Vibes4YourSoul

V4YS Ep Review - Mecca:83 - D A Y B R E A K (Solar Sounds Music)

2012-02-01T19:57:00.002+01:00

Manchester-based producer Mecca:83 has a real talent for designing underground instrumental hip-hop with a soulful edge.

His Life Sketches EP's, released last year on his own label Solar Sounds, are remarkable bridges between "Jay-Dillesque" jazzy beats and futuristic sounds reminiscent of the current Californian abstract beats scene (think Flying-Lotus and all).
His other project, Rise, and its associated 2011 LP Messages on Futuristica Music, is a beautiful soothing trip blending shades of spiritual jazz with deep handcrafted beats.

Mecca:83 is now back on Solar Sounds Music with D A Y B R E A K, a new EP he wrote during a 24h-long beatmaking session with his inseparable friends : his laptop, his Akai MPC and a bunch of great old-school records, source of the multiple samples he keeps digging out.
A perfect summary of his artistic approach, this new EP blends groovy rythmic frames with warm sound textures where you'll enjoy wrapping and losing yourself, surrended by a myriad of beautiful keyboards/piano melodies and funky instrumental and vocal samples.

Check it out by yourself with the streaming below taken from his label's bancamp page where you'll also find his previous productions.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://solarsoundsystem.bandcamp.com/album/d-a-y-b-r-e-a-k"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;D A Y B R E A K by Mecca:83&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Retrouvez cette chronique en français sur le site WeGoFunk !

V4YS Album Review - Portico Quartet - Portico Quartet (Real World Records)

2012-01-30T21:28:00.003+01:00

Portico Quartet are back with a self-titled groundbreaking new LP, out on Peter Gabriel's Real World label.

Sincetheir beginnings in 2007 the London-based band has been associated with a mysterious nu-jazz signature sounding like no other. One of the reason is their mastering of the Hang a relatively unknown percussion instrument created 10 years ago in Switzerland and carring in some way an exotic caribbean drums flava. But their originality also liesin their ability to blend many influences into their music, reflecting their immersion into a bubbling London scene forbidding barriers between jazz, electro, broken beats or indie rock's worlds.

If the quartet line-up haschanged with pianist Kier Vine replacing percussionist Nick Mulvey, the most important turn this time is the appearance of an electronic/digital dimension into their work.

This evolution hasn't been planned, it rather happened as a natural process that started on stage while touring following the release of their second LP Isla.
Sound effects, loops, samples slowly butsurely appeared on these accoustic musicians's arsenal. One thing leading to another, these digital add-ons stimulated the band's creativity and became a major asset when they started to work on this third album.

As a telling example, their work on the "Hang" : if it is still present on this record, it is almost as a new instrument. Not recorded live anymore, it was mainly used through finely reworked samples, creating a totally different sound. More generally, besides the digital gimmicks, even the rythmic structure of several tracks borrows fromthe electro world with deep and regular drums and double-bass lines often reminiscent of the deep techno universe.

All in all here is another splendid effort by the quartet. A truly fascinating tribal feeling emanates from this record, as if jazz and trance were quietly dating to naturally end up getting married during a peaceful ceremony. Notto be missed live during their forthcoming european tour where the record should take all its dimension !

Below an extract, Spinner, as well as a little "making-of" video of the LP :

Retrouvez cette chronique en français sur le site WeGoFunk !

V4YS Concert Review - Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra) - Live at Sunset Jazz Club, Paris - 26/01/12

2012-01-28T13:08:00.001+01:00

Stuart McCallum

Laurent Robin

Best known for his pillar status in Jason Swinscoe's Cinematic Orchestra, StuartMcCallum is also pursuing an exciting solo career.

Last Novemberwe reviewed his brillant second LP, Distilled, which he presented live in Paris this week ona trio format (Laurent Robin on drums, Pete Turner on double-bass) in the cosy Sunset JazzClub.

On a cinematic-like ethereal frame made of beautiful synths and strings layers played by his laptop, theguitarist offered a a true moment of grace during two 45-mn long sets mainly focusing on the recent album.

Pete Turner

Perfectly supported by a rythmic section where I particularly enjoyed Laurent Robin's style, conveying both power and strength as well as delicacy and sweetness, Stuart once again proved he currently belongs to the most groundbreaking nu-jazz musicians of our time.

Icing on the cake, he confirmed me that a brand new Cinematic Orchestra album is almost written. Depending on the individual band members busy schedule, it should probably be recorded on Ninja Tune before the end of the year. It will feature singer Heidi Vogel and a new male vocalist as well.

Please find below two video extracts of this concert, Inflight and La Cigale, both featuring on the LP Distilled :

Retrouvez cette review en français sur le site WeGoFunk !

V4YS Concert Review - Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards - Koko, London - 210112

2012-01-23T21:30:00.000+01:00

Nowalmost an institution, Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards party gathers everylate January an astonishing host of independent artists and labels who make the bread and butter of his legendary radio show on BBC1.
Taking place for a second time in a row in Camden's baroque theater Koko, the eveningexceeded once again all my expectations.
If itwould be too long to come back on each and every amazing live performance that took placeduring the we (including friday's great warm-up party at XOYO), let's at leastfocus on some of my favorite moments !

Les lecteurs francophones peuvent retrouver cette review en français sur le site WeGoFunk.

Michael Kiwanuka :
His debut LP to be relased very soon will surely be one of 2012's musical highlights. In themeantime british soul/folk artist Michael Kiwanuka keeps affirming himself notonly as a brillant songwriter but also as a remarkable live performer.
Offeringa shortened version of the live set he currently performs all around Europe (see here a full broadcast of his recent Rennes Transmusicales festivalconcert) he mesmerized the audience with his sensitive singing.
His band provides a perfect frame for his acoustic guitar with a special mention tothe impact of live percussions (congas, bongos) that give an exotic "world-soul" flava to the ensemble.

Please find below a couple of videos extracts, first his songs Out There Alone and I Need Your Company, then a sweet cover ofBill Withers's song I Don't Know :

Thundercat feat. Austin Peralta :

A phenomenal 6-strings bass player as well as an outstanding singer andproducer, Thundercat perfectly symbolizes a futuristic groove scenethat has been blooming for the last few years in California.
His first LP TheGolden Age Of Apocalypse was definitely one of 2011 most groundbreaking productions,fitting perfectly on Flying Lotus's ambitious Brainfeeder label. Playing live for the first time in the Uk, he delivered a spiffy show helped by several world-class artists like 21-year old pianist Austin Peralta (whose first three jazz albums are all must-have), singer Andreya Triana (famous for her multiple collaborations with Bonobo) or singer Heidi Vogel fromCinematic Orchestra.

Catch a glimpse of it with the videos extracts below, For Love I Come and Seasons :

The Pyramids :
As he likes to describe it, Gilles Peterson's worldwide radio show consistently joins the dots between many musical worlds. But it also bridges the generational gaps by constantly mixing brand new productions with old-school sounds that are a part of our musical heritage.
Illustrating this approach his idea to invite legendary spiritual/afro jazz band The Pyramids to perform during the evening in anticipation of the release of a new album in te coming months.
Led by their charismatic founder Idris Ackamoor the band offered a priceless spiritual moment and demonstrated how timeless their early 70's work are.

Below an extract of their classic track Memory Ritual with a phenomenal sax solo from Mr Ackamoor :

BadBadNotGood :

A few weeks ago I highlighted here the first self-produced Ep from this veryyoung canadian trio. Blending a groovy nu-jazz sound with live hip-hop-inspireddrums their sound recalls many treats we enjoy (from Jay Dilla to the Robert Glasper Experiment..).
Seemingly very happy to be offered the opportunity to play for the first time in Europe, the trio confirmed through their enthusiastic and energetic sets at XOYO on friday and Koko on saturday that they are a name to watch in coming months.
Below an extract from their XOYO gig :

Next to these jazz/soul/beats live acts, the uk electro scene was very much in focus.
Among the highlights a very convincing live act from Sbtrkt and Sampha whose 2011 self-titled LP definitely is one of my favorite 2011 records. Adding live drums and percussions to their deep dubstep songs is a tasty soulful recipe. Such was the beautiful song performed with the support of Little Dragon's singer Yukimi Nagano.
Finally I can't end this post without mentionning the stunning slo-mo house DJ set by Julio Bashmore who definitely is becoming a cornerstone of the current underground house scene.

I was about to forget, some awards were given by Gilles during the evening...but who cares won what right? The real winner of the night was Music with a capital M !
That's it for this year. If you now (hopefully) wish you had come to this amazing night I strongly suggest you contemplate visiting the Worldwide Festival that will take place the first week of July in Sète (south of France). The line-up should be as good !

Thanks again to Gilles, Peggy, LeFtO and all the crew at Brownswood/Bbc for setting up this amazing night of music !

V4YS Selection#17 - (Always) In The Mood For Folk

2012-01-17T23:35:00.001+01:00

From time to time I enjoy departing from the blog's regular jazz/groove/electro focus to share with you some soothing folkish sounds that I also enjoy digging.
So welcome to (Always) In the mood For Folk which is our third folk-oriented podcast (find the first two here and here).
Gathering several overlooked gems dating back from the hippy 70's or recently released by artists from the contemporary underground scene, the podcast reflects various shades of folk music from classic indie flavas to soul and world-music influenced tracks.

I hope you'll enjoy it !

Please find below the tracklisting, track-by-track streaming, podcast format stream and dwnld link.

Tracklisting :
Batteaux - Living's Worth Loving
Ned Doheny - Get It Up For Love (3'06'')
Better Daze - Golden Brown (The Stranglers cover) (8'06'')
Lani Hall - Love Song (12'27'')
And The Giraffe - Welshrats (15'12'')
Loch Lomond - Water Bells (18'14'')
Broken Social Scene - Let's Get Out Of Here (Live) (20'25'')
Map Of Africa - Bone (24'29'')
Stuart McCallum - Inflight (28'10'')
Patrice - Nile (34'44'')
Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabaté - Queen Bee (39'58'')
David Crosby - Song With No Words (44'59'')

De temps à autre j'aime à départir un peu du focus jazz/groove/electro qui caractérise ce blog pour partager avec vous quelques unes de mes découvertes indie/folk, univers musical qui fait aussi partie intégrante de ma vie.
Voici donc (Always) In the mood For Folk troisième podcast entièrement consacré à la musique folk sous toutes ses formes (retrouvez si vous le souhaitez les deux premiers épisodes ici and ici).
Rassemblant quelques perles souvent injustement oubliées cette balade vous fera voyager dans le temps, depuis les "hippy" seventies jusqu'à notre époque digitale. Depuis des sonorités folk classiques à des titres ou les influences soul voir world pointent le bout de leur nez, j'espère que la sélection vous plaira !

Tracklisting, streaming et downlad link ci-dessus.

First extract from Quantic & Alice Russell forthcoming LP - "Look Around The Corner"

2012-01-16T18:50:00.002+01:00

Next April the outstanding UK label Tru Thoughts will release the highly anticipated first collaborative LP of two heavyweight artists of the modern soul/funk scene : musician/producer Quantic (aka Will Holland) and british singer Alice Russell.
With the help of Quantic's south-american band The Combo Barbaro with whom he recorded his reference 2010 latin-soul LP Tradition In Transition, the duo has been working from Cali, Columbia where Will has been living for the last 3 years.
As an appetizer the label is offering a first promessing soulful extract titled Look Around The Corner. Enjoy !

Voici un bien joli cadeau offert par l'incontournable label anglais Tru Thoughts avec la mise en ligne d'un premier extrait du premier album associant deux des poids lourds de la scène nu-funk actuelle : Quantic (aka Will Holland) et Alice Russell.
Le disque, qui sortira en Avril prochain, a été enregistré dans le home studio de Will à Cali en Colombie avec l'aide de son groupe sud-américain le Combo Barbaro qu'il nous avait fait découvrir en 2010 avec son excellent album latin-soul Tradition In Transition.
Une tournée européenne suivra au printemps, en attendant voici donc Look Around The Corner, petite sucrerie soul prometteuse!

V4YS Ep Review - Don Da Done - Nébuleuse(s) Ep

2012-01-07T23:19:00.000+01:00

For the last 10 years underground French Hip-Hop has been struggling to live up to the high standards set up in the 90's by now legendary groups like IAM, NTM, early MC Solaar/Jimmy Jay, Soon-E-MC etc...

Still, off and on, green shoots are erratically blossoming out thanks to underground artists trying to innovate while making a point of honour and principle to keep on writing and singing their texts in French.
Today I wanted to mention one of those courageous warriors, Normandy-based producer and MC Don Da None, who just self-released a very interesting Ep titled Nébuleuse(s) ("nebulous" in english).

Nébuleuse(s) is first and foremost a remarkable piece of trip-hop/abstract beats music.
Through its heavy bass layers, its very slow tempo and its kaleidoscope of jazzy samples, the record conveys a fascinating dark and melancolic atmosphere. Not only a "rapper" per se, Don Da None is a complete artist putting as much emphasis on music that he does on words. It contrasts sharply with the average commercial french rap production that too often offers only a meager handful of basic loops as a rythmic support for an overrated MC to deliver his empty speech.
Talking about words, no politically-consicous message in this Ep, rather a poetic journey delivered through a deep tone and a calm flow. As a long-time IAM fan I cannot help but think of the band main MC, Akhenaton, while listening to Don Da None vocal style.

So let's sum-up : an ambitious and remarkably produced sound, subtle lyrics, well everything I wish the french hip-hop scene could offer us more often. Let's hope 2012 will bring more of it!

Give it a go with his bancamp page streaming link below :

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://dondanone.bandcamp.com/album/n-buleuse-s"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;NÉBULEUSE(s) by Don Da None&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Retrouvez cette review en français sur le site WeGoFunk.

Robert Glasper Experiment - extracts from forthcoming LP "Black Radio"

2012-01-05T22:15:00.008+01:00

Robert Glasper Experiment new LP's Black Radio is the record I'm most eagerly waiting for on this new year.
Featuring Robert's inseperable mates Chris Dave (drums), Derrick Hodges (bass) and Casey Benjamin (sax, vocoder) it should offer another round of jazz/groove/hip-hop fusion with an impressive line-up of guest singers such as Eryka Badu, Bilal or the amazing trio King.
It will be released on February 28th but in the meantime a few tracks are already available for listen on the web.
Below you'll find a remarkable cover of Mongo Santamaria's classic tune Afro-Blue (also made famous by John Coltrane's version) featuring Eryka Badu and a sweet nu-soul cut titled Move Love where soul trio King is at its best.

Le nouvel album du Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio est sans aucun doute le disque que j'attends le plus impatiemment en ce début 2012.
Toujours entouré de ses inséparables compères Chris Dave (drums), Derrick Hodges (bass) and Casey Benjamin (sax, vocoder), Robert s'est offert pour l'occasion une impressionnante pléiade de guests singers comme Eryka Badu, Bilal ou encore le superbe trio de chanteuses King révélé l'an passé.
Le disque sortira le 28 février prochain mais on trouve d'ores-et-déjà sur la toile quelques extraits comme les deux titres présentés en streaming ci-dessus. Le premier, Afro-Blue est une remarquable cover d'un classique jazz de Mongo Santamaria repris plus tard par John Coltrane. Le second Move Love est une perle jazz/soul ou l'on appréciera les voix chaleureuses du trio King.

Vibes4YourSoul 2012 Greetings!

2012-01-01T15:47:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

let me wish you all a fantastic new musical year !

May 2012 enchant us through groundbreaking productions, breathtaking live shows and many great unforeseen sounds.

For a third year in a row on Vibes4YourSoul, I'll do my best to share with you my musical discoveries to help promote the eclectic underground sounds I keep on digging.

Records and live shows reviews, regular podcasts and mixes as well as special reports on various musical topics, I'll try to update you as often as i can.

I hope you'll keep on enjoying the blog and am more than happy to receive your suggestions and comments to keep on improving it !

Yours musically,

JM / Vibes4YourSoul

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bonjour à tous,
laissez-moi vous souhaiter une très belle nouvelle année musicale !
Puisse 2012 apporter son lot de productions épatantes, de concerts enflammés et d'émotions sonores en tout genre.
Pour une troisième année consécutive sur Vibes4YourSoul, je ferai de mon mieux pour partager avec vous mes nombreuses découvertes musicales et ainsi promouvoir les artistes et producteurs indépendants qui ne cessent de m'émouvoir.
Chroniques de disques ou de concerts, podcasts et mixes réguliers, articles sur des évènements musicaux particuliers, j'essaierai d'animer le blog aussi souvent que possible.
Si vous êtes un lecteur francophone régulier vous aurez remarqué la collaboration débutée il y a quelques mois avec le site WeGoFunk, celle-ci continuera et la version française d'une partie des articles du blog sera ainsi publié en exclusivité sur le webzine.
J'espère que le blog continuera à vous plaire, je suis évidemment toujours à l'affût de vos suggestions ou commentaires pour l'améliorer, l'enrichir ou réfléchir à des idées de partenariats et développements.

Musicalement votre,

JM / Vibes4YourSoul

V4YS 2011 Favorites Special Mix (deep house, electro, dubstep)

2011-12-19T20:37:00.001+01:00

Following our 2011 favorite records review, here is a special mix focusing exclusively on some of our house, electro and dubstep picks.

You'll find below the tracklisting as well as streaming and dwnload links.

Hope you enjoy it !

