(Editor’s note: Recently, I stopped by Soul-Sides to talk about one of my favorite summer jams– as did Adam del Alma, which you can peep here. Adam’s on a summer song rampage and we’re glad given his past record. Here are choice cuts he sent us for this late June 2010 (peep the Beto Villeno joint!). Finally, summer’s here. Let the sunshine in. –DM)
-
-
** READ / HEAR SUMMER SONGS DEL ALMA… (more…)
I don’t know much about Ramona Gonzalez, the woman behind the sort of solo act/sort of band called Nite Jewel, and I kind of like it that way. The most appealing thing about her music is the mystery of it. Nite Jewel songs are kind of like looking into a foggy window: There’s clearly something worth seeing but, as an outsider, you’re never privy to the full picture, thanks to a seductively muffled sound which keeps the listener at a distance even as it reels you in with catchy grooves and gorgeous singing. Gonzalez is not coy or secretive in this interview — she’s not too cool for school — but she doesn’t give too much away, either. Perfect. – Jesse Serwer
Where are you from? Introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Nite Jewel. I was born in Oakland, CA.
You make your own beats mostly on keyboards, right?
My music making process has changed drastically over the past two years. For my first album I recorded everything on 8-track cassette and shared beat making duties with Cole M. Greif-Neill, though most everything was written and recorded on my own. On that album, I used old drum machines, samples, one microphone, a few old synths, and an SP404. It sounds pretty degraded because I also shared production duties with Cole. Now I have more equipment and am recording in a professional yet unconventional studio in Berkeley, CA on 2-inch tape. On the current recordings, Cole and I are writing and performing in tandem. (more…)
Congrats to Samuel K. from Chicago for correctly answering this: Besides Bonobo, what other Ninja Tune affiliate currently sits on Tru Thoughts’ roster? Answer: Hint
Peace to Samuel (your goods are en route!) and 20 other winners whose latest Tru Thoughts comp is also in the mail! Word to Tru Thoughts and to all folks who took the time!
More to come!
“Please Don’t Stop The Music” by Jorge Darden is the B-side to a record currently posted on over at Soul-Sides. Head over there to hear and read more; below is the equally nice flip O-Dub graciously sent us:
Darden’s “Please Don’t Stop the Music” is the B-side to an equally good (though more uptempo track “All Alone” ) and the first I heard it, it reminded me of something J.R. Bailey might have recorded if he was fronting a lounge act. There’s something just ever-so-slightly unpolished here but that’s precisely what holds your attention, the subtle “off”-ness of his vocals, the ways in which he’s trying just a little too hard to nail that intimate “breathy” style. Yet, like the song says, once he starts, you don’t want to stop listening. -Oliver Wang
Filed under: Random | Tags: Hot 8 Brass band, Spanky Wilson, The Bamboos, Tru Thoughts
Tru Thoughts, the ever expanding decade old UK label, gave us tons of CDs and a collection of their newest projects to give away; 4, by The Bamboos, the Saravah Soul project, the latest Zero dB album, and a couple others. 1 grand-prize winner gets the entire set of new projects (5 CDS!) and 20 other winners gets the newest Tru Thoughts compilation. Winners chosen at random.
Answer the following question and send it to NERDTORIOUS@gmail.com with “Tru Thoughts” in the subject. Winners announced in 3 weeks.
An early Tru Thoughts signee, Bonobo, eventually went onto to work with Ninja Tune. What other Ninja Tune affiliate currently sits on Tru Thoughts’ roster?
(Editor’s note: I recently reached out to some of my favorite music enthusiasts to see if they’d add their expertise to the site. Through the years, it’s been a delight to meet and work with these cats and, through their generosity, I’ll be rolling out some great music in the coming months. The concept was straightforward: Have a great song or record you’d want to share? The responses quickly came and the selections, as expected, are top-notch. First up is one of my favorites, Matthew Africa, whose blog is effortlessly great, as is most of his output. Here’s his contribution. –DM)
A quick listen to the Identities’ “Hey Brother” shows it’s a thinly-masked rewrite of the Billy Roberts composition “Hey Joe”. Although Jimi Hendrix’s recording of “Hey Joe” is perhaps justifiably the best-known version, it seems to be one of those rare tunes that’s impossible to mess up– of the dozens of versions I’ve heard, I have yet to hear a bad one. The lyrics here get recast as a peace and brotherhood bromide so vague Hendrix himself might have winced.
As far as I can tell this is the only record credited to the Identities. The vocal is almost certainly by producer Walter Whisenhunt’s wife, Gloria Taylor. The duo recorded far and wide throughout the seventies before a split which, according to legend, drove a vengeful Whisenhunt to wild out on her masters, giving birth to this left-field disco grail:
* Download DJ Eleven’s Eleven & The Dude Mix
The Village Voice called him, “An asshole in the tradition George Clinton or Rudy Ray Moore, a shit-talker who thinks yukking and fucking is a life plan”. Granted, weed and big butts aren’t entirely all Devin “The Dude” Copeland talks about. But for the span of 5 albums (and a new 6th) his everyman approach has endeared him on both coasts as well as in Europe.
“Sheeeit, I’m just a normal dude who smokes weed and raps, ” he says, confirming his entire approach and motto. He continues, barely audible from laughing so hard: “My songs are like my kids [laughs], some are uglier than others but I love them all the same!”
A longtime Rap-A-Lot signee, Devin added ease and self-deprecation to Houston’s rap scene, counteracting the overt aggression of labelmates, The Geto Boys, and other local rap acts. His at ease style got calls from Dr. Dre, as work with De La Soul, Premier, Nas, and Xhibit followed.
His new project, Suite #420, finds him delivering over rolling beats where he’s the butt of his punchlines. I spoke with Devin on all things casual: from how often he smokes, to how Europeans sound funny rapping his lyrics.
What rappers make you laugh?
