free mp3-date

Gil-Scott Heron is a legend. You might know of him from his revolutionary street poetry of the 70's, his influential spoken word albums, or maybe just heard about the hardships of his life and times in New York City. Anyway you look at it, his words have affected the lives of many, and here he is in the new decade of the new millennium, reaching out to a whole new generation of people with a brand new album. Plenty of artists go to retirement and comeback, but Gil-Scott Heron has really impressed with I'm New Here. His scuffed and often tired voice tells of the hardships he has dealt with over the many years in a soulful bluesy manner - sounding so experienced, yet fresh over the minimalist modern beats and sound-scapes. Can't really pick and choose tracks here - this is the type of album you have to enjoy as a whole, but if you want a couple standalone highlights check out "New York Is Killing Me," "I'll Take Care Of You," or "Me And The Devil." Powerful stuff. Recommended.

• Music Label: XL Recordings 2010

reviewed by snackmaster 04/2010

Yo La Tengo's sixth studio full-length, Painful, showcases the Hoboken, NJ band fusing its signature retro/noise rock foundation with dreamy, atmospheric soundscapess. Beautifully textured and melodic tracks like "Big Day Coming" and "Nowhere Near" sit alongside slightly heavier, distortion-driven "Double Dare" and "I Was The Fool Beside You For Too Long." Also check out "Sudden Organ" and a different, shoegaze-y version of "Big Day Coming." Recommended.

• Music Label: Matador 2011

reviewed by nakinboots 08/2011

1992 debut album from Stereolab. At this point in their career, the band was not yet influenced by easy listening sounds that became their signature. Rather, they were creating sweeping, fuzzy rock inspired by Krautrock, No-Wave, French Pop, etc. This 2008 reissue features a free MP3 download code and new linear notes. 

• music label: Too Pure 2008 / 1992

reviewed by the mgmnt 04/2012

Looks like Nite Jewel is finally coming out of her shell. We all loved her lo-fi synth beats on Italians Do It Better, and her funky collab with fellow Los Angelino Dam-Funk, but on One Second Of Love, Ramona Gonzales showcases her vocal talents with newfound confidence. The beats have kind of taken the back seat to her voice on this one, (which is clearly the focal point of the album) displaying stunning range and hitting all sorts of emotions. Check the title cut "One Second Of Love" for a taste, a deft take on that 80's synth pop sound reminiscent of Kate Bush or Stevie Nicks. There's also the slinky ballad "She's Always Watching You," the sensual "In The Dark" or the moody "Mind & Eyes" that prove there's many shimmering facets to Nite Jewel's sound. Recommended.

• music label: Secretly Canadian 2012

reviewed by suicide bangs 03/2012

Sophomore effort from Dayve Hawk aka Weird Tapes, Memory Cassette, and finally, Memory Tapes. Whereas his debut LP Seek Magic was filled with dance-centric rhythms, electronic textures and chill (wave) overtones, Player Piano focuses on Memory Tapes' skills as a singer/song writer creating a full force excursion into dreamy pop rock sounds. Gone are most of the synthesizers and drum machines, replaced by acoustic instruments like guitars, organs, and drums. And though the sound kit has changed dramatically, the mood remains for the most part dreamy and hazy, just with a lot more pop. Highlights include "Yes I Know," "Wait In the Dark," "Sunhits," "Offers," "Fell Thru Ice," and "Trance Sisters." 12 tracks total.

• music label: Carpark

reviewed by Von Bee 06/2011

Cookin' Gumbo is Captain Planet's first full-length on Bastard Jazz. The album expands on the vibe of his previous releases and explores the Captain's penchant for taking sounds from all corners of the globe and applying his hip-hop production sensibilities to making dancefloor/electronic music. Things open up on "Ram Ad Infinitum" with deep and spiritual Hindu vibes, complemented by a hard-hitting drum break and buzzing synths. Next up is "Get You Some," a catchy, sure-fire bossa-nova with vocals from up-and-coming LA soulstress Brit Lauren. The Brazilian vibe continues with the funky "Macumba," the party-starting, drum'n'bass/hip-hop-in-Rio style of "Fumando," and "Samba Radiante 2011," a total dancefloor reconstruction of a popular track from the Captain's first EP. Next we're off to Africa with "Ningane," a horn-driven slice of hard afro beat, and the electro Nigerian bomb that is "Lagos Speedway." We also call on Puerto Rico ( "Dame Agua," "Speakin' Nuyorican"), Japan ("One for Japan"), the funky American South ("Another Dollar," "On Yer Feet") and more on this funky worldwide journey.

