Conch Records

Date

September 17 2011

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UPCOMING: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Soul Time! (DAPTONE)

Written By 1 - September 17 2011

Due out late October on CD & LP+mp3, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have developed an international reputation as the #1 group on today’s soul scene. Soul Time! is an exploration of the full range of their dynamic sound through twelve songs handpicked by the Daptone Records gang, each one a precious exclusive.

The needle drops on Genuine Pts. 1 & 2, a supercharged funk arrangement that evokes the late Godfather not only with the spirited syncopation of the Dap-Kings rhythms, but also with the raw power of Jones’ voice. It is performances such as these that have earned her the moniker “the Female James Brown.” Though it has long been one of their best-selling singles, it makes it’s album debut here. Longer and Stronger, written for her 50th birthday, is a deep mid-tempo soul celebration of the strength and determination with which Sharon Jones has earned her long overdue success. It is heard here for the first time, but will undoubtedly join other Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings songs in the canon of great soul music. The theme of empowerment pushes on through “He Said I Can”, an energetic stomper belted over an arrangement reminiscent of the Isley Brothers early-seventies heyday, and “I’m Not Gonna Cry” brings us back to the raw funk intensity of Genuine with a squealing tenor solo and a fiery vocal. Side one wraps with a scorching studio performance of “When I Come Home”, long a highlight of the band’s live show but rearing its head on album here for the first time as well.

“What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?” kicks the second side off with a bang. A strong anti-war message pours over a revolutionary mid-tempo groove, accentuated by the conga work of the legendary Johnny Griggs of JB’s fame, while Settling In is a greasy rhythm and blues grinder. And who says Christmas can’t be soulful? Jones et al. make it so over their sought after holiday exclusive, “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects.” Next is an energetic romp into Motown intensity with “New Shoes”, a walking-out-the door belter that picks up where These Boots Were Made For Walking left off. Without A Trace shows yet another dimension of the band, stretching a dreamy mid-tempo groove down the road to Memphis and back. The record winds up with a deep laid back cover of Shuggie Otis’ psychedelic soul jam “Inspiration Information.” From the first note to the last, Soul Time! confirms this band’s place at the head of the table as the world’s greatest funk and soul showband. Whether you’re a lifetime fan, or just getting turned on, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ have yet again made a record that will blow your mind. Get ready world, because It’s Soul Time!

Track List & Sound Clips:

01 Genuine Pt. 1 clip
02 Genuine Pt. 2 clip
03 Longer and Stronger clip
04 He Said I Can clip
05 I’m Not Gonna Cry clip
06 When I Come Home clip
07 What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes? clip
08 Settling In clip
09 Ain’t No Chimneys In the Projects clip
10 New Shoes clip
11 Without a Trace clip
12 Inspiration Information clip

Date

September 15 2011

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GIG: Mulatu Astake @ The Powerstation Fri Nov 25th 2011

Written By 1 - September 15 2011

MULATU ASTATKE with The Black Jesus Experience at The Powerstation, Auckland Friday 25th November 2011

The Powerstation plays host to one of Ethiopia's most treasured musicians when Mulatu Astatke comes to Auckland in November to play his first ever New Zealand show. Astatke is known as the "Father of Ethio-Jazz", a style of music that combines Latin jazz and early soul and funk with traditional Ethiopian harmony. The influence of the vibraphone and percussion master has been felt globally since he began performing and recording in the 1960s, and his career has received a recent boost thanks to a new generation of fans discovering his music. Record lovers have dug far and wide for his early vinyl releases, and he has found his distinctive work sampled by the likes of Kanye West, Nas and Damian Marley. He is possibly best known to mainstream audiences for his musical contribution to Jim Jarmusch's 2005 film Broken Flowers, for which he provided the score and several songs on the soundtrack.

Considered one of the finest and most inventive composers by both beat-heads and jazz-cats alike; Astatke is also a lively and vibrant performer, bringing phenomenal skills, boundless energy and a broad smile whenever he takes the stage. For this one-off New Zealand show, Mulatu Astatke is joined by The Black Jesus Experience, an Australian/Ethiopian ensemble who fuse traditional Ethiopian song with jazz, funk and hip hop. The nine-piece group supported Astatke for his recent sell-out Australian shows, having just returned from their own highly successful tour of Europe and Ethiopia.

Mulatu Astatke and The Black Jesus Experience perform at Auckland¹s Powerstation on Friday 25th November, 2011. Ticket pre sale Tuesday 20th Sept go to http://www.powerstation.net.nz/ for all ticket and show information. General on sale Thursday 22nd tickets from Ticketmaster and Real Groovy Auckland www.muchmoremusic.co.nz

Date

September 12 2011

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Recloose & Frank Booker - Hit It & Quit It Revue (SERATO)

Written By 1 - September 12 2011

Now available here

Hit It & Quit It was founded by Detroit-native Recloose, & is now co-hosted by DJ/producer extraordinaire Frank Booker. The show airs every Monday 6-8pm on George 96.6FM & has quickly become one of the station’s top rating shows. Hit It & Quit It features special guests, themed shows, artist features, interviews & guest mixes, all delivered in an irreverent but knowledgeable & passionate style.

