July 13, 2006
The Audience's Listening
[from giantstep]
The Audience's Listening is the product of a Los Angeles native who's lived in the bustling metropolis for all of his life. It's what's shaped his sound, diverse outlook and his edge. It is evocative of an era when sound enthusiasts put out records for the adventure of it, using the simple set up of a turntable, mixer and computer. What sets Cut Chemist songs apart from others is that they have been built with the assistance of thousands of rare, crazy, odd, eccentric and quite often unplaceable samples from other records - a truly global library that has been amassed from his extensive travels. And traveling he did, spending 12 years as a DJ/ producer for LA hip-hop dynamos Jurassic 5 and five years playing the turntables backing up Latin alternative band Ozomatli. He also released the highly bootlegged mixtapes Brain Freeze and Product Placement with DJ Shadow and continued to helm his own recurring Los Angeles club nights “Funky Sole."
Posted by richard ting at July 13, 2006, 07:29 PM
June 04, 2006
Substance Abuse feat. Kool Keith -- A Night on the Town
"Night on the Town" from indie hip-hop group Substance Abuse featuring Kool Keith. The song is taken from the forthcoming album "Over Proof".
Posted by richard ting at June 04, 2006, 12:10 AM
May 12, 2006
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy Video
Posted by richard ting at May 12, 2006, 02:44 PM
April 25, 2006
Jin B.E.T Freestyle Friday "Champion"
I just scooped these classic Jin Freestyle videos on YouTube. Jin is holding it down for NYC Asians. Much respect Jin.
Posted by richard ting at April 25, 2006, 07:08 PM
April 18, 2006
Rakim Returns on Current TV
Check out Rakim on Current TV.
Posted by richard ting at April 18, 2006, 05:33 PM
April 12, 2006
The Basement Boys Present Mudfoot Jones on Savoy Jazz Worldwide Records
[via giant step]
The Basement Boys have both propelled the careers of dance chart toppers such as Ultra Naté and Crystal Waters as well as masterminded their own projects under pseudonyms like "Those Guys." Now, they've returned under the guise of "Mudfoot Jones," the brainchild of Teddy Douglas, formed a 10-piece band with jazz, blues and funk players (including members of George Clinton's P-Funk Allstars) and have created a jazzy, dance masterpiece. A concept album loosely based on a fictional blues drummer from Louisiana, Mudfoot Jones, allows the producers to explore jazz, gospel, blues and Latin jazz musical traditions within the context of their trademark dance grooves. As described by Jay Steinhour, "Mudfoot Jones is the name of a band (like Jethro Tull), not a real person, a fictitious name that seemed to fit the concept behind the music. The Mudfoot project was inspired by St. Germain, Mr. Scruff and John Lee Hooker. The concept was to mesh all of these things we love into a beautiful collage of music that would be respected in the jazz world as well as our own."
Posted by richard ting at April 12, 2006, 11:48 AM
March 06, 2006
Podbop
[via trendcentral]
Rather than Googling yourself silly trying to find shows in your area, read about the bands, listen to their music, and then spend more time downloading the MP3s, this nifty little site lumps it all together for you in an efficient, easy-to-use format. Simply type in your city and you’ll receive listings and MP3s of bands playing in your area, so you can listen before you commit to a show. Just drop the Podbop Feed into iTunes (or whatever podcasting application you might have) and you’ll have your city’s MP3s in a jiffy.
Posted by richard ting at March 06, 2006, 10:47 AM
February 19, 2006
Tha Alkaholiks - Firewater Album
Tha Liks have returned for one last swig with Firewater. The album, due out at the end of January, and its subsequent tour, are set to be their last. Longtime fans won't be disappointed in the record, either - it's bursting at the seams with the vibe The Liks have always brought - drunken party rhymes and always dope beats provided by E-Swift with a little help from Danger Mouse and Evidence of Dilated Peoples. "The album is the most thorough album we've done. We took our time with it, made sure everything was polished," Says E-Swift. "It's us doin' what we do best – havin’ fun, and leavin’ all the politics behind."
As for the split itself, it's an amicable and well-deserved one from three talented, hard-working artists.” When you're in a group, everything in your life comes second to the group. It don't matter what you got goin' on in your life - you've got to put it forward. We've been doin it thirteen years, and I dare anybody to give me five groups that have been together in hip-hop that long," says J-Ro. "It's just been kind of a struggle. It's not like we're selling platinum records and can afford to take a year off in some island somewhere. We just all felt it was a good time to go ahead do some different things with our lives and call it the last album, rather than being pushed out of the game when we're old and grey."
And don't expect Firewater to be the last time you see the names "Tash", "J-Ro", and "E-Swift" together. All three members will continue to work together and separately on any number of solo albums and collaborations well into the future. "A lot of people are lookin' at it like we're splittin' up, but I look at it like we're really taking time to expand on the legacy we created," says E-Swift, "It gives us a chance to focus on other things and still put things out together collectively. Even though we're individually putting things out, it's still going to be a collective effort."
And as for the final tour? "Oh man, we can't wait," says E, "It's going to be the end results of over a decade of hard work. We're going to see th0e most people passed out and people acting crazy - we're going to party to the end!"
Check out their official website.
Listen to "The Flute Song" (Windows Media).
Watch "The Flute Song" video (Windows Media).
Posted by richard ting at February 19, 2006, 01:48 AM
February 12, 2006
17 Year Old Biggie Freestyle
Posted by richard ting at February 12, 2006, 02:12 AM
January 02, 2006
Lemon Red MP3 Blog
Check out Chris Nelson's MP3 blog that he introduced during the past year. Each month he gets a new DJ to record a full-length, free, downloadable mix. Some of the DJs that have been featured include DJ/rupture, Radioclit, Ghislain Poirier, Caps & Jones and Certified Bananas. Some of the MP3 download links are broken, so you'll have to wait until Chris gets his shit together before you can listen to the beats.
Posted by richard ting at January 02, 2006, 12:22 PM
December 28, 2005
Beats in Space w/ Carl Craig
Check out Tim Sweeney's WNYU radio show, Beats in Space, which has again upped its already high ante with a recent guest mix by Planet E's Carl Craig previewing his new Fabric 25 CD.
Download the show.
Posted by richard ting at December 28, 2005, 03:18 PM
December 10, 2005
Sign-up for the Digable Planets Contest - Beyond The Spectrum
Win a copy of the Digable Planets' Beyond the Spectrum -- The Creamy Spy Chronicles (Blue Note Records). Beyond the Spectrum is a collection of rarities and greatest hits that is a reminder to fans that the group was one of the most influential bands to emerge from the early 90s.
Click here to sign-up for the contest.
Posted by richard ting at December 10, 2005, 07:59 PM
Pharell - Can I Have It Like That
Here's some new music from Pharrell Williams, there are audio links below which include the official remix to "Can I Have It Like That", "Angel", and the original "Can I Have It Like That" which includes a 30 sec snippet of the video.
Pharell's album, "In My Mind" is scheduled for release on Jan. 24, 2006.
Listen to the R&B Single: Angel.
Listen to the Rap Single: Can I Have It Like That Feat Gwen Stefani.
Listen to the Travis Barker Remix Audio.
Watch a 30 Sec snippet of the Video.
Posted by richard ting at December 10, 2005, 05:48 PM
November 24, 2005
Gilles Peterson Live Mix - Future Boogie
A capacity club Native in Bristol bore witness to Gilles Peterson playing one millionth of his Worldwide record collection at Futureboogie. Big tunes, small venue, big vibes, small space, big sweat, big night.
Posted by richard ting at November 24, 2005, 01:57 AM
Danger Doom
[from earplug]
Already linked to various cartoon characters in both name and attire, it seemed unlikely that the underground dream pairing of Danger Mouse and MF Doom could get any more animated. Yet, in a move of bold, unabashed cross-marketing, DangerDoom was conceived, connecting the two acclaimed artists with a number of characters from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming. Like the CN shows, The Mouse & The Mask doesn't take itself too seriously, instead tapping into both performers' jocular strengths, with Doom's ridiculously creative rants fitting perfectly over DM's inspired, craftily manipulated samples. As expected, the skits are funnier than on your average hip-hop record, and although some may dismiss the disc as an opportunistic novelty, it proves its worth with an overwhelming amount of charm and, uh, character.
Posted by richard ting at November 24, 2005, 01:53 AM
November 13, 2005
Beastie Boys A Cappellas
[via josephcartman.com]
The Beastie Boys promote their upcoming “Solid Gold Teeth” release by releasing A Cappella versions of previous tracks on their website. A new track is released every Friday for users to download and remix for personal use.
It's a very cool marketing technique that taps into the emotive target audience. This site release is coming off the heels of the most recent Pew/Internet report that showed that more than half of online teens are creating content for the internet. The report states that, "American teenagers today are utilizing the interactive capabilities of the internet as they create and share their own media creations. 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations. "
Posted by richard ting at November 13, 2005, 02:19 AM
November 12, 2005
Blue Note Trip Contest
Check out the Blue Note Records Contest. Grand Prize Winner gets an iPod shuffle with Blue Note merchandise and Blue Note cds and vinyl.