• music label: Bastard Jazz

reviewed by Bastard Jazz 09/2011

Remastered reissue of Elliott Smith's 1994 debut LP. Roman Candle was recorded on a 4 track recorder in teh basement of Smith's girlfriend, and was initially intended to be a 7" release.  However, once the folks over at Cavity Search Records heard the tracks they knew that they had something special and so they decided to release it in its entirety.  The original sound on the record was pretty lo-fi, but this remastered version has some pretty clear sound, more comparable to the releases that came later in Smith's solo career. I'm sure there's some die hards out there that'll turn their nose up at the cleaner mastering, but if you're an Elliott Smith fan you owe it to yourself to hear this. 9 tracks total on quality 180g vinyl, packaged in a pic sleeve with lyric sheet. BONUS: Each copy of this LP includes a coupon redeemable for a free, high-quality download of the entire album from the Kill Rockstars website.

• music label: Kill Rock Stars / 2010

reviewed by the mgmnt 07/2010

Flying Lotus finally drops his much anticipated and heavily hyped third album on Warp! Cosmogramma raises the bar to outerspace heights and goes above and beyond all expectations from the prolific LA producer with mind expanding cosmic jazz melodies, futuristic beats and bleeps from beyond, and totally organic yet unpredictable arrangements that prove why Flylo is at the top of the class for the new school sound. If Los Angeles was the mission statement, Cosmogramma is the magnum opus - a self-described "space opera" that treats the ears to new possibilites in the sonic realm featuring collaborations with relative Ravi Coltrane, harpist Rebekah Raff, bass virtuoso Thundercat, string arranger Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and vocals from Radiohead front man Thom Yorke and Laura Darlington. There is also an undeniable spiritual jazz vibe soaked into the futuristic beat tapestries reminiscent of his aunt Alice Coltrane. This is something that needs to be heard in its entirety for the full effect but here are some picks: Check the opener "Clock Catcher" that sets the mood, "Pickled," the heavy head nod of "Zodiac Shit" and "Recoiled," the abstract funk of "Computer Face / Pure Being," the brilliant "And The World Laughs With You" ft. Thom Yorke, "Arkestry" with its freeform Sun Ra feel, the uplifting "MmmHmmm," future house grooves on "Do The Astral Plane," and with Thundercat, and the groovin' "Dance Of The Pseudo Nymph." 17 tracks total. Undoubtably fresh, highly recommended. BONUS: This LP includes a coupon that's redeemable for a free, high quality download of the album from Warp's website.

• music label: Warp / 2010

reviewed by snackmaster 04/2010

Diplo and Switch's new dancehall project has been getting lots of hype over the last few months, and it turns out that this time the hype was right: this shit has more jams than Knotts Berry Farms. The CD opens with the surf-rock single "Hold The Line," which features Santigold and Mr. Lex, and doesn't really let up after that. In addition to top notch production, the album also features a ton of dancehall stars and a few state-side up and comers who should be pretty familiar to the discerning lab customer at this point. Turbulence shows up for "Anything Goes," Mr. Vegas makes an appearance on "Can't Stop Now," while Mr. Evil (aka Leftside) and Swedish rapper Mapei both jump on an updated version of "Mary Jane." Brooklyn's own auto-crooner Ricky Blaze and the perennially slept-on Nina Sky lend their vocals to the Power 106 Anthem "Keep It Goin' Louder," (this one's got "crossover" written all over it) and Vybz Kartel squeezes a few lines into the pandemonium-inducing "Pon Di Floor." Solid tracks from beginning to end, this album is gonna be a force to be reckoned this summer. Recommended. BONUS: Included with with this LP is a coupon for a free high-quality MP3 download of the full album.

• music label: Downtown / 2009

reviewed by Hires 07/2009

After whetting our appetites with "New York Is Killing Me," Jamie xx releases We're New Here, a thirteen-track full-length featuring The XX producer's reinterpretation of Gil-Scott Heron's 2010 album I'm New Here. The aforementioned track (also included here) perfectly fused short snippets of GSH's bluesy vocals with Jamie xx's future bass sensibilities, and pairings of equal quality can be found in tracks like "Home," "My Cloud," and "I'll Take Care Of U," which feature sophisticated beats, lofty, emotive synth work, and thick, heavy low-end work. Also check out "Running," as Heron's spoken word piece rides beautifully over a melodic and dark hip-hop/new school beats-influenced instrumental, or some of the interludes like "Jazz" and "I've Been Me," which are short but nevertheless capture the essence of this project. Recommended.

• music label: XL

reviewed by nakinboots 03/2011

Within And Without is the much-anticipated follow up to Washed Out's critically-acclaimed Life Of Leisure EP. Washed Out (aka Ernest Greene) is synonymous with the term "chillwave," but on Within And Without the Atlanta-based producer pushes forward from conventional chillwave aesthetics resulting in something that's still very hazy and warm, but more mature and refined. Within And Without takes it to a higher level of musicality with help from Ben Allen (co-producer of Merriweather Post Pavillion) and guest vocalist Caroline Polachek to really progress his evolution as a singer/songwriter. Highlights include "You And I," "Eyes Be Closed," "Soft," "Before," "Far Away," and "A Dedication". 9 tracks total pressed up on colored vinyl and includes free digital download of the album.

