grindin

THIS TRACK IS HUGE! BRING THE BANG BACK!

Udachi has blown the roof off with this one. If you weren’t already up on his stuff, now’s the time. With P-Funk Skank – he cements his place as one of the United States’ hardest hitting producers – I dare you to try not going crazy when this comes on in the club. Grab the original and a nice, slightly dubbier, half-step remix by DC duo Nadastrom.

Udachi – “P-Funk Skank” Udachi – “P Funk Skank” (Nadastrom Remix)

Cop the whole EP with additional remixes from B.Rich, Dave Nada, Costello, & Ricorb. On beatport.

Friday March 19, 2010

9:00 pm

TICKETS NOT YET ON SALE

The Panda Toes vets among you certainly remember how much I used to talk about Ed Banger Records. I'd blab about Uffie for days, chit about Feadz for a minute, and chat about Justice the rest of the time. Oh how times have changed.

However, that's not to say that the label's gone downhill. Lady Uff is about to drop the long-awaited full-length and Justice is still important enough for people to make fake Justice tracks. Still, I've gotta go with Breakbot as my Ed Banger-er of choice. I've spent a grip of my past week or so listening to "Baby I'm Yours" alongside Tensnake and Todd Edwards while playing Fifa, and boy does it ever put me in the lightest of moods. Get giddy:

Massive Attack – Paradise Circus

Tomorrow marks the official release date (U.S. and Canada) for Heligoland, the 5th proper studio album by Massive Attack.

Whereas the 2003 release 100th Window glistened with mechanical accuracy and disciplined minimal techno, Heligoland finds the Bristol duo returning to the dirtier, dubbed out sound of 1998’s Mezzanine.  Analog synths bubble around ethnic drums, abstract textures, traditional instruments and vocals in a seamless tapestry only Massive Attack could weave.

Heligoland is not a simple collection of ‘singles’…the album is assembled like the soundtrack to a journey through crowded streets, perpetual darkness and rain, seedy hotels and desperate love.  Texture and mood are given precedence over easy to digest pop song structures.  One gets the idea that Massive Attack could care less about their music being played on radio.  Heligoland is an album, meant to be consumed in its entirety, meant to transport the listener and hold them captive in a distant yet familiar world.

We also note that Massive Attack’s penchant for collaboration has gone unchanged.  Guest vocalists Damon Albarn (Gorillaz), Martina Topley-Bird, Tunde Adebimpe, Hope Sandoval and long time collaborator Horace Andy work wonderfully within the framework of Massive’s moody production, Andy delivering one of his most melodic performances atop the menacing bass line of “Girl I Love You”.  Guy Garvey of Elbow lends his subdued tenor to “Flat of the Blade”, a song that could easily find its home in a Luc Besson film. “I’m not good in a crowd / I’ve got skills I can’t speak of / Things I’ve seen / will chase me to the grave” Garvey croons in his believable, thick, monotone.

Heligoland is not all doom and gloom, however.  The album is sprinkled with bright moments of uplifting sonic emancipation.  The near-pop turn around in Pray for Rain.  The beautiful string arrangements of “Splitting the Atom” and “Paradise Circus”.  These moments break through the tech-noir soundscape like rays of angelic sunshine, adding wonderful humanity and balance.

Heligoland reaffirms Massive Attack’s legendary status.  Some will complain that the album is too similar to Mezzanine and doesn’t offer anything new.  But as countless electronica bands fall back on robotic 80’s, overly arpeggiated and soul-less sounds, Massive Attack has returned to do what no one else can.  Blending influences from across the globe, they have created a wonderful work of art, full of light and shadow, free of cliché, imitation and predictability.  Their sound is so unique that an entire genre was created in an attempt to pigeon-hole and market them.  Notwithstanding, Heligoland displays the duos ability to transcend genre and classification to create a wonderfully engaging, aural experience.

Pray for Rain feat. Tunde Adebimpe: Tundes voice exists perfectly in the abstract world of samples, ethnic drums and heavy piano work.  The song builds to an unexpected, near pop-like climax of beautiful harmony only to resolve back into the menace of the main groove.

Babel feat. Martina Topley-Bird: Martina’s voice falls into the track like a lovely instrument amidst the patchwork of rhythm guitars and analog synths.

Splitting the Atom feat. Damon Albarn: Very Gorillaz-esque staccato organ accompanies Grant Marshall’s signature baritone which contrasts wonderfully with Horace Andy’s high tenor on the hook.  Albarn’s background harmonies add mystery and depth and texture as the song is lifted by glorious string textures during its final moments.

Girl I Love You feat. Horace Andy: Horace Andy lends his signature vocals over a menacing bass line and Mezzanine-ish guitar work.  The track is transported to another dimension with intricate horn work.