PRIZE DETAILS
1 Grand Prize winner will receive an iPod Shuffle, a Blue Note T-Shirt, Blue Note DJ Bag, Blue Note Trip CD, David Axelrod "The Edge" CD, Mizell Brothers "Mizell" CD, and 12"s from each of these releases.
1 Second Prize winner will receive a Blue Note T-Shirt, Blue Note DJ Bag, Blue Note Trip CD, David Axelrod "The Edge" CD, Mizell Brothers "Mizell" CD, and 12"s from each of these releases.
1 Third Prize winner will receive Blue Note Trip CD, David Axelrod "The Edge" CD, Mizell Brothers "Mizell" CD, and 12"s from each of these releases.
Posted by richard ting at November 12, 2005, 01:59 PM
October 19, 2005
David Axelrod - The Edge
Listen to some streaming tracks, click the links below:
The Edge
The Smile
David Axelrod- The Edge: David Axelrod at Capitol Records 1966-1970
Though he worked for a series of labels over the course of his storied career, David Axelrod is best known as one of Capitol Records' foremost producers during the company's glory years in the 1960s. Under his production, actor David McCallum released four albums; soulster Lou Rawls released a countless number of LPs (including his first gold album, Lou Rawls Live); Cannonball Adderly released Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (1966), one of the highest selling jazz albums of all time; and countless artists from Letta Mbulu to Common People released albums that spanned the gamut from funky African folk to psychedelic rock. Axelrod himself released three albums as a solo artist on Capitol - Songs of Innocence (1968), Songs of Experience (1969), and Earth Rot (1970) - the first of which even legendary producer Quincy Jones admitted was the immediate precursor to jazz-fusion.
David Axelrod was instrumental in creating the Black Music division at Capitol Records in the mid-'60s, and had a string of hit albums with artists such as soul singer Lou Rawls and jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. Today he is best known in the hip-hop world for three albums he released on Capitol under his own name between 1968-1970. Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience, Earth Rot, and other ancillary Axelrod productions are among the most sampled records in hip-hop history, having been mined by producers as varied as Madlib, DJ Shadow, and Dr. Dre, Mos Def, and many others.
Original LPs that Axelrod produced are coveted among DJs and crate-diggers. This definitive retrospective is the first release to put his career in its proper context and present it with the sonic quality it merits.
Produced by Eothen "Egon" Alapatt (of Stones Throw Records)
Posted by richard ting at October 19, 2005, 12:32 AM
October 15, 2005
Jazzanova on a Blue Note Trip
[lucy, thanks for the hook-up]
Listen to some streaming tracks from the album, click the links below:
Bobbi Humphrey- You Make Me Feels So Good
Horace Silver- I've Had A Little Talk
Chico Hamilton- The Morning Side Of Love
Gene Harris- Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong
JAZZANOVA ON A BLUE NOTE TRIP
ACCLAIMED DJ/PRODUCER COLLECTIVE COMPILES BLUE NOTE MIX CD
When Blue Note Records' Netherlands division approached Jazzanova about assembling a compilation from the storied jazz label's rich catalog, the German DJ/producer collective was in fact surprised, not that they were asked, but rather that they had not been asked sooner. A deep jazz influence has pervaded the group's work from the start, having first been collectors of Blue Note vinyl on their own. After having contributed to 2004's global remix project Blue Note Revisited, the opportunity finally arose for a full-length endeavour. The result is Blue Note Trip.
The German collective consists of DJ team Jurgen von Knoblauch Stephan, Alexander Barck and Claas Brieler, and producers Axel Reinemer, Stefan Leisering and Rosko Kretschmann. Aiming to offer a broad perspective on various cultures and musical genres and melt them together, at their inception Jazzanova's love for jazz and modern beats led to a fusion of almost every genre, from jazz to soul and from hip hop and drum & bass to Latin and boogie.
"Our name might be Jazzanova, but the DJ sets we play now are not jazz", says Jazzanova. "It's house, Latin, dance oriented music. This project only had one theme, old jazz music, that was new for us, but also old. Because that's how we started, by playing old jazz records. Since then we've developed. But by going back, we've made another step forward."
Jazzanova always respects the original artist, something that has earned them a lot of respect as well. "We haven't changed the original songs, we respect them too much, but the song selection and the way we blend them together is typical Jazzanova style. We've tried to create a real 'trip.' A lot of young people find jazz heavy and difficult, we try to open the door to the world of jazz by an accessible compilation. We've chosen to use mainly songs that haven't been in the spotlight as much, although artists like Horace Silver and Gene Harris are included."
The mix features selections from all corners of the storied Blue Note catalog, songs from the 50s (Ken Dorham's "Afrodisia"), 60s (Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage"), and 70s (Donald Byrd's "Think Twice"), both instrumental (Freddie Hubbard's "Blue Spirits") and vocal (Sheila Jordan's "Baltimore Oriole"), both popular (Horace Silver's "Señor Blues") and more obscure (Charlie Rouse's "Merci Bon Dieu").
"It's important to really create a Jazzanova moment, the way the tunes are connected, songs that would normally not fit together but to create a point of energy where two worlds collide, like mixing a ballad with a Latin song, with the right harmony or timing it's possible."
Blue Note has been watching Jazzanova closely and considered them to be the ideal group to compile and mix the new Blue Note Trip. A case of perfect timing as well for Jazzanova. "To ask Jazzanova to make a Blue Note compilation is like bringing sand to the beach. That's what we do, and what we like to do. Blue Note is for us the most influential jazz label. We already had a huge collection of Blue Note records, with interesting compositions and inspiring material," says Jazzanova.
"When they asked us to make this Trip, we already had it in ourselves. It was all about the selection. That was the easy part. The real challenge was trying to fit them together, the mixing of the songs. That wasn't so easy. But it was a lot of fun and a big honor to do this on the Blue Note label."
Posted by richard ting at October 15, 2005, 12:09 AM
October 11, 2005
Clipse - When Was The Last Time - Video
Click here to watch the Clipse -- "When Was The Last Time" video.
Posted by richard ting at October 11, 2005, 03:18 PM
October 10, 2005
Jin - Top 5
Click here to watch the Jin -- "Top 5" video.
Posted by richard ting at October 10, 2005, 03:49 PM
Yahoo Podcast Site
Yahoo launched on Monday a podcast service that offers access to much of the streaming audio on the Web and features user reviews and other information about the programming. Yahoo Podcasts is intended to enable people to easily search podcasts through keywords, categories or user-generated topic tags. The beta site also highlights podcasts of note, those that are particularly popular and user recommendations and ratings, said Geoff Ralston, Yahoo's chief product officer.
Searchers can listen to or subscribe to RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds for individual shows or episodes of programming or entire series, he said.
Users who listen to a podcast through the Yahoo site can increase the playback speed to hear the audio at up to twice the actual speed, without the voices sounding like chipmunks. Yahoo plans to eventually offer tools that will enable people to create their own podcasts, Ralston said.
Posted by richard ting at October 10, 2005, 02:37 PM
September 07, 2005
Cesar Comanche Drops "Squirrel & The Aces" on ABB Records
CESAR COMANCHE DROPS SQUIRREL AND THE ACES ON ABB RECORDS (9/20/05)
"Finally beats and rhymes on a record without all that phony rappin shit!!!"
- DJ Premier, Gang Starr
"One of the dopest emcees coming outta North Carolina. His flow is sick. Emcees take notice. Squirrel and the Aces is a Dope album!!!"
- DJ Evil Dee, Blackmoon / Da Beatminerz
Check the Podcast - a DJ Flash mixtape of "Squirrel & The Aces". Download and enjoy...spread the link:
Cesar Comanche is one of the founding members of the lauded North Carolina hip-hop collective better known as the Justus League. The Justus League is also home to critically acclaimed act Little Brother who helped put the crew on the map with the success of their debut album The Listening (ABB Records) in 2002. Originally from Jacksonville, NC, Cesar began writing rhymes in 1994, but didn't pursue rhyming as a career until 1996. In that same year, he met budding producer 9th Wonder and began collaborating in the studio as well as doing shows in and around North Carolina. It wasn't long before his sound and style got around.
After a few years of working and perfecting his craft, Comanche along with 9th Wonder, organized their fellow friends and rap artists in the Triangle's hip-hop scene and started the Justus League Crew in 1999. Since then, he has performed with such acts as Tha Liks, The Coup, Hieroglyphics, ZMan, Dilated Peoples, Living Legends, Faust & Shortee, and Wordsworth to name a few.
Posted by richard ting at September 07, 2005, 11:16 AM
August 26, 2005
Gilles Peterson - Radio 1 - July. 10, 2005 Show
Ok. I know that the music section of this site has been STruggling the last few months. I've been slacking on posting material to this section, but I've still been listening and acquiring some heavy beats. Here's a little bit of iPod love for the Flytip massive. It's a .mp3 of Gilles Peterson's recent show from the Exit Festival in Serbia.
It features mixes by DJ Patife and Jazz Mate. Awesome listening for the Drum and Bass heads.
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting July 10th, 2005
Exit Festival from Serbia
Download the show here.
