Recently Added
0 Items	Total $0.00

Various - California Funk CD / 2LP (Jazzman)

Written By 3 - April 16 2010

Now available on CD here and 2LP here

After several years of extensive work and painstaking research the latest in our explorations into regional US funk obscurities is finally here. Has the wait for California Funk been worth it? Well, let's see what we have: 21 of the finest, rarest and most desirable funk recordings from the Sunshine state, put together for the first time with the personal blessing of each and every artist represented herein - shoddy bootleg this is not! Both the LP and CD contain in-depth sleeve notes detailing the history of funk and R&B in California and the social conditions which led to the funk explosion of the late '60s. In addition there are thoroughly researched notes for every individual track, revealing for the first time the hidden stories behind such revered and enigmatic artists as Leon Gardner, Arthur Monday and Delores Ealy,

The double LP is presented on two pieces of 180g virgin vinyl, lavishly housed in a double gatefold sleeve with full colour inners, label scans and extensive liner notes featuring many previously unseen photos of the bands and musicians involved. The CD houses the same in a 24 page colour booklet.

Whereas the musical profiles of cities such as Detroit and New Orleans are well established and much celebrated, the vast cities of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area have been mostly skimmed over and not given nearly enough attention. The black music from California of the '60s and '70s is especially under-appreciated, seemingly unable to stamp its own musical identity on the world.

Yet during this time, many artists were busily plying their trade at a grass roots level in LA and the Bay, releasing 45s literally by hand or through small independents. Today many of those very 45s fetch hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds at online auction with lovers of real soul and funk desperate to get hold of them. Following on from our previous funk collections of Texas, Florida, the Midwest and the Carolinas, we applied ourselves to what proved to be our most ambitious and far-reaching project yet - to source and compile the best vintage funk that California had to offer. From the rugged street funk of Arthur Monday to the Latino flavours of Enrique Olivarez, from the soulful jazz grooves of blues legend Johnny Heartsman to the aggressive politicising of King Solomon, there is real diversity on offer - these aren't mere JB sound-a-likes but talented individuals who brought their own voice to the funk sound.

Putting together an album like this is no easy task. It has certainly taken a while to come to light, but we are confident that California Funk, with its divergent sounds and intriguing avenues, will not disappoint, and indeed we hope that it will help raise the standing of California in R&B, soul and funk circles from here on.

Track-listing:

01	Water Color	All Bundled Into One	mp3
02	Arthur Monday	What Goes Around Comes Around	mp3
03	Leon Gardner	Farm Song	mp3
04	Chucky Thompson	Turn It Over	mp3
05	Delores Ealy	Honeydripper	mp3
06	Ray Frazier	I Who Have Nothing	mp3
07	Enrique Olivarez	Arriba Tipo	mp3
08	4th Coming	Cruising Down Sunset	mp3
09	King Solomon	Political Rag	mp3
10	JGD & The New Breed	North Richmond Breakaway	mp3
11	LA Bare Faxx	Supercool Brother	mp3
12	Apple & Three Oranges	Curse Upon The World	mp3
13	Lil' Lavair	Cold Heat	mp3
14	Rhon Silva	Get It Right	mp3
15	Billy Larkin	Funky Fire	mp3
16	California Gold Notes	WB302	mp3
17	John Heartsman & Circles	Talking About My Baby	mp3
18	Enrique Olivarez	Al's Place	mp3
19	Mr Clean	What's Going On	mp3
20	Edwards Generation	Smokin' Tidbits	mp3
21	Winter	Bones	mp3

Related Releases:

V/A - Florida Funk CD (Jazzman)

J-Rocc - J-Rocc vs J-Man CD (Jazzman)

Various - Welcome To The Party CD (Jazzman)

Bonobo - Black Sands 2LP/CD (Ninja Tune)

Written By 3 - April 12 2010

Get the 2LP here & CD here

Simon Green aka Bonobo returns with his fourth, most eagerly-anticipated and most accomplished album to date, the magnificent 'Black Sands.' Green proves once and for all with 'Black Sands' that he is an artist and producer with his sights set on much higher prizes than to rule any dusty subgenre of dance music. This is a record of epic reach and massive emotional pull, all held together by Green's understanding of composition and arrangement of live instruments (most of them also played by him) as well as his complete mastery of the tricks and techniques of the digital age. 'Black Sands' is the most contemporary record he has ever made.