The very first rap record I heard made me laugh! It was called “Rap Dirty” by Blowfly [laughs]. I thought it was the funniest, grooviest thing I’ve ever heard. You could dance to it and it had a story behind it too. Back when I was a kid, a song sounded like it was a movie and I loved every bit of it. It was a comedy to me for sure man [laughs].
Who would you say are your rap idols?
Shit man, that’s tough. But really, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Slick Rick. How he put his songs together and just all the silly humor in his songs spoke to me. But he was smart too. He was so creative and projected personality into his songs. He was so well-rounded. He’s a true artist.
The other would have to be (more…)
Filed under: Random | Tags: now-again, Breakestra, Jazzman, California Funk, Connie Price & the Keystones
A couple great new releases happen to focus my home state. The first is the newest in Now-Again and Jazzman’s Funk Compilations. The entire series is a compendium of rare, regional songs, notably Carolina Funk, Florida Funk, and Texas Funk. California Funk is a collection of twenty-one 45s from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Bernadino, LA and San Diego. The liner notes add scope and are great themselves. Here are snippets of some choice cuts.
‘Smokin’ Tidbits’ by The Edwards Generation
A cover of ‘What’s Going On’ by Mr. Clean & the Soul Inc.
If there’s continuity of Californian funk, than Orgone fits tangentially somewhere. From the evergreen Los Angeles area, they’ve played with some of my favorite LA funk driven groups, Breakestra and Connie Price and the Keystones. A nine piece band, they play soul and funk with a little afrobeat too. Some songs have vocals, most are instrumentals. Here’s the first track off their latest, Cali Fever, (Ubiquity) out next month.
‘The Last Fool’
It wasn’t mostly the voice, it was mostly the consistency–indeed, a daily operation. Guru (right) and Primo are a prime example of a rapper and producer perfectly meshing. Their output married and listeners benefited for decades. I spoke with Guru a few years back and, of all the older, revered artists I’ve interviewed, I never thought I’d be writing on him in this uneasy light. But his work lives on. RIP.
Read my 2007 interview with Guru for Wax Poetics
Read a very candid recent interview with Primo by Rob Harvilla of the Village Voice
Filed under: Guest Spots,Interviews | Tags: daptone, sharon jones, Mellomatics, Binky Griptite
(Editor’s note: The voice of the Dap-Kings, Binky Griptite, graciously gave us the scoop on I Learned The Hard Way, the fourth studio album by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. For this this interview, we got miss Sharon herself to introduce Binky, which is somewhat of a role reversal, as he explains his duty as a King of Dap. Thanks Sharon. Big ups Binky! –DM)
Intro by Sharon Jones
I first met Binky at a session for Lee Fields, it was on 42nd Street in Manhattan. He still had on big dreads he’d wear under a beanie that looked liked a turban. I think he was still playing with Antibalas at the time. I remember thinking how so laid back he was. The Dap Kings hadn’t really formed yet, and Binky would just show up and do his thing. At the time, I was actually real afraid he’d leave our band and just stick with Antibalas full-time!
For the new one, he’s been working so hard. Some nights he’d come to the studio late and just lay down his parts; other times he’s playing the guitar half asleep with his eyes closed. He’s a stubborn perfectionist, really. He had me re-record a song over and over again because he said it ‘wasn’t soulful’ enough. It ended up taking four days! And I don’t take four days to record anything.
Really, I love what Binky does with the Dap Kings and his own Mellomatic stuff is great too. As an announcer, his voice gets people hyped. He’s like Bobby Bland. He’s a master. I really notice when he’s not at one of our performances. He’s that good.
You’re essentially the master of ceremonies at all the shows. Where do you draw your influences from?
BG: Well of course there’s Danny Ray, James Brown’s longtime emcee, as well as some gospel preacher. I come from a family of preachers so it’s not that much of a stretch. There’s also a real strong circus ringmaster influence there too. You know why people call the Ringling Bros. Circus the “Greatest Show on Earth”? Because the emcee told them to, that’s why.
My job is to prepare the audience for what they are about to see and hear, and to let them know what’s expected of them. We are not a ‘sit down and pay attention’ show, we’re a ‘get up and dance’ show. You’d be amazed at how many audiences still need to be told that they are a part of the show and that it is not meant to be a passive experience. (more…)
Filed under: Tunes | Tags: Nora Dean, Susan Cadogan, Phyllis Dillon, Marcia Griffith
I’m not too deep on Jamaican soul or reggae in general, but I’ve always loved things I’ve heard from say, Phyllis Dillon (pictured above), The Dreamletts, or compilations like this one. Below are random Jamaican girl-group joints I scored from my girlfriend, mixtapes, 45s, rare comps, and LPs. All of which are rather short, sweet, and uncomplicated.
The First Generation’s “Give Him Up”, a rare Jamaican soul track with, even rarer, a change-up in the arrangement! This song gets better and better as it moves along.
One of my favorite girl-groups in any genre, The Gaylettes. Here’s a b-side called “Goodbye”.
Susan Cadogan’s “Hurt So Good”. The her vocals really propel the simple arrangement.
Marcia Griffiths’ cover of the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” won’t let you down. Note the crashing cymbals and unexpected hi-hats.
Phyllis Dillon has so many great random songs. “Tell Me You Love Me All The Time” is another one.
The always enjoyable Nora Dean, “Mojo Girl”. Supposedly she’s 15-years-old on this one.
Originally Published on URB
Kids with new MPCs and “Listen To Dilla” shirts only dream of the career Jake One’s having. Out of Seattle’s late ‘90s rap scene, he’s worked with all types and degrees of MCs—essentially, most anyone who’s caught wind of his beats. Big names, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes; to indie cats, Casual, Gift of Gab, and Slug; to legends like De La and Dre.
