de-minimis: July 2012

27 July 2012

nick cave - 'suzanne (leonard cohen cover)'

Possibly the straightest cover version I've ever heard him sing and rightly so, in my opinion because this song is just perfect.

22 July 2012

peggy sue - 'fools rush in'

This is from a very limited pressing of 'Peggy Sue Sings the Songs of Scorpio Rising'.

sunday morning blues

Something old, something new, something borrowed, forever blue.

Skip James - 'Crow Jane'

Daniel Lefkowitz - 'Siren Ghost'

The Animals - 'I'm Mad Again'

21 July 2012

michael andrews - 'bubbles in space'

Best known for his collaboration with Gary Jules, Michael Andrews returns with a mellow song and an awesome video. He had San Diego high school students draw 3,000 frames and then it was all spliced together to produce a quite stunning visual display.

snoop lion - 'la la la'

As produced by Major Lazer, so you know there's quality here.

nina simone - 'backlash blues'

Nina takes on Chicago Blues and wins by a knockout.

nick cave - part 2

And bang up to date with this remix of 'Moan Thing'.

nick cave - part 1

I put a spell on you.

belle and sebastian - 'i fought in a war'

Still my favourite B&S tune.

20 July 2012

phenomenal handclap band - 'father james jack (all saints basement sessions)'

I missed out on seeing this band in London but by the looks of this session they did for All Saints near Brick Lane, they look the business.

pinch and shackleton - 'cracks in the pleasuredome (college hill remix)'

I love these kinds of remixes. There's a real warmth to this and so much care. This song works on so many levels: background music, headphones on, in a bar and of course when I'm working from home.

19 July 2012

ms melodie 1969 - 2012

Pioneer female rapper, Ms Melodie has died at the terribly young age of 43. The cause of death isn't known yet but her death sees the world lose a clever, talented and brave woman. Just like her once-spouse KRS-1, she shunned the bitches, bling and guns and instead tackled violence and social injustice head-on. Her lyrics were clever, biting but always with hope. Way back on her single 'Self-Destruction' she sang 'the violence in rap must cease and seckle'.

I remember watching an interview with KRS-1 and he spoke briefly of his relationship with Ms Melodie. He spoke of the arguments, the fact that both often refused to budge on issues but he always respected her opinions and loved her intelligence. Here's my favourite track of hers "What Do You Do?'

18 July 2012

lianne la havas - 'is your love big enough (rudi zygadlo remix)'

I think this is a big improvement on the original.

the avalanches - 'since i left you'

And leave you, I must. I need to go to work.

oldstereo - 'dread-stroit'

It could almost be described as a minimalist reggae track and at less than 2 minutes, minimal seems very apt but there's genuine quality here. I think this could have been turned into a much bigger tune and it's a shame because the band have talent.

sharon van etten - 'magic chords'

Still feeling fragile? Let Sharon Van Etten massage those ears for you.

olivia tremor control - 'jumping fences'

Let's soothe you into midweek.

17 July 2012

the xx - 'angels'

I'm rather pleased that my 1000th blog entry is the XX's new single. I've always had a lot of time for this band. The new single is no great departure from their usual sound but it does slightly deeper and heavier. I do like the fact that they sing love songs. It's refreshing to think that even though they are as cool as you like, they don't regard themselves as too cool for that most basic of feelings.

marley marl's classic recipes

Here's a cool video. It's Marley Marl recreating LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out' using Ableton. I've always been curious as to how these records are made and now I know!

15 July 2012

major lazer - 'original don (flosstradamus remix)'

This remix of Diplo's don is donner than a mixed kebab with extra chilli and garlic. (You know what? That metaphor is bloody good considering the hangover I'm currently nursing.)

brian jonestown massacre - 'anemone'

I always mispronounce the word 'anemone'.

14 July 2012

santogold - 'guns of brooklyn'

Santogold covers a Clash classic with added venom, extra attitude and a shedloads more bass.

tracey thorn - 'it's all true (escort extended mix)'

Tracey Thorn always delivers.

bobby womack - 'love is gonna lift you up (julio bashmore remix)'

From one of the albums of 2012, a stripped back remix that really shows off Bobby's great voice to full effect.

bloc party - 'octopus (rac remix)'

They've never been my cup of tea but I think as they develop I'm starting to warm to them, musically. Here's their latest track given the once over by the Remix Artists Collective. The trouble is, I'm not sure if it's Bloc Party or the remix that I like.

georgie fame - 'sunny'

Just for you x

my dream job

If I could have any job it would have been as one of Gladys Knight's 'Pips'. Those blokes had the moves, the clothes, the voices...and they got to accompany the incomparable Ms Knight on backing vocals. No wonder they look so happy, it is without doubt the greatest job in the world.

