Dogs in space!

Remember that thing they used to call trip-hop?



Well, it was all the rage waaaaaaay back in the mid-90s... you'll just have to trust me on that one. What they'd do is they'd have a dude (or two) who lurked in the background surrounded by a whole bunch of boxes with knobs and lights on them that he would use to make funny noises, and then there would be a girl in the front that would sing. Novel concept, I know! Laika is sort of a lost remnant of this time, but unlike the Molokos and Morcheebas and Sneaker Pimpses, they are still active and together. But this one is from their debut album, Silver Apples of the Moon. It's all clattering drums and breathy vocals and assorted other atmospheric goodness...

Laika - Sugar Daddy

The band were named after the first dog in space, so... um... do, with that tidbit, what you will... and trip out to this!



Laika, come home!

Funk from Sweden to North Hollywood

Wow, have I not yet posted anything from Ubiquity Records? 'Cuz that would be weird... I'd have to say off the top of my head that they are probably the best American record label in business, and almost in the category of the European big boys like Compost, Tru Thoughts, Brownswood and the like. So I guess that means it's about stinkin' time, eh?



Actually this is a Tru Thoughts record, but since Ubiquity distributes them in the States, I say close enough! At least they have the good sense, knowhutimean? Anyhoo, Freddie Cruger, whose real name is Fred Lager, which I think is much cooler, so what's with the alias, doood... is a Swedish (ah, that explains it) hip-hop producer who has put out a bangin' album featuring all sorts of talented folks on the vocals. Yes, luckily for us we don't have to hear a white Swedish guy try to rap. This track features Anthony David, who I don't know squat about, but he sounds pretty good...

Freddie Cruger - I Wanna Make You Move (ft. Anthony David)

That's a summer jam if I ever heard one. Love the Latin touches, eh?

Mr. Lager or Cruger also uses the name Red Astaire on occasion to put out strictly instrumental tracks, which tend to be quite good, too. Here's one that doesn't even sound lame despite using lots of James Brown samples...

Red Astaire - The Wildstyle

And to finish up, another band who are soon to be released on Ubiquity, a local L.A. group who I happened to catch live this weekend... and let me tell ya, these guys are insanely good. They are called Orgone. They will fuck you up with the funk and make you shake it 'til you break it. No mp3, but hit up their Myspace and be their friend, 'cuz they're nice folks to boot. When they're huge in a few months, you can say you knew 'em when...

Peace.

I ain't hatin'

The kings of the remix get remixed themselves...



It's gotta suck a little bit to have Jazzanova remix one of your tunes, because they will almost always make something even better than your original. Thanks a lot... dicks. I mean, both of the volumes of remixes they put out are just straight fire, first track to last! But what about when the tables are turned? Well, as we found out on Jazzanova Remixed, there can be some good results the other way, too. Here we have Tony Nwachukwu, perhaps best known for his alias Attica Blues, taking on a number from Jazzanova's In Between album featuring vocals from Mr. Vikter Duplaix and turning out a nice, smooth broken-beat version...

Jazzanova - That Night (Wah-Chu-Ku Remix)

It's been a while since we've had some new tunes from the Jazzanova boys, hasn't it? Get to work... cocks :P

Life after Madchester

I guess we should file this under post-Baggy?



I think most people might agree that The Stone Roses had one of the best debut albums ever for a band that proceeded to do exactly jack squat from that moment on... but ya know what, lead singer Ian Brown has actually done some pretty decent solo work since the Roses called it quits. It's just that no one has really seemed to notice or care (much like Richard Ashcroft of The Verve). So here's a track from Browns second solo record, Golden Greats... and it kinda picks up on the sound where one would think the Roses may have headed, adding more electronics while keeping the same general vibe (and of course, voice)...

Ian Brown - Love Like A Fountain

I dunno, I like it. The whole album's a good listen... give 'er a go...

Is Paris fazed?

Wow, so with this circus of stupidity going on around Paris Hilton this morning, how about this bit of irony... the only person in this mess who isn't going to come out of it looking like a total douchebag... is Paris!!! Man, you gotta love L.A... on to the music!



We finish the week with a some nice deep house by British brothers Robin and Simon Lee, a.k.a. Faze Action. They were the cornerstone artist of the awesome but now unfortunately defunct Nuphonic Records, which was another one of those "buy with confidence, you don't even have to listen first" labels during their run. Faze Action brought the disco, but in a good way (no, really, there is a good way... I swear!), and this track is a smooth late-night groover...

Faze Action - Mas

Go out and find all the Nuphonic stuff on the cheap in your local used bin. You'll thank me for it...

... off to sunny Newport Beach for one of my best friends' wedding this weekend, so you know I'll have a great one. Hope you do, too. Peace!

My Booty Valentine

Finally, an excuse for some gratuitous sex around here!



