More ironic adventures from the Woodman...for free! and a bonus CD soundtrack to boot! Now that's some real love foe da game. For real, Free with any purchase. -the mgmnt
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Numero Group is establishing itself as the most interesting and thorough compilation label in the United States, slowly releasing top quality music from genres that are more or less completely untouched by the other heavies in the game. Sure, they have their...
expand review series microcosm funk label compilations, but they've also brought us such diverse (and delicious) pieces as the Antenna album, Yellow Pills, and funk from Belize. This one starts their journey into the vast land of private press folk albums (read: ultra raer and so in demand right now), spearheaded by the hippie goddess women that we shall heretofore refer to as Ladies From The Canyon. Playing this cd is a lot like putting on a new and kinda wild jacket that you aren't sure you can pull off. Maybe a little self-conscious at first, but once you've decided you can pull it off and you've stopped giving a shit, the thing feels perfect. Check out selections like Shira Small's "Eternal Life(1)," Caroline Peyton's absorbing vocals on "Engram(2)," Marj Snyder's "Rain(3)," the windsong of Collie Ryan's "Cricket(4)" and Barbara Sipple's "Song For Life(5)." All 14 selections come from records that were pressed in absolutely miniscule numbers, and Numero does us the favor of including a great booklet with a double page spread on each artist (original album scans included). If you've got a soft spot for softies and sweet music, you should check this out. -the mgmnt
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Wow. A really amazing reissue from Finders Keepers' B-Music sub-label right here. This is part of their new Anatolian Invasion series, highlighting forgotten Turkish masterpieces, and if I was ever gonna use the phrase "forgotten Turkish masterpiece," it's for Mustafa Ozkent's Genclik...
expand review Ile Elele. This is the type of psych breaks stuff that dudes like Andy Votel flip over (in fact, he wrote the liner notes) and I think once this CD reissue starts reaching more people, everyone else will be flipping over it too. The (incredibly detailed) liner notes can tell you in better detail, but basically, Ozkent was something of a musical mad scientist, creating instruments to match his vision and then fashioning an entire album chock full of breaks that straddle the line between traditional Turkish music and Western influence. I'm a total dummy when it comes to funk and breaks and shit, and I even I know this stuff is useful. Just check out hypnotic tracks like "Dolana(1)" and the organ-trilling "Lorke(2)," or the one-two power punch of "Emmioglu(3)" and "Carsamba(4)." Even stuff like "Uskudar(5)," which begins the album and sounds vaguely like some old cartoon chase music. B-Music is killing right now! 10 tracks; 30 minutes. Recommended! -Chris Lemon-Red
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Debut album from Ms. Santi White, featuring the singles "L.E.S Artistes(1)" and "Creator(2)" plus production from Switch, Diplo ("Unstoppable(3)"), the late Disco D ("Shove It(4)"), Sinden, Freq Nasty and a guest spot from Spank Rock. Need I say more? More audio picks,...
expand review if you need 'em: "I'm A Lady(5)," "My Superman(6)" and Switch & Sinden's remix of "You'll Find A Way(7)." 12 tracks; 41 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
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New Yorkers have always been spoiled when it comes to cutting edge disco. By the late 70s, they were already dancing at groundbreaking clubs like The Sanctuary, Salvation I & II, the spectacle at Studio 54 and the legendary Loft parties. But...
expand review what about the rest of America? I'm talking about Georgia, Illinois, Baltimore, Ohio, Detroit, etc. These were places that felt the outside musical pressure of NY's glossy disco and modern funk that hit the industry nationwide. Unwilling to compromise their own soul and vision, the result was a hybrid sound that fused a disco music with the good ol' traditions of funk, soul, r&b and jazz. This special CD compilation is dedicated to the unsung heroes of that era. You may have heard of Tony Cook & The Party People's dancefloor hit "On The Floor," now check out his earlier disco boogie funk on "Get To The Point(1)." Also check the soulful boogie sounds of Detroit's Destiny In Time Band's "You Bring Out The Best In Me(2)," the funky soul disco on Chicago's Lonnie Givens' "Heat Is On(3)," Greyship Davis' extremely funked out number "Get Up Get Down And Let Your Body Pop(4)," and the proto-house sounds of Fabulous Kings' "If You Like What We're Doing(5). " All the selections are still fresh for today's tastes, extremely rare to find in the field, and years ahead of their time. Honestly I would link all of these, but I'll leave some surprises for you. Two CDs beautifully packaged in a glossy three panel digipak, one mixed by Jerome Derradji and the second giving you all the UNMIXED versions. Also includes a booklet with a brief history and bios for all the artists. I'd like to personally thank BBE for making this comp and to the original artists that persevered the funk in the face of adversity. Recommended. -C'mish
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Quiet Village is crate-digger extraordinaire Joel Martin and dance music master Matt Edwards (aka Radio Slave) making "sophisticated exotica for adults." Yup, that's pretty much the best description for it (from their own words). "Silent Movie" is their debut full length album...