Tracklisting :
FaltyDL - Mean Streets
Mic Newman - The Fidelity (3'58'')
Julio Bashmore - Batty Knee Dance (10'12'')
Homework - Whipped Cream (14'25'')
Dauwd - Ikopol (19'33'')
Bop - Sunrain (23'45'')
Dj Rum - Turiya (28'05'')
Lana Del Rey - Video Games (Joy Orbison Remix) (32'20'')
Jacques Greene - The Look (Koreless Remix) (36'04'')
Jacques Greene - Another Girl (39'09'')
Omar-S - I Come Over (44'48'')
Sbtrkt - Pharaohs (46'31'')
Julio Bashmore - Battle For Middle You (50'00'')
Machinedrum - Lay Me Down (55'10'')
Floating Points - Myrtle Avenue (59'24'')

V4YS 2011 Favorites Special Podcast (Jazz, Folk, Downtempo, Broken Beats)

2011-12-18T20:47:00.001+01:00

Subsequent to our 2011 Favorite Records post, here is a special podcast focusing on our 2011 jazz, soul, folk & broken beats picks.
It will soon be followed by a mix focusing exclusively on our favorites 2011 electro, house &dubstep sounds.

Please find below the tracklisting as well as a track-by-track streaming and a podcast format straming & download link.

Enjoy !

Tracklisting :
Matthew Halsall - The Move
Michael Kiwanuka - Tell Me A Tale
Amy Winehouse Feat. Nas - Like Smoke
Evidence - You
Jesse Futerman - Black Is The Colour
James Blake - Wilhelms Scream
Bop - The End Is The Beginnig (With Jalex)
Shlohmo - Places
Gang Colours - In Your Gut Like A Knife
Submotion Orchestra - Always
1000names - Paper Trip
Lucas Santtana - Who Can Say Which Say
Bon Iver - Holocene
Loch Lomond - Water Bells
Fatoumata Diawara - Kanou
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - African Soldiers
Owiny Sigoma Band - Margaret Okudo (Dub)
Robert Mitchell 3io - Alberto Balsam

Vibes4YourSoul 2011 Favorite Records

2011-12-11T18:57:00.001+01:00

From jazz to afrobeat, from folk to dubstep, from abstract beats to house, from London to Bahia, from Paris to Saint-Petersburg, welcome to Vibes4YourSoul 2011 Favorite Records selection !
I hope you'll enjoy this year's picks and that they'll have you discover or rediscover some of the artists who I believe made a big difference in 2011.
A couple of special 2011 podcasts & mixes will follow soon!

Du jazz à l'afrobeat, du folk au dubstep, de l'abstract beats à la house, de Londres à Bahia, de Paris à Saint-Petersbourg, voici venu le temps de mon désormais habituel petit bilan musical annuel.
J'espère que cette sélection Vibes4YourSoul 2011 vous plaira et vous fera découvrir ou redécouvrir des disques et des artistes qui ont selon moi marqué cette année !
Deux podcasts/mixs spéciaux suivront très bientôt pour l'illustrer.

------------------------PART1 - ALBUMS / LPs------------------------

JAMES BLAKE - JAMES BLAKE
Atlas Records

In 2010 we discovered a talented producer through a series of ground-breaking EPs pushing forward the amazing new frontier of uk dubstep/post-dubstep world. This year James Blake more than confirmed all the hopes and (much deserved) hype surrounding him with the release of his first LP.
Embracing what I would call a “futuristic folk” direction, the remarkable feature of this record is his ambitiousvocal work that fits nicely with the deep bass layers and piano/keyboards melodies. On top of his pure and somewhatandrogynous voice, his mastering of vocals effects and filters techniques adds a misterious touch to one of the most groundbreaking record of the year.

Below The Wilhelm Scream :

Après une série de maxis remarqués en 2009/2010, le buzz autour de James Blake est allé en s'amplifiant tant son univers post-dubstep/downtempo ne ressemble à aucun autre. Le jeune artiste britannique a plus que confirmé ces attentes en 2011 avec la sortie d'un superbe premier album éponyme qui révèle une nouvelle façette de son talent : le chant.
Inventant une sorte de folk futuriste fait de lourdes nappes de basses et de mélodies au piano/keyboard, il y pose désormais des vocals émouvants. Sa voix androgyne transcendée par sa maîtrise des techniques d'effets et filtres numériques fait de ce disque l'un des plus novateurs de l'année.

LUCAS SANTTANA - SEM NOSTALGIA
Mais Um Discos Records

Bahia-based Lucas Santtana is a fascinating musician able to design exotic musical atmospheres only combining his guitars, voice and creative use of a myriad of strings samples.
His fourth LP Sem Nostalgia can already be considered as a reference record of the nu-Brazilian scene alongside the best productions of artists like Seu Jorge, Vinicius Cantuaria or Clara Moreno.
Gathering modern bossa tunes, eccentric samba/soul songs and experimental instrumental tracks, the album is a phenomenal kaleidoscope of sounds and colours.
Probably a great symbol of a country that truly is on the move.

Below Super Violao Mashup :

Utilisant seulement la guitare et la voix en leur adoubant une myriade d'effets sonores, le musicien originaire de Bahia Lucas Santtana publie avec Sem Nostalgia un disque d'ores-et-déjà devenu une référence de la scène "nu-brazil" au même titre que les meileures productions d'artistes comme Seu Jorge, Vinicius Cantuaria ou Clara Moreno.
Morceaux de bossa futuriste, chansons plus samba/soul parfois chantés en anglais, titres instrumentaux ou d'innombrables samples de guitares forment un kaléidoscope sonore subjuguant, Sem Nostalgia est un album rare qui symbolise sans doute un peu à sa manière un pays en pleine mutation.

LOCH LOMOND - LITTLE ME WILL START A STORM
Chemikal Underground Records

Led by the stunning singing talent of Ritchie Young, who can be as touching and fragile when he's on soprano mode than energetic or mournful when he moves on to his bass side, Loch Lomond is an american sextet based in Portland, Oregon. If acoustic guitars and vocals-led melodies are at the heart of its songs, the omnipresence of violins and several less traditional instruments like banjo, ukulele or melodica characterizes its "chamber folk" which also carries a delicate celtic scent.
Alternating between beautiful symphonic-like orchestrations, more regular folksy tracks and lighter moments Little Me Will Start A Storm is a short album filled with the right kind of melancholic vibrations. The ones that make you pause, reflect and move forward.

Below Elephants & Little Girls :

Emmené par la voix incroyable de Ritchie Young, aussi fragile lorsqu'il investit la gamme des aigus que puissant lorsqu'il descend dans les graves, Loch Lomond est un sextet folk américain à la richesse instrumentale rare.
Si les guitares et le chant sont au coeur de leurs morceaux, l'omniprésence des violons et d'une gamme d'instruments inhabituels (ukulélé, banjo, mélodica...) caractérise leur "folk en chambre" qui possède aussi une subtile influence celtique.
Alternant les orchestrations quasi-symphoniques, les passages folk plus classiques mais aussi quelques moments presque indie-rock, Little Me Will Start A Storm voit la mélancolie du bon côté. De celui qui vous fait faire une pause, contempler le chemin parcouru avant de repartir de l'avant.

SEUN KUTI - FROM AFRICA WITH FURY: RISE

Knitting Factory Records
Almost 3 years ago Seun Kuti knocked-out by surprise many afrobeat fans with his first album Many Things recorded with his father legendary band, Egypt 80. From Africa With Fury: Rise, his second LP, is another essential production bringing together afrobeat best recipe : a ferocious message supported by ferocious afro-grooves.
In a year that saw several African countries courageously stand up against outdated regimes, Kuti's family scream denouncing dictatorships, corruption, natural resources over-exploitation…has never resonated so loudly.
To be true, the message would not resonate so fiercely without the beats!
Infectious rythmic frames, raging horns, powerful choirs, it's almost impossible to stand still listening to this musical hurricane. Fela used to say that "Music will be the weapon of the future". With From Africa With Fury: Rise, his son Seun once again makes the prediction self-fulfilling.

Below African Soldiers :

Il y a 3 ans son premier album Many Things enregistré avec l’orchestre légendaire de son père Egypt 80, fut un véritable coup de tonnerre pour la plupart des fans d’afrobeat.
From Africa With Fury: Rise n'est pas en reste. Véritable uppercut afrobeat, il rassemble les ingrédients de base du genre : un message sans concession servi par un afro-groove incandescent.
En une année 2011 historique qui a vu plusieurs peuples du continent africain se lever courageusement contre des régimes autoritaires d'un autre temps, le cri de rage la famille Kuti dénonçant pêle-mêle dictature, corruption, surexploitation des ressources naturelles n'a jamais résonné aussi fort. Mais le discours ne porterait évidemment pas autant sans les beats!
Rythmiques terribles, cuivres surchauffés, choeurs surpuissants, essayez-donc de rester en place en écoutant ce disque...
Fela disait souvent que "la musique sera l'arme du futur", son plus jeune fils le prend une fois encore au mot !

MATTHEW HALSALL - ON THE GO

Gondwana Records
Since the release of his first record, Sending My Love, in 2008, Manchester-based trumpeter Matthew Halsall has developped a sound of his own brillantly bridging classic and "nu" jazz.
Backed by a remarkable rythmic section (drums, bass, piano) and occasionnally entering hypnotic dialogs with Nat Birchall's saxophones and Rachael Gladwin' harp, his graceful trumpet once again spreads deep waves of emotions in this third LP.
It's probably not a coincidence that two songs titles borrow some Buddhist terminology. If meditation is one of the first word that comes to mind when mentioning this religion, it works as well when one listens to Matthew's work. Spiritual jazz with a soulful edge!

Below The Move :

Depuis la sortie de son premier disque en 2008 (Sending My Love) le trompettiste mancunien Matthew Halsall s'est forgé une solide réputation en inventant un son bien à lui faisant aussi bien écho au jazz des années 50/60 qu'au nu-jazz actuel. Accompagné une fois encore pour ce troisième album d'une remarquable section rythmique (batterie, basse, piano, sax, harpe), la trompette gracieuse d'Halsall est une source inépuisable d'émotions.
Ce n'est d'ailleurs sans doute pas une coincidence de voir deux des titres du disque emprunter à la terminologie bouddhiste. Si le terme "méditation" est l'un des premiers qui vient à l'esprit lorsqu'on évoque cette religion, c'est aussi une action à laquelle on se prête volontiers en écoutant Matthew.
Du jazz spirituel à l'accent soulful!

BOP - THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF ONE CURIOUS PIXEL

Med School Records
Blending shades of minimal house, deep dubstep and groovy abstract beats, The Amazing Adventures Of One Curious Pixel from Russian producer Bop is an almost perfect example of how today's electro scene is moving beyond the usual "styles" barriers.
Master in the art of polishing a myriad of synths layers, oscillating between dancefloor-proof dubstep anthems and more cerebral tracks, Bop has designed a warm and cosy world bringing to mind lots of high-profile references (Gold Panda, Mount Kimbie, James Blake...).

Below I Need You (Bop remix for Subwave) :

Mixant des sonorités house, deep dubstep et abstract beats, The amazing adventures of one curious pixel du jeune producteur russe Bop résume à lui tout seul l'effacement des frontières dans l'univers electro.
Superposant à l'envie une multitude de nappes de synthés sur un cadre rythmique de haute précision, alternant les hymnes dacefloor à des morceaux plus cérébraux, Bop nous offre un refuge à la fois chaleureux et mystérieux qui évoque une filiation de grande qualité (Gold Panda, Mount Kimbie, James Blake...).

SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA - FINEST HOUR

Exceptional Records
Submotion Orchestra is a Leeds-based combo featuring 7 outstanding Uk musicians blending a delicate nu-jazz sound with a hypnotic dub/dubstep-influenced rythmic background.
A kind of marriage between Cinematic Orchestra and early Massive Attack, their first LP Finest Hour is a moment of grace truly taking off when their singer Ruby Wood's bewitching soulful voice enters the stage.

Below Always :

Submotion Orchestra est un combo britannique né en 2009 à Leeds associant un son nu-jazz délicat à une rythmique hypnotique aux accents trip-hop et drum&bass.
Sorte de mariage entre Cinematic Orchestra et le Massive Attack des premières heures, leur premier album Finest Hour est un petit bijou qui prend toute son ampleur lorsque rentre en scène la voix envoûtante et soulful de leur chanteuse Ruby Wood.

BON IVER - BON IVER, BON IVER

Jagjaguwar Records
Three years after his mastyerpiece For Emma, Forever Ago, Bon Iver finally decided to offer us more of his knack for writing beautiful folk melodies. Simply titled Bon Iver, Bon Iver this sophomore LP carries a richer instrumentation and sounds definitely more "produced".
While its overall tone is also brighter than For Emma's one, the feeling of intimacy and melancholy remains while his falsetto voice still carries a healthy dose of emotions. As his girlfriend, singer Kathleen Edwards, summed it up in an interview, "You can place yourself inside his songs and his music, because he leaves space for you". So go for it and design your own Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

Below Holocene :

3 ans après la sortie de son chef d'oeuvre For Emma, Forever Ago Bon Iver a enfin décidé de nous offrir une nouvelle tranche de son immense talent.
Plus "produit", bénéficiant d'une orchestration plus riche, le ton d'ensemble de ce second album est un peu plus lumineux que celui de For Emma. On y retrouve néanmoins la plupart des ingrédients du premier opus : jolies mélodies folks, voix de fausset dont la sensibilité et la pureté sont magnifiées par l'ajout de subtils effets. La sensation diffuse d'intimité et de mélancolie est elle aussi toujours présente et finalement bien résumée par sa compagne, la chanteuse Kathleen Edwards, lorsqu'elle affirmait récemment dans une interview "Vous pouvez rentrer à l'intérieur de ses chansons et de sa musique car il vous laisse la place nécessaire pour que vous vous y installiez". C'est donc à vous de jouer et de laisser votre imagination dessiner les contours de votre propre Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

MACHINEDRUM - ROOM(S)

Planet Mu Records
Travis Stewart's first LP as Machinedrum is an ode to the art of electronic percussions.
Using the widest range of drums samples you may think of, he designs some fascinating beats going from dark and heavy drum&bass to delicate deep dubstep. In the end he effectively turns the rythmic backbone of his music into a kind of science. Add to that a myriad of phenomenal short vocal samples, reworked and autotuned to infinity, as well as various beautiful layers of synths and you get one of the most fascinating electronic music record of 2011.

Below Lay Me Down :

Le premier album de Travis Stewart avec sa casquette Machinedrum est une ode à l'art des percussions numériques.
Si l'on classera ce disque au rayon de la très active scène dubstep/bass anglo-saxonne, Travis innove par son travail poussé sur les beats en utilisant une variété de samples de batterie et percus qui dépasse l'entendement. A la clé des ambiances rythmiques époustouflantes habillées avec maestria par une pléthore de mini-samples vocaux auto-tunés à l'infini et de somptueuses nappes de synthés. L'un des disques électro les plus envoutants de l'année.

SHLOHMO - BAD VIBES

Friends Of Friends Records
With the release of his second album Bad Vibes LA-based producer Shlohmo (Henri Laufer) seems to have reached some kind of maturity.
A remarkable piece of downtempo/abstract beats music, this record is an invitation to a 1h-long cocooning trip. If his dreamy vocals, sharp drumming arrangements and various creative sound effects are all worth underlining, it is his work on electric and acoustic guitars that clearly stands out as his "magic touch". Sometimes folksy, sometimes ambiant and ethereal, they define the relaxing and soothing atmosphere emanating from the record.

Below Places :

Avec la sortie de son second album "Bad Vibes", le producteur californien Shlohmo (de son vrai nom Henri Laufer) semble avoir atteint une forme de maturité. A la clé 1h de vagabondages downtempo/abstract beats de grande qualité qui devraient ravir les fans du genre.
Si vocals, beats et multiples effets sonores finement ciselés font mouche, c'est avant tout sa façon d'utiliser guitares acoustiques et électriques qui constitue sa vraie "magic touch". Parfois planantes et enveloppantes, parfois presque folk, leur son raffiné est à la base de l'atmosphère apaisante d'un disque qui dégage beaucoup de poésie.

FATOUMATA DIAWARA - FATOU

World Circuit Records
An Ivory Coast/Malian actress & musician living in Paris, Fatoumata Diawara has been collaborating with several high-profile world lusic artists before embarking on her first solo project this year.

If the sound of Fatou is firmly rooted in her native African continent, it nevertheless also carries fragrances of soul/folk that makes it stand out from classic malian/world music productions.

Demonstrating both a remarkable songwriting and singing talent, Fatoumata made the choice of an uncluttered orchestration leaving centerstage to her subtle guitar playing and sweet percussions.

A highly-recommended first-class colourful afro-journey!

Below Kanou :

Actrice et musicienne aux origines ivoiro-maliennes vivant à Paris, Fatoumata Diawara a collaboré ces dernières années avec de nombreux artistes de renoms avant de lancer son projer solo.
Si son premier album Fatou est solidement ancré dans son Afrique natale, il contient néanmoins une note soul/folk qui le différencie des productions world music maliennes plus traditionnelles.
Dévoilant tous les attributs d'une musicienne accomplie (composition, interprétation, chant), Fatoumata a choisi une orchestration épurée qui fait la part belle aux percussions et à son jeu de guitare acoustique délicat. Un disque ensoleillé qui ne manquera pas de vous faire voyager.

SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Young Turks Records
If his first EPs in 2010 were mostly instrumental, the big evolution with Sbtrkt' first LP is the omnipresence of vocals provided by several guest singers, notably Sampha or Yukimi Nagano from Little Dragon. Adding a touch of pop to his dubstep-influenced beats their association with catching melodies provide a great entry point for newcomers to the delighfully chaotic world of uk bass music.
So if you're not necessarily into electro-pop or deep dubstep this record may be a good chance to get on board!

