Facebook, Bitches!

Tonegents is on hiatus for the next couple of weeks, not that you'd notice what with my sporadic posting habits of late. But there will be all sorts of goodies posted at the Tonegents Facebook page throughout the break, so make sure you head over there and "like" that shit up if you like free music. Happy Holidays!

I made a rap tune...

As you know, I inflict an original tune upon the world once in a while... but you may not know that I've always wanted to do Hip-Hop, but never had an MC to spit over my mad beats. BUT NO MORE! I ended up meeting Mr. Jarvis Miller... and if you can see his picture there, it's obvious that we are in fact twins separated at birth. Even I have a hard time telling us apart. IT'S FREAKIN' UNCANNY! Anyhoo, I made a beat, he made a rap and the results are pure Hip-Hop fucking magic if I do say so myself... okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration but I think it turned out pretty good for a first shot. THE FIRST OF MANY! TAKOVER IN PROGRESS! RULIN' THE RAP GAME IN THE 1-3, YO! DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT! HERE COMES THE MAD FLAVA IN YOUR EAR! SMACK IT UP, FLIP IT, RUB IT DOWN, OH NO!



Ummm... okay. I'll work on my Hip-Hop lingo between now and the next one... and be sure to check out the rest of Jarvis' tracks. They, unlike this blog, are no joke, son...

Hullabaloo 4: Merry To The Core

Ho Ho Ho, Pimps & Hoes!

It's time again for the sort-of-annual Tonegents Christmas Music Mix Specatacular, aka the Happy Holiday Hullabaloo. So, um, well... here it is. It's not for the kiddies, of course, because honestly I'm sick Christmas being all about those little pricks. Just click it, sit back, smoke a Christmas tree and get your egg nog on...

Hullabaloo 4: Merry To The Core by Tonegent on Mixcloud

Download Available Here!

Suck on that, Burl Ives... and have a great holiday, bitches.

Make your "O" face...

Consider this an early Christmas present...



... courtesy of the man, the myth, the Sebastian Ciceri... a sultry, cinematic soudtrack for sexytime. Enjoy...

Sebastian Ciceri presents O-Mix 4

More presents coming very soon... have a good weekend!

Yet somehow Donald Trump is allowed to live...

Bummer post today, unfortunately...



Tragically, up-and-coming Jazz piano phenom Austin Peralta passed away over Thanksgiving weekend at the age of 22, which is pretty fucking awful. I actually had the opportunity to see him last summer at a Brainfeeder showcase outside in MacArthur Park and he was an absolute bad-ass. Boo...

Austin Peralta - Ode To Love (ysi)

Have a great weekend...

Get Yo Skank On

It's a little known fact that back in the day, I could skank with the best of 'em...



Had my black combat boots and everything. Probably looked like a raging douchebag. But that's neither here nor there. Here's some classic stuff from The Maytals... which makes me wonder, where the fuck is Toots, yo?

The Maytals - Life Could Be A Dream (ysi)

Get up, rudeboy, and work off that Turkey!

Wither Da Spinners?

Busy, busy, busy Tone = another one post week. But its a good one, from an early '90s classic that's kind of slept on these days...



Masta Ace was a member of the legendary Juice Crew, a crew so legendary that you can't legally refer to it without using the word legendary. So that's legendary as fuck. After going out on his own for a while, he rounded up his own posse, which he called Masta Ace Incorporated. Honestly, I would have gone for Masta Ace, LLC for tax reasons, but hey... it's not my posse, so I guess I'll just shut up. Great beats on this record. Little Louie Vega even did a couple. But not this one. So I guess I'll just shut up again...

Masta Ace Incorporated - Sittin' On Chrome (ysi)

They don't make enough songs about rims these days. DON'T A BROTHA WANNA LOVE HIS DUBS NO MORE?

Follow me, youngster

Today, the shuffle takes us on another trip in the way-back machine...



... because in terms of Electronica, this is ancient history! But good history! Yeah, you may turn up your nose at The Shamen now, but when this came out, it was hot, yo! Actually, I wonder how many of you were of music-buying age when this came out. I'm sure most of ya are not half the geezer I am. Anyhoo, this album definitely falls under the category of those that have not aged gracefully, but out of all the tunes on it, this remix by Mr. Jack Dangers aka Meat Beat Manifesto was and still is my jam...