(Mac Users: Ctrl-Click to save and PC Users: Right-Click to save)
TRACKLISTING
1) Plantlife – ‘Luv Me (Gut Records)
2) Afronaught – ‘Tubgringa’ (White)
3) Recloose – ‘Turkish Delight’ (Peacefrog)
4) Domu – ‘Unfazed’ (White)
5) Goldie – ‘Latin Skin’ (Metalheadz)
DJ PATIFE MIX:
6) DJ Patife Feat C.Watkiss – ‘Overjoyed’ (Trama)
7) Drumagick – ‘Baby’ (White)
8) Marky & XRS – ‘Butterfly’ (Innerground)
9) Dynamite MC – ‘The Feeling’ (Strong Records)
10) EZ Rollers – ‘Ultrafunkula’ (White)
11) High Contrast – ‘Racing Green’ (Hospital)
12) Peshay – ‘Buzz’ (Cubik)
13) Co-Ordinate – ‘Salsa Song’ (White)
14) Blue Skin – ‘Singapore Sling’ (V Recordings)
15) Klo Sick – ‘Mambo Thang’ (White)
16) Artificial Intelligence Feat Jeyna G – ‘Rising’ (White)
17) Young Disciples – ‘All I Have In Me’ (Bailey Remix) (White)
18) Killa Kela Feat. Dizzee Rascal – ‘Here Comes The Submarines’ (White)
19) Owusu & Hannibal – ‘Delirium 160’ (Ubiquity)
20) 7 Samurai – ‘Bahia’ (White)
JAZZ MATE MIX:
21) Grupo Batuque – ‘Afro Black’ (Quibieut Groove) (Far Out)
22) Sandra De Sa – ‘Trau De Cultural’ (Rge)
23) Tim Maia – ‘E Necessaris’ (Sou Livre)
24) Plesni Orkestar RTZ – ‘Quiz Ballet’ (Jugstou)
25) Bop Connections – ‘Hunta’ (Electro Record)
26) Toldi Maria – ‘Fazonu (Hungarothon 7”)
27) Betinho Do Vibrafone – Panderio Kriste (Brasilia Discos)
28) David Murray & The Gwo-Ka Masters Feat Pharoah Sanders – ‘Gwotet’
29) Z Star ‘Driven’ (Virgin/Emi/Italy)
30) Natalie Williams – ‘Butterfly’ (EastSide)
Posted by richard ting at August 26, 2005, 03:09 PM
August 23, 2005
Free Old School Video Games
There are a ton of free old school video games on this site.
Posted by richard ting at August 23, 2005, 01:57 AM
August 11, 2005
The Chemical Brothers Advergame
Here's a super basic advergame to promote the Chemical Brothers' album, Push the Button. One control, the space bar, gets you through the entire game.
Posted by richard ting at August 11, 2005, 12:37 PM
June 25, 2005
Fever Video from Verve Remixed 3
Here's a link for the "Fever" (remixed by Adam Freeland) video taken from Verve Remixed 3.
Check out the video.
Verve Remixed 3 features classic jazz tracks from the Verve Records vault, remixed and re-invented by a slew of contemporary beatsmiths including: Postal Service, Adam Freeland, RSL, Brazilian Girls, RJD2, Lyrics Born, Danger Mouse etc.
Posted by richard ting at June 25, 2005, 09:52 PM
June 23, 2005
Negroclash
[from earplug]
Mixed live to G4, the 24-track Negroclash mix is more than just a brilliant party document — it's a manifesto. For years, the purposeful NYC party of the same name has thrown down month after month, and now its vibe has finally been documented for posterity. Three DJs make up Negroclash: DJ Lindsey relentlessly represents, DJ Language couldn't work harder, and Duane, an Other Music store floor-osopher, is the best-kept secret in the record business. As a team, their mixing makes you want to break into applause. A brilliant blend of phuture funk and cosmic crunk propels the party here, brimming with hooks, hops, and hits. Principals like Cat Stevens, Frankie Knuckles, and Jellybean all show up, as do cuts from the Pointer Sisters and MAW, but the juiciest string comes when "Automatic" turns into Toney Lee, folding into In Deep, and winding up with Phil Asher's break-up jam "Having Your Fun." As the 75-minute arc soars, the floor goes with it. (DD)
Posted by richard ting at June 23, 2005, 09:36 PM
June 21, 2005
I Love Baile Funk
[from earplug]
The next chapter in the West's continuing fascination with Brazil's funk carioca, or baile funk, this mix CD from DJ Sujinho (aka New York hip-hop producer Kienyo Soulkid) is a lightning tour 'round the block, packed with well-worn classics and a few surprises. Concise snatches of favorites like the Trés Tenores' "Pavarotti" and MC Cidinho and MC Doca's "Rap da Felicidade" are meticulously collaged and cut up alongside the gruff tones of ghetto-superstar-to-be Mr. Catra, while Kienyo puts some spice into the mix by adding his own remixes and mash-ups. His version of Outkast's "The Way You Move" perfectly captures the bastardizing nature of funk, and neatly closes the circle where Southern hip-hop converged with hillside favela parties, permanently changing Brazil's musical landscape. (AC)
Posted by richard ting at June 21, 2005, 09:26 PM
May 22, 2005
Quasimoto
Quasimoto - The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
The names Quasimoto and Madlib have been linked for years, yet they’ve never been seen in the same room together. In fact, Quasimoto’s never been seen in the same room with anyone – he’s The Unseen. But you can hear him - and there’s no mistaking what he sounds like.
Peanut Butter Wolf first heard him off a dusty old cassette, one of Madlib’s infamous beat tapes – the kind he’d make to listen to himself, maybe pass around to crew. Madlib and Quas had been up in Lost Gates, somewhere near Oxnard, CA, making music for years without the slightest intention of releasing it to the masses. Wolf got it out though – after some begging and pleading, and after signing a contract with Quas vowing not to reveal his name.
The Unseen came out in 2000 and caught praise by fans and critics alike. SPIN went off on Quasimoto’s “recipe for resin-caked jazz and crusty comedy samples as a new flavor for the bland world of mainstream rap” and stuck him smack between Madonna and Outkast in their best of the year list. URB too named the album one of the best of the year. In the tradition of artistic “role playing” in black music, Quas was compared favorably to RZA, Kool Keith, and even Prince (City Pages, St. Paul/Minneapolis). Another dude wrote that rap music “hasn’t been this far out since 3 Feet High and Rising” (Sleazenation). And a few commented on the voice. What a voice. Was it a tree-blazin’ ghetto chipmunk? A cartoon Martian? Naw, it’s neither - but close.
Read more on the Stones Throw Records site.
Posted by richard ting at May 22, 2005, 01:05 PM
March 04, 2005
Podcast Alley
Podcast Alley: Created by podcasting (Podcasting TC) godfather Adam Curry, this website has everything you need to get into the latest Internet trend----a trend many believe will ultimately take over commercial radio. Here you can find the software you need to download podcasts, lists of and links to the top podcasts, and more.
Posted by richard ting at March 04, 2005, 05:24 PM
February 25, 2005
iPodder - the cross-platform Podcast receiver
What is iPodder? If you want to listen to internet audio programs - music and shows -- but can't listen to them when they are scheduled - this program is for you.
iPodder allows you to create your own custom online audio content from the thousands of audio sources on the web. It helps you select and download shows and music and to play whenever you want on your iPod, portable digital media player, or your computer. And it's all done automatically after you specify which music or shows you want.
Posted by richard ting at February 25, 2005, 10:35 AM
February 11, 2005
iRiver
The book metaphor has been used quite often in the past year or two and it's a bit played, but iRiver does a really good job integrating in a solid product benefit story. The execution is smooth and the design is clean. The product, however, leaves much to be desired. I can't imagine anyone opting for this device over the iPod.
Posted by richard ting at February 11, 2005, 10:22 AM
January 27, 2005
Benji B - 1xtra - Tokyo Show Special, 2004
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Download the show here.
(Mac Users: Ctrl-Click to save and PC Users: Right-Click to save)
Check out more about Benji B in Tokyo.
Posted by richard ting at January 27, 2005, 10:51 PM
January 26, 2005
Benji B - 1xtra - Detroit Show Special, 2004
In this show, Benji B visits Detroit, birthplace of motown, neo-soul, and techno for the Detroit Movement Festival 2004. Simply put, it's an amazing show that features the likes of Jay Dee, Jaylib, Platinum Pied Pipers, Dwele, Slum Village, Amp Fiddler, Moody Man, Kenny Dixon Jnr., and Recloose. There's not just great music in this show, but also wonderfully insightful interviews with the artists about the gritty, grimy town called Detroit.
This show's been in steady rotation on my iPod for the past few months and I finally had a chance to share it with everyone. Enjoy it and make sure you give huge props to Benji B and BBC 1xtra.
Download the show here.
(Mac Users: Ctrl-Click to save and PC Users: Right-Click to save)
Check out the Benji B Detroit special mini-site on BBC 1xtra.
