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J*DaVeY- POMP

L.A. Duo J*DaVeY return in fine form after a little hiatus and offer the clear and concise “POMP”. After a long drawn out wait with Warner Bros. the duo broke free and released their “New Designer Drug” independently. Unfortunate that they were stuck in shelved album status because their work with the likes of The Roots, J Dilla, Blu, 88 Keys among others should have left no doubt that these cats just needed a label to distribute not shape them. Pomp offers us a renewed and focused J*DaVeY that remind us of the foundation they laid down in the pop realm. Even if they were finding their legs when they first started, they were still miles ahead of the curve. This time out it’s Jack Davey who offers something new by playing with inflection while Brooke D’Leau offers consistent production work. Some of the hooks and lyrics seem to stem from some play time in the studio which is all laid out at the end in the comical “Bit of Banter Outro”. If they offer up such playful, genre bending goodies like these, maybe their strength is in a whittled down ep format…either way please don’t make us wait so long for the next round…

#jdavey #jackdavey #pomp #brookdleau

Kelis- 'Food' Kelis returns from the future sounds of clubland to stand firmly in the thick funk of sweaty brass and the sounds of 60’s and 70’s soul. Her long player “Food” is an amalgam of fat bass lines, afro funk percussion and that husky rasp of a voice that guides you through some blaxploitation funk (Jerk Ribs), some spaghetti western torch(Change) and even live Hip Hop swagger(Runnin’). While the joys of motherhood overshadow the divorce preceding her son’s birth, Food is definitely rooted in the present. An album based on the choices made to resign oneself to life adventures the universe can provide. To dub “Food’ a “divorce” album would be to limit the wisdom and nuance and wise rasp in that “voice” that is all at once vulnerable, bold, seductive and coy. Food is a dish worth diving into.

Where has this been? Why am I only discovering this?!? Repeat button pushed!! A bit of 80's r&b reminiscent of the SOS Band and Loose Ends.

Excited to hear the conclusion of the Cindi Mayweather/Metropolis saga...

Beautiful ballad from Smoove & Turrell.

Bonus closing track on the Smoove and Turrell- "Eccentric Audio" LP

Smoove & Turrell- Eccentric Audio

The duo Smoove and Turrell are English northerners from Newcastle that have managed to blend Funk, Break Beat and Hip-hop seamlessly. Influences from the likes of De La Soul, the Brand New Heavies, Gnarls Barkley to Micheal McDonald and even Dean Martin are in their music. Though this is merely there second outing, collaborations with Kraak & Smaak and left of field covers of Yazoo’s “Don’t Go” and Micheal Jackson’s “It’s the Falling in Love” have made heads turn and rediscover those classics in a different context. John Turrell’s voice is pretty charming giving John Legend a run for his money. While Smoove’s beats and production make the LP swing between horn-laden downtempo hip hop (“Broke”), Disco (“It’s the Falling In Love”) and Funk (“Higher” & “I Need A Change”). Turrell really shows you his chops on the downtempo ballads “Wasted Man” and the piano lulling “Gabriel”. The record closes with the uptempo Dilouya track- “The Way It Goes”. A nice disco funk burner that features Turrell and Sandra Nkake sharing vocal duties. Solid.

#John Turrel #Kraak & Smakk #Smoove & Turrell

FIERCE- Azealia Banks Feat. Franklin Fuentes Vs. Josh Peace

This fantastic cult jam off Banks' "Fantasea" mixtape gets a tasteful overhaul courtesy of L.A.'s own Josh Peace. Injecting a little 80's flavor with George Kranz's "Din Da Da" and adding some Baltimore Bass rhythms, he tastefully delivers the goods while keeping the integrity of the original. The vocals of Franklin Fuentes (Paris is Burning) are at the front of the mix making this more a duet where past and present co-exist. Banks has had a hand in the resurgence of 80's/90's Deep House and Acid flavors. Considering she was just born in this time period it's a nice homage. It's the perfect sonic bed for you to hear her delivery. It also helps us get away from the overproduced 4/4 clutter we've been stuck with since the early 2000's. This truly wets our appetite for her full length LP "Broke With Expensive Taste" set to drop late February. Amen.

Free Download:

http://soundcloud.com/azealia-banks/fierce-josh-peace-mustache

SANTIGOLD - DISPARATE YOUTH

"The braggadocious moves to deep on the stellar “Disparate Youth”(Cleverly borrowing from XTC’s “Making Plans for Nigel” and Siousxie & The Banshees “Forever”)..."

Santigold- Master of my Make-Believe

It's been a busy four years since Santi White dropped her genre bending, then eponymous "Santogold". Since then she's survived a legal battle over her stage name, fought her label over creative control and even churned out an albums worth of collaborations. Basement Jaxx, David Byrne, Jay-Z and Kanye West, Spank Rock, Amanda Blank, the Beastie Boys, Christina Aguilera, N.A.S.A., Devo, Major Lazer and Amadou and Miriam have all sought her talents. All that practice should leave no doubt in her ability to deliver the goods.