Below Pharaohs :

Si les premiers maxis du producteur electro britannique Sbtrkt étaient instrumentaux, son premier album fait la part belle aux vocals. Interprétés notamment par le chanteur Sampha et la muse japonaise du groupe Little Dragon, Yukimi Nagano, leur omniprésence associée à des mélodies accrocheuses rend ce disque particulièrement accessible pour ceux qui ne sont pas familiers de la scène dubstep.
Des titres harmonieux et efficaces comme Hold On ou Pharaohs font clairement partie des hymnes electro de l'année.

ROBERT MITCHELL 3IO - THE EMBRACE

3IO Records
An hyperactive uk pianist, Robert Mitchell keeps collaborating with a wide range of renewed artists while also finding the time to develop his own musical projects.
The Embrace is his second album under his "Robert Mitchell 3io" umbrella that he shares with drummer Richard Spaven (well known notabbly for his work with José James and Cinematic Orchestra but also for his outstanding 2010 solo album Spaven's 5ive) and double-bass player Tom Mason.
Halfway between nu-jazz per se and the groovy broken beats world this record is full of pleasant surprises. Fascinating covers of Aphex Twin or Little Dragon, beautiful piano melodies answering Richard Spaven's sometimes Dilla-like drummin lines, here is another undisputable evidence of the contemporary british Jazz Scene's radiant shape!

Below Alberto Balsam (Aphex Twin cover) :

Pianiste britannique hyperactif, Robert Mitchell collabore régulièrement avec une multitude d'artistes de renoms tout en mènant en parallèle plusisuers projets solo. The Embrace est le second album de son trio composé de l'excellent batteur Richard Spaven (qu'on connait notamment pour ses collaborations avec José James ou Cinematic Orchestra mais ausi son superbe premier album solo Spaven's 5ive) et du bassiste Tom Mason.
Covers épatantes de titres d'Aphex Twin ou de Little Dragon, compositions limpides voyant ses loops et mélodies de piano magnifiquement soutenues par la rythmique parfois presque "Jay-Dillesque" de Spaven et Mason, ce disque incontournable confirme une fois de plus la forme éclatante de la scène nu-jazz anglaise.

NICOLAS JAAR - SPACE IS ONLY NOISE

Circus Company Records
Like James Blake, Nicolas Jaar is only in his early twenties, but his name already rings a bell to many electro music fans who have been enjoying his first EPs, edits and remixes.
Space Is Only Noise, his first album is not a dancefloor-oriented record. Reminiscent in some way of early productions from Bugge Wesseltoft or Gotan Project, the LP's rythmic frame is based on minimal slo-mo beats and throbbing hip-hop vibes. Then come subtle jazzy piano, keyboard or guitar strings and the final touch, outstanding hypnotic vocals (whether his own deep voice or several movies dialog samples) that give this true "concept-album" a genuine pop flava.

Below Keep Me There :

Tout comme James Blake, Nicolas Jaar n'est pas inconnu des fans d'électro malgré son jeune âge tant ses premiers maxis, remixs ou edits ont séduit par leur subtilité et leur créativité.
Tranchant quelque peu avec ses premières productions son premier album Space Is Only Noise n'est pas orienté "dancefloor" en tant que tel. Brouillant délicieusement les pistes entre jazz, pop et électro, il rappelle par certains côtés le travail d'artistes comme Bugge Wesseltoft ou Gotan Project.
Construit sur un cadre rythmique alternant beats minimal house et downtempo/hip-hop, le disque regorge de superbes lignes de piano, keyboards ou guitares à la sonorité très jazzy. Viennent ensuite les vocaux hypnotiques réalisés par Nicolas lui-même ou issus de samples de vieux films qui donnent à ce vrai "concept-album" une touche pop inimitable.

AMY WINEHOUSE - LIONESS: HIDDEN TREASURES
Island Records

As a last symbolic wink from the singer who sadly passed away this year, Lioness: Hidden Treasures is a moving posthumous album orchestrated with a healthy dose of sensibility by producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi.
Covers, duos, demos from new tracks, new versions of older tracks, the 12 faultless songs comprised in this LP should definitely confirm Amy's place in the Soul Paradise.

Below Like Smoke (Feat. NAS) :

Ultime clin d'oeil de la chanteuse malheureusement disparue cette année, Lioness: Hidden Treasures est un album posthume émouvant orchestré avec beaucoup de sensibilité par le duo de producteurs Mark Ronson et Salaam Remi.
Covers, duos, nouveaux titres issus de démos studios ou nouvelles versions d'anciens morceaux, les 12 titres impeccables de l'album devraient définitivement ancrer le personnage Winehouse dans la légende de la scène Soul.

--------------------PART2 - EPs/Singles------------------

MICHAEL KIWANUKA - TELL ME A TALE EP

These last 4 or 5 years the "classic" soul scene (not to be confused wuth the "nu-soul" one, closer from the "R&B" space) has been blooming with new talents or rejuvenating forgotten glories from the 70's.
After the rebirth of artists like Lee Fields or Charles Bradley, the explosion of a new generation of singers like Alice Russel, Mayer Hawthorne or Aloe Blacc, 2011 saw the appearance of british songwriter Michael Kiwanuka.
Before the release of his first LP Home Again next March, his Ep Tell Me A Tale gave a dazzling glimpse of his talent. Writing beautiful soul ballads wih a folkish edge, his touching senstivity turns his songs into genuine little shelters where you'll enjoy hiding from the cold.
Below Tell Me A Tale :

Depuis quelques années la scène que je qualifierais de "classic" soul (par opposition à la "nu-soul" plus proche de la sphère R&B) n'a de cesse d'essaimer de nouveaux talents ou de réveiller d'anciennes gloires oubliées. Après la résurrection de Lee Fields ou de Charles Bradley, l'explosion d'Alice Russel, Mayer Hawthorne ou Aloe Blacc, 2011 a vu l'éclosion d'un jeune artiste anglais, Michael Kiwanuka.
Avant la sortie en mars prochain de son premier album Home Again, son maxi Tell Me A Tale a donné un aperçu éclatant de son talent de songwriter et de chanteur. Dans un registre mariant soul et folk il fait preuve d'une sensibilité rare. Ses chansons sont d'accueillants écrins dans lequel il fait bon se réfugier.

JESSE FUTERMAN - SUPER BASEMENT EP

Toronto-based beatmaker Jesse Futerman is not even 20 years-old but he has been developping his sampling and beatmaking skills since he was 15. A fan of Jazz & Soul also playing piano and trumpet, it's no surprise to see Super Basement, his brilliant first hip-hop Ep, full of groovy drum lines, piano, horns and vocals samples.
Get it for free on his bandcamp page!

Full streaming below :
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Le jeune beatmaker canadien Jesse Futerman n'a pas 20 ans mais produit beats et loops depuis ses 15 printemps. Elevé au biberon jazz/soul par des parents mélomanes, jouant aussi du piano et de la trompette, il n'est donc pas surprenant que son premier maxi Super Basement regorge de boucles de batterie et de samples de piano et de cuivres tous plus groovy les uns que les autres. Et comme une bonne nouvelle n'arrive jamais seule vous pouvez downloader ce petit bijou gratuitement sur sa page bandcamp !

JACQUES GREENE - ANOTHER GIRL EP & THE KING OF LIMBS Remixes EP

Staying in Canada but moving on to the electro scene, 2011 also was the take-off year for Montreal-based producer Jacques Greene.
First with Another Girl a deep dubstep gem subtly sampling vocals from Deuces, a rather average R&B track from Us-singer Ciara. Its obsessing chorus, addictive dubstep beats, and powerful synth lines are simply irresistible!
Then a participation in Radiohead latest album remixes project with one of the best track of the series, his rework of Lotus Flower.

Below Another Girl :

Retournons au Canada mais sur la côte electro. 2011 fut une année riche pour le producteur montréalais Jacques Greene. Il y eu tout d'abord Another Girl, une perle de deep dubstep qui emprunte ses imparables samples vocaux à un titre R&B US pourtant quelconque. Le talent de producteur de Greene fait le reste et nous offre cette petite bombe dont l'énergie est décuplée par l'ajout de nappes de synthé toutes plus enveloppantes les unes que les autres.
Vient ensuite une participation réussie à la série de remixes de l'excellent dernier album de Radiohead, The King Of Limbs. Son rework du morceau Lotus Flower étant clairement l'un des titres phares du projet.

SUZANNE KRAFT - GREEN FLASH EP

Produced by a previously unknown artist, Suzane Kraft (who actually is a man), Green Flash is a wonderful boogie/slo-mo house production offering all the required ingredients of the genre : soulful vocal samples, groovy basslines and deep and heavy beats. Turn up the bass and let it come, slowly but surely!

Below Morning Come :

Première production de Suzanne Kraft (qui s'avère être un garçon malgré le pseudo), artiste jusque-là totalement inconnu, Green Light est un remarquable maxi boogie/slo-mo house rassemblant tous les essentiels du style : samples vocaux chaleureux, lignes de basses groovy et beats aussi lourds qu'envoûtants. Pour un coup d'essai c'est un coup de maître!

LONG ARM - ORGANIC EP

Second release of Russian producer Long Arm for german label Project: Mooncircle, Organic is a collision between futuristic abstract beats andjazzy trip-hop sounds.
A kind of Bonobo meets Flying Lotus experience living up to the reputation of these high-profile references.

Below When We Fall (feat. Graciela Maria) :

Seconde sortie du producteur russe Long Arm pour le label berlinois Project: Mooncircle, Organic est un croisement entre un son abstract beats futuriste et un trip-hop jazzy plus classique. Une sorte de pic-nic improvisé entre Bonobo et Flying Lotus.
Sortez les couverts, le panier est bien garni!

THE REVENGE - REEKIN'STRUCTIONS

If you love groovy underground house and so-called "nudisco" sound, then you probably know Graeme Clark or one of his many different projects (The Revenge, Ooft, 6th Borough Project...).
His "Reekin'structions" LP/compilation is an outstanding snapshot of his re-editing talent.
Starting with a very interesting selection of rather overlooked 70s & 80s rare grooves, he manages to retain each track's original soulfulness while adding a subtle house touch by alternatively rejuvenating basslines, drums or synth layers. Editing with a capital E!
His other main release of the year, "One Night In The Borough" from 6th Borough Project is also a must-have for any slo-mo house fan.

Below his wonderful version of Letta Mbulu's afro-disco classic Kilimanjaro :

Si vous appréciez les sonorités nudisco alors vous connaissez certainement Graeme Clark ou tout du moins l'un de ses multiples alias (The Revenge, Ooft, 6th Borough Project...).
Son album/compilation Reekin'structions est un instantané de son talent pour re-editer des rares grooves parfois injustement oubliés. Conservant l'âme de chaque titre, il parvient à leur procurer un subtil lifting house en rafraîchissant ici une ligne de basse, là une break de batterie ou une nappe de keyboard. L'art de l'edit avec un grand E!
Soulignons aussi son autre principale production de l'année, One Night In The Borough sous sa casquette du 6th Borough Project, qui ravira les fans de slo-mo house.

GANG COLOURS - IN YOUR GUT LIKE A KNIFE EP
Brownswood Recordings
Southampton-based producer Gang Colours's (aka Will Ozanne) first EP is symbolic of the current Uk electro scene's creativity. In Your Gut Like A Knife has house, dubstep and abstract beats answering each other in a subtle deluge of unexpected sounds and samples.
It clearly is another brick in a Uk bass-culture building that keeps adding new groundbreaking storeys.
The sky is the limit they say. Are they so sure?
Below EP sampler :

Le premier maxi du producteur anglais Gang Colours (aka Will Ozanne) symbolise à merveille la créativité sans borne de l'actuelle scène electro britannique. Dialogue déroutant entre rythmes house, dubstep ou abstract beats, ce maxi essaime aussi une multitude de sonorités et de samples aussi dépaysants qu'inattendus. Une jolie pierre de plus dans un édifice de la "Uk bass-culture" qui ne cesse de grandir!

JULIO BASHMORE
EVERYBODY NEEDS A THEME TUNE EP / RIFF WRATH EP / BATTY KNEE DANCE EP
Futureboogie records / PMR Records
One of the most interesting house producer in 2011, Julio Bashmore has kept on releasing great EPs and remixes throughout all year. Blending mid-tempo house rhythms with both a deep and soulful atmosphere his tracks are perfect to light up any warm-up session or late-night dancefloor landing.
Released either on his on Futureboogie or PMR records these 3 EPs are my favorite among all his great 2011 productions.

Below Battle For Middle You from the Everybody Needs A Theme Tune EP :

Une des révélations House de l'année le producteur anglais Julio Bashmore a enchainé en 2011 les maxis et remixs de grande qualité mariant des rythmiques mid-tempo planantes à une sonorité à la fois deep et soulful. Sortis sur les labels Futureboogie ou PMR Records, les trois maxis soulignés ici sont autant d'allumettes prêtes à allumer le warm-up de tout dancefloor qui se respecte.

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PEACE GO WITH YOU BROTHER GIL !

I cannot end this special 2011 post without saluting one of the greatest artists of these last 40 years, who is sadly gone this year.

A man who has had a tremendous influence on jazz, blues, soul, funk and hip-hop music.

A musician, a poet, a politically-conscious artist, a visionary.

In 2011 Gil Scott-Heron passed away so all I want to say is...Peace go with you, Brother Gil.

Below a video I took during his last show in Paris in 2010. His legendary Winter In America song :

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span 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class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br 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class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: 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p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
If you're interested you'll find here the special post and podcast I published last May as a humble tribute to Gil.

Je ne peux pas clôturer ce post special 2011 sans adresser un petit hommage à Gil Scott-Heron qui nous a quitté cette année. Il aura marqué le monde de son talent indélébile de musicien et de poête engagé. Nul doute que le jazz, le blues, la soul, le funk ou le hip-hop ne seraient pas ce qu'ils sont aujourd'hui sans son apport.
Peace Go With You Brother Gil !

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Please retrieve below our 2009 & 2010 selections as well :
Vibes4YourSoul 2010 Favorites !
Vibes4YourSoul 2009 Favorites !

V4YS Album Review - BadBadNotGood - BBNG

2011-12-10T10:54:00.001+01:00

Students in the jazz practice of Humber Toronto University , the three young musicians of Hip-Hop/jazz trio BadBadNotGood are starting to make a name for themselves following some quality mixtapes & music videos as well as several first parts shows like their performance introducing Roy Ayers concert at the Toronto NuJazz Festival last month.
Available for free on their Bandcamp page, their first demo-album BBNG carries a few great jazz/groove cuts cleraly reminiscent of artists like Jay Dilla or Robert Glasper's Experiment project. The band actually explicitely blinks at these two with a cover of Dilla's classic Fall In Love and an outro sampling a recent Robert Glasper interview. As you can expect when mentionning these kinds of references the demo is full of great Rhodes/Korg keyboards vibes supported by an extremely groovy drumming & bass rythmic frame.
If this self-produced recording obviously lacks a bit post-production effort, it nevertheless conveys a healthy dose of energy which is particularly promessing and makes them one of the young "jazz-hop" band in the making to follow in 2012.
Next projects may include some collaborations with MCs such as the recent live video recording of a track with rapper Tyler The Creator.

Below my favorite track, the super groovy The World Is Yours / Brooklyn Zoo :

Full album streming and download on their bandcamp page :
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Retrouvez cette chronique en français sur le site WeGoFunk !

Vibes4YourSoul special mix

2011-12-07T21:25:00.001+01:00

Here is a special disco/funk re-edits mix I cooked for my friends at Paris-based Wegofunk music site.
Only classics, only great producers mastering the art of re-editing soulful tunes, I hope you'll enjoy it!

Below streaming and tracklisting, dwnld link on request :

VIBES4YOURSOUL special WEGOFUNK mix#1 - Re-edits Fever by Wegofunk_Magazine on Mixcloud

Tracklisting :
Earth, Wind & Fire - Gazillina Rythm (Bozo Meko Edit)
Marvin Gaye - Heavy Love (The Revenge Rework) -2'59''
William Devaugn - Be Thankful For What You've Got (Onur Engin Edit) - 8'29''
Brenda Taylor - You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too (Greg Wilson Edit) - 14'50''
Plush - Free And Easy (Rayko Edit) - 23'20''
James Brown - Dead On It (U-Tern Diso Edit) - 28'30''
Julien Jabre & MC Mellow Dee - And You Dont Stop - 33'20''
Mr. Scruff - Get On Down - 37'41''
September - Are You Free Tonight (Superbreak Edit) - 42'40''
Howard Johnson - Say You Wanna (Pants Re-Edit) - 49'10''
The Whispers- Love In Me (Situation Edit) - 54'15''

Michael Kiwanuka - Live at Rennes Trans Musicales Festival (ArteLiveWeb)

2011-12-06T22:14:00.001+01:00

British singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka is one of 2011 best musical surprise.

Following the rebirth of old glories such as Lee Fields or Charles Bradley, the explosion of a host of younger talents such as Alice Russell, Mayer Hawthorne or Aloe Blacc, Michael seems like the next good candidate to join the who's who of a "classic" soul scene in full revival mode for the last 3 or 4 years.

The (always inspired) crew of ArteLiveWeb probably shares these thoughts as they had the brillant idea to record and broadcast Michael's concert this week in the french city of Rennes during the famous "Trans Musicales festival".

