I slept on this one . . .two of my favorite record labels picking their favorite songs from each others labels. They are nice ones to have to complete the record collection and can be found for free or cheap on the internet if you look around. Nothing really new in terms of songs, but a nice reminder of why these record labels are the best.
Official Album description: ‘To celebrate the unprecedented achievements of two of our favourite independent US labels we asked Peanut Butter Wolf who runs Stones Throw to pick his favourite tracks from Ghostly’s back catalogue; and in return asked Sam Valenti who runs Ghostly to pick his favourite tracks from Stones Throw’s back catalogue. The result is 20 tracks of some of the most innovative and fiercely independent US hip-hop, electronica, and jazz in the last 10 years.’
Finally the long awaited uffie full length album was released. It is actually way better than I thought. She even brought some friends like…. pharrell. But she just goes to show that you don’t need any talent to be a famous singer… high five to all you producers!
absolutely gorgeous stuff from ex-butterfly and former digable planets studd ishmael butler. this is one for those slow summer (its coming soon right? kind of wish i was melting in the ontario shade drinking spiked lemonade right now) rides through town. grooved-out slightly dark muddled beats and non-sensical waxed lyricals. and a great one-shot vid (thanks goodfellas) to boot. vid first. track second.
believe it. the label has just recently announced a few new signings and amongst them is chicago native and dj/producer nathan clark, aka DJ NATE. don’t know much about him but at some point last year i came across his track ‘give dat man room’ and became immediately obsessed/haunted. amongst a seemingly bottomless digital playlist this track always seems to rival the top. ghetto dread juke? his song structure is built around endlessly looped and layered vocals and seems an impossible formula but somehow it works.
planet mu has signed dj nate for a single and an album, both scheduled for release this fall. can’t wait to see where the new music goes.
Speaking of odd fits for labels, did anyone catch Tectonic picking up Pursuit Grooves for the Fox Trot Mannerisms release? ah yes, the uk dubstep/post-dilla future beat collisions continue…
two years ago this month, mid afternoon under the big top, on a polo field in the california desert… we were there. one of the most incredible shows i’ve ever been to!
it isn’t that often that you come across a recording of a show that you were actually present for so it has always been fun for me to listen to this set, remembering what the feeling was, the vibe in the crowd, the energy and sound, what the dj was doing. the set started off with everyone hyped but not really knowing what to expect (why is he sitting down?), then a calming and everyone dancing and happy, followed by confusion, still bodies and awkwardness (genius transition @ 23:50!) i’m thinking this is getting good, bring it on…
01. Intro
02. Public Enemy – Welcome To The Terrordome
03. Run DMC – Beats To The Rhyme
04. ID
05. Strafe – Set It Off
06. Boogie Boys – Break Dancer
07. ID
08. ID
09. ID
10. LFO – Track 4
11. The Night Writers – Let the Music Use You
12. Gregor Tresher – A Thousand Nights
13. ID
14. ID
15. ID
16. Macc – Think Down
17. Fracture & Neptune – Apollo
18. ASC – Confusion
19. dgoHn – Elle
20. System Of A Down – Chop Suey (Drum & Bass Bootleg)
21. Noisia & Mayhem – Exodus
22. Dub-One – Volcon
23. Vertigo – The Drained
24. ID
25. Limewax – Cat And The Hat
26. The Panacea and Code Blue – Graveyard Twist
27. Current Value – Fear
It seems a double loss this month to learn of both the end of much loved website and podcast brokenbeatradio.com, as well as the music career of Dominic Stanton aka Domu/Umod/Sonar Circle etc. Perhaps the writing was on the wall, limited activity and a comparative lack of updated podcasts the last few years from broken beat radio and a few telling interviews in the case of Domu. So And So, no longer is the domain brokenbeatradio.com, all that remains is a list of dead links for what was once one of the best podcasts running 2004-2009 (oh why did I delete those mixes!). Domu, however, leaves behind a legacy of productions that will be with us forever (should we manage to track them down, damn limited pressings!). It is comforting though that at least he provided parting words, touching at that.
Below, a few domu highlights and some vids from the old bnb radio site.
This selection has made it to the top of my 2009 list not just because of the really great music (of which there is plenty) but more importantly for its completeness. It has been a while since I’ve been able to enjoy an album as an album, something coherent and best enjoyed from start to finish, rather than just a collection of songs you skip through. Of course long hours on the road with nothing else to distract is a slight bias, nevertheless this album stood out amongst many heard this way. Trend makers XLR8R have nailed the description of Machinedrum’s sound, “pop-drenched hip-hop that’s been run through the synthesizer a few dozen times and given a finishing touch by someone like Daft Punk”. For me it was the pop aesthetics that kept me coming back. Below are some highlights off the album and the video for Roll and Feel. Do yourself a favor, use that itunes gift card you got in your stocking and buy this record.
On this snowed in Saturday morning, I thoroughly enjoyed blasting Hudson Mohawke on the Essential Mix along with my morning coffee while whippin up a batch of muffins. Whatever you’re up to when tuning in, do it loud. Enjoy the weekend.
Yeah! Toronto’s Drake has been nominated for a Grammy. Nice work! 