• music label: Sub Pop 2011 

reviewed by suicide bangs 07/2011

SBTRKT, the mysterious (masked) purveyor of cutting-edge dance sounds, drops his self-titled debut album on Young Turks. The London-based producer's signature sound - swinging, future-garage-infused bass music - has been showcased through a handful of EPs, singles, and collaborations, but regarding the full-length, he says: "This release is the culmination of a longer period of constant writing and collaboration, tracks on previous EPs were written as singular pieces. This record is much more of a whole project, more representative of my thoughts and ideas as an artist and each track was completed with the aim to be coherent together." Check how well the achy vocals mash with the tone of the instrumental on "Hold On." The subtle and sophisticated rhythms and melodies of "Right Thing To Do" as well as the dramatic synths and tribal percussion of "Never Never" are also memorable, but really, there is not a filler in this 12-tracker, so do yourself a favor and grab the album. Highly recommended.

• music label: Young Turks

reviewed by nakinboots 07/2011

Debut full-length from avant-beatsmith Matthewdavid on Flylo's Brainfeeder label. Deconstructed beats meet thick, hazy ambience and dreamy soundscapes throughout Outmind. It is a sound that seems to ease the mind as well as elevate it (though being under some controlled substances would probably heighten the sensations created). There are definitely some moments where beat heads will be like "unghhh" (in a good way - see "Like You Mean It" and "Today, Same Way"), and other moments that are strictly ambient and recall the sounds of Eno or Harold Budd (see "Group Tea" with Flylo and ""Floor Music"). The album is a beautiful matching of both styles/moods - definitely worth repeated listens. 15 tracks, Recommended.

• music label: Brainfeeder

reviewed by Snackmaster 04/2011

Sam Baker's Album is Samiyam's much-anticipated full-length on Brainfeeder. The LA-based (by way of Ann Arbor, Michigan) producer's first release - Rap Beats vol. 1 - on FlyLo's prestigious label quickly earned him a place in the upper echelon of the beats scene, and with this new album, he will certainly solidify his status as the creator of some of the most deviant, filthy, woozy, and electronic funk-infused hip-hop instrumentals. Check out the despondent organ work (sample?) in the opener "Escape," or the spooky, tension-filled, bass-heavy funk of "Bricks." Other picks include "Where Am I," "Cushion," as well as "Wonton Special." 17 tracks spread over 2LPs with free MP3 download included. Recommended.

• music label: Brainfeeder

reviewed by nakinboots 07/2011

Man, I really love this record.  We finally managed to get our mitts on some copies, now that it's on its third pressing.  The original pressing is going for over 150 Euros these days, and this edition is limited to 2000 copies, so don't expect it to be around long.  Washed Out is Ernest Greene, and this EP of hazy bedroom synth-pop is probably one of the most notable releases of the so-called Chill Wave genre.  It's sensitive white boy daydream music at its finest, perfect for lazy summer days at the beach.  If you haven't heard any of his stuff before, start with "Feel It All Around" - it's probably the best track here, built from a slowed down italo disco sample and absolutely drenched in reverb.  Other favorites include "You'll See It," (probably the only one of these that you could get away with on the dancefloor, and even then it's kind of a stretch), "New Theory," and "Hold Out."  All six of em are gorgeous though.  Comes in a hand-numbered pic sleeve (how perfect is that cover art, btw?) and plays at 45.  Cop this, take a few bong hits and then slip into some mellow 80s vibes; you won't regret it.  Recommended. 

• music label: Mexican Summer / 2010

reviewed by Hires 07/2010

It certainly has been a meteoric year for La Roux.  What started last year with a 12" on Kitsune has now blown up into a self-titled LP that has already been certified gold in the UK (along with two top ten singles that featured some huge remixes), now finally seeing release here in the good old US of A.  In case you've been sleeping, La Roux is comprised of Elly Jackson on vocals and Ben Langmaid on synths, and when you put 'em together you wind up with a duo that has a serious knack for writing catchy-as-fuck synth-pop.  "Bulletproof" is probably the catchiest of the bunch, and should translate to most dancefloors exceptionally.  "In For The Kill," which was remixed by Skream to wildly popular results, and "Quicksand" are also danceable standouts.  "Cover My Eyes" is a great mid-tempo ballad, while "As If By Magic" and "Fascination" are both dripping with new wave pop sensibility.  Honestly, all of the tracks here are really well crafted, the album never really falters.  It's rarer and rarer to find an album without a skipable moment these days, but this is one of em.  Pressed on 180g vinyl and packaged in a gatefold pic-sleeve.  Highly recommended.

• music label: Polydor / 2009

reviewed by Hires 10/2009