Full concert stream below (it will remain available on their site for a few weeks) :

Le jeune artiste anglais Michael Kiwanuka est à mes yeux l'une des révélations de cette année 2011. Après la résurrection des vieilles gloires comme Lee Fields ou Charles Bradley, l'explosion de nouveaux talents comme Alice Russell, Mayer Hawthorne ou Aloe Blacc, ce jeune songwriter qui doit sortir en Mars prochain son premier album intitulé Home Again a tout pour rejoindre le gotha d'une scène "classic" soul en plein renouveau depuis 3 ou 4 ans.
L'équipe d'ArteLiveWeb a eu l'excellente idée d'enregistrer son superbe live d'hier au festival des Trans Musicales de Rennes, profitez-en avec le streaming intégral ci-dessus, disponible sur leur site pour quelques semaines !

V4YS Album Review - Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

2011-11-28T18:22:00.001+01:00

Lioness: Hidden Treasures is the heavily awaited posthumous LP from Amy Winehouse to be released next week on the legendary label Island Records.
Producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi have been going through hours of studio material to finally pick 12 tracks under the supervision of the regretted singer's family.
If we already knew the splendid cover of jazz classic Body And Soul in duo with Tony Bennett which actually is the last "official" recording by Amy, the rest of the album is filled with new material.
We'll find covers of bossa classic The Girl From Ipanema and 70's songwriter Leon Russel's ballad A Song For You as well as several demo versions of new songs.

Judging by the outstanding extracts made available these last few days by the label, this record looks particularly promising! Check it out by yourself with the streamings below.
First Our Day Will Come, a beautiful reggae/soul song reminiscent of Jamaican reggae queens from the late 60s/early70s, then Like Smoke where rapper Nas adds some great tribute lyrics on top of a classic Amy Winehouse-style soul song.

Retrouvez cet article en français sur le site Wegofunk!

V4YS Ep Review - Floating Points - Windows Ep (Eglo Records)

2011-11-25T21:31:00.001+01:00

Delivering gem after gem since his remarkable debut Ep Love Me Like This released two years ago, Sam Sheperd aka. Floating Points is back with a new treat on his own label Eglo Records.
With Windows, a double Ep of classy Deep House with hints of delicate broken beats, he demonstrates once again his unique talent for setting up warm and soulful atmospheres notably through his splendid synth layers. Add to that a few subtle vocals samples from singer Fatima with whom he collaborates on his other project, Floating Points Ensemble, and you get one of my favorite house Ep of 2011.

Below the track Myrtle Avenue and a video of the track Sais :

Retrouvez cette review en français sur le site wegofunk !

V4YS Album Review - Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra) - Distilled (Naim Label)

2011-11-22T20:34:00.001+01:00

Stuart McCallum. The name may not sound familiar, but if you love Cinematic Orchestra then you know this musician.
One of the leading figure of the Manchester-based band since 2004, he is the main reason behind the sublime guitar & strings sounds on the (now) reference album Ma Fleur and the unforgettable Live at The Royal Albert Hall recorded afterwards. Working simultaneously on several projects next to Cinematic, he just released his third solo album, Distilled, on Naim Label.
Melancholic mood on the borders of nu-jazz, ambient and downtempo, poetic melodies driven by electric and acoustic guitars, warm and ethereal sound waves, you'll find all of this in Distilled. Genuine "album" whose atmosphere is best felt when listened to in one go, it will undoubtedly delight most fans of the Orchestra who may nevertheless express one little regret : the lack of vocals. When one thinks of Cinematic Orhectra's regular muses such as Heidi Vogel or Fontella Bass, one cannot help but wonder how even more grandiose this LP could have been! Anyway, even without this icing, the Distilled cake is one of my favorite nu-jazz record this year.

Below an extract, Dr. Doctor, and a video presenting the record :

Retrouvez cette review en français sur le site Wegofunk!

V4YS Album Review - Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura - The Search Continues (Brownswood Recordings)

2011-11-17T19:23:00.001+01:00

Cuban artistic patronage project Havana Cultura is back in the spotlights with the release of a second double-LP titled “Havana Cultura : The Search Continues”.

Still supervised by Gilles Peterson and legendary pianist Roberto Fonseca with some extra help from UK music DJs/producers Simbad and Mala, this new LP is once again split in two parts.

The first disc sees the Havana Cultura band and a host of vocals guests from the up-and-coming cuban scene (like hip-hop singer Danay and rap duo Ogguere) deliver another innovative series of afro-cuban tracks joining the dots between classic rythms from the island (rumba, cha-cha, "son", latin-jazz) and contemporary sounds (soul, hip-hop).
Featuring great latin covers of western soul classics (like the amazing version of Eddie Kendricks "My People...Hold On" reinvented by Danay under the title "Espera...Mi Gente" ) but also original compositions, this disc benefits first and foremost from the absolutely bewitching piano sound from Roberto Fonseca. An absolute thrill!

The second disc is a compilation of tracks from young cuban artists mostly coming from La Havana's rap, hip-hop & reggaeton scenes. More experimental and slightly less accessible, the selection nevertheless contains a few hidden gems like Danay's splendid song "Yo Aprendi".

The band and some of his guest singers are currently touring in Europe (they'll be in Paris on November 21st for instance). Having enjoyed their first tour two years ago, I strongly recommend you to go discover them live!

Below a nice video presenting the record and a streaming of "Yo Aprendi" from Danay :

Retrouvez cette review en français sur le site wegofunk!

V4YS Album Review - Chris Joss - No Play No Work (Esl Music)

2011-11-14T22:36:00.001+01:00

Chris Joss is not a one-man band., he can't play several instruments at once. But he does better than that, he plays almost any instrument and he does it the funky way!
For the last 10 years this overlooked french multi-instrumentalist has been leaking great underground funky vibes on the independent label Esl Music.
If Monomaniacs Vol.1, released in 2010, was a 100% tribute to the 70's classic "dusty funk" sound, his latest Lp titled No Play No Work, has a more hybrid DNA.
True, super-funky basslines or keyboards still rule, but this time around other musical influences also abound like the afrobeat rythms that give a "world-groove" flava to several tracks.
So get ready to jump from a Herbie Hancock-like funk (Come On It's Time To Get Up) to a Fela-inspired jam (Spectators). The whole set may seem at bit rambling at times, but what a treat to receive this flood of groovy breaks!

Below a coupe of extracts, Come On It's Time To Get Up & Spectators :

Retrouvez la version française de cette review sur le site Wegofunk.com!

V4YS Album Review - Long Arm - Organic (Project: Mooncircle records)

2011-11-10T21:09:00.001+01:00

Organic is the second release of Russian producer Long Arm for Berlin-based label Project: Mooncircle.
Since its creation in 2002 this excellent label has regularly been putting out ground-breaking music joining the dots between electronic sounds and jazz/soul/funk scenes. Having some kind of futuristic abstract beats colliding with a more classical jazzy trip-hop sound, this mini-album (or "extended Ep" as it carries 4 titles and as many remixes) perfectly fits to the label approach.
If I had to use an easy analogy, I would talk of a meeting between Bonobo with Flying Lotus's cosmic world. The add-on of great vocals from a host of special guests (Graciela Maria, Tivanie...) gives the ensemble a sweet soulful tone allowing it to distinguish itself from your regular downtempo productions that sometimes lacks some sensitive"human touch".

Check it out by yourself with the extracts below, When We Fall and its remix by Krts :

Retrouvez cette review en français sur le site wegofunk !

Vibes4YourSoul Selection#16 - Feel The Love (soul/rare grooves)

2011-11-05T15:28:00.000+01:00

This 16th episode of our podcasts series is a 12-track selection bringing us back mostly in the 70's for a cocktail full of warm voices & soulful vibes.

Gathering overlooked rare grooves (from the likes of Little Beaver, Brides Of Funkestein, Carrie Cleveland and more) as well as a couple of outstanding covers of legendary songs (like young Michael's incredible version of Ain't No Sunshine) I hope you too will feel the love in it!

Please find below the tracklisting & streaming as well as a podcast-format download link.

Tracklisting :
Leon Haywood - I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You
Little Beaver - Concrete Jungle (5'49'')
Weldon Irvine - I Love You (10'47'')
Vicki Anderson & Bobby Bird - You're Welcome, Stop On By (13'47'')
Carrie Cleveland - Make Love To Me (17'20'')
Michael Jackson - Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers cover) (20'29'')
Stevie Wonder - Light My Fire (The Doors Cover) (24'33'')
Brides Of Funkestein - Love Is Something (28'05'')
Sylvers - Fool's Paradise (34'27'')
Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love (36'47'')
Barry White - Playing Your Game, Baby (41'27'')
Donny Hathaway - Little Ghetto Boy (live) (48'20'')

As usual please find links to all of our musical selections as well as electro/nudisco mixes HERE.

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Ce 16ème épisode de notre série de podcasts consacrés à différents thèmes musicaux nous ramène principalement dans les années 70, avec une sélection rare grooves faisant la part belle aux voix soulful.
Il rassemble quelques perles de groupes ou chanteurs quelque peu oubliés (Little Beaver, Brides Of Funkestein, Carrie Cleveland ...) mais aussi deux superbes covers méconnues de titres légendaires (Ain't No Sunshine, Light My Fire). J'espère que vous aussi sentirez "the love" émanant de ces morceaux!
Ci-dessus streaming, tracklisting et download link.

Comme toujours, retrouvez les liens vers toute nos sélections musicales et mixs electro/nudisco HERE.

V4YS Album Review - Fatoumata Diawara - Fatou (World Circuit Records)

2011-10-27T21:04:00.000+02:00

Here is a sunny musical surprise coming right in time for the winter months!
Fatoumata Diawara is an Ivory Coast/Malian actress & musician living in Paris. After having collaborated in recent years to recordings and live acts of artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater or Malian singer Oumou Sangaré but also to original productions such as afro-cuban project Afrocubism or children's tale Kirikou' s musical, she decided it was time to focus on her own music. So here comes her first LP, simply titled "Fatou", on World Circuit Records.
If this record's sound is firmly rooted in her native African continent, it nevertheless also carries fragrances of soul/folk that makes it stand out from classic malian/world music productions.
Demonstrating both a remarkable songwriting and singing talent, Fatoumata made the choice of an uncluttered orchestration leaving centerstage to her subtle guitar playing and sweet percussions. Also carrying featurings from world-class african musicians such as Fela's legendary drummer Tony Allen or Malian kora's player Toumani Diabaté, Fatou is a highly-recommended first-class colourful journey!

Below streaming of the track "Bissa" :

Voilà une jolie surprise musicale ensoleillée qui arrive juste à temps pour l'heure d'hiver.
Fatoumata Diawara est une actrice et musicienne aux origines ivoiro-maliennes vivant à Paris. Après avoir collaboré ces dernières années à des enregistrements et tournées de nombreux artistes de renoms (Dee Dee Bridgewater, la chanteuse malienne Oumou Sangaré...) mais aussi à des productions plus inattendues (le projet afro-cubain Afrocubism ou la comédie musicale adaptée de l'excellent conte pour enfants Kirikou) elle a décidé de se consacrer à sa carrière solo. Voici donc son premier album, simplement intitulé "Fatou" qui vient de sortir sur le label World Circuit Records.
Si les sonorités de ce disque sont solidement ancrées dans son Afrique natale, il contient néanmoins une note soul/folk qui le différencie des productions world music maliennes plus traditionnelles. Dévoilant tous les attributs d'une musicienne accomplie (composition, interprétation, chant), Fatoumata a choisi une orchestration épurée qui fait la part belle à son jeu de guitare acoustique délicat et à de subtiles lignes de percussions. Si l'on rajoute les participations sur certains titres de musiciens africains de classe mondiale comme le légendaire batteur de Fela, Tony Allen, ou le joueur de kora malien Toumani Diabaté, on obtient un album épatant qui ne manquera pas de vous faire voyager.

Ci-dessus extrait en streaming du titre "Bissa".

V4YS Album Review - Miguel Migs - Outside The Skyline (Om Records)

2011-10-22T23:03:00.000+02:00

Miguel Migs is a popular name with almost any deep & soulful house lover (including me). Still, when I think about it, most of my favorite records from the San-Fran man all date back to his early period (1999/2003) and I had somewhow lost track of him since then.
This relative draught is over with the release of his third album, Outside The Skyline on Om Records.

For this new LP Miguel gathered an outstanding group of vocalists. Among them, his long-time partners Aya & Lisa Shaw, nu-soul veteran Meshell Ndeogecello, old-school disco diva Evelyn King, Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, Jamaican artists Freddie Mc Gregor, Half-Pint & Capleton and Berlin-based producer/singer Georg Levin.

Considering the backgound of these artists we're not simply talking about vocals featurings here but of true musical collaborations. The nu-soul/disco influence is obviously quite strong and at its best on groovy slo-mo vibes of tracks like Tonight, Everybody and Getaway. The heavy Jamaican presence stars as the other main attraction of the LP, bringing several great soulful housy/dub cuts (They Don't Know, Life, The System) reminiscent of vibes from bands like Beat Pharmacy or Brooklyn Funk Essentials.
Miguel Migs lets his classy deep-house sound being nicely corrupted by his guests, as a result Outside The Skyline is not another "lounge-house" record, rather an eclectic journey into modern soulful electronic sounds.

Below streamings of Tonight (feat Meshell Ndeogecello) & Life (feat. Half Pint) :

V4YS Album Review - Tropics - Parodia Flare (Planet Mu Recordings)

2011-10-16T20:53:00.000+02:00

Downtempo, chillwave, synth-pop, bass music…you’ll find hints of multiple musical genres in Tropics’s first Lp on Planet Mu recordings. But no need to feel overwhelmed, if Parodia Flare may lack a clear direction, it is nevertheless an captivating record whose poetic sound can quickly become addictive.
An accomplished musician on top of a gifted producer, Uk-based Tropics (aka Chris Ward) displays a fine balance between "live" instruments and digital effects. As often in chillwave-like productions, keyboards and synths play an important role (think Toro Y Moi, Washed Out…), the special touch here is elsewhere, it lies in his use of guitars. Source of glimmering melodies, their subtle sound is reminiscent of Shlohmo’s work (see our review of his new LP here) albeit with something of a pop angle. While vocals dare not take centerstage (yet?), hidden somehow by a range of effects, their presence on several tracks bring a nostalgic indie/pop flava to an album that really opens many (musical) doors.
Pick one and get lost in Tropics' enchanting world!

Below a streaming of "Parodia Flare" & "Going Back" :

Downtempo, chillwave, synth-pop, bass music...vous trouverez traces de bien des univers musicaux dans le premier album de Tropics qui sort sur le label Planet Mu recordings.
Mais n'ayez pas peur du vertige, si Parodia Flare ne possède pas une ligne directrice bien arrêtée, il n'en demeure pas moins un album captivant dont émane un son poétique aux propriétés quasi addictives.
Musicien complet en plus d'être un producteur de talent, Chris Ward (le jeune anglais qui se cache derrière ce projet) arrive à trouver dans ses compositions un juste équilibre entre instruments enregistrés "live" et effets digitaux.
Si comme souvent dans ce genre de productions downtempo les claviers et synthés ont une place importante (on pense à Toro Y Moi, Washed Out…), la signature de Tropics se trouve ailleurs, dans son jeu de guitares. Source de mélodies scintillantes rappelant d'ailleurs un peu le dernier album de Shlohmo (review ici), il s'en démarque par une écriture plus "pop", direction confirmée par la présence de vrais vocals sur plusieurs titres. Si ces derniers ne semblent pas encore totalement assumés, camouflés par une ribambelle d'effets, ils donnent néanmoins une jolie note indie à un disque qui ouvre décidemment bien des portes musicales.
Choisissez en donc une, passez le seuil et perdez-vous dans le labyrinthe enchanté de Chris Ward, les "Tropics" c'est aguichant non?

Ci-dessus streaming des morceaux "Parodia Flare" et "Going Back".

V4YS Mixes#13 - Beats & Pieces (Hip-Hop/Beats/Groove)

2011-10-13T00:04:00.001+02:00

Time for some old-school beats !

13th episode of our mixes series, Beats & Pieces is a jazzy hip-hop moment gathering classics (Athletic Mic League, Outkast, Digable Planets...), recent gems (Evidence, Mecca-83, Wilcookie, 6th Borough Project) and great edits/covers of essential groove cuts (Marvin Gaye, Roy Ayers or William DeVaughn).
Hope you'll enjoy it!

As usual you'll find a download link here and streaming/tracklisting below :

Tracklisting :
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (Simons Dark Keys Mix)
Athletic Mic League - Sweet Baby Ray (5'05'')
Jesse Futerman - I Love You So (6'48'')
Suff Daddy - Chinatown Chill (10'38'')
Evidence - You (prod by Dj Premier) (13'21'')
J-Live - Poetry In Motion (17'14'')
Mecca-83 (Solar Sound System) - Together(ness) (19'40'')
Digable Planets - Dedicated (21'57'')
Outkast - Mainstream (24'34'')
Wildcookie - Heroine (29'20'')
Angie Stone - Be Thankful (William DeVaugh cover feat. Omar) (33'02'')
Roy Ayers - Hummin' (Simon S Rework) (37'08'')
MC Solaar - A Temps Partiel (40'26'')
6th Borough Project - If The Feelings Right (44'00'')
Common Sense - Resurrection (Instrumental) (48'22'')
Guru's Jazzmatazz - Cuz I'm Jazzy (feat. Slum Village) (51'10'')

13ème livraison de notre série de mixs, Beats & Pieces c'est un condensé de hip-hop jazzy rassemblant classiques du genre (Athletic Mic League, Outkast, Digable Planets...), nouveautés (Evidence, Mecca-83, Wildcookie, 6th Borough Project) et edits/covers de grooves incontournables (Marvin Gaye, Roy Ayers, William DeVaughn).
Download link ici, streaming et tracklisting ci-dessus.
Enjoy!