Tracklisting
Detroit Special**
Jay Dee – Welcome To Detroit (BBE)
Jaylib – The Red (Instrumental) - (Stones Throw)
Phat Kat – It’z A Rap (Instrumental) – (Barak)
Platinum Pied Pipers – 1 Love 2 You (CDR)
Dwele – Untitled Beat (CDR)
Dwele – Untitled (Angel Pt. 2) – (CDR)
SlumVillage – 2 U 4 U (Wordplay)
SlumVillage – What Love Is (White)
Amp Fiddler – I Believe In You (Jaylib Mix) – (Genuine)
Amp Fiddler – Superficial (Jan Mix) - (Genuine)
Andres - Last Call For Alcohol (Mahogani)
Moody Man – Misled (Planet E)
Moody Man – I Can’t Kick This Feelin When It Hits (KDJ)
Kenny Dixon Jnr. – Black Mahogani (KDJ)
R-Time - Illusion (Transmat)
Rhythim Is Rhythim – Is It What It Is (Majestic Mix) - (Transnmat)
Paperclip People – Throw (Planet E)
Los Hermanos – Birth Of 3000 (Los Hermanoes)
Los Hermanos – Tres (Los Hermanoes)
Aztec Mystic aka Dj Rolando – Jaguar (UR)
Model 500 – Time Space Trans Mat - (Metroplex)
Galaxy To Galaxy – Journey Of The Dragons (Underground Resistance)
John Arnold - Cabin Fever (Ubiquity)
Recloose – Ain’t Changing (Instrumental) – (Planet E)
Recloose - I Can’t Take It (Planet E)
Rusty Waters – Illumination Reprise (Sound Signature)
Rotating Assembly - Orchestra Hall (Sound Signature)
Posted by richard ting at January 26, 2005, 01:16 AM
January 25, 2005
Gilles Peterson - Radio 1 - Jan. 09, 2005 Show
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting Jan. 09, 2005
Box of Delights
Download the show here.
(Mac Users: Ctrl-Click to save and PC Users: Right-Click to save)
TRACKLISTING
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting Jan. 09, 2005
Box of Delights
1, Dwele - 'Untitled' (White)
2, Marc Mac - 'Intro' (White)
3, Marc Mac - 'Simple Folk' (White)
4, Finn Peters - 'The Swede' (White)
5, Nostalgia 77 - 'Cheney Lane' (Tru Thoughts)
6, Quasimoto - 'Broad Factor' (Stones Throw)
7, MF Doom - ' Potholderz' (Rhymesayers)
8, Amerie - ''One Thing' (Whiite)
9, Rene & Angela - 'Secret Rendezvous' (Re-edit) (White)
10, Plantlife - 'When See Smiles She Lights The Sky' (4 Hero remix) (Gut)
11, Michael Jackson - 'I Can't Help It' (Re-Edit) (White)
12, Sygaire - 'In Your Groove' (Sonar Kollecktiv)
13, Ye:Solar - 'Hithot' (Vinyl Vibes)
14, Terumasa Hino - 'Merry-Go-Round' (CBS)
15, Dave Pikes –‘Aphrodite’ (Especial)
16, Seu Jorgelp –‘Unknown’ (White)
17, Quantic –‘Mishaps Happening’ (Todd Terje Remix) (White)
18, Roisin Murphy –‘So Into’ (Echo)
19, Recloose –‘Cardiology’ (Isolee Mix) (Playhouse)
20, Platinum Pied pipers ‘ Deep Inside’ (Ubiquity)
21, Stereotyp Vs Al Hacher Vs Peter Kruder –- 'Blaze 'N' Cook' (PKs Jiggy Mix) (White)
22, Lady Sovereign ‘Randon’ (Solid Groove Mix) (Island)
23, BT Express ‘Do It Til You’re Satisfied’ (White)
24, Organised Confusion ‘Open Your Eyes’ (Caliber)
25, Barry Miles ‘Magic Theatre’ (London)
Posted by richard ting at January 25, 2005, 04:26 PM
January 24, 2005
Podcast directory
Check out the Podcast directory.
Posted by richard ting at January 24, 2005, 11:27 AM
January 23, 2005
Gilles Peterson - Radio 1- Dec. 19th, 2004 Show
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting Dec. 19th, 2004
Worldwide Winners 2004
Download the show here.
(Mac Users: Ctrl-Click to save and PC Users: Right-Click to save)
TRACKLISTING
1, Q Tip – ‘Official’ (White)
2. Nicola Conte
– 3 Corners (5 Corners Quintet remix) (Ricky Tick)
3. Theo Parrish – ‘Twin Cities’ (Sound Signature)
4. Paul Murphy – ‘Jazz Room’ (Afro Art)
5. Moonstarr – ‘Detroit’ (Sonar Kollektiv)
6. Jazztronik – ‘Samurai’ (Especial)
7. Sunship feat. Warrior Queen
– ‘Almighty Father’(Casual)
8. Jazmine – ‘Backstabbers’ (White)
9. Heavy -‘WanderLove’ (Kindred Spirits)
10. Jamie Cullum – ‘Frontin’ (Live Version)
11. Omar –‘It’s So’ (Omar Music)
12. Jade Fox – ‘Death By Creation’ (Traficante)
13. Marc De Clive Lowe – ‘State Of The Mental’ (Antipodean)
14. TY & Roots Manuva – ‘Oh U Want More’ (Refix Remix) (Big Dada)
15. The Rebirth – ‘Evil Vibrations’ (Ubiquity)
16. Sleepwalker – ‘The Voyage’ feat. Pharoah Sanders (Especial)
17. Sebastian Tellier – ‘La Ritournelle’ (Source)
18. Recloose – ‘Dust’ (Peacefrog)
19. Sa – Ra – ‘Glorious’ (ABB)
20. Bugz in the Attic – ‘Booty La La’ (V2)
21. Foreign Exchange – ‘Foreign Exchange Theme’ (BBE)
22. New Sector Movements – ‘Soon Come (Virgin)
23. Skinnyman – ‘Council Estate Of Mind’ (Low Life)
24. Madvillian – ‘Meat Grinder’ (Stones Throw)
25. Mustang – ‘Future Jazz’ (feat Del and Ruti) (Compost)
26. Nicola Conte – ‘New Directions’ (Blue Note)
27. Jill Scott – ‘Golden’ (Hidden Beach)
28. Kanye West – ‘Spaceship’ (Roc-A-Fella)
29. Troubleman – ‘Roll On’ (feat Eska) ( Far Out)
30. Plantlife – ‘Beautiful Babies’ (Counterflow/Gut)
Posted by richard ting at January 23, 2005, 04:52 PM
January 22, 2005
Gilles Peterson - Radio 1- Dec. 5th, 2004 Show
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting Dec. 5th, 2004
Plantlife in Session
Download the show here.
(Mac Users: Ctrl-Click to save and PC Users: Right-Click to save)
TRACKLISTING
1, Declaime - 'Life' (Up Above)
2, Living Legends - 'Blast Your Radio' (Up Above)
3, Up Hygh feat. Aaron Phiri - 'Love Dat' (Demo) (Jugglin' Test)
4, Ahmad Jamal - 'Manhattan Reflections' (Impulse)
5, Dobie - 'Connectivity'feat Roots Manuva (The Hidden Mix) (BBE)
6, Sa-Ra - 'Glorious' feat. Pharoahe Monch (White)
7, DL Jones & DJ 2nd Nature - 'Longer Than Life' (Blue Collar Projects)
PLANTLIFE IN SESSION
8, Plantlife - 'We Can Get High' (Instrumental) (Gut)
9, Plantlife - 'Intro' (Live In Session)
10, Plantlife - 3AM' (Live In Session)
11, Plantlife - 'Beautiful Babies' (Live In Session)
12, Plantlife - 'When She Smiles' (Live In Session)
13, Plantlife - 'Got 2 Get Together' (Live In Session)
14, Orgone - 'Funky Nassau' (Nuff Rope)
15, Konono No.1 - 'Lufuala Ndonga' (Crammed Disc)
16, Sterotyp Vs. Al Haca Vs Peter Kruder - 'Blaze 'N' Cook' (PKs Jiggy Mix) (White)
17, Black By Birty feat Ronyx - 'Get It Right' (Main Squeeze white)
18, L'Aroye - 'Be The One' (Faces)
19, The Ensemble Al-Salaam - 'The Sojourer' (Strata East)
20, Talk Talk - 'The Rainbow' (Parlaphone)
21, The Magic Numbers - 'Oh Sister' (Heavenly)
22, Electro 4 - 'Tell Her' (Bully Records)
23, Phuturistix - 'In The Sun' (White)
24, Avishai Cohen - 'Madrid' (Razdaz)
Posted by richard ting at January 22, 2005, 10:46 PM
January 08, 2005
Romanowski - Party In My Pants
[from future primitive sound]
The Second in the series of Roman's records, “Party In My Pants” is an up-tempo album that was engineered for dance floors and, in Romanowski’s own words, to “satisfy the breakdancers in my head.” Eclectic yet kinetic, “Party in My Pants” weaves in and out of different musical motifs, fusing elements of cock rock, electro, and hip hop styles while maintaining a distinct dance floor sensibility and a distinct sense of humor. The album’s technical virtuosity will satisfy hardcore beat fanatics, while the deep dance grooves appeal to those just looking for some solid breaks and big time fun.
Click here to buy the pre-release edition.
Posted by richard ting at January 08, 2005, 11:13 PM
January 07, 2005
Truby Trio - Retreated
[from residentadvisor.net]
Remix albums often plug a very useful gap in an artist’s work cycle, but not where Rainer Truby is concerned, with this double pack every bit as vital as his trio’s ‘Elevator Music’ from last year.