Psyche feat. Martina Topley-Bird: Chopped, jangly guitars wrap Martina’s vocal in an intricate texture of urgency.  By all means check out the Flash Treatment remix by Christoffer Berg featured on the Splitting the Atom EP.

Flat of the Blade feat. Guy Garvey.

Paradise Circus feat. Hope Sandoval: One of the most hopeful uplifting tracks on the album, production-wise.  Hope delivers her intimate performance in the midst of gentle piano work, hand claps and dub bass.  Lovely.

Rush Minute: Del Naja makes up for any lack of vocal ability with the introspective opening line “I wanna be clean but I gotta get high”.

Saturday Comes Slow feat. Damon Albarn: A very nice delivery from Damon Albarn could almost be accused of being out of place…that is until the guitar textures creep in at the 2:20 mark.

Atlas Air: A building near 8 minute groove that takes us close to 100th Window territory is the albums closer.

Friday March 12, 2010

9:00 pm

TICKETS NOT YET ON SALE

As well as close Night Slugs fam, Braiden is also one of our favourite London DJs.
For his contribution to our podcast series, Braiden has put together a specially themed mix that showcases some of his key influences - synth-heavy old-skool electro, boogie-funk and technicolor-saturated techno.
For many of the current crop of UK producers and DJs, Drexciya has been just as important as Tuff Jam, So Solid or DMZ - their music resonates with the vibes of Detroit as much as those of London. Braiden's mixtape is peppered with a few modern-day synth-n-bass bangers too, neatly setting up a nuum-friendly context for some of the older styles to be revisited.

A few words from the man himself:
"My approach to the mix was to put together a mixture of electro tracks, both old and more recent, along with some other favourite tracks which fit into this aesthetic.

I entitled it "journey home" based on the Drexciya track of the same name, but also because I have sentimental feelings towards this kind of synth-based electro as it was the first kind of dance music i got into when I was about 16. I have always found something very emotive in analog synth lines - maybe it was all the Commodore 64 games I played as a kid."


BRAIDEN - Journey Home Mix




Zackey Force Funk - The Split [2009]
Luke Eargoggle - The Swedish Code [2003]
The Other People Place - Let Me Be Me [2001]
Drexciya - 700 Million Light Years From Earth [2002]
Bangkok Impact - Junge Dame mit Freundliche Telefonstimme [Legowelt rmx] [2003]
Drexciya - Journey Home [1995]
Little Jinder - Youth Blood [Bok Bok remix] [2009]
Egyptian Lover - Freak A Holic [1986]
Underground Resistance - Electronic Warfare [1995]
Legowelt - Disco Bitch [1999]
Ikonika - Space Ugly [2010]
Anthony Rother - Luzifer [2006]
Bass Junkie VS The Dexorcist - Robot Movement [2006]
Nukubus - Second Moon [2003]
Rebound X - Rhythm & Gash [2006]Underground Resistance - Final Frontier [1991]

---

FREE WITH RSVP: RSVP@NickyDigital.com with “Staccato” as the subject line!

pic: LastNightsParty

Refaire des oeuvres pop avec des samples grillés, c'est un truc que seul les anglais comprennent a grande echelle. Du coup Wiley ne se prive pas, et s'offre les charts sans trop d'hesitations. Connerie de France.
Wiley feat. Emeli Sanda - Never Be Your Woman (video)

A fine recipe indeed, all a boy really needs/wants is the love of a great woman. The acceptance by those he admires, and the warmth of a great meal.

….but sometimes that’s not enough. And sometimes the downs are heavier than the highs.

MP3: The XX: Basic Space (Mount Kimbie remix) MP3: Lauren Pritchard: Stuck (Various Productions Remix) MP3: Monarchy: Gold In The Fire (Hidden Cat remix) MP3: Darkstar: Automating

Last nite, I watched the Super Bowl, because I am currently working in a mainstream office environment, and I secretly feel insecure when every1 else is talking abt a mainstream event, yet I don’t have a progressive opinion to ’share’ that goes over every1′ heads. The Super Bowl seems like a more fulfilling viewing event than awards shows like the Oscars or Grammys or the BCS championship because you have 2 forces/teams ‘battling’ to be the champion, instead of just voter opinions and computer algorithms.

Did u have a ‘Super Bowl party’ with chips, dips, meats, brewskies, and ‘bros’?

I feel like the Super Bowl is the 1 event all year that really unites the country. Thanksgiving + Christmas are so forced, but I feel like every1 really ‘comes together for the Super Bowl. If the two teams are ‘compelling’, ‘exciting’ or just ‘from a big market’, the Super Bowl usually goes well. Every1 in America was ’some what aware’ that a football game was occurring, because their lives’ were made more meaningful/inconvenienced by it. Just want to be able to have ‘meaningful discussions’ about ‘the big game’, then feel a little bit disenfranchised with life because I don’t ‘care’ about it the same way other ppl do.