V4YS Concert Review - Aziz Sahmaoui & University Of Gnawa - Live At Cabaret Sauvage, Paris, 061011

2011-10-07T13:43:00.000+02:00

Aziz Sahmaoui, Live Paris 061011

Si j’apprécie la musique Gnawa depuis une douzaine d’années et le gros coup de coeur que j'avais eu alors pour le groupe Gnawa Diffusion je n’avais jamais eu l’occasion d’assister à un concert du genre.

Erreur enfin réparée hier soir avec la venue au Cabaret Sauvage d'un artiste référence de la musique traditionnelle maghrébine, Aziz Sahmoui, accompagné de son tout nouveau groupe University Of Gnawa.
Très populaire auprès du public maghrébain (et au-delà) de par sa qualité de co-fondateur et pilier du célèbre Orchestre National de Barbès, reconnu aussi sur la scène jazz/world pour avoir longtemps joué dans le groupe jazz-fusion de Joe Zawinul, Aziz n'avait pourtant jamais publié d'album solo après presque 30 ans d'une riche carrière. C'est chose faite, et très bien faite, avec la sortie en Avril dernier d'un album world remarquable intitulé University Of Gnawa qu'il est donc venu présenter sur scène hier soir.

Originalité culturelle de tribus originaires d'Afrique noire vivant dans le sud du Maghreb (notamment dans le désert marocain), le son "Gnawa" c'est une sorte de pont enjambant le Sahara pour relier rythmiques afros (tambours variés, fameuses crotales métalliques au son si caractéristique...) et sonorités arabes (instruments à cordes). Aziz et son groupe originaire principalement du Sénégal ont donné un aperçu flamboyant de la richesse de ce courant musical qui n'en finit pas de se réinventer.
Dès les premières notes de guembri, il a transporté un cabaret enthousiaste et connaisseur sous le soleil africain. Pureté de sa voix envoûtante, énergie explosive du groupe lors des vagues de transes clôturant traditionnellement chaque morceau, mélodies superbes dictées par les cordes (avec notamment le phénoménal jeu de guitare acoustique d’Hervé Samb), la reçette fonctionne à merveille.
La participation surprise sur deux morceaux des deux fondateurs de Touré Kunda, les frères Ismaila et Sixu Tidiane Touré, a rajouté une touche de plus à l’exotisme du concert. Leurs voix cristallines véhiculent émotion et joie de vivre, que demander de plus?
Un grand moment de musique et un artiste rare qu'il ne faut surtout pas rater s'il se produit près de chez vous!

Ci-dessous extrait vidéo de la version live hier soir du titre Black Market, adaptation d'un morceau de Joe Zawinul avec en guest Toure Kunda, puis courte itw et version studio du même titre.

V4YS special review - TREME (HBO Tv series)

2011-10-04T20:00:00.000+02:00

It's been quite a long time since I wanted to write this post which is a small digression from the purely musical topics I cover on this blog.
Not that big of a digression actually as music is one the main character of the absolute must-see Hbo-produced tv series called Treme.
Named after New-Orleans legendary neighbourhood's "Tremé", this series was created in 2010 by Eric Overmyer and David Simon, who also is at the origin of my all-time favorite tv drama show, The Wire.
And guess what? not only does Treme stars several of the brillant actors from The Wire's crew, it also offers the same outstanding writing which makes it a remarkable socio-politico-cultural snapshot of current America.
Taking place in New Orleans a few months after hurricane Katrina devastated the city, the series follows the day-to-day struggle of a bunch of residents trying to rebuild their city and their lives. Presenting many fascinating cultural and historical aspects of this legendary city, the series leaves centerstage to music which obviouly is an integral part of New-Orleans. Several characters are professional or street musicians and most episodes carry countless amazing live jazz/funk acts starring some of the "real" cornerstone musicians of the city's underground live scene!
Last but not least, I just love the ferocious dose of sarcacism and humour emanating from the show. The best example being the character of Creighton Bernette, a disenchanted university teacher revolting against the appaling handling of the situation by the Bush administration. Played by a phenomenal John Goodman, who matches here his unforgettable appearance in Cohen brothers' movie "The Big Lebowski", this character symbolizes the dramatic and critical but also definitely humanist message of the series.
The second season recently ended on Hbo, a third one is in the making, in the meantime if you're not familiar with it yet, I cannot recommend you more to stream it, rent it, buy it, dowload it, netflix it...whatever...just watch it and see how New-Orleans funk up the fate!

To know more about it you can check the cool Hbo site dedicated to the show as well as these amazing non-official sites gathering all the details about the numerous music tracks played : The music of Treme (eshausting lists/titles) & Songs from Treme (with streaming of most songs).

Below a video of the great intro theme, as well as a short piece of Mr Goodman's genius!

Cela fait un bout de temps que je voulais écrire un petit post pour parler de Treme, série incroyable produite par la chaîne américaine Hbo.
Digression des sujets exclusivement musicaux que j'aborde habituellement dans ce blog vous dites-vous? Pas tant que ça car la musique est l'un de personnages principaux d'une histoire qui se déroule à La Nouvelle-Orléans, quelques mois après le passage de l'ouragan Katrina.
Créée en 2010 par Eric Overmyer and David Simon, cette production a un arrière-goût exquis de The Wire qui est ma référence absolue du genre. Pas étonnant lorsqu'on sait que David Simon est à l'origine de cette saga devenue culte et que l'on retrouve une partie de la remarquable distribution de The Wire dans Treme. Plus fondamentalement si le contexte et les sujets abordés sont différents, le parallèle est réel lorsqu'on découvre la richesse de la galerie de personnages ainsi que la qualité de l'écriture qui fait de cette oeuvre un petit instantané socio-politico-culturel de l'Amérique actuelle.
Treme (prononcez "Tremé") c'est le nom d'un quartier légendaire de La Nouvelle Orléans d'ou sont originaires la plupart des musiciens de renom qu'enfante régulièrement la ville depuis plus d'un siècle. La série s'attache à suivre plusieurs habitants luttant pour reconstruire leur ville et leurs vie après le désastre naturel qui a failli les anéantir. Dévoilant de nombreux aspects historiques et culturels fascinants de New-Orleans, la production place assez naturellement la musique au coeur du scénario. Plusieurs des personnages principaux sont musiciens et on ne compte pas les scènes incroyables de live jazz/funk interprétés par les "vrais" groupes locaux filmés dans les clubs underground de la ville d'ou se dégage une authenticité et une rage de vivre émouvante.
Cerise sur le gâteau, l'humour sarcastique décapant de la série, symbolisée par le personnage de Creighton Bernette , prof d'université désabusé, mettant sa plume et sa verve au service d'une révolte désespérée contre la gestion déplorable du désastre par l'administration Bush. Interprété par John Goodman, qui égale dans ce rôle sa prestation inoubliable dans le film incontournable des frères Cohen, "The Big Lebowski", Creighton Bernette résume à lui seul le message à la fois critique et dramatique mais aussi infiniment humaniste de la série.
La seconde saison vient de se terminer sur Hbo, une troisième est en tournage. Si vous n'êtes pas familier de la série je vous recommande chaudement de vous ruer sur les deux premières saisons afin de danser, rire, pleurer et surtout admirer la fierté et le courage d'une population durement éprouvée par le destin.

Pour en savoir plus sur la série voici un lien vers le site très complet de Hbo. Si vous craquez comme moi sur la bande son, deux sites non-officiels répertorient l'ensemble des morceaux joués durant chaque épisode : The music of Treme (tracklisting exhaustif par épisode) & Songs from Treme (par date de diffusion avec en plus des streaming de la plupart des morceaux).

Ci-dessus vidéo du superbe générique ainsi qu'un petit clin d'oeil de monsieur Bernette aka John Goodman!

V4YS Ep Review - And The Giraffe - Something For Someone

2011-09-26T23:52:00.000+02:00

Gainsville, Florida, roughly 200 miles north of Orlando.

A couple of 20-year-old friends passionate about folk and songwriting.

And the Giraffe.

I actually thought Florida was primarily about dolphins, alligators or mosquitos but I may have been misinformed...and it's a shame as this particular Giraffe is definitely worth paying a visit.

I don't know much about Nick Roberts and Josh Morris' backgrounds, but their music speak for themselves and it's all that matters. They tag Something For Someone, their first Ep self-produced this summer in Nick's tiny apartment's bedroom, as "dream folk". I find the name very well suited to describe their style.
6 songs filled with splendid guitar-led melodies and beautiful melancholic vocals supported by a fascinating solemn rythmic frame .

Ry Cooder in the sublime My Blueberry Nights movie soundtrack, Bon Iver, Cass Mc Combs, here are some of the glorious references that come to my mind when listening to this record. But enough words, time to listen up!
If you enjoy the streaming below I do strongly suggest you visit their bandcamp page where you can download the Ep and hopefully spread the word around....there definitely are some giraffes in Florida...

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://andthegiraffe.bandcamp.com/album/something-for-someone"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Something for Someone by And the Giraffe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Gainsville, Floride, environ 300km au nord d'Orlando.
Deux amis passionnés de folk, à peine 40 ans à eux deux.
Et une giraffe. And The Giraffe devrais-je dire, en anglais dans le texte.
J'ai du rater un épisode, la Floride pour moi ce sont les alligators, les dauphins, les flamands voir les moustiques, mais les giraffes? vraiment? pourtant celle-ci existe bien et mérite le détour.
Je ne sais pas grand chose du parcours de Nick Roberts et Josh Morris, peu importe en fait, leur musique parle pour eux et c'est tout ce qui compte. Ils décrivent Something For Someone, leur premier maxi auto-produit cet été dans le minuscule appartement de Nick transformé en studio artisanal, comme du "dream folk". J'aime le terme, il colle parfaitement à 6 chansons regorgeant de jolies mélodies de guitares et de vocals émouvants, le tout enveloppé dans un cadre rythmique à la fois solennel et planant.
Je pense à Ry Codder version soundtrack de My Blueberry Nights, à Bon Iver bien sur ou à Cass McCombs. Autant de références prestigieuses que ces deux jeunes musiciens n'usurpent nullement.
Assez parlé, place à la musique, régalez-vous avec le streaming ci-dessus et si vous êtes autant séduits que moi, allez donc downloader leur disque sur leur page bandcamp. Puis faites passer le mot...en Floride aussi on trouve des giraffes...

V4YS Album Review - Shlohmo - Bad Vibes (Friends of Friends recordings)

2011-09-22T22:40:00.001+02:00

LA-based producer Shlohmo's (Henri Laufer) first productions were somehow hard to read.
Including one LP and several EPs or remixes released mostly in 2010, they were offering some fascinating moments but overall sounded too conceptual to me and therefore rather hard to really get into.
With the release this summer of Bad Vibes, his second LP on Friends of Friends recordings, the young producer seems to have reached some kind of maturity. A remarkable piece of downtempo/abstract beats music, this record is an invitation to a 1-h long cocooning trip.
If his dreamy vocals, sharp drumming arrangements and various creative sound effects are all worth underlining, it is his work on electric and acoustic guitars that clearly stands out as his "magic touch". Sometimes folksy, sometimes ambiant and ethereal, his guitar sound defines the relaxing and soothing atmosphere emanating from an album that is one of the best chill music production I've heard this year.
Below streaming of Places which was also released as an Ep a few months ago :

Les premières productions du producteur californien Shlohmo (de son vrai nom Henri Laufer) furent assez confuses. Entre les lignes d'un album et de plusieurs maxis et remixes parus en 2010 on trouvait certes des passages assez fascinants, mais aussi un travail parfois trop conceptuel voir décousu et donc finalement assez hermétique.
Avec la sortie à la fin de l'été de Bad Vibes son second album sur le label Friends of Friends recordings, le jeune musicien semble avoir trouvé une vraie forme de maturité. Il nous offre 1h de vagabondages downtempo/abstract beats de grande qualité qui devraient ravir les fans du genre.
Si ses vocaux très bien travaillés, ses beats finement construits et ses multiples effets sonores font mouche, c'est avant tout sa façon d'utiliser guitares acoustiques et électriques qui constitue sa vraie "magic touch".
Parfois folk, parfois planant et enveloppant, leur son particulièrement raffiné est à la base de l'atmosphère apaisante qui se dégage d'un disque qui est l'une des meilleures productions "chill" que j'ai entendu cette année.
Ci-dessus streaming du titre Places qui fut aussi l'objet d'un maxi il y a quelques mois.

V4YS Concert Review - La Villette Jazz Festival, Part 4 - Questlove's Afro-Picks - Paris, 110911

2011-09-16T19:23:00.000+02:00

Questlove

Après James Brown, au tour de Fela Kuti de venir laisser son empreinte sur la Grande Halle de la Villette avec une soirée de clôture exceptionnelle concoctée (comme l’an passé d'ailleurs) par le batteur Questlove et le saxophoniste David Murray.

Tony Allen

Sous l’égide de la Red Bull Academy, le duo a composé une véritable dream team afro/soul/funk comprenant entre autres le légendaire batteur de Fela, Tony Allen, les references nu-soul Macy Gray & Amp Fiddler, la chateuse malienne Mamani Keita mais aussi Jordan McLean, Martin Perna & Chico Mann, trois piliers de mon groupe afrobeat favori, Antibalas, sans oublier le compère dans Questlove dans The Roots, le MC Black Thought.

Black Thought

Au total environ une vingtaine de musiciens sur scène réunis autour des deux batteries de Questlove et Tony Allen mais aucun percussioniste ce qui peut à priori surprendre lorsqu’on pense à un concert consacré hommage à l'histoire de la musique africaine. Tout s'explique lorsqu'on prend conscience que ce projet est tout sauf un simple concert de reprises/tributes mais bel et bien une réelle relecture d'oeuvres majeures de la musique afro des 40 dernières années. Sans percussions, les rythmes d'afrobeat, d'highlife jazz ou d’Afrique de l’ouest francophone ont ainsi pris une tournure résolument jazz/funk/hiphop fidèle au background des artistes présents. Le tout donnant un lifting épatant, respectueux de l'esprit des compositions originales, mais résolument ancré en 2011.

David Murray

Dans le désordre le groupe a donc réinterprété plusieurs titres légendaires comme Colonial Mentality, Sorrow Tears & Blood, No Discrimination de Fela Kuti et Tony Allen, mais aussi un de mes morceaux favoris d'afro-jazz, le superbe What Is Wrong With Groovin' de Lletta Mbulu ou encore le vibrant hymne Soweto Blues de Miriam Makeba.

Aux vocals l’interprétation de Black Thought des lyrics revendicateurs de Fela (parfois réadaptés avec ses propres lyrics) fut particulièrement convaincante de même que la version nu-soul de Love Is a Natural Thing de Tony Allen par le duo Amp Fiddler /Macy Gray. Je n'oublierai aps non plus la rayonnante Mamani Keita dont la voix inimitable m'a immédiatement transporté ailleurs, loin, très loin ...en Afrique sans doute.

Mamani Keita

Ci-dessous deux vidéos (Colonial Mentality et Love Is a Natural Thing) ainsi qu'un lien vers l'excellent site du projet ou vous trouverez tous les détails sur les artistes y ayant participés ainsi que des streaming des versions originales de chaque morceau repris.

Au terme de cette fantastique semaine musicale impossible pour moi de classer les concerts auxquels j’ai assisté tnat ils m'auront tous marqué. Allez, si je devais vraiment décerner une palme d’or, mon choix irait sans doute vers ces incroyables Afro-Picks!

Merci à Vincent pour les superbes photos!

V4YS Concert Review - La Villette Jazz Festival, Part 3 - Fred Wesley & Pee Wee Ellis - Maceo Parker - Paris, 100911

2011-09-13T22:31:00.001+02:00

2% Jazz, 98% funky stuff !

Ce slogan que Maceo Parker aimait à scander il y a quelques années au moment de la sortie de son meilleur album, Life On Planet Groove, résume parfaitement la teneur d’une soirée où l'ombre bienveillante du maître James Brown a plané sur la Grande Halle de La Villette.

A l’affiche tout d’abord les légendaires Fred Wesley & Pee Wee Ellis qui se sont transformés pour l’occasion en véritables chefs d’orchestre, dirigeant pendant quelques jours de stage puis sur scène un ensemble de 80 cuivres amateurs.
Bonheur partagé pour les uns de jouer avec ces légendes vivantes du funk et pour les autres de transmettre un peu de leur art et surtout de leur joie de jouer toujours bien présente après tant d’années de carrière.

Alternant des morceaux jazz créés pour l’occasion avec leurs classiques de la période JB’s/Horny Horns comme House Party, Breaking Bread, Four Play ou Gimme Some More, le duo et son "La Villette big big band" ont livré une prestation pleine de fraîcheur et de bonne humeur.
L’incursion surprise en toute fin de concert de Macéo pour une impro au sax sur House Party ne faisant qu’ajouter à la fête.
What a funky good time!

Le soufflet funky n’a pas eu le temps de retomber puisque Maceo Parker a pris la suite.
Accompagné de son groupe traditionnel
(notamment les vétérans Bruno Speight à la guitare et Rodney Curtis à la basse) dans lequel ne manquait à l’appel que son fidèle trompettiste Ron Tooley, il est apparu plus fringuant que jamais, comme s’il avait rajeuni d’une dizaine d’années.
Le funk ça conserve!

Dennis Rollins

Que dire de ce concert ?