(My sexy player site isn't working today... grrr. So you'll just have to trust me. C'mon, you know you can. Now just follow me into this here windowless shack and I'll play you a little tune. Did I mention I have candy?)

(UPDATE - 11/15/2102: Would you believe this post just got DMCA'd FOUR YEARS AFTER I POSTED IT??!?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!? What a joke...)

Head Shaman Mr. C now runs a fine House label called End Recordings along with Layo from Layo & Bushwacka, so there's something a little more up to date for ya whippersnappers...

... now get off my lawn!

Someone think of the geese!

Sorry for the slow week... I was once again in the same room as David Hasselhoff on Monday and it takes a brother some time to recover from that...



Saxamaphone legend Pharoah Sanders is known mostly for his Free Jazz freakouts, which, let's be honest, aren't for everybody. The sound of a flock of geese on acid being strangled for twenty minutes isn't exactly pleasing, ya know? But when my man settled into a Soul Jazz groove, like on this record... pure bliss. Dig it...

Pharoah Sanders - Thembi (ysi)

Here's a groovy live TV performance of the same song featuring the keyboardist's haircut and outfit...



Anybody know what show that's from? Sez 1990. Hmmm... anyhoo, have a great weekend...

From The Backhanded Compliments Department...

There's no need to jizz all over every single artist you blog, you know...



Here's something you don't often hear a blogger say about someone he's posting a song from... I think Jaymz Nylon is kinda wack. There was a reason his stuff was always in the $1 bin. But even a dog has his day... and here's Jaymz'sz's'z right here. Always loved the vocal in this track. I guess it speaks to my inner African...

Jaymz Nylon - I Know A Place (Shades Of Black Mix) (ysi)






This outta-print comp is from the now-defunct (as all the great Deep House labels of yore seem to be) Chillifunk imprint and is available on the cheap. Go get you one...

A Great Gal

You see a lot of guys named Guy, but no so many gals named Gal. Discuss...



... but here's a gal for you right here... Brazilian legend Gal Costa. Now, I won't pretend to know everything about her, but I do know that she was probably the top female artist of the Tropicalia movement and was every bit as funky and out there as the boys. That said, this tune is more traditional sounding and even quite purdy...

Gal Costa - Presente Cotidiano (ysi)

Bonus points for cameltoe on the album cover. Because that's the kind of thing we give out bonus points for here...

Friday Funkiness

How can you go wrong with a song on a label called Blackdisco?



There's not much information out there on the artist known as Basso or which vintage funky Disco jam this is a re-edit of, but you don't need info to be able to get down. Dig it...

Basso - Cycles (ysi)

Have a good weekend, y'all...

Spanning The Globe!

And now for the greatest England/Japan collaboration since Bond & Odd Job...



It is between British Downtempo producer Kidkanevil, who's got a couple of nice albums already in the ol' collection, and Japanese dude Daisuke Tanabe, who I'd not heard of before, under the name Kidsuke. See what they did there? Clever, huh? Here in L.A. buildings like to do that when they're on the corner of two streets, so you end up with horrible names like the Laurelbev and the Melcox. Do they do that in other cities, or is L.A.'s lack of creativity just that pervasive? Discuss. Anyhoo, this is a very distinct sounding record... lots of tinkly toy-ish sounds matched with deep bass and off-kilter beats. Me likey...

Kidkanevil & Daisuke Tanabe - MoOoOoOn (ysi)

Now I just await the collaboration between Evel Knievel and Daisuke Matsuzaka, to make a reference absolutely no one who ever reads this will get. GOODNIGHT CLEVELAND!

I'm Gonna Blog You, Sucka!

Honkies and Honkettes! Sit yo narrow asses down and listen up!



Was there ever a movie genre that produced as much classic original music as Blaxploitation? Hell no, nigga! Shaft, Superfly, Trouble Man... I could keep going... these albums would be among some of the best Funk records of all time even if the movies had never existed. And the great Willie Hutch's soundtrack for The Mack is right up there with the best. Dig it, crackas...

Willie Hutch - Slick (ysi)

Now, I'm almost embarassed to say this... but despite my love for the soundtrack, I don't think I've ever seen The Mack all the way through. How very white of me. But hey, what's this?



Hold on, I'm gonna grab some popcorn. You want some, too?

The Song I Hear More Than Any Other Song

Okay, we're gonna try to get back on a regular posting schedule around here, since shit isn't quite so CRAAAAAAAY anymore...



