back to Flash - Amusement Parks on Fire
12. Stay Awake - Asobi Seksu
13. Winter - Fennesz
14. Sunset Rodeo - Liars

The album can be downloaded Here
http://www.adultswim.com/williams/music/warmandscratchy/

Enjoy!

Blue Scholars

First off, I'd like to thank Neshani and Sleepy Wilson for allowing me to contribute to this blog.

My most anticipated album to drop this year will be "Bayani," the third release by the Seattle-based hiphop duo, Blue Scholars. The group consists of Sabzi on the boards/keys/tables and Geologic on the mic. These two have truly redefined hiphop work ethic from the grassroots up. Geo is the main draw for me; for he has become one of the most poetic, descriptive, and non-apologetic emcees I have ever listened to. His booming voice delivers lyrics that embody an "...it's better to be critical than conscious" philosophy that seem to draw content from strong ethnic studies influences. Being a 2nd generation Filipino-American born to immigrants allows him to bring to light topics that exist in critical social studies that few emcees can touch upon effectively: "F*ck a false prophecy/promising we'll all be free/as long as we fall in line with a flawed philosophy." Sabzi provides well-produced beats that have improved steadily since their first release. Though heavily sample-based, he is also a jazz-trained pianist and provides a few soloes on select tracks. The last time I kept a hiphop artist on rotation this long was Enter the 36 Chambers on cassette tape. This album will be released on June 12th (Rawkus Records). A lot of great content to digest. Highly recommended! -Recluse

Download:
North by Northwest (Bayani 2007)
Southside Revival (The Long March 2006)
Sagaba Remix (The Long March 2006)
No Rest For The Weary (Self-Titled 2004)
No Rest For The Weary LIVE (Bayani record release party 2007)

"Where the colonizer came with the cross and the sword / I threw the first spear and said, 'I declare war!'"

Sa-Ra

Here's another incredible album for you to check out from the group Sa-Ra Creative Partners. The name of the album is "The Hollywood Recordings". The music can't be classified but when you try it comes out like ancient futuristic souled out hip hop funk porn music with a little bit of knowledge of self. The group consists of Om'Mas Keith, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn. They're is based in LA/NY, and have individually been around for a while working with everyone from Dre to Suave House and Ice T. The name Sa-Ra (pronounced Sah-Rah) is a Kemetic term meaning "the off spring of the most powerful energy in the universe", or "child of the cosmos". They signed to Kanye West's label GOOD Music sometime last year. This album however is on Babygrande, but they have the major label debut supposedly coming out this fall so look out.



"Sa-Ra is the future" -Erykah Babu

"How many people can say they can produce me?" -Dr. Dre

Download:
Sa-Ra - Hey Love
Sa-Ra - Do Me Gurl

There's a good article on Sa-Ra here:
True-skhool - Sa-Ra Article

The fight for Internet Radio moves to Congress

A new rule concerning a massive increase in fees paid by Internet radio webcasters could force thousands of independent and noncommercial Internet radio operators off the Web. The ruling will go into effect on July 15 unless we act now and urge Congress to rescue Internet radio:

Rescue Internet Radio: Take Action Now

After intense lobbying from the recording industry, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) ignored a massive public outcry and ruled to dramatically increase the rates webcasters must pay every time they stream a song.

These draconian rules will shut down many noncommercial and independent Internet radio outlets, leaving the Web with the same cookie-cutter music formats that have destroyed commercial broadcast radio.

Independent musicians, independent labels, webcasters, media reformers and thousands of Internet radio listeners have joined forces with members of Congress to reverse this bad decision. The bipartisan "Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007" has been introduced in the House by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.) and in the Senate by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). The legislation would reverse the CRB decision in favor of a balanced structure that supports artists without putting webcasters out of business.