Que ce fut du Maceo pur jus avec 2h de set enflammé au sein duquel on a eu droit à quelques incontournables comme la cover du classique d'Aretha Franklin, Think interprétée par une Marta High toujours aussi explosive, l'habituel clin d’œil à Ray Charles avec You Don't Know Me ou bien quelques hymnes estampillés Mr Brown comme Soul Power.

Pee Wee Ellis

Que Pee Wee Ellis n’a pas pu s’empêcher de sortir des coulisses pour taper le boeuf à son tour avec son vieux compère de la période JB’s.

Que le tromboniste Dennis Rollins a donné la chair de poule au public avec le joli morceau de jazz qu'il a interprété seul sur scène.

Et surtout, surtout, que Maceo reste un showman hors-pair qu’il fait toujours aussi bon de voir live !

Ci-dessous quelques extraits vidéos : Four Play, Gimme Some More par Fred Wesley & Pee Wee Ellis ainsi que Think et Pass The Peas/Soul Power par Maceo :

Merci à Vincent pour ses superbes photos!

V4YS Album Review - Machinedrum - Room(s) (Planet Mu Records)

2011-09-12T19:38:00.000+02:00

Machinedrum. Here is an artist name that sums up pretty well his musical approach.
If the man behind the alias, Travis Stewart, has already produced several records under other projects, his first LP as Machinedrum, out on Planet Mu Recordings, is effectively an ode to the art of electronic percussions.
Room(s) definitely belongs to the currently hot dubstep/bass music sphere, but Travis adds his own twist by turning the rythmic backbone of his music into a kind of science. Using the widest range of drums & percussions samples you may think of, he designs some fascinating beats going from dark & heavy drum&bass to delicate deep dubstep.
Dressing up the drums, a myriad of phenomenal short vocal samples, reworked and autotuned to infinity, as well as various beautiful layers of synths adding a deep and soulful touch to the ensemble.
After this delicious orgy of rythms, the melancholic track closing the album is actually beatless. Titled Where Did We Go Wrong? it makes me want to answer Machinedrum : with this perfect LP you certainly did not go wrong anywhere!

Below a streaming of my favorite track, "Lay Me Down" :

Machinedrum. Une fois n'est pas coutume voilà un nom de scène qui résume à lui seul assez bien l'approche musicale du project qu'il désigne. Room(s), publié sur le label Planet Mu Recordings, et premier album de Travis Stewart avec sa casquette Machinedrum est en effet une sorte d'ode à l'art des percussions numériques.
Si l'on classera sans aucun doute ce disque au rayon de la très active scène dubstep/bass anglo-saxonne, Travis innove par son travail poussé sur les beats en utilisant une variété de samples de batterie et percus qui dépasse l'entendement. A la clé des ambiances rythmiques épatantes allant de la drum&bass au deep dubstep.
Pour habiller le tout il utilise avec maestria pléthore de mini-samples vocaux, auto-tunés jusqu'à plus soif, ainsi que de somptueuses nappes de synthés, le tout créant des atmosphères à la fois deep & soulful.
Après cette orgie de rythmes, le superbe morceau mélancolique qui clôture l'album ne contient aucun beat. Une pirouette de plus et un titre, Where Did We Go Wrong?, qui donne envie de répondre à l'artiste : nulle-part, ce disque est parfait!
Ci-dessus streaming de mon titre favori, "Lay Me Down".

V4YS Ep Review - José James - It's All Over Your Body & Trouble - All Saints Basement Session

2011-09-11T12:40:00.000+02:00

Here are a couple of great new tracks from José James recorded during a recent live session set-up by Uk clothing brand All Saints (dubbed "All Saints Basement Sessions" the brand regularly invites underground artists to perform live sessions on its original loft-shop in Spitalfields, London).
Supported by his usual musicians, among which drummer Richard Spaven (that we mentionned last week following his first solo LP and his participation to the recent Cinematic Orchestra live show in Paris), José unveiled two brand new tracks titled It's All Over Your Body & Trouble.
Discover them with the streaming below as well as a long interview and enjoy once again his fantastic voice as well as this warm & groovy band!

La marque de vêtements britannique All Saints organise régulièrement des sessions musicales live en invitant des artistes relativement underground dans le sous-sol de son magasin originel de Spitalfields à Londres. Jolie surprise avec la publication d'une session enregistrée fin août avec le chanteur José James comportant notamment deux excellents nouveaux morceaux intitulés It's All Over Your Body & Trouble.
Découvrez-les sur la chaîne YouTube de la marque (streaming ci-dessous) et laissez-vous bercer par sa voix sublime et son groupe toujours aussi groovy avec notamment l'excellent batteur Richard Spaven que j'ai mentionné la semaine dernière suite à sa participation au concert de Cinematic Orchestra lors du festival Jazz à La Villette.

V4YS Concert Review - La Villette Jazz Festival 2011, Part 2 - Roy Hargrove RH Factor - Paris, 090911

2011-09-10T15:54:00.001+02:00

L'an passé l'équipe de Jazz à La Villette avait proposé au pianiste Robert Glasper de dévoiler les multiples facettes de son talent lors de deux dates, l'une en formation groove et l'autre en formation jazz.
Même (riche) idée cette année avec cette fois le trompettiste Roy Hargrove à l'affiche de deux concerts.
Si je n'ai malheureusement pas pu assister à la soirée jazz, je me suis rattrapé hier soir avec l'énorme prestation de son "RH Factor" qui a enflammé un Cabaret Sauvage rempli à ras-bord.

Look excentrique et funky tranchant avec sa relative retenue sur scène, un peu à mi-chemin entre Miles et Spike Lee, Roy Hargrove avait sorti l'artillerie lourde pour cette soirée. Trois claviers, dont l'excellent Bobby Sparks qui jongle brillamment avec un Hammond, un Moog et un Rhodes, une redoutable ligne de cuivres avec les sax de Keith Anderson et Bruce Williams entourant sa trompette, et une section rythmique impeccable emmenée notamment par la basse ultra funky de Lenny Stallworth.

Après deux ou trois morceaux instrumentaux issus des deux albums références du groupe Distractions et Hard Groove, la soirée s'est emballée avec l'enchaînement de titres chantés par Renee Neufville, le batteur Jason Thomas ou Roy lui-même. On The One, Hold On, I'll Stay, un medley énorme entre le classique de George Clinton Give Up The Funk et le morceau A Place...rien ne nous a été épargné, pas même les multiples solos démetiels de chaque musicien.
Bref 2h de groove/funk de grande, grande classe!

Ci-dessous quelques extraits vidéos, On The One, Give Up The Funk/A Place & I'll Stay qui contient notamment un solo de guitare sublime au milieu du morceau.

Last year the La Villette Jazz Festival artistic direction had offered american pianist Robert Glasper the opportunity to present his two different projects with one jazz concert and one groove/funk night. Same great concept this year with trumpet legend Roy Hargrove who therefore starred twice in this year festival line-up. If I could not go to his jazz gig I made up for this omission by attending yesterday his mind-blowing RH Factor night at the Cabaret Sauvage.
Excentric & funky look contrasting with his relative inhibited scene attitude (a kind of "Miles meets Spike Lee" feeling), Roy had displayed the heavy artillery fot this concert : three keyboards players, among them the excellent Bobby Sparks mastering a Hammond, a Moog and a Rhodes, a powerful brass line with Keith Anderson and Bruce Williams' saxophones escorting his trumpet, and a perfect rythmic section notably led by the ultra funky bass from Lenny Stallworth.
Following a couple of instrumental tracks taken from the band's reference LPs Distractions and Hard Groove, the night really took off when they started a serie of sung cuts with alternatively Renee Neufville, drummer Jason Thomas or Roy himself on the vocals. On The One, Hold On, I'll Stay, a massive medley joining the dots between George Clinton' classic Give Up The Funk and their song A Place...nothing was spared a red hot audience! Not even a serie of stunning solos by each and every musician.
In short : 2h of world-class groove/funk!

Please find above three video extracts On The One, Give Up The Funk/A Place & I'll Stay (featuring a stunning guitar solo starting at the 5mn point).

Merci à Vincent pour les plus belles photos de l'article!

V4YS Concert Review - La Villette Jazz Festival 2011, Part.1 - Cinematic Orchestra - Mulatu Astatké - Paris, 010911

2011-09-05T21:59:00.000+02:00

Cinematic Orchestra

Heidi Vogel & Jason Swinscoe

C'est une formation de Cinematic Orchestra un peu remaniée qui a rendu visite à la grande halle de La Villette.
Autour de son génial leader Jason Swinscoe, quelques "anciens" comme Stuart McCallum à la guitare, Phil France à la basse ou Heidi Vogel au chant mais aussi quelques surprises.
Tout d'abord le batteur Richard Spaven qui accompagne de nombreux artistes renommés dont José James et vient de sortir un très bon premier album solo entre hip-hop, nu-jazz et dubstep, intitulé Spaven's Five.
Ensuite la présence au piano et Rhodes du jeune prodige Austin Peralta, auteur dès l'âge de 16 ans de deux albums jazz bluffant et plus récemment d'un remarquable troisième opus, Endless Planets, sorti sur le label de Flying Lotus, Brainfeeder.

Richard Spaven & Stuart McCallum

Dès les premières notes de Burn Out, le groupe a transporté la salle vers l'univers gracieux et poétique qui le caractérise.
Leurs classiques (Child Song, As The Stars Fall, Familiar Ground, Man With A Movie Camera, Breathe, All That You Give...) ont ensuite défilé comme dans un rêve où la merveilleuse chanteuse Heidi Vogel fait office de sirène enchanteresse.
Seule (toute) petite déception pour moi la présence dans leur set d'un seul nouveau morceau alors même que le net bruisse de rumeurs d'un nouvel album à venir....Cela dit vu la qualité du titre en question je ne peux pas leur en vouloir (cf extrait vidéo)!

Ci-dessous extraits vidéos du titre inédit à ma connaissance et l'incontournable All That You Give interprété pour le rappel :

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Mulatu Astatké

Un concert de Mulatu Astaké c'est un voyage exotique entre jazz, world music et afro-grooves. La prestation du maître éthiopien et de son groupe à La Villette n'a pas dérogé à cette règle.
Concentré de titres phares de son répertoire, son set a oscillé entre passages free-jazz et moments de quasi transe afro qui m'ont fait maudire (une fois n'est pas coutume) la direction artistique du festival pour avoir choisi l'amphitheatre Charlie Parker qui interdit le moindre pas de danse !
Musicien hors-pair jonglant entre son légendaire vibraphone, un orgue rhodes et des congas, il est aussi un véritable chef d'orchestre laissant parfaitement s'exprimer les remarquables musiciens qui l'entourent avec à la clé pléthore de solos époustouflants.
Au cœur de cette formation j'ai été tout particulièrement séduit par le jeu de contrebasse de Neil Charles, véritable usine à lignes rythmiques à la fois délicates et funky, ainsi que par le violoncelliste Danny Keane, qui m'a rappelé la face cachée d'un instrument qu'on voit trop peu souvent sur les scènes jazz/funk.
Un excellent concert qui symbolise parfaitement le melting-pot d'influences qui est la marque de fabrique du La Villette Jazz festival ces dernières années.

Vous avez de la chance, l'équipe d'Arte Live Web a filmé l'intégralité du concert, streaming vidéo intégral ci-dessous!

V4YS Ep Review - Suzanne Kraft - Green Flash Ep (Running Back Records)

2011-09-02T20:58:00.001+02:00

Also released during the summer is the "Green Light" Ep, a wonderful boogie/slo-mo house production by a (previously) unknown artist called Suzanne Kraft (who actually happens to be a man if I judge by one of the video I saw on his other label Discotheque records).
Listening to the cool soulful vocal samples, groovy basslines and deep slo-mo beats present on all four tracks, I was not surprised at all when I realised that Running Back records is actually the same label that released some Mark E stuff few years back and who also recently produced the first LP of one of my favorite boogie house producer, Tiger & Woods. We're really talking about the same kind of quality house sound here!

Below a streaming of my favorite track, "Morning Come", turn up the bass...Deepness with a capital D!

Sorti aussi durant le courant de l'été, le maxi "Green Light" est un de mes gros coups de coeur house du moment.
Produit par Suzanne Kraft un artiste (masculin semble-t-il) totalement inconnu jusqu'à présent, il rassemble quatre bijoux boogie/slo-mo house truffés de chaleureux samples vocaux, de lignes de basses toutes plus groovy les unes que les autres et bien sur de beats enveloppants ne dépassant pas la zone des 110/120bpm.
Encore un très bon choix du label Running Back records, connu pour avoir produit il y a quelques années des titres de Mark E, qui reste une référence du son slo-mo house, ou pour avoir plus récemment sorti le premier album de Tiger & Woods l'un de mes producteurs boogie house favoris.

Ci-dessus streaming du morceau "Morning Come", montez les basses....Deepness avec un grand D!

V4YS Ep Review - Vondelpark - NYC Stuff & NYC Bags Ep (R&S Records)

2011-08-30T20:55:00.000+02:00

Catching up with some of the great releases from this summer, I have to mention "NYC Stuff & NYC Bags" the second Ep from London-based trio Vondelpark (aka Lewis Rainsbury, Alex Bailey & Matt Law) out lasT month on R&S Records.

Melancholic downtempo atmosphere, hazy vocals, delicate synths and guitar lines, slo-mo broken beats, the 5 tracks of this record include all the right ingredients for a soothing introspective journey.

Many musical references come to my mind. The first song, "Tv", and the short "Outro For Nyc" (my favorite one) remind me of the more ambient works from Broken Social Scene, "Feat. B" has a sweet Sade aftertaste while "Camels" has echoes of sounds from Diesler or Bonobo.
Vondelpark is the name of a famous Amsterdam park. No coincidence I believe, the palce is just too close from the perfect environment to wander to the sound of this remarkable Ep!

Discover it by yourself with a couple of extracts below, "Tv" & "Outro For Nyc" :

Faisant le tri parmi les multiples productions que je n'avais pas eu le temps de temps d'écouter cet été, je me dois de mentionner "NYC Stuff & NYC Bags", excellent second maxi du trio londonien Vondelpark (aka Lewis Rainsbury, Alex Bailey & Matt Law) sorti fin juillet sur le label R&S Records.
Nappes de synthé enveloppantes, lignes de guitare électrique très planantes, vocaux brumeux façon "ambient", broken beats tournant au ralenti, tous ces ingrédients forment la base d'un son downtempo à la fois mélancolique et apaisant.
Les références musicales abondent. Le premier morceau, "Tv", et le court "Outro For Nyc" me font par exemple furieusement penser aux productions les plus abstraites de Broken Social Scene, "Feat. B" a un petit arrière-goût de Sade, alors que "Camels" évoque lui d'autres maitres de l'univers downtempo comme Diesler ou Bonobo.
Vondelpark c'est le nom d'un célèbre parc au coeur d'Amsterdam. Pas de hasard je pense, ça ressemble trop au cadre idéal pour vagabonder au son de ce magnifique EP!

Découvrez le par vous même avec les deux extraits en streaming ci-dessus (Tv & Outro For Nyc).

Vibes4YourSoul Selection#15- I (always) Need Reggae

2011-08-27T16:29:00.002+02:00

August is coming to an end, so let's soak up as much sunny vibes as we can while summer is still there!
So here comes "I (always) Need Reggae" our 15th selection/podcast full of warm & groovy reggae sounds. Gathering old-school classics from Alton Ellis, Marcia Griffiths or Aswad (among others) as well as cool contemporary reggae/dub tracks & edits from the likes of Boozou Bajou, Femi Kuti or The Dynamics, I hope this selection will brighten up your day!

As usual please find below a podcast-format download link, streaming & tracklisting.

If you fancy more great reggae music you may want to check out our first two selections on this musical theme : "I Need Reggae" & "I Need (more) Reggae"

Peace!

Tracklisting :
Aswad - Back To Africa
Alton Ellis - Day Dreaming (5'19'')
Jackie Mittoo - Get Up And Get It (9'00'')
Gregory Isaacs & Dennis Brown - To The Foundation (11'40'')
Marcia Griffiths - My Ambition (17'12'')
Dawn Penn - No, No, No (19'39'')
Femi Kuti - You Better Ask Yourself (Bost & Bim Remix) (23'02'')
Nina Simone - Baltimore (Ex-friendly Refix) (28'27'')
Boozoo Bajou feat. Joe Dukie - Take It Slow (33'32'')
Gentleman - Dem Gone (38'46'')
The Dynamics - Brothers On The Slide (42'31'')
Paul St-Hilaire - Black Moses (46'33'')
Kiddus I - Graduation In Zion (49'58'')

Août touche à sa fin, il est temps de faire le plein de vibes ensoleillées pour affronter les affres de la rentrée.
Rien de tel pour ça qu'une ration de bon reggae! Voici donc "I (always) Need reggae", qui rassemble des célèbres mélodies old-school d'Alton Ellis, Marcia Griffiths ou Aswad mais aussi plusieurs morceaux ou edits contemporains d'artistes comme Boozou Bajou, Femi Kuti ou The Dynamics symbolisant la vitalité de ce courant musical.
J'espère que ce podcast illuminera votre journée!
Ci-dessus, download link, streaming et tracklisting.

P.S. : si vous en voulez plus, nos deux précédentes sélections regage/dub "I Need Reggae" & "I Need (more) Reggae" n'attendent que vous!

Peace!

V4YS Ep Review - Radiohead - The King Of Limbs (Remixes)

2011-08-21T20:09:00.000+02:00

Earlier this year I reviewed Radiohead latest LP called "The Kings Of Limb" as I had been seduced by its ambitious foray into a wide range of musical spheres.