Just look at the shapes they're pulling, goddammit!

woody guthrie - 'jolly banker'

Happy 100th birthday, Woody. An inspiration still and as this song proves as relevant today as you were 60 years ago.

13 July 2012

diplo - 'butters theme feat. billy the gent & long jawns'

Last one from me before I get to work this morning. This is from Diplo's latest EP and oh boy, it's a killer. But you already knew that. It's got Diplo's name on it.

scientist - 'your teeth in my neck'

It's never too early for classic dub.

chris farlowe - 'out of time'

This has to rank as one of my all time favourite records. I will never tire of listening to the voice of Chris Farlowe. The greatest blue-eyed soul singer this country has ever produced.

damien jurado - 'museum of flight'

Damien has one of the most distinctive voices in music and I've neglected to listen to him for quite some time. I was reminded after watching this odd video to accompany his latest single. I'm really not sure about this video at all. It just has a feeling of overriding naffness, which is a shame because I really like the song.

11 July 2012

albert swarm - 'moths and mothcatchers'

Filed under the same heading as Holy Other and Balam Acab, Finnish musician Pietu Arvola returns under his 'Albert Swarm' moniker with a dark and thought-provoking piece of electronica.

peaking lights - 'beautiful son'

They do love a bit of echo, don't they? Here's the latest from PEaking Lights and it's a rather dreamy tune that sounds simple but underneath the bonnet there's almost a psychedelic tune trying to burst out.

justice - 'new lands'

I love the use of the video from a ridiculously glorious futuristic film as the backdrop to this song.

crispy & co. - 'scorpion flower'

Some late 70s funk/disco cross-over.

10 July 2012

rebecca and fiona - 'dance'

The song is excellent, it's moody and very atmospheric but I've no clue what the video is about! Rebecca and Fiona are Swedish singer/songwriter/producers and this is from their album 'I Love You Man'. The whole album is very much of this ilk with electro/synth-beat driven pop.

nicole moudaber - essential mix 23-06-12

I've been listening to this mix by Nicole Moudaber all afternoon. She brings together some seriously catchy tunes, for someone whose DJing is so precise she seems very relaxed and she moves across the turntables with all the skills and consummate ease of someone at the top of her game.

beth orton - 'something more beautiful'

Some things are definitely worth the wait. A new Beth Orton album on the horizon makes me a very happy bunny indeed. It's called 'Sugaring Season' and produced by Decemberist, Tucker Martine. Here's the first track released from it. I really have missed her.

stevie wonder - 'you haven't done nothing'

This was written as an open letter to Richard Nixon who Wonder felt had done little to address the problems of social injustice that black people faced in America. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the Jackson 5 providing backing vocals. Listening to the lyrics, it's depressing that, 40 years on, people still feel that songs like this are relevant to the current situation.

madato - 'she dancer'

From the very critically acclaimed EP 'Portraits' Madato has created a seriously timeless piece of dance music. It spans a few genres, from tech, electronica, house and a bit of minimal too.

dusty springfield - 'spooky (quinten 909 remix)'

I've always like this song and if ever it were remixed for a Hotel Costes album then this would be the remix. Very classy, very smooth.

m.i.a. - 'baby'

The collaboration between William Orbit and M.I.A. has finally come to fruition. The result is this track. On first listen, it sounds a bit 'sub-'. Perhaps I'm more used to her in-your-face style of performing and I swear I am allergic to auto-tune which doesn't help when a song makes liberal use of it but it's still a good track and the production is top notch. Maybe I need to give it a few more listens as I hate to be so disparaging to such a talented lady.

big wave riders - 'sunny season'

I really love big guitar songs. By that I mean those songs where the guitar is the weapon of choice and it builds to a massive, crunching crescendo. Think James, think Simple Minds, think Big Country, think Best Coast. Are you still thinking those thoughts? Good. Now transport those thoughts to Finland and imagine a young and very eager band playing great summer tunes. That's where Big Wave Riders come in. Even their name kind of suggests their genre. They have an album out next month and this track from it is a wonderful prelude to the music they are capable of making.