“It’s weird because at a certain point you actually build relationships and become friends with these people,” he says, adding: “I’ve been making beats for complete superstars and complete non-superstars. I’m across the board as usual. ”
He just made tracks for Snoop, which he’s hoping will see the light of day, as is a cut on De La’s upcoming album. And DOOM is currently still “sitting on some beats”. Same with M.O.P., Bun B, Raekwon, the list is impressive as it is long. Meanwhile, he’s pushing his latest effort, another project on Rhymesayers.
Along with the clever packaging, The Stimulus Package, shows Jake piecing together soulful, versatile joints for another touted MC—Ex-Roc-A-Fella turned Cash Money signee, Freeway. Here, Jake explains the differences between working with indie artists and big names, and what’s next for someone who’s already worked with his heroes. Jake’s beats continue to attract MCs of all regions, genres and varying rap tangents, and the callbacks haven’t halted. With The Stimulus Package just out, here’s a very broad, 3 part look at Jake’s career, one that any beatmaker would kill for right now.
JAKE ONE, DAY ONE…
What was your first piece of equipment?
Well, my first sampler was some sort of Rolland. I was 16 working at Taco Time for a couple months and saved up for it. I looked in the ads and bought the only sampler I could afford. I didn’t know how to use it; I just wanted one so bad.
What about soul records struck you as such good sample fodder through the years?
I think it’s just being into hip-hop and just being used to those sounds. When I was younger, I actually depended on samples quite a bit because I wasn’t proficient in playing things like synths—so I had to go the sample route. Its one of these things where you go through phases. When I first started I was sampling Jazz almost exclusively and I’ve just transitioned to other things as I’ve aged and learned more. (more…)
Filed under: Guest Spots | Tags: Calenturas De, Latinfunk.org, Leonello y sus Palos Nuevos, Musica del Alma
(Editor’s note: Adam D. who runs Musica del Alma, an audio blog that explores rare Latin funk, soul, and rock, kindly contributed this quick guest post. He’s been a constant source for Latin grooves and we’re glad to have him finally on board. Gracias por el calor!)
Leonello y sus Palos Nuevos
“Soul Makossa”
“Paso Al Gigolo”
From Calenturas De LP (Caliente, Colombia, 1973)
Mega props go to David Ma and the wonderful thing that is NERDTORIOUS! Thought I’d discuss an excellent LP from Colombia that features two funk tracks for my guest post.
Don’t know much about Leonello except that he was a Colombian guitarist who played cumbia and porro. On his Calenturas De LP, he branches out, covering the Manu Dibango classic “Soul Makossa” in a hot Afro Latin way. Also on the album, a strange funk track called “Paso Al Gigolo” has fat horns and a blazing keyboard. This may be the one and only Colombian funk track with a slide guitar (a haunting one at that!). It almost sounds like one of those musical saws.
Filed under: Interviews | Tags: Hiero, Montezuma's Revenge, prince paul, Souls of Mischief
I was listening to old Hiero tapes and realized I was hearing dudes half my age rap. It was “Step To My Girl” by Souls of Mischief whom, says Tajai, were only “15-years-old when we first recorded those songs.” He continues, explaining “Cabfare”: “I didn’t even have a driver’s license let alone a cabbie license! I just laugh at those songs when I hear them but they have a special place because they’ve touched so many people and have the ability to bring me back to that era.”
“Cab Fare”
“Step To My Girl”
I just spoke with Tajai for an upcoming short piece on their new album, Montezuma’s Revenge, produced by Prince Paul. Here are some quick outtakes from that interview—for Hiero fans, and cats that remember seeing “93 Til” on CMC.
When was the first time you heard Prince Paul? How did he get on board with the new album?
Opio and Domino were on a Handsome Boy Modeling school tour with him and he mentioned doing some music with us. What started out as a dream became reality when he came out to record with us in 2006, damn near 20 years after we first were exposed to his wizardry. His projects have been some of the most influential in my progress as an artist and a person so it was a no-brainer to work with him. (more…)
“Blurred” by Turquoise Days
“Game and Performance” by Deux
I don’t know exactly what it is, but it seems recently hip-hop dudes can’t get enough of no-wave. I can see why, especially since post punk’s entire wayward ethos, DIY concept, and gritty aesthetics probably speak to rap heads in many ways. Maybe hip-hop grew stale and cats begun looking elsewhere. Maybe it’s an age thing. I digress and present Stone Throw’s latest monster The Minimal Wave Tapes. I reviewed it for URB recently, which you can read HERE for more of an in-depth look at the album. Above are snippets from a couple choice cuts off the project. Out now, very interesting, and highly recommended.
Numero’s killer project, Pisces: A Lovely Sight, was among my top releases of last year and the Linda Bruner tracks in particular stood out. Bruner: Songs For A Friend, are her only known remaining recordings (6 total, mostly covers). Newfound songs include a cover of “Wichita Lineman“, which, like Bruner, has a dusty, disheveled aesthetic. The songs are sparse and sound as damaged as you’d think they would. Below are snippets of Bruner cuts that originally appeared on A Lovely Sight. Songs For A Friend comes out on Record Store Day, April 17th.
“Sam”
“You Are Changing In Your Time”
?uestlove is one of those dudes whose intelligence allows him to wear many hats. We touched on his hectic schedule a couple years back in a piece I did for The Metro, a local outlet based in San Jose. While he’s now essentially The Roots’ frontman on Jimmy Fallon (which I’m sure is time consuming) his productivity however hasn’t slowed. He maintains a blog, still gigs, writes liner notes, produces albums, acts, AND dropped this Dilla Tribute Set last week on Tony Touch’s radio show. It’s all Dilla related material thrown together in a very low-key fashion, first reported by It Takes A Nation….
Thanks, Jet Blue. Not only for your extra leg room and getting me home alive during that one emergency landing, but for introducing me to Neon Indian. The in-flight playlist of a budget airline can be a good place to discover cutting-edge, new music. Who knew?