Opening track 'Kiara' sets out Bonobo's stall quickly. Yes, there is an exquisite string refrain, reminiscent of Chinese art movies, but Green places this within the context of a thumping beat, deep synths and cut up vocals. 'Kong' seems closer to the soul-jazz template which has long influenced the Bonobo sound but each further listen showcases both the intricacy of his productions and the subtlety with which he achieves them. The skipping beat of 'Eyesdown' and the way he weaves Andreya Triana's vocals through layers of sub-bass show Green making his own moves with the influences of two-step. 'El Toro' brings a Brazilian flavour but without losing any of the hard snap of the beats. 'We Could Forever' combines high-life guitar lines with punishing, melancholy bass. First single, 'The Keeper' shows Green and Triana coming through with their most intense, emotional soul jam. 'All In Forms' once again combines a shimmering beauty with some serious beat 'n' bass action. 'Wonder When' showcases Andreya Triana's voice again, this time in the context of a polyrhythmic finger snapper which will lead to euphoric scenes on the dancefloor. 'Animals' sounds like Joy Division jamming with Steve Reich and a bloco band. Title track 'Black Sands' finishes the album with a perfectly judged, melancholy waltz, waves of horns swelling up to the kind of finale that sings in your ears even after it has stopped.

Since Simon Green's last album, 'Days To Come', he has become one of Ninja Tune's biggest artists worldwide, with over fifteen million plays on Last.FM and a series of sell out tours with his live band which have moved from venues such as the Luminaire to the Kentish Town Forum and the Roundhouse. This combination of superb live shows and studio wizardry means that he is now perfectly placed to push on into a yet bigger league. With 'Black Sands', Bonobo has made the progressive record to achieve it.

Tracklisting & Clips:

01	Bonobo	Kiara Prelude	clip
02	Bonobo	Kiara	clip
03	Bonobo	Kong	clip
04	Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana	Eyesdown	clip
05	Bonobo	El Toro	clip
06	Bonobo	We Could Forever	clip
07	Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana	The Keeper	clip
08	Bonobo	All In Forms	clip
09	Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana	Wonder When	clip
10	Bonobo	Animals	clip
11	Bonobo	Black Sands	clip
12	n/a	n/a	clip

Related Releases:

Bonobo - Eyes Down - Remixes 12" (Ninja Tune)

Bonobo Redbull Radio Mix

Videos: <object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10670542&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10670542&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10670542">Bonobo - Eyesdown</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ninjatune">Ninja Tune</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5638643&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5638643&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5638643">Bonobo - The Keeper featuring Andreya Triana</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ninjatune">Ninja Tune</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh (Universal/Motown)

Written By 3 - March 26 2010

Get the CD here or 2LP here

Grammy Award-winning, genre-defining singer Erykah Badu brought a baby daughter into the world February 1, via a midwife-attended home birth in Brooklyn. Badu and boyfriend Jay Electronica took turnstweeting every detail as the birth unfolded. Badu seemingly postponed the release because of the pregnancy and her leading role alongside Mos Def in the indie film, Bobby Zero. Needless to say, Badu's a busy, busy lady.

Naturally, the nu-soul singer is tight-lipped about her self-produced sequel to her socially conscious gold album, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War). What we can deduce is that the "ankh" subtitle delves more into the spiritual themes of Part One. The Egyptian hieroglyphic means "eternal life" after all. Where the 4th World War comes across as a nod towards the war you have with yourself (some have postulated the African-American's Civil Rights movement), Badu says Return of the Ankh deals with a "spiritual and emotional" battle. The sixth album's USB stick packaging includes extras ranging from footage of concerts, to commentary on the recording process and â€œme in the bathtub with Flavor Flav.â€

With a new songwriting approach and a fresh outlook on the world, Badu's newest is sure to be another dazzling touchstone in her already impressive discography.

Tracklisting with Soundclips: 1 20 Feet Tall [produced by Erykah Badu and 9th Wonder] 2 Window Seat [produced by Erykah Badu and James Poyser, featuring ?uestlove] 3 Agitation [produced by Erykah Badu and Shafiq Husayn of SA-RA Creative Partners] 4 Get Money [produced by Erykah Badu] 5 Don't Be Long [produced by Erykah Badu and Taarak] 6 Love [produced by Erykah Badu and J Dilla] 7 Umm Hmm [produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib] 8 Fall in Love [produced by Erykah Badu and Karriem Riggins] 9 Incense (Instrumental) [produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib] 10 Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover) [produced by Erykah Badu] 11 Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2) [produced by Erykah Badu and Georgia Anne Muldrow]

DJ Center - Everything In Time CD (Push the Fader)

Written By 3 - March 08 2010

Get it here from Conch, check track-listing and clips below.