09 July 2012

passion pit - 'constant conversations'

This is the 3rd track from the new album and is a lovely slow number. We will have a summer, Goddamnit and it's beautiful, sunny songs like this that will make it happen.

zola jesus 'seekir'

It needs to be a video with wow factor to match her voice and this, directed by Jacqueline Castel, fits the bill perfectly. You can read an exclusive interview with her right here.

tame impala - 'apocalypse dreams'

It was a pleasant surprise this morning to see, amongst the usual Twitter noise that one of my favourite Aussie bands are trending. It's all to do with the news that they are back with a brand new single, available as a free download. This week is going to be a long one, I can tell, so why not try to start it with a smile and give this a listen?

08 July 2012

guru - 'take a look at yourself (feat roy ayers)'

I seem to be re-visiting a lot of classic albums this weekend. This time it's the turn of The Jazzmatazz Volume 1 album and it must rank as one of the most accomplished hip hop albums of all time. The quality of production, the strength of every tune and the A-list cast that he assembled are testimony to the fact that hip hop can be seriously great music. I've described this to my children as a masterclass in hip hop and told them to remember this, the next time they hear some cock-rock, bitches and bling rapper on MTV Whatever Channel. Jazzmatazz is the real thing.

public enemy - 'he got game'

You know you must be doing something right as a parent when you ask your 12 year old son what he wants to listen to and he tells you Public Enemy's 'He Got Game' soundtrack.

the fall - 'f-oldin money'

This will wake you up.

07 July 2012

beastie boys - 'cousin of death'

From their very critically acclaimed 2007 'Mix-Up' album. Sometimes on hearing an album for the first time you just have to sit back and say 'wow'.

augustus pablo - 'thunder and lightning'

I took advantage of the Rounder Records sale in Brighton to buy a copy of Augustus Pablo's album, 'Dubbing on Bond Street'. He really puts the melodica to full effect on what is quite a light and breezy album. It's new out this year and from what I can gather, it's a collection of tracks recorded at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio and are all re-workings of some classic tunes. This is a bonus track from the album.

michael nyman and david mcalmont – 'secrets, accusations and charges [max cooper reconstruction]'

Here's an interesting collaboration. Nyman is better known for more classical compositions whereas Butler is usually found in leftfield pop territory. This coming together of minds and talent produced one of the most under-rated albums of recent times, 'The Glare'. This is a remix of one of the tracks from it and is brand new from Max Cooper, another brilliant British talent who is equally at home with ambient soundscapes as he is, mixing it on the dancefloor.

dj krush - 'black rain'

Let's ease you into the weekend especially if you were unfortunate enough to have bought tickets for the Bloc Weekend. Here's DJ Krush.

06 July 2012

hot city - 'bloc phuture era'

This sounds like it's a classic old school drum and bass tune from 1994 but it's bang up to date and seriously addictive. It could and should be a future classic. Boo yeah! It's a great Friday night tune!

gonesthedj in the mix

Nice!

classic album corner - the queen is dead

I haven't given this the time of day in years but, on a whim, I'm listening to it now with my 2 children and we all agree that it's dated extremely well. I'm so glad that there was a band around when I was a child that could articulate so many feelings into so many great songs. I dare say that the Smiths have quite literally saved some poor chap's sanity. I'm not sure if they saved mine but they certainly made me laugh and cry. I don't think you can give higher praise to a song.

take it to the bridge

Brighton have signed Wayne Bridge as left-back for next season! My goodness how times have changed from a few years ago when Bas Savage was a marquee signing. In honour of the extremely talented player, here's a few bridge related tunes.

Mazzy Star - 'Look On Down From the Bridge'

KRS-1 - 'The Bridge Is Over'

Fred Bridges - 'Baby Don't You Weep'

All Saints - 'Under The Bridge'

elvis presley - 'fever'

It's my very humble opinion that Elvis never sounded sexier than when he was singing this song. He really took the Peggy Lee standard and made a version that was all his own with a song that only really works when stripped down to the bare bones with just a drum, double bass and finger-clicking. It even works at 7.50 in the morning when I'm preparing some spreadsheets!

05 July 2012

portishead - 'western eyes (omega remix)'

Possibly their sexiest song has been given a slightly harder edge with this intense remix. I'm not normally a fan of dubstep edits but this one is quite respectful of the original so it goes on my blog!

easy star all stars - 'dub it'

They've produced dub reggae versions of some great albums in the past and this time the reggae collective return to give Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' the special treatment. The jury is out on this idea for the moment but this is definitely one of the highlights - 'Beat It' but with dub.

fatcat records mix

There's eclectic and then there's this mix. It has African trance, leftfield folk, noise, ambient, turntable scratching and lots more.