It was late summer of ’09, and by then, the buzz around this enigmatic Austin/Brooklyn duo had reached fever pitch. Though just a few months old, Neon Indian was already being touted by bloggers as the next big indie thing (many called them the “new MGMT”), their then-undisclosed identities igniting rabid curiosity. Somehow, the buzz had passed right by me, and unaware of their rep, I listened to these enchanting, synthy soundscapes while descending over the hyperactive night glow of my destination city, Las Vegas. The effect of the music, set against the backdrop, was deeply cerebral.
Psychic Chasms, Neon Indian’s debut album, is like a gadget that was taken apart by the nimble hands of a tech nerd and then reassembled—with a few pieces pleasantly out of place. Or like a random ‘70s movie on a dusty VHS tape that you dug out of a storage box in your parents’ basement and then ran through the latest editing software, preserving some of the vintage quality while adding modern bells and whistles. It sounds like the future—the kind of future imagined in a decidedly ’80s film like Blade Runner. It’s upbeat, it’s mellow; introspective and carefree.
It all came from the mind of Alan Palomo, a 21-year-old Mexico native who grew up in Denton, Texas and moved to Austin in 2007. It was there that Palomo, during a kind of self-imposed creative isolation sometime around the winter of 2008, pumped out a series of short tracks in his bedroom, using a small yet sufficient set of tools. When he found that they didn’t fit the style of his other outfit, the more poppier-sounding band Vega, he filed them under a new project with collaborator Leanne Macomber, the project now known as Neon Indian.
Recently back from a worldwide tour—including three sold-out shows in New York City—Palomo shared the story behind the buzz with NERDTORIOUS.
What was it like for you, moving to the States from Mexico at age six?
Definite culture shock. It was a complete immersion process. I have these vivid memories of being in all-English classrooms and having these really specific moments where I didn’t know how to say a certain word. I remember this kid had accidentally spit on me and I was trying to tell the teacher, and all I could come up with was, “His mouth water was on me!” Because I didn’t know how to say saliva. At the same time, as a result of that, I got assimilated pretty quickly. I think I learned English in maybe 8 months to a year. It’s nuts how, when you’re little, you pick up a language like it’s a video game or something. (more…)
Filed under: Real Talk,Tunes | Tags: soul-sides, o-dub, Paul Parrish, Forest Of My Mind
I’ve been so mired in projects and deadlines that I forgot to plug my guest spot on Soul-Sides!
I was asked to write about the last record that struck me and decided on Paul Parrish's Forest of My Mind, this folky psych record from ’68 that left my face on the floor. I’m aslo real stoked that O-Dub called us one of his favorite sites. Dude, many thanks!
Here’s “Something of a Love Song”, a track off the album that isn’t included in the guest post. I felt it didn’t stand out as much as the other tracks, but I don’t dig it any less. It’s a real sweet one. Peep the post too. Enjoy!
*Note: The links on the actual post are down from being over a few weeks old, so below are the tracks that I originally wrote about. Peep ‘em!
“English Sparrows”
“Tiny Alice”
“I Can’t Help Myself”
My Love Will Follow Me is the new EP (out next month) from brooklyn hipster babes, Vivian Girls. Interestingly, the b-side to the lead single is a cover of “He’s Gone”, the killer Chantels song supposedly written by a 16-year-old Arlene Smith, the group’s lead singer in 1957. Both versions below.
The Vivian Girls’ cover is slower and aesthetically hollow sounding, but the harmonies at the end (which the group is “moving towards”) are pretty impressive.
“He’s Gone” was a big hit single for the Chantels in late ’50s, recorded on End Records. Classic material !
If you’re a lover of music and have seen or read about Haiti, please take note of the Heatrocks for Haiti campaign hosted by Soul Strut. All proceeds of this auction will be channeled towards relief for Haiti.
Peep O-Dub’s latest contribution for an idea of what’s available, what’s happening, and how to help. Any way of generating awareness and, obviously money, is helpful right now. Spread the link too:
He’s widely recognized as one of the best to ever do it. When I spoke with Automator years back, he touched on Qbert saying: “I’ll tell you this—Qbert is the best DJ in the world. Technically, that guy’s fucking untouchable.”
I caught up with Qbert real quick to see what he’s been doing and what his thoughts are on recent DJ news. From DJ Hero, to Shadow’s recent comments, to the passings of DJs AM and Roc Raida, we hear it from an OG’s perspective. For a seasoned vet, he isn’t at all salty, remaining remarkably positive, spiritual, and seemingly still a big fan of a genre that reveres him. Here’s our interview, done over the course of a couple phone calls and an email or two. Safe travels home Rich!
Where are you right now?
I’m in the Philippines doing a show where the proceeds go to the victims of the typhoon.
How often do you still practice?
Everyday, at least a few hours. I can’t miss a day!
Touch on Roc Raida and DJ AM.
God has a mysterious way of bringing souls back to heaven. Raida and AM are just there ahead of us all. I do think that it also exposes people to much of their great music and accomplishments though. (more…)
It’s almost rare to see a Rap DVD that doesn’t suffer from poor production quality. Most, regardless of huge budgets, seem thrown together for some reason. I just reviewed the new Jam Master Jay documentary which was NOT the case AND was able to snatch an extra copy for our readers! Peep my review HERE for more on the film.
To get a copy of 2 Turntables and a Microphone: The Life and Death of Jam Master Jay send your name and address to NERDTORIOUS@gmail.com with “JMJ” in the subject.
Winner chosen at random by week’s end. Good luck!
Congrats to Dom L. out of Colorado! Your DVD is en route!
“Comencemos” by Phirpo Y Sus Caribes
“Woman Pin Down” by Dan Satch and his Atomic 8 Dance Band
It’s fitting Fela gets the deluxe treatment now considering his work experienced a revival of sorts in the last decade or so (and continues to). But Black Man’s Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti is much more than a project of “Fela covers”. In fact, besides a couple tracks, these covers and interpolations themselves are from rare Nigerian 45s and other international LPs.