Rescue Internet Radio: Support the Internet Radio Equality Act

Musicians must be compensated for their work. But the new regulations would silence many outlets that play independent artists and musical genres that just can't be found on the radio dial. And nonprofit NPR, Pacifica and community radio stations would be forced to take down most of their online musical programming for fear of unmanageable royalty fees.

The bills introduced in the House and Senate would allow artists and musicians to thrive on Internet radio. Help pass the "Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007" by telling all your friends to take action now:

Tell Your Friends to Help Rescue Internet Radio

Industry-wide consolidation has destroyed musical diversity on commercial broadcast radio. We must not let this happen to the Internet.

This is really important!!!! Don't let them control what we want to listen to!!

Free Mix from Bottom Fly (Jazzy Sport)

BTS Radio out of Cal State Fullerton is offering a mix from Jazzy Sport's Bottom Fly. You can Download it here: Bottom Fly Mix

The tracklisting is as follows:

The Jones Girls - When I'm Gone
Pete Rock - Standard
Brooklyn Dubs - Bellmont Ave.
Count Bass D - Pot/Liquor
Lenny White - I'll See You Soon
Quasimoto - Bartender Say
Kankick - Chickenhead Reality
El Michels Affair - C.R.E.A.M
Galt MacDermot - Woman Is Sweeter
Galt MacDermot - Spanish Nights
J Dilla - Mash
Arthur Verocai - Seriado
Dr. Who Dat? - ASAP
MF Doom - Orris Root Powder
Beat Konducta - The Come Back
Black Milk - Popular Demand
Elevator Music - In Ur Head
Jaylib - No $ No Toke
Bottom Fly - Kiss 2 Da..
Spacek - Eve
Ta'Raach - Rush Hour
Flying Lotus - Unexpected Delight
Exile - Newest Greatest
Beat Konducta - The Come Up
Bottom Fly - Cry Of The Dreamer

Ojos de Brujo

Download:
Ojos de Brujo - Sultanas de Merkaillo
From Techarí (Six Degrees Records): 2006

Six degrees records released this MP3 off of the latest Ojos de Brujos album, Techari earlier this year. I came across the Barcelona based band when I was living in Spain a few years ago, and immediately took a liking to their style, which is best described as "hip hop flamenkillo." Techari as a whole is solid, and although Sultanas de Merkaillo is not phenomenal, I chose the song because it puts me in a really good mood. The song is light and fun, and I often play it to get me moving when I need a break from writing at work. Hope you enjoy it!

Ben Westbeech

I've been meaning to get to this post for a while. This new album from Ben Westbeech has definitely got me open. It's his debut album titled "Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life" and it's one of the first full length albums released on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label. Westbeech is about 25 years old from Bristol, UK (Massive Attack/Tricky, Portishead) and is a producer and vocalist. Dude is a clasically trained pianist, cellist, and vocalist who is also a hip hop, soul, and dance music head. Welcome to the Best Years is a blend of soul dance and hip hop music... think Jamiroquai meets 4hero on the dance floor. The song writing is solid, with really catchy vocals kinda on the pop tip, but with the most incredible production. It's definitely something fresh for 2007 and one of my favorite albums so far this year. I've posted the tracks "So Good Today", which was the first single released on the Brownswood Bubblers compilation last year, and also the song "Get Closer" which is another one that I can't sit still and listen to. There's not a song on the album that I don't like, and there are some downtempo tracks, and and intrumental track or two as well. Don't sleep on this one. The sad part is the distribution sucks so it's hard to find right now on CD or LP but i've spotted some 12'' singles floating around so keep your eyes peeled.