So there's a reason I picked this particular song today... the way my iTunes is organized, this song just happens to be the very first song on the entire list. So every day, when I hop on there to shuffle it up and find a song for the blog, this song plays first. And since I literally hear at least a bit of this song every day, I think it deserves to be posted. Riveting story, eh? Here's the master of Congolese music, the dude so dope he has only one name... Franco...

Franco et l'OK Jazz - Mindondo Ya Kosuana (ysi)

Good freaking luck trying to find a copy of this record. But if you like the tune, you'll love this. If you don't like the tune... well, bite me then. XO

Sparse, Sporadic and Spare...

Welcome back once again to the Tonegents "Weekly MP3 If You're Lucky" Revue. Shit still be CRAAAAAAAY....



But hey, quit yer bitchin' and enjoy this classic '98 Metalheadz gear courtesy of Mr. J Majik...

J Majik - Freefall (ysi)

I HAVE however, been posting a lot of very nice things on the Facebook page lately because I'm all multi-platform and shit. So there's that. Get on it...

Invitation To Creepytown

Aren't ya lovin' this new once-a-week format? Yeah, I know. Pretty shitty. But what can I say, yo, SHIT BEEN CRAAAAAAAY....



Visioneers is a "studio project" by Marc Mac of the mighty 4Hero... but despite that, this sound like it could be on an Air record. Which is not a bad thing. But yeah, something about the title of this song makes me a bit uncomfortable...

Visioneers - Come And Play In The Milky Night (ysi)

You know what I mean? I mean, like, what if your uncle walked up and said that to you? Or the clerk at 7/11? NOW you see what I mean! Have a good weekend...

Beats Like Butterfingers

Remember how last week and the week before I said I'd do better this week and previously last week? Well, maybe next week. But anyway, here's one now...



The search for so-called "minimal" that isn't boring isn't always terribly fruitful, because most minimal is boring. But I have found a label that defies that trend in Germany's Highgrade Records. I've actually found myself quite impressed with their crispity, crunchity Tech House goodness. Here's one from Romanian producer Mihai Popoviciu, the man who's name is fun to say (not to be confused with Max Power, the man who's name you'd love to touch)...

Mihai Popoviciu - Ideas From Nowhere (ysi)

Who knows... maybe I'll even get one in tomorrow...

Are you doing it wrong?

Remember last week when I said I'd do better this week? I guess I meant next week. But anyhoo...



There are few examples in the music industry today of people doing in right to the extent that Mr. Derek Vincent Smith, aka Pretty Lights is doing it right. Dude started out most likely in his bedroom, but put all his music out (to this day) for free, worked on his live show and built a following to the extent that he is now a major headliner playing for thousands. Without ever selling a single tune. Relying on talent and internet exposure. SUCK ON THAT RECORD LABELS! YOU DMCA-HAPPY FUCKS! YOU'LL ALL BE GONE SOON! JUST LIKE POLIO! And then they'll be replaced by guys like this, who, wait for it... has now started his own record label... one that gives all the music out for free (w/ optional donation, a.k.a the Radiohead model.) So here's one of the first batch of artists on Pretty Lights Music, a dude who goes by the name SuperVision. Sounds not unlike Pretty Lights, which I suppose is not terribly surprising... but certainly good enough to stand up on it's own. Dig...

SuperVision - Time Has Written (ysi)

If you like that (and you do), go to Pretty Lights Music, grab that sucka and check out the other fine wares on offer. Then go to the shows and support. It's the future of the music industry. Get wise or just keep doing it wrong and buying whatever musical flotsam is available at Wal-Mart... it's your choice. Have a good weekend...

For Neil...

Here's a true story for you. The other night I was sitting on my stoop, checking out a particularly big and bright moon over the LBC. And I think to myself, "Wow, dudes were walking around up there. That's pretty awesome." The next morning, Neil Armstrong died. The lesson of this tale? Don't think of anyone, ever...

For Neil by Tonegent on Mixcloud

From the home office in... DA LBC, BEE-YATCH!

I know it's been a bit sparse around here lately, but I've been in the middle of a move. Moving sucks. But I live in Long Beach now, where the skies are always dank with the smoke from Snoop Dogg's bong. And I always thought it was just marine layer...



There is very little information out there about Tumblack. All I know is that they were French and apparently this guy had something to do with it. And that's about it. It's some serious African percussion, sometimes in a Disco mode and sometimes just raw. Here's the most Disco-y jam on the record, and quite a jam it is...