The essential elements of their style remain, with Brazilian, Latin and jazz flavours featuring strongly in the mix. This is particularly evident in remixes of ‘Runnin’’ by Nickodemus and S.U.M.O.’s ‘Rebounce’ mix of ‘Make A Move’, with the wonderful Wunmi on vocals. The second of these tracks crops up in an even better version by Guillaume Boulard, who blends deep house and broken beat superbly, adding a full bodied bass groove and spacious keyboard sounds. The Una Bombers mix of ‘Alegre 2004’ is much better than Louie Vega’s, and finds a curious sound clash of old school piano and a slightly stuttering rhythm. Tiefschwarz contribute a great version of ‘Universal Love’, the ghost of Prince making a vivid appearance.
As if all this wasn’t enough, Rainer Truby contributes a bonus mixed CD with all this and more, and although some tracks appear twice or even three times, the breadth of musical styles is there for all to see in the choice of remixes. A collection well worth seeking out.
Posted by richard ting at January 07, 2005, 10:41 PM
December 22, 2004
Swimp3 Waterproof MP3 Player by Finis
The New SwiMP3 underwater waterproof MP3 player is an incredible audio experience. Imagine listening to hours of your own music during your swim workout. The SwiMP3's innovative sound transfer technology offers exceptional underwater sound quality. Standard players reply on the transmission of sound through air or water causing the swimmer to perceive only muffled noise. the SwiMP3 uses bone conduction - the direct transfer of sound vibrations from the cheek bone to the inner ear - to provided the swimmer with exceptional sound clarity. The SwiMP3 is fully waterproof and can be used with all competitive swim strokes.
Posted by richard ting at December 22, 2004, 07:48 PM
December 16, 2004
KOOP - Videos
This site has been up for ages, but I still love listening to this Swedish jazz crew and watching thier beautiful videos. This crew has been breaking boundaries for a few years now with their deep respect for jazz traditions while also infusing an adventurous dance music spirit.
Posted by richard ting at December 16, 2004, 02:13 PM
December 15, 2004
Secret Love - COMPILED BY JAZZANOVA & RESOUL
[from sonarkollektiv]
After the critical acclaim of the series of leftfield compilations 'Formation 60', 'Polish Jazz' and 'Forum West', the boys at Sonar Kollektiv felt it was time to explore the delicious and diverse mix of sounds found under the folk umbrella.
Jazzanova and Resoul (otherwise known as Rene from Jazzanova's favourite record shop Soultrade -> www.soultrade.de), have put their heads together and spent many an hour dancing around Rene's shop and digging deep into their record collections to come up with this lovely album. They've taken a view on Folk at its present forms and somehow managed to pare their selection of favourites down to a list of just 15 heavenly tracks. Each one is a perfect illustration of a different nuance within the genre. Highlights include Nicola Kramer's sexy, southern states sounding "Help Me", 4 Hero's re-working of sublime all-time classic "Les Fleurs" and Jolly Music's prefuse 73 unplugged in Catalonia remix of "Talko Uno".
Sonar Kollektiv's new discovery called Thief gives us glimpse on his forthcoming longplayer with the track "If There Was A Love". Thief is produced by Stefan Leisering and Axel Reinemer, 2/6 of Jazzanova. Husky Rescue contribute an ultra modern-day folk sound with their track "New Light of Tomorrow" lifted from their just released 'County Falls ' album (on Catskills), in contrast to the classic Crosby Stills and Nash influenced "Gone" by The Beta Band which contrasts in turn with the epic, cinematic tone of Marden Hill's domineering tune, named, aptly enough "Bardot". Household names nestle comfortably beside more obscure treasures as if that's the way it's always been.
Secret Love is yet another example of Sonar Kollektiv's diverse output, Jazzanova strive to keep us all guessing what will be next. Highlights of 2004 include Âme's release of their debut album Âme (SK044CD), Jazzanova's release of their first mix CD Mixing... (SK033CD) and Umod's critically acclaimed album Enter the Umod (SK030CD/LP) along with an impressive cannon of other debut albums and a stunning collection of dance floor 12"s. If you feel you may have missed out, check www.sonarkollektiv.de for the complete catalogue.
Posted by richard ting at December 15, 2004, 02:01 PM
December 08, 2004
Danger Mouse's Grey Video
Posted by richard ting at December 08, 2004, 04:05 PM
December 07, 2004
videos.antville.org
[earplug]
One of the big wrap-up stories of 2004 will inevitably be the proliferation of MP3 blogs — sites that offer free daily downloads of unreleased, esoteric, and out-of-print tracks. What will 2005 have in store for us? Perhaps the emergence of MPEG blogs, where downloadable or streaming video is mined with the same obsessive dedication as audio. At the forefront of this fledgling movement sits videos.antville.org, the most comprehensive blog of its kind and one of our most trusted sources for new global video information. A simple ten-second login allows you to post your own links, comment on postings, and search through the comprehensive archives. One major sign of growth is that directors themselves have recently begun posting their own work in search of feedback. The last two weeks alone have nearly 20 postings including links to the video for Electric Six's faithful rendition of Queen's "Radio Ga Ga," three different Bloc Party offerings, and a post pointing towards Waxy.org and its mirroring of Danger Mouse's amazing Grey Video. With an open posting policy and an enthusiastic community of contributors, you can bet this corner of the web will be spreading in the new year. (SM)
Check out videos.antville.org.
Posted by richard ting at December 07, 2004, 03:50 PM
December 06, 2004
Stones Throw Records DVD/ mix-CD is Hot.
[from xlr8r.com]
SET IN STONE
In honor of their 101st release, Stones Throw drops Stones Throw 101 (Stones Throw; $20), a dope DVD/mix-CD package filled with classics from the label and a few unheard/seen goodies. As you would expect, the videos are all over the place, from weird alien puppets (Quasimoto’s “Come On Feet”) to a simply awesome comic book-style Madvillain clip. The skinny on the mix CD: over 40 tracks, 70 minutes, mixed by Peanut Butter Wolf, and no bullshit involved–strictly creative hip-hop that’s not afraid to take risks. Congrats to the crew on skipping the stone this far–we’re looking forward to the next 100.
Posted by richard ting at December 06, 2004, 12:58 AM
November 13, 2004
Black Alien
[from earplug]
Rapper Black Alien fronts the baile funk hybrid whose "Quem te Caguetou?" ("follow me follow me") was used in the Nissan spot that introduced Brazil's mutant dance strain to Europe and the world. But Black Alien, aka Gustavo Ribeiro, has spent over 12 years working with major Brazilian names, giving his debut album maturity and confidence — it comes off like a brawl between Chico Science and Gang Starr in a Jamaican dancehall. Production credits go to Alexandre Basa, who has worked with avant-samba hip-hoppers Mamelo Sound System and Instituto. Basa veers away from the samba-rap and doomy string vibe that are currently in vogue with groups like Racionais, and creates something more inventive by layering and juxtaposing unexpected elements. Drowsy drugged horns permeate "From Hell do Céu," while elsewhere you can hear Bollywood strings, daintily played piano, Diwali handclaps, and flamenco flourishes. A strong example of Brazilian hip-hop looking forward and outward. (AC)
Posted by richard ting at November 13, 2004, 04:30 PM
November 12, 2004
Album: Run the Road
[from earplug]
Label: 679 Recordings
Release: November 15
As the first major-label compilation to showcase the dark-core genre known as "grime," Run the Road faces the arduous task of bringing the new sound of urban London to the general population. With 16 tracks laced together by the scene's leading MCs and producers, Run the Road features the gritty gun talk of Terror Danjah's "Cock Back V1.2," lyrical bombs dropped on Jammer's "Destruction VIP" riddim, and top-shelf material like Roll Deep's "Let It Out." The inclusion of recognizable names like Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, and the Streets will help the bid for worldwide takeover, but even the guest MCs on the Streets' "Fit But You Know It" can't save it from taking a back seat to raw, angry tunes like Kano's "Mic Fight." There are also a few "grime-lite" and mass-appeal tracks on the compilation (Ears' "Happy Dayz" and Lady Sovereign's "Cha Ching"), but don't worry — this will give you time to collect your senses and prepare for the next assault. It's pure murkage. (DeepSix)
Check out the site.
Posted by richard ting at November 12, 2004, 04:23 PM
October 14, 2004
DJ Krush - Jaku
[from earplug]
For his eighth record, DJ Krush turns to his native Japan for inspiration, substituting shakuhachi flute and taiko drums for the quotidian MCs who have plagued his last few records. Krush had drifted away from the sublime instrumental work of his early records, but Jaku — Japanese for "peace and calm" — finds him merging the sum of his hip-hop experience with the cultural heritage of his native land. A delicate wooden-flute melody soars over the placid beats of "Still Island" like a breath of mist obscuring the horeline. "Univearth" sets Krush's downtempo beats against Tetsuro Naito's (lately of Kodo) sparse percussion and whistling flute in a spine-bending fusion of East and West. "Slit of Cloud," with Akira Sakata providing saxophone and Shinto lament, attempts to capture the electric majesty of a sun break on the slope of Mt. Fuji. Can you achieve satori through music? DJ Krush's Jaku certainly tries. (MT)
Posted by richard ting at October 14, 2004, 08:27 PM
September 30, 2004
Music Videos Tap Video Games
[from wired.com]
Over the past few years, entertainment has become more incestuous than ever. Rock stars became actors, comic book characters morphed into title roles in blockbuster films and everyone involved goes to the same after-parties.
