Music Archive: September 2011
Here is a very small selection of the new music we've been playlisting this month
Jono McCleery- There Is (Counter Records)
The debut album by the man Jamie Woon recently described as "a really fantastic singer-songwriter" is finally upon us, courtesy of Ninja Tune offshoot Counter. McCleery has been earning his live stripes touring with a load of Open Ear favourites over the last year, including such luminaries as Gil Scott-Heron, Bonobo, Fink, Little Dragon, Jose Gonzales and Woon himself. With this amount of people so keen to associate themselves with him, and with his Nick Drake/John Martyn/Jeff Buckley acoustics (crossed with his glitchy James Blake-esque take on minimal electro), it's no wonder McCleery's music is being so talked about this month.
Toddla T- Watch Me Dance (Ninja Tune)
Retro-modernism aimed at the radio and the dancefloor- rather than the bassbox and the blog- is always to be admired. While Toddla T is unlikely to have attended any of the events at the dawn of the 90s that shaped his sound (when he would have been a toddler Toddla), he's put together an admirable collection of tracks that would not sound out of place on the 'Weekender' soundtrack that's so enrapturing the press right now. Vintage rave and reggae featuring veteran vocalism from Roots Manuva, Roisin Murphy and Ms. Dynamite never sounded so vital.
Colonel Red- Keep Walkin' (Tokyo Dawn)
Hot on the heel's of Tru Thoughts' reissue of Omar's 'Sing' last month, Tokyo Dawn keep the neo-soul flag flying high with the debut full-length from Soul Parlor collaborator Colonel Red. Red comes to us from Jamaica via Birmingham, and his CV includes work with Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker, Bugz In The Attic and Amp Fiddler. 'Keep Walkin'' is as finely a crafted collection of soul/jazz/funk as you'll find this side of D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq. Really!
Polar Bear- Dim Lit (Babel)
We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Babel to our roster, and we've picked this Mercury-nominated gem from their back catalogue to kick things off with. Released in 2004, 'Dim Lit' introduced the world to drummer-and-bandleader Seb Rochford, his bassist Tom Herbert and their two saxes; yet such is the musicianship that many listeners had to be forgiven for thinking this was the product of a much bigger band. Hypnotic, improvisational and spontaneous melodies, this record brings together the best parts of the best jazz in a form ready to be appreciated by all.
Various- Allo Love (Wah Wah 45s)
With this compilation of scorching hard-to-find cuts, super-fresh new tracks and a sprinkling of appropriate singles from other labels, Wah Wah 45s are really spoiling us. Especially since it's a digital release, coming in at a more-than respectable £5... As you'd expect, this compilation is laden with nothing but the finest in soul/funk, featuring sweet treats from Colman Brothers, Hackney Colliery Band and Landslide; and it further delights us by inviting the cream of Jazzman artists to the party.
Various- True Soul: Deep Sounds From The Left Of Stax Vol. 2 (Now Again)
As part two of an anthology that's been 12 years in the making, you know you're in for a treat. Especially when you know it's Now Again behind it... Stones Throw's sister label have excelled themselves with this collection, bringing together funk and soul from the fabled Arkansas label True Soul, most of which so rare that it's never actually been graced with a release until now. The development, and influence of, Southern Soul is laid bare across these releases. World-changing, genre-creating genius from the middle of nowhere, presented with a hardback book and DVD to help tell the story.
Wolf + Lamb- Love Someone (Wolf + Lamb)
Another new label for Open Ear this month, and it's New York's prolific house label Wolf + Lamb who are delighting us with this, their forthcoming release by label heads Zev Eisenberg and Gadi Mizrahi. This is stripped-down house built from the bottom up, often mournful, always heartfelt and thoughtful, that points towards the post-modern future of house, via the sound of label-mate Nicolas Jaar.
Bjork- Crystalline (One Little Indian)
The last of the 'Crystalline' series (of four CDs) is finally with us. As much of a visual experiment as a musical one, the original 'Crystalline' was borne from what Bjork describes as a "meditation on the relationship between music, nature and technology". This closing part of the quartet is made up of two Matthew Herbert mixes (and instrumentals), and appropriately features Herbert at his experimental best. Spooky, complex and mechanical, this is the work of two musicians leagues ahead of the game, even after twenty years apiece making music.
Renee Stefanie- Hooked (Self Released)
Upon hearing Open Ear's Cafe DJ stream in Edinburgh's Zulu Lounge, east-coast jazz singer Stefanie was suitably keen to let us hear her own music. We're glad she did, because we love it! 'Hooked' is a sophisticated, tender take on a selection of her favourite jazz standards (mostly), but it's the original tracks here that drew us in so quickly. Modern jazz with elements of soul and hip-hop that puts us on the edge of our seats for news of the forthcoming album of her own compositions.