expand review and after sporting a few sought-after singles on Whatever We Want and a some remixes for the likes of Francois K, Cosmo Vitelli, and Gorillaz, you already know its going to be serious. There aren't really any new albums of coming out that can take you through the realms of vintage movie soundtracks, library music, disco, soul, acid rock, and breaks, tropicalia and balearica all in one long play, but somehow "Silent Movie" does that - and does it exceptionally well. It's definitely one of those albums that has a kind of timeless feel - like was it made in the past? is it new? does it matter since it's so good? - and will definitely grow on you the more you listen to it and delve into the tracks. But enough blurbing, just take a listen to these selections and let the music speak for itself - "Circus Of Horror(1)," "Free Rider(2)," "Too High To Move(3)," "Pillow Talk(4)," "Can't Be Beat(5)," "Gold Rush(6)," and "Singing Sand(7)." 12 tracks total. Recommended. -snackmaster
V-Moda enters the high-end, bud-style headphone market with the impressive Vibe series. These headphones boast top quality sound (excellent bass) and a sound response curve "fashioned for the discerning enthusiast." The silicone ear pieces provide sound isolation, and come in three sizes...
expand review for customized fit. The working parts of the Vibe earphones are made of metal for good looks and durability. In addition, the Vibe earphones come with a leather carrying pouch and a cable manager. -mgmnt
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After we listened to about half of this new Ratatat album here in the office, The Commish leaned over to me and said: "Man, I keep waiting for a whiny indie rock male vocalist to come in! This is great!" Indeed, the...
expand review duo's new shit is a pleasant listening experience from front to back – clean, synthy and instrumental, sounding alternately like the soundtrack to the lost level of Castlevania and… uhh, one of those video game song cover bands on Kill Rock Stars. I know you've probably seen these dudes (all bearded and indie rock) and read reviews about how they're so "infectious" and "dancey," but honestly this is just some nice ass headphone music with a steady beat and a mellow temperament. Even the single, "Wildcat(1)" (which makes me think of Eli Cash), isn't super-hype – but it's more than suitable for a little downtempo mixtape/set where you wanna add a little excitement. Tracks like "Swisha(2)" prove Ratatat's worth by swapping out any notion of danceability for a gorgeous, lush spaghetti western update. "Lex(3)" and "Tropicana(4)" show a bit of bombast for the usually restrained pair. Maybe I'm not explaining this well, or making it sound a bit boring… but it's not. For really real. A solid indie LP in a time when solid indie LPs are increasingly hard to come by. 10 tracks; 42 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Far from the tomb-raiding compilations we've come to expect after great artists pass on (usually a few gems in a pile of trash), Kill Rock Stars' new double-vinyl Elliott Smith collection is a goldmine in plain sight. All 24 songs here were...
expand review recorded between 1994 and 1997, and any Elliott Smith fan will tell you that's primetime right there. Fragments and low-fi versions of some of these tracks have been circulating online for years, but this is the first time anyone's assembled the whole picture (and filled in the gap with liners that include insightful first-person accounts). "Angel In The Snow(1)" is a beautiful track that could've easily been on the self-titled album, except that it appeared on a limited edition magazine giveaway and not many people ever got to hear it. Ditto for "See You Later(2)," which was on a cassette compilation limited to 300 copies. (Imagine owning that, then watching him on the Grammies.) The demo version of "Miss Misery(3)" is interesting, but the quiet and haunting "Going Nowhere(4)" totally steals the show here. "Big Decision(5)" is probably the best known track here, full of emotive vocals and amazing finger-picking. "Fear City(6)," "Either/Or(7)" and "Almost Over(8)" are worth hearing, too. In fact, this whole thing is worth hearing. It's great. We don't buy this shit to mine for breaks, nahmeen? Sometimes good music is good enough. 24 tracks; 73 minutes. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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"Apples & Pears(1)" off Canyons' new EP is one of the best tracks of 2008. Whew... I've been holding that in for a month, feels good to finally say it out loud. Seriously, I don't know what's in the water down in...
expand review Perth, Australia, but these Hole In The Sky dudes are only two releases deep and already seem to have mastered the art of these grooving smokey late nite jams. (See also: Fred Cherry's "Busride To The Zoo.") I'm not even sure how much of "Apples" is original production, how much is edited, etc., but it doesn't really matter - once this song gets its hooks in you, you won't care either; crisp drums and claps, heavenly keys, sweet looped Portuguese(?) vocals and waves of static washing over everything. I could see this track getting played in so many different situations; it's also getting play from The Rub's own Cosmo Baker and Rong artist Scotty Coats, and those are some dudes with good taste. And oh yeah, the rest of the EP is great too - "Big City Lights(2)" is some really well-crafted and spooky downtempo, while "Yesterday The Dog(3)" and "More Champagne?(4)" keep it on a more upbeat electro/disco tip. All tracks clock in around the 4 1/2 - 5 minute mark. Goes without saying this is... Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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