The boxset includes 4 x 10-inches and the book it comes with—written and researched by Egon—is a great, quick primer on Fela and partly why the project’s so strong. Above are a couple snippets. The deluxe boxset comes out on Now-Again late next month.
*Studio musician Todd Simon (of Antibalas, Breakestra, The Dap Kings, and El Michels Affair fame) wrote this on Willie Mitchell’s recent passing. Willie was a big influence on Todd, and studio musicians like him, so here are some of his thoughts. RIP Mr. Mitchell.
To find out one of your biggest heroes has passed away via Twitter is not fun. Five days into a brand-spanking new decade, I stumble upon a tweet from the east coast vinyl-digging monster DJ Small Change: “RIP Willie Mitchell. Can’t fuck with Hi Records real schitt.” My heart sank 20 floors.
Willie Mitchell is solely responsible for creating one of the most unique sounds from the R&B Soul movement of the ’60s and ’70s. Mitchell, who died at the age of 81 due to a heart-attack on January 5th, 2010, developed something fresh in R&B while Soul radio stations were flooded with James Brown, the Motown sound of Detroit, Philly Soul, and of course, his neighbors over at Stax in Memphis.
As in-house producer for Hi Records, “Papa Willie” produced and arranged hit after hit with Soul legends Al Green, Ann Peebles, Syl Johnson, O.V. Wright, and Bobby Bland. Mitchell also led his own band as a trumpeter and released many hits under his own name, including “Soul Serenade” and “30-60-90“. Eventually, he gained ownership of Hi Records in 1970 and continued the label’s legacy until the late ’70s.
The first time I heard Willie’s sound was on Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” on an oldies radio station around the age of nine. I had already started studying the trumpet and was blown away by the powerful and intense horns throughout the entire song. Soon to find out, my mother had two Al Green LP’s in her wonderful vinyl collection: I’m Still In Love With You and Let’s Stay Together. Little did I know that these records would go on to shape my musical life for years to come. It’s these recordings that served as reference for my first ever horn arrangements in addition to the majority of albums I’ve worked on since.
(more…)
Edan’s Beauty and The Beat was one of my favorites albums of the last 10 years. It’s still so fun and all the nuances never get old. But it’s not just about a particular release, more so, it’s about Edan’s versatility and complete catalogue. From radio shows to guest spots, from mixes to his increasingly layered beats, everything is very detail oriented.
It’s been about 5 years since Beauty… and turns out his next move was Echo Party, a frenzied 30-minute opus that sounds like something out of a futuristic Black Ark studio. Now that it’s here and has sunk in, I got Edan on the phone to explain the project in his own words, what he’s been doing, and what’s up next. In the process, you’ll hear new tracks, rarities, and a song sent to us by Edan for readers to check out. Thanks E!
Explain to people how Echo Party and everything with Traffic went down.
I had a longtime friend at Traffic. I know those guys because they’ve distributed my records for a long time. And you know, they have a lot of access to a lot of stuff; Paul Winley, Peter Brown, all these old acts. They’re like the Rhino of old hip-hop. So they figured, it would be cool to have me do a mix for them. They offered me a little dough and that was that.
At what point did you decide to make it more involved than just a standard mix?
I knew that in this day and age, a mix of someone cutting up two copies of “Smokin’ Cheebe Cheeba” is not that interesting. And I don’t like to do things on consignment, which this basically was, so I figured if I’m gonna do it I might as well make it fresh. So I started fucking with it and realized that I should be real technical and showcase some sort of creativity. It wasn’t one of those mixes where I could just bank on the obscurity of the records just to impress the record community. So I basically decided to go the route that I went, which is make a record that was on some bugged out, freewheeling shit in the lab.
You mentioned collecting and not banking on obscure records. Have you grabbed anything interesting lately?
Yes! There’s this fucking record I got at this year’s WFMU Record Fair and it’s just perfect. It’s this one song called “Lookin’ in The Toaster” by this group called Research 1-6-12. The song is just this dude looking into a toaster and the lyrics are a trip [sings: Lookin’ in my toaster, lookin’ in my toaster, the face I see is mine. Weird is the image like a Hendrix poster, like a dream I had one time]. I got the test pressing which just had a piece of paper glued to the front. Once I heard it, I listened to it like 10 times. You want an MP3 of it to put up with this interview?
Yes, definitely. (more…)
Here’s a track mixed and mastered by Bob Power, the grammy award-winning producer who worked on Tribe’s and De La’s early records. It’s from the Timeless Series which were held earlier last year. The DVDs and music will be released as an ultra-deluxe boxset this March, but for now, here’s the orchestral version of “Take Notice” off Dilla’s Rough Draft EP and a link to the video. The “Suite For Ma Dukes”, and said track, really add dimension and a sense of epicness to Dilla’s beats. Take notice.
“Take Notice” by the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and the Suite for Ma Dukes orchestra
Bay Area ace, DJ B.Cause salutes Roger and Zapp with an ultra fun mix of famous tracks, rap choruses, interludes and a healthy dose of cuts and blends. Like his other work, everything is well-selected and ironed out. This is perfect since interest in vocoders will likely peak real soon. Peep the mix, the rest of B. Cause’s work, and familiarize yourself beyond “Computer Love”.
====>> DOWNLOAD PLAYIN’ KINDA RUFF: THE TROUTMAN LEGACY BY DJ B.CAUSE
Filed under: Random
Wanna be BFFs? If you’re already on Facebook, join the NERDTORIOUS Facebook page for exclusive updates, discussion, and links! No spam or annoying status updates, we promise!