Tumblack - Caraiba (ysi)

I'll do better next week, promise. Have a good weekend...

Road Trip!

I'm not a huge fan of going to Mexico ever, but sometimes it's not so bad I guess...



So, a few years back, the members of LA Hip-Hop group Giant Panda (quite good) and producer Thes One of People Under The Stairs (quite even gooder) took a road trip to Mexico. According to Wikipedia, "During their stay...the group camped on the beach facing the Sea of Cortez where they fished for their meals, visited local taco stands, purchased produce from local farmers, and attended local baseball." FASCINATING! What would we do without Wikipedia? Anyhoo, they also knocked out this, the Bloquera EP (really quite good indeed). Nothing particularly Mexican sounding, mind you... just good Hip-Hop...

Bloquera - Back To The Grind (ysi)

And just in case you wanted some video evidence of this whole excellent adventure...



And they didn't even get murdered by the cartel!

Who's the baddest bitch? That's right...

It's a House Music Friday, no-nonsense style...



I find that tunes this classic do not need the adornment of dick jokes. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ms. Norma Jean Bell...

Norma Jean Bell - I'm The Baddest Bitch (Moodyman 7" Mix) (ysi)

Have a great weekend...

Man-crush United

In which I reveal another face on my own personal Mount Rushmore of cool...



If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you're well aware of my near-inappropriate man-crush on Gilles Peterson. But don't get it twisted. It's not like I wanna have sex with him or wear his skin for a suit. It's just that everything he touches is awesome and I kinda just wanna be him. You would, too. Look at what he does for a living. And he gets SHITLOADS of free records. So the bro-mantical feelings are pretty understandable, no? But there is another... another dude for whom my strictly non-homosexual man-lust is of alarming proportions. And that dude is... Anthony Bourdain. Again, understandable. He pretty much has the best job in the world that doesn't involve playing records. His writing is amazing (read Kitchen Confidential and tell me its not... you would be a bigger liar than Mitt Romney) and his TV shows, No Reservations and The Layover, are my favorite things on television... what can I say, I like to live vicariously through a brotha. AND, despite the fact that he's never touched a fader, he has good taste in music. For instance, Dead Combo, a group featured in his Portugal episode. Traditional regional Folk pumped through amps and a layer of grime... kinda like a Portuguese Calexico. Dig it...

Dead Combo - Lisboa Mulata (ysi)

Here's the Portugal episode in it's entirety, thanks to the wonder of YouTube... watch it and get hooked like me...



Anthony Bourdain, I want you to be my friend...

The Donger Need Tunes!

Too busy trying to master the trampoline for my 2016 Olympics bid, so quickly...



DJ Cam returns to Tonegents, again, this time with his Inlove project, which appears to be him with chicks singing. Which is nice...

DJ Cam presents Inlove - Real (ysi)

I'M COMING FOR YOU, DONG DONG! AND HELL'S COMING WITH ME!

Latin Things & Things

No more Mediafire rants... for now...



And I don't have a whole lot to say, nor many dick jokes to make, about today's record. This one is from a white label series of remixes of old Latin tunes believed to be made by Miles Cleret, head of the amazing Soundway label and the man, the myth, the Quantic. Caliente...

Los Hermanos Latinos - Baria Cumbia (ysi)

And wouldn't you know it... this tune makes for a perfect segue for posting my latest Tonegents classic DJ mix on the Mixclouds...

Musica Del Scorcho by Tonegent on Mixcloud

Taste the Sabor!

Take This Dubstep Remix And Shove It

Still pissed about my Mediafire being raped. Pretty soon all I'll be able to do is post submissions... so it's a good thing I've been getting some nice music sent my way. I've also been getting Dubstep remixes of Florence & The Machine sent my way, and can I just say right now... no. Don't send me that shit. Ever. Send me original music and send it to the Facebook page, not the Twitter. DO NOT send me remixes. The Hype Machine is so full of shitty, amateurish Dubstep/Fidget House remix bollocks that it makes me want to pull my hair out. SO IT'S A GODDAMN GOOD THING I DON'T HAVE ANY, BECAUSE THAT WOULD PROBABLY FUCKING HURT! Anyhoo... got sent this little gem from Halifax, Nova Scotia producer Jami Gaudet, aka Wet Paint. Sounds that would be right at home on Ghostly or Brainfeeder. Dig it...



