As experimental electro, r&b and smooth jazz continue to cross paths, note “Question & Answer”. Collaborations beckoning.
The Pilots – Question and Answer via YYY
The Pilots: (Info)
Rating: 8.1
As experimental electro, r&b and smooth jazz continue to cross paths, note “Question & Answer”. Collaborations beckoning.
The Pilots – Question and Answer via YYY
The Pilots: (Info)
Rating: 8.1
Just in case you were anticipating something more, Cults are releasing “Abducted” on Record Store Day as a limited edition 7-inch. This is a great record.
Cults – AbductedCults: (Bandcamp) (Purchase Info)
Rating: 8.5
Tribes remind me why I loved music in the mid-90’s, when people in the States actually cared about good guitar bands. Their sound is more reminiscent in music today rather than influential to new bands. Aside, it has a familiarity that all great sounds have. The fact that they are from the UK is even more interesting, boasting a sound that inspired the popularity of brit-pop in the UK and the demise of quality alternative rock around the world. And it still feels genuine. More to come from these guys.
Tribes – We Were Children (Demo)
Tribes: (Myspace) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating: 9
It ain’t funky enough in here! We need to make it more funky! Sticky Wicket, make it funky. Make it funky, Icky Ticket. Make it funky, I said.
Wilson Pickett – Get Me Back On Time (Danny Massure Edit)
Danny Massure: (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.2
Contributed by Bruce Rave
Skybombers’ 2008 “Take Me to Town” was one of my favorite albums of the last decade, but the punk/garage influenced record came out when people were far more interested in folk and electronic. Some of the swagger is gone from their new “Black Carousel”, but there’s still plenty of energy and melody as this band aces it hard, medium, or soft. Their “Lies” single is a great choice that’s both hard and soft, and it nicely shows the talent of lead singer Hugh Gurney.
Skybombers – LiesCatch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
Skybombers: (Myspace) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.2
Mistajam debuted this Shy FX remix of Skream’s “Where You Should Be” a couple weeks back. The beats, the drum and bass, all that is cool but there’s a definite 90’s urban feel to Shy FX’s mix with the additions of an R&B flavored female vocal and some smoothed out synth stylings. Check it out.
Skream – Where You Should Be (Shy FX Remix)Shy FX: (Myspace) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.3
Carter does manage to drop a Miss Cleo ref into his 16 bars but, no doubt, Dom went in on this. No contest.
Dom Kennedy – CDC (Feat. Casey Veggies & cARTer)Dom Kennedy: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)
Rating: 7.8
Contributed by Erin Routson
Let’s be real: I didn’t listen to the last Beastie Boys record. I know what it was called, but I honestly ignored it. To the 5 Boroughs took them too far into a PC/preachy territory that I admire in their award acceptances/interviews but it’s a turn off when it comes out too heavy in their music. Other than that anomaly, I can still rap along with pretty much every record; something I find puzzling because I can’t even remember how to do math most of the time. Before I listened to “Make Some Noise”, I was wary. What if this track suffered the same fate I find Snoop in? (Too old to rap.) Luckily for me, MCA, Ad-Rock and Michael Diamond, it doesn’t. “Make Some Noise” is the Beasties aging without losing the funk and energy that permeated their earlier work. I don’t expect them to stay young forever, but I know they’re all still creative dudes. This delivers on that.
Beastie Boys – Make Some NoiseBeastie Boys: (Official) (Myspace)
Rating: 8.3
Jensen Sportag’s “Pure Wet” is killer; such a unique sick mix of diverse yet complementary sounds, from the smooth to the sleepy to the visceral, the track is packed, loaded. Cheers to one of our favorite blogs, Yes Yes Y’all, for the tip on the track.
Jensen Sportag – Pure WetJensen Sportag: (Official) (Myspace)
Rating: 8.5
Our girl Adele gets a little funky c/o of LA mixman Plastic Plates. Turn this one way up.
Adele – Set Fire to the Rain (Plastic Plates Remix)
Plastic Plates: (Souncloud) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.3
Great. “In Need” features great vocals (the falsetto notes she breathes out into are just phenomenal) and great arrangement and instrumentation (the melodic jazz guitar and laid back rhythmic stylings do well to frame and support the song’s melodies). Like serious top of the game type stuff. Ladies of R&B, jazz, and soul (really all singers) take notice “In Need” is how you do it.
Ntjam Rosie – In NeedNtjam Rosie: (Official) (Myspace)
Rating: 8.4
Blackmill’s take on Ellie Goulding’s “Your Song” was one of our fav remixes of 2010. #1 on Hypem for what seemed like ages, close to 1,000,000 views on YouTube, tweeted by Ellie Goulding herself, the track’s run punctuated a major moment for both our blog (it was a privilege to first discover the mix) and likely for the artist too, Blackmill. That said, Blackmill’s newest joint is a remix of “Embracing Solitude” by DnB producer JCB. We LOVE it! Blackmill’s feel for melody and its relationship with rhythm and cadence is really tops. Big things are in store for Blackmill, dude’s talent is next level. Stay tuned.
JCB – Embracing Solitude (Blackmill Remix)Blackmill: (Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.7