04 July 2012

lhasa de sela - 'anyone and everyone'

I was listening tonight to Esmerine's 'Snow Day for Lhasa' and felt inspired to post some of her own music. Such a great talent taken too early.

mogwai - 'take me somewhere nice'

I pity the fool who does not love this.

03 July 2012

loudon wainwright III - 'ghost blues'

I haven't heard this nor indeed any Loudon Wainwright in years. Time to rectify that, this is from his 2012 album where he reflects on life as a baby boomer and growing old. He's like a fine whisky getting better with age.

jesca hoop - 'the house that jack built'

I love that modern folk music has helped traditional music regain the respectability that was unfairly taken away from it around the mid-70s onwards. Furthermore, I think the key to folk music is, perversely, not so much around the music as the all-important storytelling. Jesca Hoop is a good example of this.

She has a wonderful singing talent and her musicianship is top notch but it's the bittersweet lyrics that really come into their own on this her title track from her new album. Her songwriting style is probably best described as quirky although it sounds a bit of a backhanded compliment. Let me qualify that by saying that I mean that she doesn't have a traditional songwriting approach. Hers is more akin to Joanna Newsom or Fever Ray and, more often than not, has a surreal, almost ethereal quality to it. I think this Mancunian will go a long way.

asobi seksu - 'perfectly crystal (beach fossil/spirit animal remix)'

We are in urgent need of some summer loving so I thought I would try to help the weather along by playing a sunny uplifting track. Here's my favourite Japanese/American dream pop duo with a remix of their 'Perfectly Crystal'.

soley - 'pretty face (ragnar dagur remix)'

As if Iceland wasn't cold enough already here's a pretty good remix to make it cooler still.

02 July 2012

john martyn and danny thompson - 'couldn't love you more'

Youtube has hundreds of great clips from the Old Grey Whistle Test and I don't think it's too wild a claim to suggest that this is one of the greats, from 1977.

oliver huntemann - 'tasmanian tiger'

I'm in the mood for some minimal techno now, fortunately Oliver Huntemann does home deliveries. I tell you what, it's a long time since I heard a techno tune with a killer drop as good as this.

bo saris - 'she's on fire (maya jane coles remix)'

So soulful! This is going to be massive. If warm, seriously cool techno is your thing then I think you'll like this a lot.

dark dark dark - 'daydreaming'

This has come only very recently to my attention despite it being 3 years old. Reminiscent of Regina Spector and Peggy Sue and the Pirates, Dark Dark Dark sound art school with an almost operatic air to a folky sound. They are aptly named too as the lyrics are arsenic tinged at times. Definitely, deceptively dark.

barbarossa - 'battles'

No sooner has he released the excellent 'Butterfly Plague' EP than along comes another heart-wrenchingly beautiful tune from James Mathe aka Barbarossa. He does this so well without relying on mawkish lyrics or cliched tunes. This chap deserves to be a massive star when he's so consistently good.

new planningtorock track

I am very excited to have come across this on Soundcloud. It's a little less dark than the songs on the debut album a few years ago and sounds ripe for a few excellent edits and remixes as there are lots of big hooks and beats throughout the whole song.

http://soundcloud.com/humanlevel/patriarchy-over-out-planningtorock

the skints - 'ratatat'

England has long had a punk/ska tradition and if the Skints are anything to go by then the cultural fusion is in very rude health.

01 July 2012

yellowman - 'nobody move, nobody get hurt'

Wise words.

the pains of being pure at heart - 'belong'

From the last.fm live session.

echo lake - 'wild peace'

This was Rough Trade's album of the week just gone and I can see why they rate it so highly. South London art school rockers, Echo Lake have a brilliant debut album that fuses indie with a real bite to it but also psychedelia. Lead singer, Linda Jarvis, has a very evocative voice that carries the music further still. Sad to report but the drummer, Pete Hayes, died last week after an illness. I hope the band can recover from this blow. Here's the title song from the album.

curtis mayfield and the impressions - 'can't satisfy your love'

So reminiscent of the Isley Brothers 'This Old Heart of Mine'.

wax tailor feat. jennifer charles - 'heart stop'

Sunday afternoon music.