Classics!

One of the all time greats, brings back memories of skateboarding, swimming in the river in summer, and generally chilling with the fine friends of school times. Ace.

And another:

Pos K in pimpin ya’ll:

Today:

Love this FlyLo track. The man himself is in London today, unfortunately I can’t make it down to the show but I’ve seeen him before and it was unreal.

Teebs is ANOTHER young producer from the LA scene, his first EP is sure to create some waves…

Nosaj thing is also from LA, also makes crazy beat music that I like a lot.

Omar-S

Omar-S is a producer from Detroit, he follows in teh footsteps of guys like Theo Parrish and Moodyman. By the sound of some of his interviews the guy is pretty crazy, a real genius producer though, a detail man working with analogue equipment – it really shows.

Psychotic Photosynthesis is the track that caught a lot of people’s ear, including Theo Parrish, who signed him up to co-produce some of his work this year. This tracks needs to be listened to several times, closely, before you realise how fucking clever it is.

Songs for rioting to

Incredible riots in London today! Although I’m by no means an anti-capitalist I think it’s important to shake things up a bit from time to time. What most people don’t understand (I’ve heard numerous people today saying things like: “they’re a bunch of dossers, never done a day’s work” etc. etc.) is that a small minority in our society are geniunely unhappy about the way the system works. Just because the majority don’t agree (or are too ignorant to think about it in any meaningful way) doesn’t mean they’re wrong or that they shouldn’t have their say. And because it’s almost impossible to make any kind of impact through the ‘democratic’ channels (have you ever tried writing to your local MP? Did you get a response?) the only way sometimes is to smash shit up. Good on them.

Here are some songs to listen to whilst smashing your local bank or government office…

One of the best Hawtin tracks:

Benga, great for an uprising…

Two beautiful songs for Tuesday

Boards of Canada make some of my favourite music, it’s impossible to place them in a certain genre, their music manages to sound new and fresh and yet familiar in a reminicing of childhood kind of way. Maybe it’s the use of 80′s educational/tv samples, but it has this strange way of making you look back. They took their name from the Film Board of Canada, which they site as a major influence on their work and their lives. Nature is a major theme of their work, at least it seems that way to me. It’s impossible to choose a top track, but this is definitely one of them

On a simillar note, lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Aphex Twin’s incredible Selected Ambient Works, one of the best tracks, for me, is Rhubabrd

Mulatu in London

Mulatu Astake is one of the all time jazz greats. His Ethiopian jazz, championed by people like Gilles Peterson and available on the wonder Ehtiopiques series, is only now being recognised for it’s genius. The man himself will be in London in May for a rare live performance with the excellent Heliocentrics, it will sell out soon so get tickets now if you’re up for it.

I’m in love….

Cassie. Who knew? Why did nobody tell me?! She’s amazing, and actually this song is pretty ace – I love the Blade Runner synth that comes in every now and again.

People you should know about

There are many new producers coming through at the moment who are making big waves. The 80′s kids, now it’s our turn, and our influences are wide. Here are a few I’m into:

Hudson Mohwake is a Glaswegian genius. He was quickly snapped up by Warp and has been written about in most respectable music magazines this year. Some call it dubstep, some call it wonky, who gives a fuck what it’s called, genres mean nothing anyway. Why do people feel the need to label everything? Fuck them.

Anyway, this track is quite an old Hud Mo banger, it sold out within days of going on sale and is now worth serious $

Whilst I’m on the LuckyMe tip (represent Scotland!), you have to check Rustie. He’s getting as much press hype as Hud Mo, but his style is much more aggressive. Zig Zag was an instant classic…

Blaqstarr is bad ass, he’s from Baltimore and makes music that is hard to define but is ace as fuck. This is a track that he did with MIA that is Wire-inspired.

Gaslamp Killer is a crazy producer from LA, he’s down with people like FlyLo and Samiyam, so obviously a dude.

Shed make wonderful electronic music, thanks god they’ve strayed from the dull and lifeless path that is German minimal techno.

Modeselektor are my heros. Two crazy guys from Berlin who make all sorts of mad and forward thinking music. Their lives shows are pretty special too, check them at a festival this summer as part of Moderat, their colab with Apararat. Suckerpin is incredible…

Songs I’m listening to a lot this week

My favourite ever Beatles song, Tomorrow Never Ends. This track was about 50 years ahead of its time, still sounds fresh.

I LOVE Harmonic 313, Koln is probably my favourite track from his new album

I love this song, it’s a classic by Nu Shooz

Dam Funk is one of the hottest new producers from the crazy LA scene. He’s so badass it’s unreal…

KRS One is one of the all time masters, this is from his seminal ’95 album KRS-One

Martyn is a producer for Holland who now lives in DC, people say he makes dubstep, he calls it Martyn music, which is a far more accurate description

Happy Songs

Here are some songs to brighten up your day

First off is The Stairsteps with Ooh Child

Next try Getting Up by Q Tip

Maybe some Billie Holiday

Obviously some Curtis, Move on Up indeed

And then a little Jamie Lidell

We need some Blackalicious positivity, The World (keeps turning round)

More to come…