Actually this one's out on the excellently named Bad Panda label, which is the home of another record I've been digging lately... by tennis-obsessed producer Indian Wells. Dig it, part deux...



Definitely two artists and one label to watch. Unless you're really into Dubstep remixes of Florence & The Machine, in which case, PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!

Oh, and I won't just be posting submissions, of course... but the tune choices may start to lean toward the more willfully obscure side from now on. Which should be fun...

Pooping On My Party

Okay, so now I'm pissed. One of my Mediafire accounts has been suspended, probably due to a complaint from some fuckstick record company. So a shitload of the mp3s on the blog are no longer available. Now that's not enough by itself to engorge my rage, but I had a bunch of non-blog-related files on there that are gone now, too. I feel like I've been stolen from! And yes, I realize the irony in that statement, so shut up...



I'm so irate, I can't even concentrate on this post. Just know that Derrick Harriot is one of those Reggae guys that white people casual Reggae fans probably never heard of, but he was kind of a big deal and made good music...

Derrrick Harriot - Home, Home, Home (ysi)

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find something to punch in the face...

In which I do you a favor...

Funky white boys are all the rage nowadays, aren't they?



I mean, you got Jamie Lidell, Mayor Hawthorne, Ben Westbeech, that Benny Sings cat and all that lot. It's like the white guys of the world all decided at once that they wanna get laid, too. Nothing wrong with that. Look, I'm sure that knob-twiddling producers get their share of the ladies, but nothing matches some good old-fashioned crooning ability to get straight to sexytime. So Ladies, here comes Aussie ex-pat in L.A. Sam Sparro with some smooth-sounding pipes of his own...

Sam Sparro - Waiting For Time (ysi)

Your panties feeling loose yet?

(Look, I could have gone the "former child actor" route with the guy, but that just led me to Corey Feldman jokes and then I might have had to post of video of Corey Feldman's band... and you did NOT want that.)

The thrill of victory, the agony of de beat.

An under-the-radar '90s Electronica classic today...



Mr. Jonah Sharp, a Scot who transplanted himself to San Francisco, was a big deal to '90s Electronica... between his own productions as Spacetime Continuum (and other aliases, OF COURSE), some stellar collabs with the likes of Mixmaster Morris and his label, Reflective, which put out some amazing, forward-thinking Ambient/Breaks/D&B from Bay Area artists like Single Cell Orchestra, Subtropic & others. INFORMATION, BITCHES! Enjoy...

Spacetime Continuum - Iform (ysi)

Can't wait to see how Danny Boyle and Underworld bring the awesome to the Olympics tonight! Let's all watch together. Your house, of course...

More Bashing

House Music on a Monday? Feels kinda weird, but just go with it...



There's not a ton of info out there on Bristol, UK producer, Julio Bashmore... btw, not his real name, but if you're gonna have a handle, at least make it more interesting than your real name. I'm looking in your direction, Bob Sinclar... But the guy's new, so that's understandable. And since I don't have many tidbits to either inform you with or make dick jokes about, let's just get to the tune. It's a neat combo of Chicago-style soulful House meets the Balearic vibe. Just wait for the '70s guitar licks...

Julio Bashmore - Ensnare (ysi)

Nice stuff, Gilles-approved, 'nuff said...

Tongents presents: Local Band Update!

So today is my one of my best old college friends' birthday. You heard me, old. He's one of those woodsman types. He's a manly man with a manly scent. He plays the banjo and has a very manly beard. I'll bet he owns more chainsaws than I have pairs of shoes. He actually writes banjo songs about chainsaws. That's called keeping it fucking real, people. Oh and he's got a local band in Maine called Sons Of Quint for which he plays drums. And today, I'ma put them shits on Hype Machine...



Happy Birthday, Kirk!

Blogfull of Asha

Today, an artist with a unique sound... and title...



It's always fun when Pop stars give themselves a title. You got the King of Pop, The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, The Prince of Darkness... as you can see, most of the big ones are taken. But sometimes an artist can carve out their own little niche to reign over. Like Asha Puthli, the "Original Indian Diva of Jazz, Soul and Funk". Who's gonna argue with that? Not this guy. Mostly because I can name not one other Indian Diva of Jazz, Soul and Funk. So I guess you got this thing wrapped up, girl...

Asha Puthli - Flying Fish (ysi)

It's just that little bit off, innit? Just that little bit weird... and I'm pretty sure that's what gives it the awesome...