Crafted in Brooklyn, New York by Romanian-born DJ Center, â€œEverything in Timeâ€ is a debut album years in the making that couldnâ€™t have arrived at a more perfect moment. For over a decade, DJ Center has been a purveyor of fine music and this album finds him collaborating with artists spanning the globe as far and wide as Paris to Rio de Janeiro.

The finest of selectors, Center carefully chose each guest on â€œEverything in Timeâ€ for the perfect song marriage. Known as a tastemaker worldwide, Center never holds back when looking to break an artist or record, always trusting his greatest gift- his ear for music.

The albumâ€™s cast features the very next artists who are impacting the industry now and shining at the top of their respective genres. From Oddisee, the solo emcee featured who has a track record working with DJ Jazzy Jeff and A Touch of Jazz on Jeffâ€™s 2002 solo debut, â€œThe Magnificentâ€. Gretchen Parlato, whoâ€™s extensive touring and recording work with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding places her in a league of her own within the world of Jazz, In addition, SONY Canada recording artist Zaki Ibrahim infused a beauty of breath and depth into everything she has touched, leading to her JUNO nomination for Best R&B Soul Recording of the Year in 2009. Samia Farahâ€™s continued marriage of dub reggae and jazz vocal styles give her an unparalleled uniqueness in her track record with UK Dub master Adrian Sherwood and legendary Reggae producer Lee â€œScratchâ€ Perry, among others. At the beginning of it all is the albumâ€™s introduction courtesy of Renee Neufville, one half of the platinum R&B duo ZhanÃ© and the voice of Roy Hargrove's RH Factor.

Centerâ€™s eclectic ear and affinity for broadening musical horizons led to his first mix release in 2006 which was of 60â€™s and 70â€™s Jazz, praised by URB Magazine and sponsored by clothing company, Friend or Foe. Center was commissioned by GUCCI to exclusively program music in their stores worldwide with a focus at their flagship store in Ginza, Japan. Now, with his original composition, Center has produced and arranged his entire debut LP, featuring a smoky cover of Rufus and Chaka Khanâ€™s anthem, â€œYou Got the Loveâ€ and culminating with the thumping Brazilian tribute titled, â€œCenterâ€™s Groove.â€

â€œEverything in Timeâ€ is a global soul record bringing back a low-end theory and warmth that has been absent in music as of late. Itâ€™s a mature record for a generation raised on a foundation of Hip Hop and Jazz, but having now grown up with a global scope and broader musical palate. Itâ€™s Roots music without being Reggae and Soul music without being a throw back to the past. As the songs unfold on â€œEverything in Time,â€ it becomes clear that the record is a journey across multiple genres, woven by lush piano chords, warm bass lines, boom-bap drum patterns, flying tambourines and soaring horns. The underlying essence is timeless music. Each track sounds different but is housed under the same soulful roof- DJ Center. Listen unhurriedly, as all great things happen in time. Tracklisting with clips: 1. Everything In Time Intro (Featuring Renee Neufville) 2. Leave The City Outside (Featuring Oddisee) 3. A Few Good Words (Featuring Njimole) 4. The Rain 5. You Got The Love (Featuring Gretchen Parlato) 6. In A Song (Featuring Middle Child) 7. Strings 8. Yes! (Featuring Zaki Ibrahim) 9. Tout Passe (Featuring Samia Farah) 10. Center's Groove 11. Tout Passe (Waajeed Remix) The Making of "Everything in Time" from DJ Center on Vimeo.

Guts - Freedom CD (Pura Vida)

Written By 3 - January 17 2010

Available Here - Guts - Freedom CD (Pura Vida)

GUTS' excellent sense of sample usage and his genius in beatmaking makes "FREEDOM" an album where he can truly express his mind.

Using only dusty vinyl as a source of samples, his mix of straight head bangers, to nujazzy beats, & grimey breaks makes this a strong 16 track record.

Tracklisting & Clips: 1. Introducing Mr. F 5:10