Sometimes, when my shoes need a good gazin' at, I'll throw a little My Bloody Valentine on and make sure the footwear is sorted. Currently, I can tell you that I need a new pair of sneakers - the ones I have on are looking pretty beat up. I don't really feel the need to mope to the sound of squalling guitars that often, but it's nice to have this handy, just in case the need does happen to arise...

My Bloody Valentine - Off Your Face

These guys are one of the most constantly fretted about bands on teh interwebs... are they getting back together, recording another album, blah blah blah... especially after leader Kevin Shields did some new tracks for the Lost In Translation soundtrack, something I only mention as a cheap excuse to post the greatest first shot in the history of cinema...



You had me at hello!

And I really can't top that, so see ya tomorrow.

Three strikes

What do today's tunes have to do with baseball? Nothing!



Ah, the ubiquitous Verve Remixed series... the series that begs the question: Are they not as "cool" because everyone including your Aunt Mabel has them, or does everyone including your Aunt Mabel have them because they're so cool? Discuss...

I'll wait...

Okay. Me, I vote that even your Aunt Mabel knows dopeness when she hears it. She's a pretty hip chick, ya know. Today's selection has legendary Latin Jazz vibist Cal Tjader remixed by legendary remixers Fila Brazillia. With that many legends, it's gotta be good, right?

Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce (Fila Brazillia Remix)

Yep, sure is. But just how much did the Fila boys mess with the original? Not much, really. As you can hear, they really just punched in a beat and some FX. And really, that's all they had to do, because the original is pretty darn funky in it's own right...

Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce (Original)

That's a Dizzy Gillespie cover, for those of you scoring at home. BTW, Isn't that one of the lamest baseball announcer cliches going? Like people are sitting are sitting at home watching a ball game with a damn pencil and a scoresheet. Strangely enough, though, it's still kinda cool to do at a game, but maybe I just think so because I'm a huge baseball dork. Don't talk no smack about baseball 'round here, or I shall become very cross with you!

And finally, just for fun, here's a Fila original, from their recently released Retrospective. It's a good purchase, considering all of their albums are for some reason only available on very pricey import...

Fila Brazillia - Speewah

And that completes the triple play. Baseball rules! As do baseball metaphors! As does this Minor League manager... and whatever you do, let this play until the 1:20 mark for one of the best moves ever...



Yer outta here!!!!

The height of an era

Okay, so Paris has been in jail for over a day now and I've heard no reports of any salad tossing whatsoever. It appears our penal system is indeed broken :P



Breakbeat Era was a one-off album by Mr. Roni Size, DJ Die (of Reprazent) and vocalist Leonie Laws. And it may just be the best vocal Drum & Bass album that ever came out. Hell, it's probably the second best thing size ever put out with the exception of the massive New Forms. You know people have game when they can put out a freakin' side project that becomes remembered as a classic of its genre, eh? Even my boy Thom Yorke couldn't pull that one off (don't get me wrong, The Eraser is very good, but sorry... not classic). So here's the title track/first single, and it was, as they say in England, a corker...

Breakbeat Era - Ultra Obscene

Hellz yeah. And I managed to find a live performance (of a different song) on the YouTubes. You may notice Roni Size is nowhere to be found... I guess he decided to sit this one out and let the white people do their thing?



I get the feeling that the singer could beat up all three of those dudes at once... and would have definitely made Paris her bitch by now!

Do I always need a clever title? I think not.

It's my 100th post on Blogger... huzzah! For those of you who don't know, which is most of you, this blog started on Myspace and I've actually been doing it for a couple of years, but it didn't feel official 'til I made the move. Blogger kicks Myspace's ass!



Compay Segundo was, I believe, the second-oldest member of the Buena Vista Social Club, which put him at approximately 136 years old when that album was recorded. That's one of my favorite albums of all time, btw, a definite desert island selection. I can't remember if Compay was the one they found shining shoes on the street corner or the one they found living in a '53 Studebaker with his pet monkey... I'll have to watch the movie again, I guess. Anyhoo, this here record came out after it all blew up and they all started doing solo records, putting him at, I believe, 147 years old for this one. And you know what, he sounds good for his age...

Compay Segundo - Maria En La Playa

... what, you were expecting some kind of expert commentary or something? Silly you.

Hello Summer! (Part 2)

Since the first Hello Summer! mix was such a big hit (over 200 downloads), I went and made a second...

Tonegent Presents "Funk D'Afrique"

(Continuous DJ Mix - 74:53 - 87.9 mb @ 160 kps )

100% Pure African Funk Power

1) Oneness of Juju - African Rhythms
2) Matata - Wanna Do My Thing
3) Peter King - Afro Funk
4) The Ogyatanaa Show Band - Ageisheka
5) Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa
6) Blo - Get That Groove In
7) Brigth Engelberts & the B.E. Movement - Get Together
8) Osibisa - Music For Gong Gong
9) Dick Khoza - African Jive
10) Black Soul - Africa Africa
11) Buari - Karam Bani
12) Jo Tongo - Piani
13) Fela Kuti & Roy Ayers - 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free

Enjoy!