Music Archive: January 2010
Judging by the music we've been finding recently, 2010 is going to be sounding pretty exceptional. We strongly recommend that everybody stops talking about the weather for a few minutes, and takes the time to investigate some of our office favourites...
Blockhead- The Music Scene (Ninja Tune)
The fourth full-length album from New York producer Tony Simon, and the third one to be entirely instrumental. Beautiful, emotive music with a firm nod to Simon's hip-hop roots, 'The Music Scene' sounds as confident as it is ambitious.
Emika- Drop The Other (Ninja Tune)
More greatness from the ever-reliable Ninja Tune, this time with an underground dubstep flavour. Emika's debut EP is a slow motion, cinematic collision of classical piano, glitched-out edits and skitering drum patterns. The genuine epicness of this record will assure across-the-board respect, and not just some nodding heads in an East London warehouse.
DK7- Frame Of Mind (Process)
When Trevor Jackson's Output label closed it's doors in 2007, Process were quick to sign up DK7, the collaborative house project of Jesper Dahlback and Mark O'Sullivan. It wasn't long before Jesper and Mark had to concentrate on their solo recordings, but Process were smart enough to hold onto 'Frame of Mind'. With remixes from Jesper's cousin John Dahlback, Ireland's Corrugated Tunnel, up-and-coming Londoner Dan Cat and Berlin resident Tommy Four Seven this looks set to be the first big dance track of the new decade.
Paul White- Sounds From The Skylight (One Handed Music)
The brilliant One Handed Music have done it again with this mini album of slanted samples and perfectly wonky beats from the UK's answer to Madlib. 19 tracks of atmospheric, futuristic sampledelic genius- you heard it hear first.
Oh No- Dr No's Ethiopium (Stones Throw)
The Madlib connection continues, as his brother Oh No has been busy recently. After producing the last Mos Def album he set about recording this, his fourth long-player. Eastern sounds, deep grooves and old-school hip-hop combine to create the freshness that only Stones Throw seem able to provide. Thoroughly recommended.
Various - Forge Your Own Chains: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads and Dirge (Now Again)
Not exactly new, but we've found ourselves listening to this compilation of beat-heavy global psychedlia so much recently that it would be rude not to mention it here. Compiled by Egon, the man behind the 'Funky 16 Corners' compilation, no stone has been left unturned to dig up these gems, and they sound as vital today as they ever did.
Zoey Van Goey - The Cage Was Unlocked All Along (Chemikal Underground)
In lieu of any recent Belle & Sebastian material, let's allow fellow Glaswegians to slip into that cardigan on their behalf and provide us with an album of gorgeous, delicate, hook-laden folk-pop. Stuart Murdoch of B&S was so impressed he even produced the luscious single, 'Foxtrot Vandals'. A must for any fan of finely-crafted pop.
Sebastien Tellier - L'amour Et La Violence (Floating Points Remixes) (La Ritournelle)
Saucy French sophisticate Tellier returns to seduce our ears and corrupt our minds with a new single. The gentle smoothness of L'amour Et La Violence should be just the thing to warm you up, from the inside out, on a cold snowy night.
Dam Funk - Toeachizown (Stones Throw)
Man of the moment Dam Funk has finally dropped his debut album, and it was definitely well worth the wait. Mixing the funkiest moments of Juan Atkins with the sound of Prince and modern-day L.A. this five-part modern-funk concept masterpiece is going to be getting a LOT of play from us. And with very good reason.
Flunk - This Is What You Get (Beatservice)
Ever-excellent Norwegian experimentalists Flunk return, and as usual they're sound is so up to the minute it's as if they invented it. This album, their fourth, is darker and more brooding than anything they've done in the past, seems to draw influence from the backstreets of London with dub-step tinged beats but doesn't sacrifice the rock, pop or house that they've already proven to have mastered.