Filed under: Guest Spots | Tags: Breaking The Ice, DJ Platurn, Eik, Funk Fillets From Iceland’s Groovy Side
*This is the first of our “Breaking The Ice” series featuring friend and fellow music nerd, DJ Platurn. In addition to his mixtapes and ongoing DJ work, dude’s a collector who has made efforts to gather and document (funky) records from his country of Iceland. “Breaking The Ice” will feature the music and stories from these experiences. All vinyl rips from ultra-rare, Icelandic funk and boogie records from the ’70s. Peep the post (and others to come!) courtesy of Platurn.
By DJ Platurn
Way back in the year 2006 in my motherland, Iceland, my cousin Sveimhugi and I began compiling what we considered some of the best groove-based music from the annals of our little island’s rich musical history. We had no idea what we would come across. The following is a breakdown of one of the bands and one of their songs (note: all vinyl rips).
I am making a fairly safe assumption that this will be the first that time that all you digger nerds will hear some Icelandic funk. So for now, enjoy! (more…)
Q: Who were the two dudes who founded Daptone Records?
A: Neal Sugarman and Gabriel Roth (pictured above).
CONGRATS TO:
Frank D.
Alex L.
Natalie V.
Your prizes have been shipped! A HUGE THANKS for all the entries! Please stay tuned for more contests to come!!!
One of my favorite audio blogs, Derek’s Daily 45, asked me to drop by a few weeks back. In fact, we ended up swapping posts. You can read (and listen) to Derek’s post HERE. Below is my quick contribution to his site. Thanks D!
“Dr. Strangelove” by Arthur Ponder
I first heard this on a mixtape years ago. “You know, that song where he says ‘Doctor Strangelove’ over and over in the chorus,” I’d ask people I knew. No one had info besides the occasional, “Does it have anything to do with the film?” “No,” I’d say.
This year I finally got it. I wish I could say I found it digging in Georgia somewhere, but it was Ebay. So here we are:
Arthur Ponder began his career singing with Johnny Jenkins, a left-handed guitarist and known influence on Jimi Hendrix who also played on Otis Redding’s early work. Not much info exists on Arthur himself, who recorded for Capricorn Records, a Georgian label founded in the late ‘60s known for spearheading Southern Rock led by their biggest signee, The Allman Brothers Band.
Arthur’s credited for additional vocals on other projects and also cut singles for Trey Records, another local Georgian label. He continually, albeit very quietly, put out material well into the ‘80s as far as I know.
I’ve since heard Arthur’s other work, but “Dr. Strangelove” is his defining opus: a song where he teeters on the verge of a nervous breakdown in the chorus, and where steady drums and a beautiful bassline propel the arrangement for roughly 3-minutes. The singing is so pained but the music’s so sunny. It was both written and produced by Eugene Davis. It’s killer Georgian soul, overtly filled with so many warm elements that can grab you. Hope you dig it.
I talked to Reggie last week, touching on his catalogue, drawing lines between him and Redman, and seeing what places has the greenest greens. There was time when I was really into him (circa Dare Iz A Darkside & Muddy Waters). Always fun, great presence and real funny, his party tracks spoke to my teenage sensibilities. And while I don’t check for as much, he was definitely fun to talk to. Peep the lighthearted interview over at URB.
We’re happy to announce the first of some major contests with Daptone Records!
This time, 2 winners will get this HOUSE OF SOUL SHIRT and 1 winner will get this DAPTONE COLLAGE POSTER! Like the label itself, both items are real classy!
The 3 winners will be chosen at random. Contest ends December 18th 2009. Goodies will be in your stockings by X-mas! Correctly answer this to win.
Q: Daptone was founded by two dudes. What are their names?
Easy right? Send the correct answer to NERDTORIOUS@gmail.com with “Daptone Contest” in the subject. Good luck!
“Never Let Your Love Grow Cold” by The Vontastics
By Derek See of Derek’s Daily 45
Perhaps it’s all the winters and blazing hot summers that I spent near the windy city throughout my life that makes me feel such a strong bond with the sound of Chicago soul. Traits that records from the city by the lake have in common are grit, incredible voices, lyrics that are deep direct and heartfelt, and music that always rhythmically compels (no matter the tempo).
This record epitomizes everything I love about Chicago soul, and with its’ unusual chord progression, takes a hint from the psychedelic music that was also in full bloom at this time. From the incredible guitar and horn hooks on the intro followed by the powerful drum fill, it’s obvious from the first few seconds that this record is full of confidence, swagger and emotion. Lead singer (and songwriter) Bobby Newsome comes out swinging with his vocal which frames the record to keep shooting higher until the declaration of undying love in the chorus.
Things let up a little bit in the bridge (there was nowhere else to go but take it down a bit), exploding once again for a final chorus. And when that final chorus ends, all I wanna do is hear this song again. And again. The beauty of a perfect 45 RPM record. From 1967.
*Derek See is a DJ, musician, and writer who runs one of my favorite audio-blogs, Derek’s Daily 45. Please visit his band’s website for more info on him, his music, and whereabouts. Subscribe to his blog and dude will email you a track from his collection (almost) EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Filed under: Random
It’s that time again: our friendly reminder telling readers to SUBSCRIBE!
Our subscriptions are still going strong, but the more the better. In fact, there’s many different ways to subscribe and none of them require much info or time. And there’s no spam or anything else intrusive.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!
Some stuff we’re working on:
- An exclusive interview with Edan about his killer new project, Echo Party!
- Guest spots from DJs, musicians, and writers we dig: Dam Funk, Derek See, Cosmo Baker, Amir (of Kon & Amir), Binky Griptite, Prince Po, Vivian Host, Dan Ubick, Sam Sever and more!
- An interview with Alan Palomo, the producer behind Brooklyn synh-pop-ish dance-rock-ish band, Neon Indian.
- NERDTORIOUS MIXTAPE Vol. 1 : A blend of choice cuts ranging from funk, psych, soul, garage, and rare joints you’ll hopefully dig!