Thom Yorke's crew is now going one step further wit the recent release of three amazing remixes EP's, supposedly before a full remixes album in September.
Very much into the uk bass/dubstep sound, the band asked some of the most interesting artists belonging to that space to offer their interpretations of several tracks from the original album.
Four Tet, Jacques Greene, Caribou, Pearson Sound (aka Ramadanman) and several others high-profile producers contributed to these great first three EP's, soon-to-be joined by the likes of Sbtrkt or Jamie XX for the end of the series.

Below a streaming of my favorite track, Jacques Greene's splendid remix of "Lotus Flower" :

En début d'année j'avais publié une courte review du dernier album de Radiohead, "The Kings Of Limb", subjugué par l'audace artistique d'un groupe qui n'hésite pas à s'approprier les influences musicales les plus variées pour enrichir leur indie-rock de plus en plus expérimental.
Poussant encore un peu plus loin le curseur, la bande de Thom Yorke, très fan du son bass/dubstep uk du moment, a demandé à plusieurs artistes appartenant à cet univers de livrer leurs interprétations de plusieurs titres de l'album.
Trois excellents maxis sont déjà sortis qui feront à priori partie d'un double album courant septembre. Au menu de ces premiers remixes on retrouve entre autres Four Tet, Jacques Greene, Caribou ou Pearson Sound (aka Ramadanman), avant semble-t-il des titres de Sbtrkt ou Jamie XX.

Ci-dessus un streaming du merveilleux remix de "Lotus Flower" par le décidément très inspiré Jacques Greene déjà auteur cette année de plusieurs maxis remarquables.

V4YS Ep Review - Ahmed Sirour Feat. Michelle Thompson - We Rep Brooklyn

2011-08-20T17:59:00.004+02:00

Here is a little underground hip-hop gem that had me groovin' this week.

Echoing a scene from the unforgettable Spike Lee movie "Do The Right Thing", Ahmed Sirour blends spoken-word with fine-tuned jazzy beats to offer us this cool tribute to the many afro-americans entertainers originating from his home-borrough of Brooklyn.

Get it from his bandcamp page!

Streaming below :

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://ahmedisthemusic.bandcamp.com/track/we-rep-brooklyn"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;WE REP BROOKLYN! by Ahmed Sirour and featuring Michelle Thompson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Voici une petite perle d'underground hip-hop qui m'a enchanté cette semaine.
En clin d'oeil à une scène de l'inoubliable film de Spike Lee "Do The Right Thing", Ahmed Sirour mélange spoken-word et beats irrésistiblement jazzy pour offrir ce petit tribute aux nombreux artistes afro-americains originaires, comme lui, de Brooklyn, New-York.

Disponible sur sa page bandcamp, streaming ci-dessus!

Vibes4YourSoul Mixes#12 - Cruisin' (progressive house, electro pop, deep dubstep)

2011-08-14T19:51:00.006+02:00

Welcome the 12th episode of our mixes serie!Seat belt fastened, speed limit set at 125/130 bpm, relax and get ready to cruise to progressive house, electro pop and deep dubstep sounds.Gathering mostly 2011 tracks, this mix gathers some of the house/electro producers I particularly feel at the moment Julio Bashmore, Sbtrkt, Jamie XX, Jacques Greene or Ricardo Villalobos.Hope you enjoy it!As usual please find below streaming, download link and full tracklisting. Tracklisting :Gang Colours - Fireworks In Pocket (start)Ricardo Villalobos, Los Updates & Anthony Collins - I Throw Water Into The Lake (4'22'')Julio Bashmore - Bad Apple (9'12'')Smalltown Collective - Mujinga (Original) (14'28'')Phonique & Kiloo - The Passion (Manuel Tur & Dplay Remix) (18'52'')Luca Lozano - Heaven & Hell (Original Mix) (23'52'')Sbtrkt - Pharoahs (29'16'')Metronomy - The Bay (Erol Alkan Re-Edit) (32'41'')Marlow - I Don't Care About Anything (Being With You) (37'08'')Jacques Greene - Another Girl (41'33'')Jamie XX - Far Nearer (46'37'')Voici Cruisin' le 12ème épisode de notre série de mixes electro !Pour la plupart sortis en 2011, les titres de ce set oscillent entre progressive house, electro pop et deep dubstep. Ceinture bouclée, limitateur de vitesse bloqué dans la zone des 125/30bpm, c'est parti pour 1h de trip en compagnie de certains de mes producteurs favoris du moment comme Julio Bashmore, Sbtrkt, Jamie XX, Jacques Greene ou Ricardo Villalobos.Enjoy!Ci-dessus streaming, lien download et tracklisting.

V4YS Ep Review - GW - Absolute

2011-08-08T20:33:00.001+02:00

Fancy the downtempo futuristic vibes of Flying Lotus or Dam-Funk?
Then you should probably enjoy listening to GW's (aka George Whalley) first self-produced solo Ep called "Absolute".

A Leeds-based drummer involved in several undergound musical projects, George got the abstract beat virus only a few months ago and quickly decided to spread it around.
Coupling heavy disconstructed beats with dark and cosmic sound atmospheres, his bewitching sound is an invitation to chill out.

Check out by yourself with the soundcloud streaming below or on his bandcamp page !

Vous appréciez le downtempo futuriste d'un Flying Lotus ou d'un Dam-Funk? Alors jetez une oreille (voir deux) au premier maxi auto-produit de GW (aka George Whalley) intitulé "Absolute".
Batteur anglais résidant à Leeds, George participe en parallèle à plusieurs projets musicaux mais ce maxi est entièrement consacré à sa passion récente pour les sonorités "abstract beats".
Associant des atmosphères sonores à la fois sombres et cosmiques à une rythmique subtilement destructurée, ses compositions envoûtantes invitent à la rêverie.
Découvrez par vous-même son univers avec le streaming soundcloud ci-dessus ou directement sur sa page bandcamp!

V4YS Album Review - SBTRKT - SBTRKT (Young Turks Records)

2011-08-07T18:00:00.003+02:00

SBTRKT started to make an (unprononceable) acronym for himself in 2010 with several interesting EP's ("2020", "Break Off/Evening Glow"...) oscillating between deep dubstep and innovative bass music. He is now back on the great independant label Young Turks with his first LP self-titled "SBTRKT" which so far is my favorite new release this summer.

If his previous productions were mostly pieces of instrumental electronic music, the big evolution with this record is the omnipresence of vocals provided by several guest singers like Sampha (who contributes on several tracks) or Yukimi Nagano from Little Dragon, .
Adding a touch of pop to dubstep-influenced beats immediately rings several bells, the louder of them belonging to James Blake who probably is the leading artist in that space. These two definitely share a common playground, but this first SBTRKT album puts more emphasis on melodies than Blake's more demanding "deconstructed" works. Simply said, SBTRKT goes slightly more mainstream but this is in no way pejorative as delicate songs like "Hold On", "Trials Of The Past", "Never Never" or "Pharoahs" all are sweet entry points to a delighfully chaotic musical space. So if you're not necessarily into electro-pop or deep dubstep this record may be a good chance to get on board!

Below streaming of "Pharoahs" and "Hold On" :

L'imprononçable acronyme SBTRKT est devenu familier pour de nombreux fans d'electro courant 2010 avec la sortie de plusieurs maxis (notamment ("2020" et "Break Off/Evening Glow") qui faisaient la part belle à un deep dubstep raffiné, symbole d'une "bass music" Uk en plein essor et dont je ne cesse de vanter les mérites sur le blog.
Le jeune producteur anglais revient avec un premier album, simplement titré "SBTRKT", qui sort sur l'excellent label indépendant Young Turks. C'est sans aucun doute mon coup de coeur de l'été.
Si ses premières productions étaient principalement des instrumentaux electros, ce disque marque une nette évolution puisque les vocaux distillés par plusieurs guests comme le chanteur anglais Sampha, (qui pose sa voix soulful sur plusieurs titres), ou la chanteuse japonaise Yukimi Nagano du groupe Little Dragon, y sont omniprésents.
Mélanger des influences pops à des rythmiques two-step/dubstep n'est pas une révolution. Le nom de James Blake vient par exemple immédiatement à l'esprit lorsqu'on évoque ce type de sonorités. Néanmoins si l'album
de SBTRKT appartient au même univers il met beaucoup plus l'accent sur l'aspect mélodique des morceaux. Il est donc sans doute plus accessible (attention pas de méprise, je ne veux en aucun cas dire "commercial") que les productions destructurées assez éxigeantes de Blake. Ainsi des titres harmonieux comme "Hold On", "Trials Of The Past", "Never Never" ou "Pharoahs" me semblent de bons points d'entrée pour quiconque est peu familier de ce courant musical.
Ci-dessus des extraits streaming de "Pharoahs" et "Hold On".

V4YS EP Review - Jesse Futerman - Super Basement Ep (Jus Like Music Records)

2011-07-10T13:30:00.003+02:00

Here is another jazzy hip-hop gem coming from Canada!

A few weeks ago we mentionned a young hip-hop band from Montreal, Ruckus Fo-Tet & Milla Thyme, following their first self-produced album. This time around the great beats come from Toronto, hometown of a young beatmaker named Jesse Futerman who is releasing "Super Basement" his first formal Ep on Jus Like Music Records.

As far as I know Jesse is not even 20 years-old but has been developping his sampling and beatmaking skills since he was 15! Also playing some piano and trumpet he's been surrounded by jazzy vibes since he was a kid.
A fan of artists/bands like Jose James, Flying Lotus, Insight or Build An Ark, it's therefore no surprise that his sampling universe is heavily tilted towards great Jazz & Funk sounds.
This debut Ep gathers 6 amazing tracks, all carrying groovy drum lines surrounded by sweet & hazy piano, horns and vocals samples. Without a doubt one of the best experimental hip-hop records I've been listening to recently! The good news is you can download it for free on his bandcamp page!

Streaming below :

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jessefuterman.bandcamp.com/album/super-basement-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Super Basement EP by Jesse Futerman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>Il y a quelques semaines je mentionnais la sortie du très bon premier album de Ruckus Fo-Tet & Milla Thyme, jeune groupe de Montréal jouant un hip-hop "live" résolument jazzy. Toujours au Canada, toujours dans la sphère hip-hop/beats mais un peu plus à l'est, du côté de Toronto, c'est au tour du jeune beatmaker Jesse Futerman de sortir un premier Ep remarquable intitulé "Super Basement" sur le label indépendant Jus Like Music Records.
Autant que je sache Jesse n'a pas 20 ans mais produit beats et loops depuis l'âge de 15 ans! Bercé depuis sa plus tendre enfance par les sonorités jazz dont raffolent ses parents, jouant aussi du piano et de la trompette, fan d'artistes comme Jose James, Flying Lotus, Insight or Build An Ark, il n'est dès lors pas surprenant que son terrain de sample favori soit l'univers Jazz & Funk.
Les 6 titres que contient ce premier maxi regorgent donc de loops de batterie particulièrement groovy, tous enveloppés d'une ribambelle de samples planants de piano, cuivres ou de soulful vocals. Le tout forme l'un des meilleurs disques d'experimental hip-hop que j'ai entendu ces derniers mois! La bonne nouvelle est que vous pouvez le downloader gratuitement sur la page bandcamp de Jesse!

Ci-dessus un streaming du maxi.

V4YS Concert Review - Fat Freddy's Drop - Live At Le Trianon - Paris, 060711

2011-07-07T21:20:00.000+02:00

Depuis la sortie de leur premier album "Based On A True Story" en 2005, les néo-zélandais de Fat Freddy's Drop sont devenus un groupe référence gràce à leur son novateur à la frontière des univers reggae, dub, soul et techno.

Emmené par Dj Fitchie et l'incroyable chanteur Joe Dukie, le combo prend toute sa dimension sur scène ou il a l'habitude de construire et de tester ses multiples créations.
De passage hier soir à Paris ils ont une fois encore démontré toute l'étendue de leur talent en offrant un concert incroyable qui a tout simplement retourné le Trianon. Chaque morceau fut un réel voyage ou le groupe, tel un bon Dj, a fait passer son public par des montées extatiques tout en ménageant des plages plus cérébrales ou sa rythmique electro-dub fait merveille. Ajoutez à ça une énergie débordante (quel trio de cuivres!), une joie communicative et l'espace suffisant pour que chacun des musiciens puisse s'exprimer à travers des solos ravageurs et vous obtenez un show enthousiasmant.
A ne manquer sous aucun prétexte si vous avez l'occasion de les croiser!
Ci-dessous petit extrait vidéo :

V4YS Ep Review - Michael Kiwanuka - Tell Me A Tale Ep (Communion Records)

2011-07-04T19:26:00.000+02:00

Fancy the good quality "retro-soul" sounds that keep spreading around recently?
Fancy the likes of Mayer Hawthorne, Lee Fields, Aloe Blacc, Nicole Willis, Menahan Street Band, Alice Russel and so forth? Well you will surely love Michael Kiwanuka's first Ep called "Tell Me A Tale", out now on Communion Records.
In only three tracks, the London-based musician demonstrates a stunning songwriting ability as well as a remarkable singing talent. With its exquisite folky touch, his music brilliantly recalls the golden age of Soul. Give it a few listens, close your eyes, I'm sure you'll also lose sense of time and start imagine the young Michael introducing an Otis Redding show.
Below streaming of the single "Tell Me A Tale" as well as a cool acoustic "cab" session :

In need of more retro-soul sounds from contemporary artists?
check out "Nu-School" our recent podcast focusing on this musical scene!

Vous appreciez la vague "retro-soul" de qualité qui prend de l'ampleur depuis deux ou trois ans? Vous aimez les Mayer Hawthorne, Lee Fields, Aloe Blacc, Nicole Willis, Menahan Street Band, Alice Russel et consorts? Il y a alors de fortes chances que vous succombiez au talent de Michael Kiwanuka qui vient de sortir un premier maxi à tomber sur "Communion Records".
Avec ce "Tell Me A Tale Ep" on découvre à la fois un remarquable talent d'écriture mais aussi une voix sublime. Michael Kiwanuka nous ramène en fait assez loin en arrière, dans les années 60, ou sa soul teintée de sonorités folk n'aurait à coup sur pas dépareillé. Essayez-donc vous-mêmes, après quelques écoutes vous n'aurez sans doute pas de mal à l'imaginer partageant une scène avec un Otis Redding...
Ci-dessus le single "Tell Me A Tale" ainsi qu'un bon set acoustique enregistré dans un taxi!

Dans ce style "retro-soul", n'hésitez pas à jeter une oreille sur notre récente sélection "Nu-School", toute entière consacrée à ce thème.

V4YS Selection#14 - easing off (downtempo/abstract beats/trip hop)

2011-06-28T22:17:00.001+02:00

This 14th selection of our podcasts/selections focuses on deep slo-mo abstract beats.

You'll find recent productions from a bunch of remarkable underground artists like Submotion Orchestra, James Blake, Actress or Toro Y Moi.

Hopefully they'll have you slow down, relax and ease off !

Tracklisting, downloadable podcast format and track by track streaming below :

Tracklisting :
Quest - Smooth Skin
Toro Y Moi - Talamak
Thieves Like Us - Never Known Love
Teebs - Wind Loop
Jam Da Silva - Dia Santo
Yonderboy - Pink Solidism (Riders On the Storm from The Doors cover)
Submotion Orechstra - Jam1
The Weeknd - What You Need
James Blake - What Was It You Said About Luck
Actress - Harrier Attk
Machine Drum - Flud
Deerhunter - Helicopter

V4YS EP Review - Gang Colours - In Your Gut Like A Knife Ep (Brownswood Recordings)

2011-06-22T21:41:00.001+02:00

After having listened to some promessing extracts a while ago, I was so eagerly waiting the release of Southampton-based Gang Colours (aka Will Ozanne)'s first EP that I actually missed it when it finally came out in early June on the always excellent Brownswood Recordings label.
Anyway, better late than never to mention this brilliant EP gathering 4 tracks symbolic of the creativity of the current Uk electro scene.
"In Your Gut Like A Knife" has house, dubstep and abstract beats answering each other in a subtle deluge of unexpected sounds and samples. In the wake of artists like Mount Kimbie, Gold Panda, or even Four Tet, Gang Colours contributes another brick to a Uk bass-culture building that keeps adding new storeys. The sky is the limit they say. Are they so sure?
Below a quick sampler of the EP :

Après avoir entendu de ci de là ces derniers mois quelques bribes de titres du jeune producteur anglais de Southampton Gang Colours (aka Will Ozanne), j'attendais impatiemment son premier maxi. Tellement impatiemment que j'ai loupé en début de mois sa sortie sur le toujours excellent label Brownswood Recordings.
Quoi qu'il en soit mieux vaut tard que jamais pour souligner la qualité de "In Your Gut Like A Knife" qui symbolise à merveille la créativité sans borne de l'actuelle scène electro britannique. Dialogue déroutant entre rythmes house, dubstep ou abstract beats, ce maxi essaime aussi une multitude de sonorités et de samples autant dépaysant qu'inattendus.
Dans le sillage d'artistes comme Mount Kimbie, Gold Panda voir Four Tet, Gang Colours apporte à son tour une jolie pierre à un édifice de la "Uk bass-culture" qui ne cesse de grandir!
Ci-dessus un sampler du maxi.

V4YS Special Selection - Peace Go With You, Brother Gil Scott-Heron

2011-06-18T17:30:00.000+02:00

Alongside Fela Kuti, Marvin Gaye or John Coltrane, Gil Scott-Heron is part of this small circle of unforgettable artists whose music and spirit are with me all the time, wherever I go, whatever I do.
And always will be.

