Thursday 30 January 2014

10,000 views!



Woohoooooo, thanks for 10,000 views! Nice to know that my ramblings aren't always going unheeded in a dusty corner of the internet. :) Keep 'em coming!

1) James Blake - '40455'

I'll start with this because I feel like unreleased James Blake is always welcome. Could he be teasing towards a new album? Let's hope! The song itself is alright, a pretty vocal sample and nice harmonies as usual. Having said that, it's nothing special or particularly memorable and doesn't show much progression from the artist, sounding relatively similar to tracks like 'Retrograde' or 'Our Love Comes Back'. 



2) Russell Gunn - 'Bass Head Jazz'

Well this isn't recent at all but I've only just heard it so CUT ME A BREAK, OKAY? Grammy-nominated Russell Gunn is a maestro of jazz/hip-hop fusion and 'Bass Head Jazz' is taken off his album Krunk Jazz, which showcases not only his skill as a jazz trumpeter but also his innovation in the genre. The pitch-bending drones underpinning this track constantly offset the harmonic stability of its meandering improvisations, lending the track a compelling weirdness without breaking its groove. 


3) Arca - 'Fluid Silhouettes'

Jesse Kanda (the genius behind this) produced these visuals to Arca's 'Fluid Silhouettes' for the Spring '14 collection of Montreal-based designer clothes brand SSENSE. Strange, beautiful and more than a bit uncanny, the video shows a series of metamorphic, androgynous figures 'dancing' to Arca's dissonant lines and rippling flow. The project seems to be exploring a means of expression through shape, whether this be visually or musically, and its potential to surpass boundaries. The sporadic synth chords provide a warped disco sound, while the beat feels primordial. The whole thing seems to epitomise uncompromised creative freedom, punctuated by the whisper of 'I need to do what I feel like doing, so let me go'.



4) Jagwar Ma - 'Come Save Me' (The Pachanga Boys Jagwar Pawar Version)

After securing their place on my radar with the amazing 15-minute epic 'Time' back in 2011, the German duo return with another lengthy creation, this time a rework of a composition by psychadelic dance band Jagwar Ma. Like many of the most skilful artists around, the Pachanga Boys raise the bar from good to excellent by gradually layering uplifting music with a meticulously executed build up. The result is slow-release energy that allows the artist to sustain your attention far beyond your average radio edit time constraints. Other perfect examples of this here and here.




5) Urulu - 'Rest'

This is my favourite song off of the new EP by stateside Urulu, Play Something With Words. The final track on the collection, 'Rest' rounds it out with a slower, more laid back groove. I love the smooth, lounge feel of the EP, providing something deep yet pleasingly light for the end of the night. 




6) Disclosure - 'F For You' ft. Mary J. Blige

How do you make a huge, bouncy, garage banger even better? You add Mary J. Blige and some striking, funky visuals.



7) Pezzner & Amina - 'Exit'

Amina's sensual vocals are a perfect counteraction of the harsh, syncopated stabs on this new single by long-established American DJ, Pezzner. 



9) BADBADNOTGOOD - 'CMYK'


I could rant for hours about the greatness of this Canadian jazz trio, and their choice of covers is always spot on. This is one of the two James Blake covers on their 2012 album BBNG2 (check out their version of 'Limit To Your Love' here), sitting happily alongside reworks of songs by Earl, Tyler, The Creator, Gucci Mane and Kanye.

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