Download:
Ben Westbeech - Get Closer
Ben Westbeech - So Good Today

You can check out a live performance and some vidoes too:
Ben Westbeech Live - Live
Ben Westbeech - Hang Around Video
Ben Westbeech - So Good Today Video

Lanu: This is My Home

This new "Lanu" album on the Ubiquity label is off the hook! It caught me completely off guard and has turned out to be one of my favorites so far this year. I have to thank Nix for this one, if not for him I would have probably still been sleepin on this. Lanu is Lance Ferguson, he's from New Zealand and is currenlty based in Melbourne, Austrarlia. He's been around for a minute as leader/guitar player of the Melbourne funk outfit The Bamboo's. Apparenly Lanu is a Tongan word meaning color, and it was his nickname as a kid in New Zealand. The album is uptempo, on some soulful house, hip hop, jazzed out dancefloor or just sit back and chill shit. It doesn't really sound like anything that i've heard before, but the album reminds me a lot of 4Hero and Marc DeClive Lowe in the sense that it's like a peek into the future of jazz, hip hop, soul for the next millenium. Not only is the album extremely progressive musically, but it's also extremely concious lyrically. I've personally accepted the chorus from the track Dis-information as one of my latest mantra's "Don't you listen to those things they tell you... if there's a chance to say something then say it!" The album title comes from the song "Mother Earth" which features my man, LA based Aloe Blacc, and label mate Quantic and I think this one might be my favorite track on the album, so you can check it out below. I've also added "Dis-infornation" and "Let You Go" feat. Melbourne's Christin Deralas on Vocals. I've been hearing really good things about Melbourne's music scene of late, and this album has pushed it up on my list of places to visit in the search for universal soul worldwide.

Download:
Lanu - Dis-information
Lanu - Mother Earth feat. Aloe Blacc and Quantic
Lanu - Let You Go feat. Christin Derales

Pharoahe

"Pharoahe Monch: (born Troy Donald Jamerson on October 31, 1972) is an American hip hop artist from Queens, NY. He is known for his complex delivery and multi-syllabic rhyme schemes... Pharoahe Monch's name is derived from the monkey doll Mon Chi Chi. After receiving a bad haircut, which left Monch looking like a "chimpanzee", girls in Monch's High School class began calling him "Mon Chi Chi", which was later shortened to "Monch"."-Wiki

I'm dedicating this first post to my man Pharoahe Monch. He's got a new album coming out June 26 called "Desire". I've dropped a link to the single for you here. Dude has got to be one of my favorite MC's. All of the Organized Konfusion (3 albums, 1. Self Titled, 2. Stress: The Extinction Agenda, 3. Equinox) stuff is classic and I can go back and listen to it now and it's still dope. But I think wiki put it best, there aren't many better than Pharoahe at the "complex delivery and multi-syllabic rhyme schemes". Not only does he have the illest style and delivery, but he's using his ability to make social and political comments, which to me is what it's all about. I've also posted a track that's kinda hard to find called "Book of Judges" which was released on the Marc Ecko's graffiti video game soundtrack in 2006. I really identify with that one, I hope you do too. The last track, "Love" is produced by Jay Dee and it's the first single from The Shining which was released last year. It's one of my favorite songs of last year, this year, and probably for a long time.

-sleepy

Rarrrrrgh!
You will now consider me the apocalyptic one
After this rhyme, henceforth, there is none
NO more will exist, when I emerge
From the mist in whence I was born into, scorned
Most of you can't even comprehend what I am saying
to you even in my human form the message I'm relaying
Why do you choose to mimic these wack MC's?
Why do you choose to listen to R&B?
Why must you believe somethin is fat
Just because it's played on the radio, 20 times per day?
My perception of poetical injection is ejactulation
The Immaculate Conception
The hall walker, who stalks bodies in Central Park
Soon emergency services'll outline that body in chalk
Then I begin to walk away and spit
Then when I walk away I talk shit!
Huh, a driver sprayed my face with mace
She didn't know that I enjoyed the taste of radioactive waste
When I'm in the backseat of your mid-town taxi
Don't even ask me for the cash G
The four cabs before didn't pick me up
Now ask yourself who the fuck's gonna stick me up

-Stress: The Extinction Agenda

Download:
Pharoahe Monch - Desire
Pharoahe Monch - Book of Judges
Pharoahe Monch - Love