Radio Revue vol. 1 is a showcase for the Hit It & Quit It musical philosophy. The Limited Edition 2 X 12" Serato vinyl package has all five tracks featured boasting a New Zealand connection – the first time this has been done! Check out fresh music from Recloose, Jellphonic, Lord Echo & an exclusive Frank Booker edit of The Oliverwho Factory, as well as a track from the Recloose Live Band aka Starblazers.
 
  • Track listing:
  • A1. Recloose - UHF
  • A2. The Oliverwho Factory - Goin' Back (Frank Booker Edit)
  • B1. Serato Control Tone
  • C1. Jellphonic - Smack
  • C2. Lord Echo - Wang East
  • C3. Starblazers - Sunshine
  • D1. Serato Control Tone

Date

September 12 2011

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Ikebe Shakedown - Ikebe Shakedown LP+MP3 (UBIQUITY)

Written By 1 - September 12 2011

Available on LP+MP3 here or CD here

Tracklist & Clips:

01 Tujunga clip
02 Kumasi Walk clip
03 No Name Bar clip
04 In Circles clip
05 Don't Contradict clip
06 The Hold Up clip
07 Refuge clip
08 Tame The Beats clip
09 The Viking clip
10 Five Points clip
11 Asa-Ra clip
12 Pepper clip
13 Sakonsa clip
14 Green And Black clip

Ikebe Shakedown, the self-titled album from the Brooklyn-based band, plays with elements of Cinematic Soul, Afro-funk, Deep Disco, and Boogaloo in all the right ways. After spending a few years together the group, named after a favorite Nigerian boogie record (and pronounced “ee-KAY-bay,”) delivers a driving set of tunes featuring a mighty horn section anchored by tight, deep-pocketed grooves.

“Right now in cities across the globe, there are plenty of great Afrobeat revivalist bands aping the sound and groove of Fela Kuti’s legendary sound. Yet, surprisingly few of the new groups have strayed from an orthodox interpretation of the genre or done much real innovation. ..Ikebe Shakedown is here to change that. The band takes signature Afrobeat elements—big unison horns, slinky bass lines, tight little guitar licks—and blends them with tasty grooves culled from '70s-style horn-driven funk”. - Marlon Bishop, WNYC

The forthcoming Ikebe debut for Ubiquity Records sees the band push their globally-informed sound and eclectic approach to tune-writing into new territory, “Self-titling the album is a way to introduce the audience to the many facets of the band -- to provide a more complete understanding of what we do,” bassist Vince Chiarito says. “Our sound has grown to incorporate our influences without overtly representing any one in particular. It just sounds like us," he adds.

Most of the rhythm section met at Bard College, and the band rounded-out and officially formed when everyone settled in Brooklyn in 2008. From there, Ikebe has emerged as a compelling voice on the progressive local scene. After a run of dates around NYC, Ikebe recorded their debut 7” single and the EP, Hard Steppin', which was released on Colemine Records in 2009, receiving high praise from critics and fans alike. The group was invited to record at Dunham Studios with producer T Brenneck and at Killion Sound in Los Angeles, home of engineer Sergio Rios of fellow Ubiquity act Orgone< “The studios share a lot of similarities -- the tracks were all cut live to tape with minimal use of headphones and overdubs. This basic approach allowed us to dig in and really focus on getting dynamic performances,” Chiarito explains.

The old school mentality to recording spills over in the lush, laid-back, and soulful funk joints like “Kumasi Walk” and “No Name Bar” where the multi-layered horn section plays off a cavernous backing tracks of slick drumming, spacey Hammond organ, and nimble guitar riffing. The cinematic soul sound is warm and deep with the 7-piece band sounding more like a larger ensemble as increasing layers leap from the tapes. At the other end of the BPM counter, on “Tujunga,” the band build a gritty African disco jam boasting a floor-filling percussion section, adding seductive guitar licks and an irresistible bass-line to set their horns ablaze. “Tame The Beats” is pure fire - bold melodies and heavy rhythms propel the song, with Meters-esque breakdowns providing only brief respite from the action.

Date

September 10 2011

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UPCOMING: Christoph El Truento - EP01 12" (WONDERFUL NOISE)

Written By 1 - September 10 2011

LOCAL RELEASE: Due out Oct 2011, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

Christoph El Truento - EP01 (WN12021) digest by wonderfulnoise

LTD pressing !!! The 21th release from Japanese label Wonderful Noise features New Zealand producer Christoph El Truent. Christoph El Truento is a beat maker and DJ from Auckland, New Zealand. On EP01, his debut instrumental release he has chosen to focus his attention on funk music. Crunchy drums, synth bass and computer funk with gentle undertones of fender rhodes and organic sounds, Christoph El Truento puts his swing on the modern funk era!! Tracklist: A1.Armadillo Meat Funk A2.Push On A3.Rapman B1.She Just Don't Know B2.Solid B3.Untitled

 

LINKS:

Christoph El Truento's Website

Christoph El Truento's Bandcamp

Christoph El Truento's Soundcloud

Christoph El Truento's Twitter

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