- An interview with pioneering filmmaker, Jamaa Fanaka. This one is a long time in the making, so stay tuned!
- Contests and giveaways with labels we love! Up next: we’re building with Daptone, so expect a slew of Daptone related giveaways!
- A talk with The Whitefield Brothers! Their new album, a world-psych project features El Michels Affair, Edan, Percee P, Poets of Rhythm, The Dap Kings and more! Stay tuned for this one!
- Way more!
Filed under: Interviews | Tags: Carried Away, Double K, OM Records, PUTS, Thes-One
PUTS: “Check The Vibe (snippet)” off Carried Away
I spoke to Thes One around the time he released his first solo project, Lifestyle Marketing. And his production on PUTS’ new album, Carried Away, is even more layered, more fleshed-out than their past beats. Ontop of his equipment know-how, Thes is a collector, and the combination has proved successful time and time again—check out “Acid Raindrops” and “San Francisco Knights” and know that PUTS’ have made like 7 albums wrought with similar enjoyable, boom-bap qualities.
Carried Away, came out recently so I contacted Thes again to see what’s gone down since a couple years (and albums) ago. Head over to URB’s newly relaunched site to read that interview!
Carried Away marks PUTS’ return to OM Records. As such, OM is giving away specially made 45s. It’s a “beer” colored 45 of the track “Beer” featuring Lando himself, Billy Dee Willimas. Thes even flips “Blind Alley” on this version, which you get free only when you order the album from OM! It’s free with purchase of the vinyl (only a few left!) so DO IT NOW!
I’m checking my facts for an upcoming Kurtis Blow article and found out about a “duet” that features Bob Dylan “rapping”. Dylan just says a couple lines at the beginning which is later chopped and replayed throughout song (all 8 minutes of it!). But he’s not doing spoken word or just talking; it sounds like he’s trying to rap—or at least imitate what rap at the time sounded like. The track isn’t memorable, nor does Dylan exactly spit hot fire, but it’s funny and he sounds exactly like how you’d imagine. I have tons of questions and wish I had known about this before I spoke with Kurtis. For kicks, here’s a snippet of just Dylan’s part:
“Street Rock” by Kurtis Blow featuring Bob Dylan (snippet)
You can hear the entire track on youtube HERE.
I recently interviewed “Music Man” Miles Tackett, the cellist, producer, DJ, bassist and guitarist of Breakestra. If you haven’t already, check out their latest LP, Dusk Till Dawn. It’s funky and filled with all kinds of nice grooves. My talk with Miles recently went up on Soul Culture, a London-based music site focused on soul and all its modern tangents. Check the interview along with a couple great Breakestra joints below.
“Inner City Blues” (Live Mix Pt. 2)
“Got To Let Me Know” (Hit The Floor)
Filed under: Real Talk,Tunes | Tags: Good God! Born Again Funk, numero group, Thomas Dorsey
Pious funk from old Chicago? I was sold from the get-go. Personally, gospel—and just religious music in general—rarely moves me, but these aren’t your typical songs about Jesus. Actually, they’re not at all hymn-like: gruff vocals, sweaty grooves and bass slaps delivered raucously sums up Good God! Born Again Funk, a new project by Numero.
Derived mostly from Thomas Dorsey, an entrepreneurial bluesman who reconfigured praise-songs, these 18 tracks replace “baby” with “Jesus” and somberness for shouts. The singers, quartets, and neighborhood folks were recruited by Dorsey who sought to exploit the small but devoted market for religious music. In fact, the title of Ada Richard’s song “I’m Drunk and Real High (In The Spirit Of The Lord)” reflects Dorsey’s whole approach.
Please visit Numero’s site to hear and buy the upcoming album (1/26/10). Like their previous divine release, Good God! Born Again Funk is a thorough listen. Check out Numero’s blog to read more on the legwork behind this and other projects. Below are excerpts from a couple choice cuts:
The Sensational Five Singing Sons’ “Share Your Love With Your Master” has such personality and all kinds of elements–dialogue, an early break, crazy guitar work, and hard vocals. This track brings the funk and is fun to boot.
TL Barrett’s “Like A Ship” opens the album and is also its most mellow. Energy-wise, it’s tepid compared to the others but the lyrics (“Just like a ship…without a sail…but I know I can make it…”) sung faintly by the choir make it overwhelmingly earnest.
Filed under: Interviews | Tags: Aja West, Cheeba, Headhunters, Money Mark, The Mackrosoft
“Three Views Of A Secret”, S.E.M.E.
Aja West controls The Mackrosoft, a label and group that for the last 9 years has released piles of funky, jazz-fusion projects. Their tracks have hip-hop sensibilities (as teenagers, Aja and his brother, Cheeba, interned for The Dust Brothers) yet their music’s quite varied, squeezing R&B, rock, and electronic into textured arrangements—think synthy, erratic Bob James with hard drums.
Mackrosoft Records is 15 albums deep since starting up in 2000. This year, they’ll add a trilogy of works that might be their most intricate; Shirts and Skins, S.E.M.E. , and Upgrade. Colorful and uncluttered, Aja’s arrangements show his composing prowness. He doesn’t read music or write music, but plays most of the instruments himself. He’s surrounded by notable musicians (Money Mark), some of them legendary (Headhunters’ Paul Jackson and Mike Clark). And they all follow his lead, coming in to replay parts, enhance others, or as Aja puts it, “fill in the gaps”.
I spoke to Aja recently while working on an article and found him genuinely eccentric and funny. Here’s a guy who openly takes mushrooms and cuts records, all while orchestrating musicians and running a label. Here are parts of our interview along with standout tracks from his upcoming trilogy.
What exactly do you do?
I make funk jazz, funk soul, funk rock, and all styles of funk that be. I’m Aja West and you’re rocking with the best.
You still take mushrooms while working on your music? How do they affect what you do and others around you?