If I cannot recommend you more to listen to each and every of his album to fully grasp the extent of his genius, I nevertheless wanted to propose a selection of some of my favorite Gil songs to those of you who are not familiar enough with his work.
So here comes "Peace Go With You, Brother Gil Scott-Heron", our modest tribute to this immense artist who sadly just passed away.

From tracks ferociously denouncing societal, economical and political issues to reflections about the struggle of the human kind in its fight against addictions to beautiful poetic songs full of love and hope, you'll find in this podcast some of the various faces of this fundamental artist.
Peace Go With You, Brother Gil!

Please find below the streaming of our selection (in two parts) as well as podcast and track-by-track format download links here (part1 / part2).

Part1 :

Part2 :

Tracklisting (with links to each song lyrics which are such an important part of his legacy) :

Part1:
We Almost Lost Detroit (probably my favorite Gil's song, written in 1977 in reference of a nuclear power plant incident that happened in 1966 in Detroit, the lyrics were (sadly) particularly visionaries...)
A Lovely Day (5' 10'')
Song For Bobby Smith (8' 33'')
I'll Call It Morning (13' 06'')
The Other Side, Pt.I (16' 41'')
Angel Dust (21' 58'')
Angola, Louisiana (26' 09'')
Work For Peace (31' 38'')
Whitey On The Moon (39' 04'')
Winter In America (solo version) (40' 31'')
Your Daddy Loves You (46' 47'')
Part2:
Lady Day And John Coltrane
Home Is Where The Hatred Is (3'33'')
Johannesburg (6' 49'')
The Bottle (live) (11' 24'')
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (24' 47'')
"B" Movie (long version) (27'42'')
You Could Be My Brother (39' 48'')

And just for the pleasure, some of my favorite Gil's quotes (actually still very much topical) :

From "Work For Peace" :
"The Military and the Monetary, get together whenever they think its necessary,
they turn our brothers and sisters into mercenaries, they are turning the planet into a cemetery.
The Military and the Monetary, use the media as intermediaries,
they are determined to keep the citizens secondary, they make so many decisions that are arbitrary."

From "B Movie" (written following R Reagan election in 1980, sadly still very much topical isn'it?) :
"As Wall Street goes, so goes the nation. And here's a look at the closing numbers: racism's up, human rights are down, peace is shaky, war items are hot. The House claims all ties. Jobs are down, money is scarce, and common sense is at an all-time low on heavy trading. Movies were looking better than ever, and now no one is looking, because we're starring in a "B" movie."

From "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" :
"The revolution will not go better with Coke.
The revolution will not fight the germs that may cause bad breath.
The revolution will put you in the driver's seat.
The revolution will not be televised"

From "I'll Call It Morning" :
"Why should I survive on sadness?
And tell myself I got to be alone
Why should I subscribe to this world's madness?
Knowing that I've got to live on
Yeah I think I'll call it morning
From now on"

From "Lady Day and John Coltrane" (in reference to Billie Holliday and Coltrane, a tribute on the healing power of Music and Art in general) :
"Ever feel kinda down and out, you don't know just what to do--
Livin' all of your days in darkness let the sun shine through--
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere, you've lost your way--
And if you don't get help quick you won't make it through the day--
Could you call on Lady Day, Could you call on John Coltrane
Now ‘cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles away!"

V4YS EP Review - Floating Points & Fatima - Follow You Ep (Eglo Records)

2011-06-16T22:38:00.000+02:00

Ever since the release of his first EPs in 2009 Floating Points (aka Sam Shepard ) has become one of my favorite deep house producer.
He started collaborating with singer Fatima on his other main project, called "Floating Points Ensemble", which blends his deep electro vibes with an orchestra featuring a full string section. After a great EP in 2010, the Ensemble should release a first LP should soon on Ninjatune.
While at it, he also worked on a Floating Points Ep with the swedish diva and here comes the "Follow You Ep", out recently on his own label Eglo records.
Let's say it right away, while quite different this Ep is as good as the previous "Love Me Like This" and "Vacuum" EP's that I highly recommend if you have missed them.
The first two tracks "Cinammon" and "Mind" carry a delicious JayDill-esque/Badu flava with groovy beats, warm keyboards and nusoul-like vocals. Then comes "Innervisions", a downtempo song where Fatima takes centerstage with a throbbing spiritual lyrical flow. Finally, "Red Light", my favorite of the four, a splendid deep house cut reminiscent of early Saint-Germain productions, where Rhodes-inspired synths answer deep housy beats forming a perfect frame for Fatima's soulful words.
In brief : another brilliant Floating Points that deserve all your attention!

Below a streaming of "red Lights" and "mind", have your fair share of deepness!

V4YS Concert Review - Chris Dave & Friends - Live At New Morning, 110611

2011-06-13T21:24:00.003+02:00

Chris Dave - Photo Vincent B.

Après le concert mémorable qu'il a livré il y a environ un mois avec ses complices du Robert Glasper Experiment, l'infatigable batteur Chris Dave est repassé samedi soir par le New Morning pour son premier concert parisien en tant que tête d'affiche.

Intitulé "Chris Dave & Friends" la soirée a réservé de très jolies surprises étant donné le pédigré des "friends" en question...

Pino Palladino - Photo Vincent B.

Depuis le bassiste Pino Palladino, qui enregistre et accompagne sur scène les plus grands depuis plus de 30 ans, jusqu'au guitariste Tim Stewart et au saxophoniste Kebbi Williams, le plateau était sans nul doute au niveau de l'immense talent du batteur.

Après une première partie très free-jazz d'une virtuosité rare, c'est de manière incrédule que l'on a écouté "Daddy" Dave nous demander (bien inutilement) de l'indulgence car c'était en fait la première fois que le quatuor jouait ensemble!

Nous n'avions pourtant encore rien vu.

Kebbi Williams - photo Vincent B.

En mode improvisation totale, le second set a donné lieu à une avalanche de covers incroyables de D'Angelo sauce Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Jay Dilla ou encore Fela Kuti ont servi de sources d'inspiration aux quatre musiciens déchainés.

Le quatuor doit à priori bientôt se réunir en studio pour enregistrer un album, je n'ose imaginer ce que ça va pouvoir donner s'ils ont un peu de temps pour vraiment répéter ensemble!

Chris Dave - photo Vincent B.

Ci-dessous petits extraits vidéos avec deux jams inspirés par Fela Kuti puis par D'Angelo version Jimi Hendrix :

Less than a month after the breathtaking concert he gave with his mates from the Robert Glasper Experiment, tireless drummer Chris Dave was back at the New Morning this saturday for his first parisian show as headliner.
Simply titled "Chris Dave & Friends" the evening was once again full of pleasant musical discoveries which will not be totally surprising to those who are familiar with the background of the "friends" in question. From legendary bassist Pino Palladino, who has recorded and played with some of the greatest artists around, to guitarist Tim Stewart and sax player Kebbi Williams, the trio was definitely up to the drummer's talent.
After a mind-blowing first part dedicated to some free-jazz jams, "Daddy" Dave had the audience scratch his head in disbelief when he announced that the quatuor had never played together before....This was all the more stunning considering the second set we experienced subsequently !
In full impro mode, the band offered several astonishing covers inspired by themes from the likes of D'Angelo, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Jay Dilla or Fela Kuti. The crew is supposed to spend some studio time together later this year to record an album, I just can't imagine what they'll be capable of!

Please find above small video extracts of the concert, with jams inspired by Fela Kuti and D'Angelo/Jimi Hendrix.

V4YS Album Review - Bon Iver - "Bon Iver, Bon Iver"

2011-06-09T23:06:00.002+02:00

Three years. This is the time it took Bon Iver (aka Justin Vernon) to write and record the ten songs of his second LP, self-titled "Bon Iver, Bon Iver".
It may have felt too long to his numerous fans (at least to me!) but the Eau-Claire, Wisconsin, resident has been quite busy in the meantime.
Busy coping with celebrity and fame following the much-deserved worldwide acclaim he received following his masterpiece "For Emma, Forever Ago". Busy dealing with unexpected artistic requests like his recent participation on Kanye West new record.
Busy moving his recording shelter from his father improbable hunting cabin in the middle of some Wisconsin woods to "April Base" a real studio he set-up in a small town nearby Eau-Claire.
But eventually he did it, and he obviously has'nt lost his knack for writing beautiful folk melodies nor his talent for managing auto-tune effects that sublimate his touching falsetto voice.
That being said he who says "real" studio implies a more elaborate and complex work. This is the case for this sophomore record that carries a richer instrumentation and sounds definitely more "produced". While its overall tone is also brighter than For Emma's one, the feeling of intimacy and melancholy remains. His girlfriend, the singer Kathleen Edwards, summed it up nicely in a great bio article recently published in the Nyt when she said "You can place yourself inside his songs and his music, because he leaves space for you".
That's exactly it, no clearly spelled lyrics, no specific themes, the listener is free to take over each song and place his own feelings or emotions on them. So go for it and design your own "Bon Iver, Bon Iver".

Please find below a full streaming of the album :

Those in love with with great indie-folk may wanna check our recent review of the fantastic new LP of a less well-known "chamber folk" band called Loch Lomond.
You can also listen and download our recent special folk selections/podcasts "In The Mood For Folk" and "In The Mood For (more) Folk".

3 ans. C'est le temps qu'il a fallu à Bon Iver (aka Justin Vernon) pour écrire et enregistrer les 10 chansons qui composent son second album simplement intitulé "Bon Iver, Bon Iver". Cette parenthèse a pu sembler longue à ses fans (à tout le moins à moi) mais le songwriter n'a pas eu une minute à lui depuis la sortie de son chef d'oeuvre "For Emma, Forever Ago".
Il a fallu s'habituer à la célébrité et aux sollicitations médiatiques. Il a fallu répondre aux propositions artistiques les plus surprenantes comme celle qui l'a vu collaborer au dernier album du rapper Kanye West. Il a fallu quitter l'improbable abri de chasse de son père perdu au milieu d'une forêt proche de sa ville d'Eau-Claire dans le Wisconsin, qui lui servait tout à la fois de refuge et de studio d'enregistrement improvisé, pour construire "April Base" un vrai studio sur mesure dans une petite ville des alentours.
Tout cela a pris du temps mais le résultat est à la hauteur du talent de cet artiste atypique à la sensibilité hors du commun. On retrouve donc avec émotion des mélodies folks superbes portées par une voix de fausset dont la pureté est toujours magnifiée par l'ajout d'effets auto-tune.
L'utilisation d'un "vrai" studio a permis la collaboration de plusieurs musiciens avec à la clé une orchestration plus riche qui explique peut-être un ton d'ensemble un peu plus lumineux que sur "For Emma". La sensation diffuse d'intimité et de mélancolie qu'on ressentait à l'écoute du premier album est néanmoins toujours bien présente. Kathleen Edwards, chanteuse et compagne de Justin, résumait récemment très bien ce sentiment dans un très bon article du New-york Times consacré à l'artiste lorsqu'elle disait "Vous pouvez rentrer à l'intérieur de ses chansons et de sa musique car il vous laisse la place nécessaire pour que vous vous y installiez". Pas de paroles clairement prononcées, pas de thèmes clairement définis, à vous de vous appropirer chaque morceau pour y laisser vagabonder vos propres émotions. Il ne vous reste plus qu'à vous ruer sur ce disque et à dessiner les contours de votre propre "Bon Iver, Bon Iver".

Ci-dessus streaming de l'album dans son intégralité.

Je recommande aussi chaudement aux amoureux d'indie-folk de jeter un oeil sur notre review récente du dernier album d'un groupe de "chamber-folk" moins connu mais tout aussi intéressant : Loch Lomond.

Voici enfin deux liens vers nos récents podcasts/sélections spécial folk : "In The Mood For Folk" et "In The Mood For (more) Folk".

V4YS Album Review - Submotion Orchestra - Finest Hour (Exceptional Records)

2011-06-07T19:52:00.000+02:00

Submotion Orchestra was created two years ago in Leeds for a special live show at the famous York Minster cathedral.
Was it a sign of the Gods (of music)?
To me there is no doubt!
Since I discovered their first stunning Ep a few months ago I have been eargerly waiting for the LP "Finest Hour", which is at last being released on the (well-named) label Exceptional Records.
Led by drummer Tommy Evans and electro producer Dom Howard the combo features 7 outstanding Uk musicians blending a delicate nu-jazz sound with a hypnotic dub/dubstep-influenced rythmic background. A kind of futuristic marriage between Cinematic Orchestra and some early Massive Attack beats.
Add to that Ruby Wood's bewitching soulful voice and you get a true moment of grace.
But that's not all!
In the band's opinion, this project was always supposed to reach its climax on stage, which is not always the case for this kind of downtempo productions. Considering the brilliant Maida Vale live sessions aired a few weeks back on the BBC, I would highly recommend you try to catch them for their first proper tour that started recently in the Uk (before hopefully visiting the rest of the world)!

Below a streaming of the single "All Night" as well as a soundcloud sampler of the album :

Submotion Orchestra est né en 2009 à Leeds à l'occasion d'un concert très spécial dans la majestueuse cathédrale gothique de York Minster. Etait-ce un signe des Dieux (de la musique)? Cela ne fait aucun doute pour moi!
Depuis la découverte il y a quelques mois de leur superbe premier maxi, j'attendais impatiemment la sortie de l'album, "Finest Hour". Il est enfin disponible sur le bien-nommé label Exceptional Records et devrait faire date.
Sous la houlette du batteur Tommy Evans et du producteur electro Dom Howard, le combo de 7 musiciens britanniques associe un son nu-jazz délicat à une rythmique hypnotique aux accents dub et dubstep. Une sorte de mariage futuriste entre Cinematic Orchestra et un Massive Attack des premières heures. On a vu pire comme filiation non?
Rajoutez la voix envoûtante et très soulful de la chanteuse Ruby Wood et vous obtenez un pur moment de grâce (et accessoirement un de mes gros coups de coeur 2011).
Ce n'est pas tout. Le groupe a conçu ce projet avec l'idée directrice qu'il prendrait toute sa dimension sur scène, ce qui n'est pas toujours le cas avec ce genre de productions downtempo. Si je me fie aux superbes sessions radio enregistrées live et diffusées il y a quelques semaines sur la BBC je ne peux qu'envier ceux qui auront la chance d'assister au tour qu'ils viennent d'entamer en Angleterre (avant je l'espère de venir en France).
Ci-dessus un streaming du single "All Night" et un sampler soudcloud de l'album.

V4YS Album Review - Bop - The amazing adventures of one curious pixel (Med School Music)

2011-06-05T21:33:00.002+02:00

Let's go east. To Saint-Petersburg, Russia, home of producer Bop who just released possibly one of my favorite 2011 electronica record on Med School Music, "The amazing adventures of one curious pixel".
Blending shades of minimal house, deep dubstep and groovy abstract beats, this LP is a very good digest of the electro sounds I currently crave for.
It is therefore not surprising that several familiar names come to mind while following his little pixel exciting trip through the digital music world.
I could for instance mention James Blake's more experimental sounds, Mount Kimbie's neat dubstep productions or Gold Panda 's housy side (the title "Sunrain" sounding actually like a nice extension of Gold Panda's "Marriage").
If the LP is mostly instrumental, it carries nevertheless two splendid semi-vocal cuts : "I Need You", a powerful dubstep anthem remix from a track by Russian producer Subwave, and "Extraterresterial Creatures..." a deeper moment with a soulful vocal chorus from Bev Lee Harling. Master in the art of polishing a myriad of synths layers, Bop has designed a warm and cosy world for his little pixel with a hint of mystery that should fulfil his curiosity (and yours as well I hope!).

Please find below a small sampler of the LP :

Cap à l'est! Plus précisément vers St-Pétersbourg en Russie d'où est originaire le jeune producteur Bop qui sort son excellent second album "The amazing adventures of one curious pixel" sur le label Med School Music.
Mélangeant des sonorités minimal house, deep dubstep et abstract beats, ce disque est une sorte de condensé de l'univers électro que je préfère actuellement. Il est alors assez naturel d'évoquer quelques noms familiers lorsque l'on suit de plus près les déambulations de ce petit pixel dans les méandres digitaux de l'electronica contemporaine. On pourra citer les productions les plus expérimentales de James Blake, le dubstep d'orfèvre de Mount Kimbie ou encore la façette la plus deep house de Gold Panda (dont le titre "Marriage" trouve en "Sunrain" un écho assez fascinant).
Si l'album est principalement instrumental il contient néanmoins deux superbes titres ou la présence de vocaux fait mouche : "I Need You", un hymne dubstep envoûtant, remix d'un morceau du producteur russe Subwave, et "Extraterresterial Creatures..." titre qui doit son caractère planant en bonne partie à l'excellent sample vocal de Bev Lee Harling.
Superposant à l'envie une multitude de nappes de synthés sur un cadre rythmique de haute précision, Bop offre à son petit pixel un refuge à la fois chaleureux et mystérieux qui devrait satisfaire sa curiosité (et sans doute la votre par la même occasion!).
Ci-dessus un petit sampler de l'album.

Peace go with you, brother Gil Scott-Heron

2011-05-28T20:15:00.000+02:00

Gil Scott-Heron sadly passed away today.

An immense musician & poet, his free soul will be dearly missed. His timeless music as well as his message of peace and brotherhood surely will keep on inspiring generations of human beings.

Peace go with you, brother.

As a modest tribute, please find below a few live extracts of his unforgettable last visits to Paris, last June and September of 2010.

We Almost Lost Detroit/Work For Peace medley, Pt.1 & 2 (live et the New Morning, Jun10) :

Winter In America (live at the Cité de la Musique, Sep10):

Picture Vincent B., September 2010, Paris