Now, the blending of popular culture has gone even further with a new MTV show of animated music videos featuring popular video game characters performing bands' songs.
Today's the Day. Known as "video mods," the videos star characters from The Sims 2, Tribes: Vengeance, BloodRayne and other games jamming on guitar, break dancing and belting out the latest tracks from Evanescence, the Von Bondies, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, Fountains of Wayne and other bands. MTV2 showcases these videos in a half-hour show called, what else, Video Mods.
"Music videos and video games (are) two roads that have been pointing to each other and about to intersect," said Alex Coletti, executive producer for MTV2, which broadcasts Video Mods. "I know that our audience, when they're not watching music videos, they're playing video games. Here's a way to do both."
Posted by richard ting at September 30, 2004, 11:28 AM
September 18, 2004
I Want My MP3: Former VJ Offers Web Users Syndicated Shows On MP3
by Ross Fadner
As it turns out, you can do more with mp3s than just play music. Adam Curry, weblogger and former MTV VJ, has started offering visitors what he calls a "daily audio log" of syndicated radio shows through an iPod or other mp3 player. The project is called iPodder, and it uses RSS (really simple syndication) feeds with mp3 enclosures to allow users to download audio files from the Web to their mp3.
On an "iPodder" Web site, which Curry created, he writes that those who syndicate their material via iPodder have found the tool helpful in distributing their work. He notes that iPodder is still in development--it's only a month old--but adds that hundreds of people are using it every day.
iPodder makes audio mp3 or Windows Media Player files available via RSS--an electronic content feed with a piece of XML attached to it, enabling the content to be delivered over real-time networks to recipients. Users choose the feed they want, and aggregators then cull the files from Curry's iPodder site and deliver them through an application to an mp3. Audio blogs currently being syndicated via iPodder include: Adam Curry's The Daily Source Code, RSS founding father Dave Winer's Morning Coffee Notes, IT Conversations, Evil Genius Chronicles, RasterWeb, Blogdigger Audio, and FreeFlow.
Posted by richard ting at September 18, 2004, 11:48 PM
September 15, 2004
Beat Society
Beat Society is a free platform for hip hop producers to showcase their talent. The website boasts over 300 producers and 3,500 beats from across the globe.
Posted by richard ting at September 15, 2004, 08:56 PM
September 09, 2004
Your Own Hit Parade on a Hard Drive, With MP3 Files
by Yingdan Gu
In the same way that people used to record their favorite songs from the radio on cassettes or their favorite TV shows with VCR's, they can now capture streaming audio from the Internet on a computer hard drive.
A new piece of software called Audio Xtract is the key. After the software is installed on your computer, it connects you to a database of Internet radio stations that can be sorted by genre or bandwidth. Once you've found one that appeals to you, just click on Record. The software enables the computer to record the material in the form of individual MP3 files and stores them in a folder. The files are named according to their content, making it easy to delete those - like commercials - you don't want.
Because the contents are recorded as MP3 files, they can be played on computers and portable media players and burned onto CD's. Audio Xtract is $50 at www.audioxtract.com and at other Web sites, and has begun to reach stores. A professional version, which includes the ability to edit recorded material, is $70.
Audio Xtract can record as many as eight stations simultaneously, although a broadband Internet connection is recommended when multiple streams are being recorded. And you can even schedule recording sessions in advance.
Posted by richard ting at September 09, 2004, 06:14 PM
September 02, 2004
Hex Marks the Spot
[from earplug]
Since starting out as VJs for Ninjatune's famous Blue Note Stealth night, Hexstatic's Stuart Warren Hill and Robin Brunson have spent nearly a decade at the forefront of audio/visual collage art. The pioneering duo were the first AV team to perform live at the Guggenheim Bilbao, they've produced work for the BBC and Channel 4, and have been instrumental in developing the newly released Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD mixer. Timber, their award-winning collaboration with Coldcut and Greenpeace, was an early indication of what would become the duo's trademark — culling their sound sources from video and then synching the video back to the sounds. Yet what has always separated Hexstatic from other AV artists is their ability to write songs every bit as accomplished as their Ninjatune labelmates. Their 2002 installment in the Solid Steel Mix CD series, Listen and Learn, is generally considered a classic, and their first full-length on N-Tone, Rewind, is every bit the equal of their cut-and-paste video work, splicing classic electro with left field funk, global groove, and jokey samples. Last month, Hexstatic won the Best Film Music award at London's Portobello Road Film Festival, and they are set to perform live in New York as part of this year's RESFEST. With their upcoming CD/DVD Master View, Hexstatic take it one groundbreaking step further, including six 3-D anaglyph videos that can be watched with accompanying '60s sci-fi glasses. Beam us up. (SM)
Posted by richard ting at September 02, 2004, 07:13 PM
August 27, 2004
Kutmasta Kurt and Kool Keith
Read the New York Press interview with Kool Keith.
Posted by richard ting at August 27, 2004, 03:49 PM
August 20, 2004
Know the Ledge
Know The Ledge is here to keep you in the know about leftfield music and urban culture, with a focus on London and New York City.
Posted by richard ting at August 20, 2004, 10:07 PM
August 10, 2004
Samurai FM from Japan
Posted by richard ting at August 10, 2004, 07:43 PM
July 23, 2004
Jazzanova set on Fourteenlocks
Posted by richard ting at July 23, 2004, 12:41 PM
July 15, 2004
Livewire: MP3 Blogs Serve Rare Songs, Dusty Grooves
LONDON (Reuters) - A new genre of Web sites that offer an eclectic mix of free music downloads may not be strictly legit, but the sites' creators say they're doing the beleaguered record industry a favor.
Named for the MP3 music format and the popular self-published Web sites known as blogs, they are part online mixtape, part diary, and part music magazine. The tunes are drawn from remixes, forgotten genres and out-of-print albums, usually accompanied by detailed descriptions and reviews. "Most of the artists that I cover are pretty obscure, and I like to help them get a bit of publicity and grassroots support," said Matthew Perpetua, a DJ, freelance writer and creator of Fluxblog (http://newflux.blogspot.com/), one of the oldest MP3 blogs.
Posted by richard ting at July 15, 2004, 11:52 AM
Online file swapping endures
By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY
Despite entertainment industry attempts to curb online song and movie swapping with lawsuits and education campaigns, more people than ever are using peer-to-peer services. BigChampagne, which tracks Internet file sharing, says 8.3 million people were online at any one time in June using unauthorized services like Kazaa and eDonkey - up 19% from 6.8 million in June 2003. The majority of files being traded were music, BigChampagne says. Porn videos and images were the second-biggest category. Since September, the Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites) has filed 3,500 lawsuits against music sharers who uploaded songs to the Internet. It has settled about 600 of them for fines ranging from $2,000 to $15,000.
Phil Leigh, senior analyst at research firm Inside Digital Media, says the findings are the strongest evidence to date that the lawsuits aren't scaring people away from so-called P2P programs. "Many just don't think they'll be caught," he says. And users have become savvier about adjusting software so they can't be traced. RIAA (news - web sites) President Cary Sherman says the rise of legitimate alternatives such as Apple's iTunes Music Store shows the success of the litigation. ITunes was poised over the weekend to reach 100 million songs sold.
BigChampagne says 1 billion songs were available for free trading in June. That compares with 820 million a year ago. But Sherman says many song files now are "spoofs" the industry adds to the system to make life harder for swappers: a screeching sound effect instead of a Top 10 single, for instance.
After the initial wave of lawsuits, research firms released studies suggesting people were spending less time on the peer-to-peer services. "What people say and what they do are two different things," says BigChampagne CEO Eric Garland. "People were not willing to be forthright and admit to something that might get them sued. The fact is, peer-to-peer usage is much more widespread than it was a year ago."
Savvy file traders are spending less time at Kazaa, the top peer-to-peer service. A haven for adware, spyware and potential viruses, Kazaa's usage dropped from a peak of 5.6 million active users in October to 3.8 million in June, says BigChampagne. Users have migrated to two other unauthorized services, Israel-based iMesh and eDonkey in New York, which have less spyware and faster downloads, Leigh says.
Leigh says the only way the industry will put a dent in the peer-to-peer services is for the legitimate alternatives to become more user-friendly. Songs purchased at iTunes can play easily only on iPods, while songs at Sony's Connect service work only with Sony products. "Until they fix those speed bumps and fill the holes in their catalogs - there are still too many missing songs - people are going to stick with the free services," Leigh says.
Posted by richard ting at July 15, 2004, 11:35 AM
May 24, 2004
Music Plasma - music visual search engine
Posted by richard ting at May 24, 2004, 03:26 PM
March 09, 2004
Pete Rock - Lost and Found
Remember back in ’92 when you first heard the first few bars to “T.R.O.Y.” and you instantly thought, “This is one of the greatest beats I’ve ever heard!” Then you purchased Mecca and the Soul Brother and thought, “Is it possible for Pete Rock to make a bad beat?”