Absolutely. Over the years, I’ve worked a third of the time in The Netherlands allowing me to use many species of fungi in many unusual but legal environments such as zoo’s, great museums, and red light districts. Altering one’s perception of the world through plant psychedelics will usually give you what you need not want. Psychedelic and mystical catalysts had already provided me with a direct experience of simple joyful noise infused with a plethora of meaning at a fairly young age. (more…)
Filed under: Random | Tags: 80 Blocks From Tiffany's, Savage Nomads, Savage Skulls
In the coming weeks, some coverage will likely renew interest for 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s, the 1979 documentary on New York street gangs directed by Gary Weis. It captures the end stages of South Bronx gang culture; the high unemployment, violence, racial overtones, angst, and just the overall social decay hip-hop came from. Grainy footage of city scenes, gang uniforms, and the interviewees’ lack of self-awareness make this a valuable time-capsule of urban American history.
I was lucky see this many years ago as a teenager working in a video store. It’s not available on DVD (not yet anyways) and VHS copies can go for hundreds. But thanks to the internet, you can watch it for FREE in its ENTIRETY… (more…)
These tracks are recent playlist staples I’m pretty stoked on. Both are on the mellow side: “Pearlie’s Swine” by Steve Kuhn is initially reserved before slowly building into this dreamlike, chaotic ending. And it’s barely over a minute long.
“English Sparrows” by Paul Parrish is folky, psych-rock with some real lush apexes. The Donovan-like vocals get by because the melodies and harmonies are so nice. Supposedly, Dennis Coffey did arrangments on the album. Everything about this—the strings, the flute, the guitar work—is put together real proper.
These songs come courtesy of Maurice Lee, a Bay Area collector who runs one of my favorite blogs at the moment, Out At Sea. Dig the site’s minimal, somewhat cryptic steez and the outstanding song selection.
Congratulations to Glen O. outta Portland! Thanks for the support! The goods are in the mail!
For those that missed the contest, please dont’ sleep on the film Black Dynamite or its killer soundtrack and original score!
A MASSIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE ENTRIES! WE’LL BE RUNNING MORE CONTESTS WITH OTHER ARTISTS AND LABELS WE LOVE… STAY TUNED!
Lord Finesse, pictured above with Presentable Joe, is an ALL-TIME favorite. He projects such attitude and always comes with hilarious, bull’s-eye punchlines. I still chuckle to the same verses I’ve heard a thousand times. We spoke some months back where he was full of stories about D.I.T.C., stories that shouldn’t be missed if you’re into small histories behind amazing records.
Our interview ran as a Record Rundown for Wax Poetics issue #35 and the remaining portions of the interview (in my opinion, the more interesting parts) were recently published over at Wax Poetics’ site. You can read it in its entirety HERE.
Also, here’s one of the best battles ever: Finesse and Percee P from ’89. The footage is grainy, but both wreck shop. Ness slays it in part 2… (more…)
DJ Platurn took Nu-Mark’s version of “Imagine” and blended it with Dennis Edwards’ “Don’t Look Any Further”. He spliced together their videos too. The Dennis Edwards footage alone is awesome! Good work homie! Follow Platurn’s whereabouts and musings over at Rings of Platurn.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD “IMAGINE NOT LOOKING ANY FURTHER (PLATURN BLEND)”
Real talk: I wrote about The California Music Project a while back and their efforts to stop the decline of music education in schools. It’s a huge struggle to keep music alive in classrooms, especially due to California’s budget issues, NCLB and the tug-of-war for funds between athletics and the arts. Dr. Diana Hollinger, the main catalyst for the project, will be live on public radio today at 10AM (PST) to speak on this arduous process of sustaining music and art in our public schools. You can listen to it here: KPBS RADIO (streaming replays available).
To learn more about CMP, help or contact, please visit its website.
D.R. Hooker – “Forge Your Own Chains”
The Strangers – “Two To Make A Pair”
From start to finish, Now-Again’s new comp Forge Your Own Chains enthralls you with 15 psych-sodden tracks. Besides a song or two that were reissued already, the rest are from records that were culled from all over; Sweden to Nigeria, Colombia to Iran, these songs incorporate screams and shouts, fuzz, funk, folk, and weird touches of improvisation. It was a global era (1968-74) where artists sought to sound different and it showed in their music. Forge… comes with detailed liner notes (written by Egon) that respectfully contextualize the tracks and its makers. To hear and learn more about the project, visit Now-Again’s site. Dig the snippets above—the project comes out in a couple weeks.
Black Dynamite, Scott Sanders’ new hilarious spoof on the Blaxploitation film genre, is currently playing in limited runs across the country (to stellar reviews) so click HERE and request to see it in your area. PLUS, the film has two—that’s right, TWO—accompanying soundtracks! The original score and the soundtrack itself are available now.
To score FREE COPIES OF BOTH SOUNDTRACKS just send an email wth your name to NERDTORIOUS@gmail.com with “Black Dynamite Contest” in the subject. Winners will be chosen at random from all entries received. The contest ends in one week, November 9th ’09…SPREAD THE WORD…ENTER NOW!
CONTEST HAS ENDED…THANKS FOR ALL THE ENTRIES…WINNER ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK!
Filed under: Random | Tags: keith thornton, kool keith, ultramagnetic mcs, wax poetics
Me: You’ve worked with so many different producers through the years. How have those experiences struck you?
Kool Keith: If you just got off the plane from 42nd Street with crazy people yelling at you, and bums on the streets, and piss-filled elevators, and people upset, and traffic, and all that mess, your style isn’t gonna mesh with a producer who’s from a sunny meadow… they made the beats in their beautiful backyard, with a horse in their garden and poodles running around… I don’t want to rap over a fluffy beat from a producer who just picked flowers from his garden.
Read the rest of this new piece I did with Kool Keith on the recently relaunched Wax Po site.