Master of my Make-Believe is as good as it's predecessor. While there are less New Wave and Ska influences, this time 80's World influences take center stage. Her bravado is still there as opener "GO!!!" draws a line in the sand for her detractors. The collaboration between Q-Tip and Yeah Yeah Yeah's Nick Zinner and Karen O answers any questions about Santi's absence. The braggadocious moves to deep on the stellar "Disparate Youth"(Cleverly borrowing from XTC's "Making Plans for Nigel" and Siousxie & The Banshees "Forever") and "God From The Machine". Both feature new collaborators Ricky Blaze and Greg Kurstin respectively. While Diplo and Switch make their appearances with the bouncy and catchy "Freak Like Me" and "Look at These Hoes", the new collaborations take center stage. "This Isn't Our Parade" features Dave Sitek and brings to mind Peter Gabriel while "The Riot's Gone" has Nick Zinner's guitar reminding us of YYY's "Maps" and frenetic kodo drumming and vocals that recall Siouxie and Budgie in the form of the Creatures("Boomerang"). "The Keepers" has a galloping back beat that has Kate Bush stamped all over it while the melody recalls Stevie Nicks. Don't slag these off as retreads. They're carefully crafted and purposefully done. What makes Santi great is her ability to make you want to recall other genres. Yes there will always be comparisons to global sister M.I.A.(check "Fame"). They're inevitable based on the Switch and Diplo connection but this time out the real similarities come through. There are darker undercurrents that make the political personal and the personal political. There's a little more heart and sentiment here this time around. Welcome back!!

After ten years of silence that included the band members moving to LA and individually striking out on their own, the band reunites. Preview tracks here.

Alice Russell covers Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy".

Alice Russell performs an acoustic version of "Mirror Mirror On The Wolf (Tell The Story Right)" from the album 'My Favorite Letters'.

The brilliance of Alice Russell. Y'all share dat!!

Alice Russell- Pot of Gold

The former First Lady of Tru Thoughts re-emerged in 2008 after much touring. 'Pot of Gold' is a fine sophomore effort on her own label Little Poppet/Six Degrees. This time out Alice delivers a "live" sounding set reminding us of her work with Will "Quantic" Holland and his Quantic Soul Orchestra. You may be used to hearing Alice sing over tracks with glitches of futurism and programming but this time out it's straight live funk and it holds your attention, mailnly because of that set of pipes she unleashes. The opening two funk stormers lead the herd out the gate. Strings and tight drum snares set the tempo for upbeat 4/4 rhythms reminiscent of Stax label soul-"Turn and Run" and "Two Steps". From there she jumps to a bit of Afrobeat on "Living the Life of a Dreamer". This is where you realize the ensemble cast of supporting players, from the horn section, to bassist- Alex Cowen, to violinist- Mike Simmons truly feel what they are putting down on tape and are truly talented musicians. "Let us be Loving" is one of the other highlights that simmers with slow building funk and finally explodes on each chorus. There's the smoldering Gnarls Barkley cover of "Crazy" that is just as classic for it's approach in arrangement. She revisits samba on "Universe" and the album closer "All Alone" sums up her views on our trajectory..."Look the city streets are burning. Everyone of us looks on. Seems our minds were meant for turning...Turning on." It's that voice ultimately, that really is incomparable no matter how many flavor of the moment comparisons are out there. No one, but NO ONE can fake what Miss Russell has. There are no gimmicks, no tabloid fodder, nothing dramatic about her life. It's all in THAT voice, music and phrasing of lyrics she shares with us. If you ever read this Miss Russell "Thank you" and please don't stop. For the rest you, let this be your starting point to delve into her back catalog and check out what you've been sleeping on.

J*DaVeY - Raincheck (by iLLaV8r

) From the new Evil Christian Cop: The Great Mistapes EP

communicatinginthed-deactivated

A new, living democracy is emerging in Detroit. Some of our most progressive organizations are challenging the legal basis of the EM laws. Some people are organizing petition drives to recall the governor and to boycott all charter schools. Many are embracing the work of our Charter Commission that has created an impressive document to establish responsive city government. Some of us are taking direct action. Robert Bobb was shouted off the stage at Kettering High School, so shaken he cancelled the next town hall meeting. On April 15, teen mom students at Catherine Ferguson Academy refused to leave the building, protesting efforts to close or charterize their school. Citizens surrounded the home of Maryanne Godboldo to prevent a swat team from using violence against her and her child. Neighbors are refusing to allow evictions and organizing for community safety through peace zones. This is the new, living democracy beginning to grow in Detroit. Note: To be part of this new democratic action: come to Church of the Messiah, E. Grand Blvd & Lafayette, April 23 at 12 Noon for a community vigil against violence. Creating Peace.

Democracy and the city (via communicatinginthed)

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