It’s an understatement to say that in ten years, the hip-hop landscape has changed. That sentence is a different essay altogether but suffice it to say, some of the best hip-hop you’ll hear this year comes from two Pete Rock-produced, mid-90’s gems recently released by BBE/Rapster. To kick off their Lost and Found series, BBE Records, the UK label responsible for such seminal series as Funk Spectrum and Soul Spectrum, has released INI’s Center of Attention and Deda’s The Original Baby Pa. While neither album was officially released by a label, the former has been bubbling around the underground since its completion in 1995. The latter, completed in 1996, was permanently shelved and only now have heads been given the chance to hear it.
Any questions concerning what Rock was up to after he broke up with CL Smooth are answered with these albums, as he continues to create jazzy, mellow beats focusing on piano, horn and xylophone samples with above average, yet not stellar, MCs. Not much of a change from his CL Smooth days, true, but with Pete Rock’s production being what it was at the time, you’d forgive him for following the “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it” formula. Like the best Pete Rock & CL Smooth cuts, many of the beats immediately hit you, as Rock still clearly knows the difference between “relaxing” and “boring.”
On Center, tracks like “The Life I Live” and “Center of Attention” revolve around a basic drum pattern and short sample (saxophone and piano, respectively), yet both songs immediately capture the listener’s attention more than most overproduced beats in modern hip-hop, which subscribe to the idea of throwing as much as you can against the wall and hoping something sticks. "Fakin Jax'," the only single released from the album and now-certified underground classic, starts off sounding like an altered version of Jeru the Damaja’s “Whatever” before settling into a mid-tempo beat that could easily be on Tribe’s Midnight Marauders. Rock’s beats have always been more suited to the lounge than the club, but when he does make party beats (Read: same as a normal PR beat with a sped-up drum) as on “To Each His Own,” it works, not the least of which is due to guest appearances by Large Professor and Q-Tip.
The mid-90s Pete Rock was never known for working with great MCs and these albums are no exception. No one can knock CL Smooth for his consciousness upraising, but let’s be honest; will he ever make anyone’s Top 10 MCs list? INI, made up of Rock’s brother Grap Luva, Rob-O and Marco Polo, are certainly competent enough MCs to lace smooth flows that match Rock’s beats, but there isn’t a single verse one would call mind-blowing. Ditto for Deda, a MC whose harsh delivery can best be compared to an early Fat Joe.
It’s this harsh, at times irritating, delivery that may lead Pete Rock lovers to keep INI in their stereo and only break out Deda once in a while. Even critics of INI's MCs can't deny their smoothness and affability; the worse you could say is that they can be boring at times. But boring MCs, as long as the beats are good, just decrease the quality of the album while retaining its listenable stature. Irritating MCs may lead to an automatic album shutoff regardless of the beat.
Deda is skilled enough on flow, but his threatening style may be too much for people who buy this album expecting a laid-back vibe on all aspects of the track. Rock’s beats on Baby Pa, from the fusion-sampled horn on “Baby Pa” to the upright bass that anchors “I Originate,” feel like throwaway beats not used on the CL Smooth albums. Still solid, but when compared with begging-to-be-a-single songs "Everyman" and "Blah Uno," one can't help feeling slightly shortchanged. It’s a testament, however, to Rock’s skills that these b-side beats still sound better than most beats made then or now.
With the consistent quality of Rock’s beats on the two albums being what they are, though, all you really need is an average MC to make the overall sound better than almost anything else released (Put a great MC over these beats and you have “near classic” status). The major difference between the two albums is the faster tempo on Baby Pa, presumably to match Deda’s quicker rhyming style.
Lost and Found is required listening for any fan of Pete Rock or 90s classic albums such as Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory, Digable Planets’ Reachin’, or Gang Starr’s Daily Operation. No, it does not hit the levels of these classics vocally or beat-wise, but both aspects are strong enough on Center of Attention and Original Baby Pa to further solidify Pete Rock’s place as one of hip-hop’s greatest producers.
- {review poached from AllHipHop.com, Jason Newman}
Posted by richard ting at March 09, 2004, 01:11 AM
Amp Fiddler - Waltz of a Ghetto Fly
Courting the kind of expectation and excitement usually only reserved for yet another ‘exciting’ garage band comes Mr Amp Fiddler. A Radio 6 record of the week and a pre-emptive EP release backed by folks as estimable as Giles Peterson and Dorfmeister almost assures ‘Waltz of A Ghetto Fly’ top-notch billing and ensuing slow-burn success. Yes, by Christmas of 2004 it’s likely that even you will have this in your collection. But ignoring the accolades and the ridiculous critical projections for Fiddler’s year ahead, it’s a record for every one of you sophisticated adult purveyors of taste. And doesn’t old Fiddler know it.
Blended from a well crafted wish-list of classic 70’s soul, jazz, hip-hop and funk, ‘Waltz of A Ghetto Fly’ almost matches the swanky promise of last year’s Outkast album. But whereas Outkast mould their unique brand of soul beat from a selection of stylistic casts, Fiddler keeps his ear almost squarely in the lounge. So no shake ya boots kind of ‘Hey Ya’ thing going on here, it’s far too mellow for that. Tinkling cocktail pianos, flangey guitars, rumbling organs and a voice as well lubricated as a pack of Durex.
Having earned his stripes playing alongside Prince, Lucy Pearl and Maxwell, the Detriot born writer/producer should have trouble winning you over, as it’s certainly not short on ideas. And if you’re not convinced, just give two of these tracks a spin – ‘Dreamin’ and title-track ‘Waltz of a Ghetto Fly’. Unconditional class.
- {review poached from www.2-4-7-music.com}
Posted by richard ting at March 09, 2004, 12:53 AM
Two Banks of Four
Taking inspiration from the radical, spiritual jazz of the late 60's & early 70's, and blending that with a downtempo smokers soundtrack, this amalgamation of renowned producers, DJ and current UK jazz talent goes along way to prove that having one foot in the past doesn't prevent progressive musicmaking.
The assorted members of Two Banks of Four certainly have the historical credentials to move jazz & dance fusions forward. Messrs Gallagher, Demus & Valarie Ettienne have a combined history that include Galliano, The Brand New Heavies & The Young Disciples, and combine the jazz approach with a template that won't frighten ears used to clubbier sounds. Two Banks of Four may owe a small debt to the jazz & beats feel of 4 Hero, but only for opening a musical door - not providing a roadmap.
The cover of Carlos Garnett's spiritual jazz/dance classic "Banks of the Nile" juxtaposes nicely with "Stiles" - a blend of downtempo, chilled hip hop beats and funky analogue synth sounds. Perhaps slightly incongruous to some - but it demonstrates that collectively their ears are very open.
"Blues For Brother" is very live sounding yet is beautifully crafted, blending instrumental technique and new technologies into a homogenous whole. What has not escaped their attention amongst all the jazz blowing and beat sampling is the need for melody, musical hooks and the ability to make the essence of the tunes stick in the mind.
The retro jazz influences are apparent enough, but the overall soundscape is something that could only have been made in modern times, and in the musical potpourri that is contemporary London. Intentionally this music is light years from commerciality, but is a rewarding and promising debut
- {from the BBC}
Check out the Two Banks of Four website.
Posted by richard ting at March 09, 2004, 12:28 AM
February 27, 2004
Latest issue of Straight No Chaser
In the latest issue
In Search of Devotion
Inspired and intrigued by the book Monument Eternal, Kate Wharton flew to California to spend a fortnight at the Sai Anantam Ashram in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Japan
Earlier this year, both Gilles Peterson and 2 Banks Of 4, deejayed in Japan and ventured down parallel routes.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
He may have been around since the late Sixties but that doesn't mean Robert Wyatt isn't still climbing musical mountains.
Chaser Posse in Puerto Rico
October 2003, the Chaser crew kicked of their 15th Anniversary celebrations at the second Candela Art + Music Festival in old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Posted by richard ting at February 27, 2004, 07:08 PM
Reception for BLIP: Arcade Classics from the Museum Collection + Hop-Fu: Behind the Remix
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February 27 from 6 - 8 pm
A reception honoring BLIP: Arcade Classics from the Museum collection. During this time, tokens allowing you to interact with these touchstones of digital entertainment will be free and unlimited. Also at the Museum at 7:30 that evening is the theatrical DJ/VJ Martial Arts extravaganza, Hop Fu: Behind the Remix..
For more information.
Posted by richard ting at February 27, 2004, 10:25 AM
February 01, 2004
Steady Rocking - Romanowski
{from Earplug}
San Francisco's longtime party-rocking DJ makes no mystery of his inclinations on Steady Rocking, which, as the subtitle makes clear, features him Inna Jamaican Stylee. And what a style! Technically an EP, this collection of six songs (and three remixes from J. Boogie, Jack Dangers, and the Gadget) covers far more territory than many roots-ripping long-players. Check "Flat Picker" (featuring Poets of Rhythm's Jan Whitefield), in which deadweight bass drums go blaaap under curiously out-of-tune country blues guitar. "Why?" — featuring acid jazz vet Jacko Peake on sax — reinvents bluebeat with a flurry of samples and a cool, gusting solo. And "Chalice" and "Speaking Of" both send shivers down the spine, splicing classic vocal fragments into Romanowski"s drum-heavy, echo-perplexed sound. The looping piano and falsetto counterpoint on "Speaking Of" make it the saddest sampladelia since RJD2's "Here's What's Left." (Dangers' remake of the tune, true to form, drowns its sorrows in waves of delay that spool out like smoke rings). (PS)
Posted by richard ting at February 01, 2004, 12:55 AM
Beatport - Dance music specific download site
{From Earplug}
Crate-diggers and DJs take note: the launch of dance music-specific download sites may signal the end of pre-gig sprints to the record store and weekends spent shuffling through boxes. January 1 brought a notable new player to the expanding list of high-quality sites — Beatport.com. This slick new site boasts a deep catalog of both high-profile and trendsetting independent labels representing genres from trance and drum 'n bass to electro and downtempo. Designed and developed by and for professional DJs and dance music enthusiasts, Beatport.com features high quality mp3, mp4, and .wav tracks, Top 10 lists from some of the world's best DJs, clubs, and labels, major club and tastemaker playlists, genre-specific community forums, detailed label profiles, streaming flash track previews, and even a white label club. Jonas Tempel, president of Beatport.com, says that "Beatport was custom-designed for a single purpose — to build a name that is really on the forefront of the dance music scene by creating a cool online record store with a vibe." Tempel also notes, "Demand for vinyl and dance music has shrunk dramatically because it's not as popular anymore, and access points for entry level DJs are limited. This should open up access points for people to discover dance music on their own, and grow the dance music marketplace at the same time." Beatport adds a strong new voice to an impressive and ever-growing list of sites dedicated to dance and electronic downloads, a list that already includes such standouts as Audio Lunchbox, Nufonix, and trax2burn. (CW)
Posted by richard ting at February 01, 2004, 12:45 AM
January 19, 2004
Bugz in the Attic -- Fabric Live 12
The Bugz, as they are so adoringly called by their ardent fans, may or may not be electronic music’s largest production team (in terms of number of members) but they are arguably one of its most exciting. "Family members" Orin Walters, Seiji, Kaidi Tatham, Daz-I-Kue, Alex Phountzi, Cliff Scott, Mark Force, Thy Lord and Mikey Stiron have as individuals and as a group produced some of the genres most inspired, soul tinged breakbeat to ever grace wax.
Highly esteemed scene stalwarts in the burgeoning category of electronica known as "broken beat", the Bugz unique sound has evolved from a collective rebellion against genres. A typical Bugz single will incorporates a wide range of styles and influences from afro-beat, to house, to jazz, to 80’s Soul. This paradigm and a desire to make music that stands on its own regardless of classification has resulted in the collective producing some of electronic music’s most stirring compositions of late and high accolades worldwide.
Fabric Live 12 is a magnificient trip into the Bugz eclectic, electric circus. A top notch, skillfully mixed offering fraught with soul tinged funk and teeming with musicality! …Live 12 is infectious and a must listen from beginning to end. (From Amazon.com)
Posted by richard ting at January 19, 2004, 04:18 PM
January 08, 2004
Krafty Kuts
From Earplug --
Finger Lickin's A. Skillz and Krafty Kuts hit the jackpot last year with their big-bass new-millennium update of Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks," and this double CD mix by half of the duo proves that the breaks 'n beats combo is still a guaranteed way to keep the party going all night. On the first disc, Krafty manages to mash up Krs-One, Skee-lo, Ugly Duckling, Busta Rhymes, and plenty of others — all in the first 25 minutes — before peaking with a bootleg-perfect pairing of Ultramagnetic MC's "Poppa Large" with Royksopp's "Eple" and a triumphant appearance of the Kurtis Blow cut. Disc two applies the same turntable trickery to new-school breaks, mixing in everyone from X-press 2, Freak Nasty, label-mates Plump DJs, and remixes from Dee Kline and the Stanton Warriors, before taking it out with the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There." (DJP)
Posted by richard ting at January 08, 2004, 06:07 PM
Gilles Peterson's Latest
From Earplug --
Longtime Radio 1 jock Gilles Peterson is best known for his eclectic, soulful style of DJing: in his sets it's not unusual to find underground hip hop and classic soul laid down next to proper, upbeat house and skittering breakbeats. Instead of his flow being off, however, Peterson's inspiring, tasteful variety is what makes his compilations so cohesive. This mix, his fifth on the UK's Trust the DJ label, is solid and a pleasure to absorb: iTunes calls it jazz; we call it intuitive. His languid style drifts keenly from a track of groovy hip hop to one of sexy, bedroom beats, then to a rollicking garage-like cut. Nick Holder's "No More Dating DJs" is pure comedy and worth the price of the album alone. (KB)
Posted by richard ting at January 08, 2004, 06:06 PM
January 07, 2004
Koop - DJ Patife remix and Video
Listen to the "Waltz for Koop" (DJ Patife remix).
Posted by richard ting at January 07, 2004, 11:02 AM
January 06, 2004
New MF Doom Album
From Flavorpill -- Having released albums under more aliases than an undercover operative, MF Doom (aka Metal Fingers, Metal Faced Villain, or Viktor Vaughn) may be in the throes of a serious identity crisis, but his alter egos consistently converge upon one villainous mission: to destroy rap. On Take Me to Your Leader, the self-proclaimed super-villain descends to earth as King Geedorah, producing, mixing, and mastering a unique hip hop album of almost cinematic scope. With his alien eye, MF uses simple yet penetrating lyrics to express his shrewd observations on earthly plights, all set to an inspired mix of vintage jazz samples and old school beats. The end result is characteristically MF — confident, masterfully creative, and downright funky hip hop worthy of a reigning king. (ELM)
Posted by richard ting at January 06, 2004, 11:57 AM
December 09, 2003
Bhangra in xlr8r magazine
As South Asian dance music pops up everywhere–from BBC radio programs to Jay-Z tracks–the real revolution is brewing in Britain’s cities. Desi beats–a hard-stepping culture clash where UK bhangra music meets 2-step, drum & bass, R&B and hip-hop–has become the sound of our young century. Here’s how bhangra went from farmer’s music to the top of the pops.
For more information, check out www.xlr8r.com
Posted by richard ting at December 09, 2003, 04:44 PM
Be a Def Jux Street Soldier
To all prospective Def Jux Street Soldiers:
We at Definitive Jux are actively recruiting young, hungry & dedicated patriots to further our battle for the hearts and minds of hip hop fans everywhere. The time has come to enlist troopers in our quest to build the most elite and effective street team ever: DEFCON.
Our mission is to disseminate the word (& the music) via the people who know it the best - real fans like YOU. If selected, you'll be working as one of several cells distributed throughout the country and will be trained and geared for both quick-strike special ops as well as prolonged movements in the trenches. Each operative will be fully briefed on mission coordinates and debriefed afterwards by Officer-in-Charge: Special Agent Drake (Definitive Jux). We'll rely on your skills, savvy, & determination to implement and carry out each objective, be it strafing events with promo material, blowing up clubs with new releases or conducting relief efforts for the music-starved masses.
Enclosed is a DEFCON street soldier application. Once submitted, the higher ranks will review and separate the weak from the true. We have no intention of trading quality for quantity. Throughout your time served as a cadet, your primary objective you will be to inform the masses of upcoming releases, special events and tour information. Key targets include college campuses & high schools as well as cities and towns outside our major markets. You will be supplied with all the tools needed to complete your missions (i.e. hitting retail and record stores, college festivals, parties, shows, etc).
For reconnaissance purposes, we ask that each soldier be armed with a camera (digital being the weapon of choice) and notepad to keep records of each task completed. We count on you to carry out your duties thoroughly and with honor. Compiled reports will be turned in by deadlines set by your Officer-in-Charge. In return for their hard work & dedication, soldiers will receive free music, shirts, hats, posters, stickers, etc., plus mad props and the undying appreciation of the Definitive Jux Squadron.
Once again, thank you for your interest and your willingness to step to the front lines and represent. We will contact you once it is determined you are DEFCON material and ready to take the next step.
Out.
Drake
drake@definitivejux.net
Posted by richard ting at December 09, 2003, 04:28 PM
August 26, 2003
Milkaudio.com updated
http://www.milkaudio.com is now updated. you will find new shows by
wayne pate, nik & nigel, gani, and a new edition of the compost radio.show by
michael rutten with a guest.mix by nicola conte.
i've also added a new guest.mix by ninja tunes russian import dj vadim.
hope you have time to stop by and here's my latest playlist:
show no. 30 'gani's knocking donuts mix' posted august 16th, 2003
01. pan american - the dark nest - kranky
02. peace orchestra - who am i - g-stone
03. four tet - rivers become oceans - lo recordings
04. jon kennedy - waiting for the sea to freeze - grand central records
(promo, out aug. 25th) *new*
05. howie b - how to suckie - polydor
06. sonorous star - the sugar blues - catskills
07. bamboo souls - winterland - switch
08. tom tyler - funny turn - dc recordings
09. herbert - you're unknown to me - soundslike
10. do make say think - classic noodlanding - constellation
11. bugge wesseltoft feat. sidsel endresen - you might say (mind over
midi remix) - beatservice records
12. do make say think - white light of - constellation
13. sven van hees - tsunami (inside my soul) - life enhancing audio
14. strange cargo - million town (kruder & dorfmeister remix) - k&d
sessions
album - studio k7
ciao.
gani@milkaudio.com
'www.milkaudio.com... music by our friends and neighbours.'