Did alt stuff happen during the super bowl?

I feel ‘most interested’ in the alternative landmark events that happened during the Super Bowl. To most alts/ternatives, the 2k10 Super Bowl will be known as ‘the year the Arcade Fire scored the soundtrack 2 the Super Bowl.’ Every several minutes, the meaningful chorus of their hit song “Wake Up” played over and over again, as it was cobranded with the NFL.  I wonder if their song was better utilized in the marketing campaign of Where The Wild Things Are. In terms of ’selling out’, this might be the biggest case of ’sell out’ in the history of indie music.  Theoretically, there was no larger stage viewed by a wider audience than the Super Bowl.  I feel like the Super Bowl will begin to showcase former indie bands during half time in the second half of the decade.  For all we know, Arcade Fire negotiated a Super Bowl halftime ‘guarantee’ into their contract for this licensing.

To combat ’selling out’, it was important for the Arcade Fire to send out an email blast to relevant sites+bloggers, letting consumers know that they were ‘going to give the licensing money to Haiti.’ It seems like this was a ‘good gesture’, but as the Arcade Fire transforms into a mindie (mainstream indie) band, you can’t help but wonder if that was a ‘calculated’ move. I feel like they did this both ‘for a good cause’, and to have another positive story/brand bit in their wikipedia entry.

Also saw the Grizzly Bear song “Two Weeks” in a Volkswagen commercial. It seems like that ‘jingle’ was created for mass markets, and it was only a matter of time before it was utilized in a commercial.  Volkswagen may or may not be an alt brand. Possibly is a B-rate ‘trustafarian’ brand. It makes me feel better knowing that Grizz Bear is being compensated instead of ‘giving their money away to Haitians’ after so many people texted ‘HAITI’ to 90999.  It seems like a lot of tweens probably already gave enough money 2 save Haiti, or am I ‘being naive/Americentric’? ‘Just sort of relieved the New Orleans Saints won, reminding us that ‘we had our own disaster’ on American soil, and we need 2 fix what is wrong IN America before we invade Iraq/Iran + help with foreign crises. Fire Obama.’ -progressive conservative/liberal

Was sorta surprised to see Alt Famous Photographer Noah Kalina in a Dodge Charger Super Bowl Commercial. Noah Kalina went ‘mad viral’ because he took a picture of himself every day for 6 years, then made a viral youtube video abt it. The commercial seems to be an admission that ‘life as a man sucks’, but there are simple pleasures that you can enjoy during ur lifetime.  One of them is ‘driving an awesome car.’  Another one might be ‘cheating on your wife.’  Another one is probably ‘eating 5000 calorie meals and dying from heart failure.’  Just want 2 make commercials that appeal the middle American Man.

Not sure how much ‘alt stuff’ happened during the actual game. Think that the Super Bowl is just a ‘consumer expo’ sort of like some sort of global convention [via web conferencing].

Does n e 1 know if Hurricane Katrina is ‘officially over’ now that the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl?

Drew Brees’ son also seemed pretty alt after his dad won the Super Bowl. He put on some ‘huge headphones’ and acted like he ‘didn’t give a damn’ about the Super Bowl. Do u think he was listening to Animal Collective in order to make the experience more meaningful?

Also, some ‘cool grandpa’ band called The Who played halftime. It seemed like they were some sort of parody of a classic rock band, but I am not really familiar with music from before the year 2000.

Peyton Manning was apparently going to be ‘the Greatest Quarterback of All Time’ if he won this game, but he ‘choked bigtime.’ It seems like this loss will cost him millions of dollars. He had a great opportunity to become ‘the most marketable athlete to old white people’ because of Tiger Woods’ fall from grace, but he won’t be able to command the millions of dollars that a true champion could have.

Worried about his body language. Like he is a ’sore loser’/not a ‘genuine leader.’

Not sure how Americans would feel knowing that the UEFA Champions League Final gets more global viewers than the Super Bowl. As an American, I thought that the Modern ‘National Past Time’ (the NFL) had a global reach, but I think more global ppl are into soccer + NBA basketball [via Yao Ming China effect]. Can’t believe soccer/real ‘football’ is still the global game. Worried that American Football might be as ‘retarded’ as the American Metric System.

Commercial Analysis

Here is some in-depth consumer analysis some of the most relevant commercials of the Super Bowl.

Saw this McDonalds commercial where two black athlete NBA players play a game of ‘HORSE.’ Dwight Howard and LeBron James are two of the most marketable NBA players because they are young, and don’t have a bad reputation yet. They continue to attempt ‘out of this world’ dunks which are created with visual effects. This commercial seems like it is supposed to appeal to ’stupid people’ who think dunks are ‘effing sweet’ and are not aware of the societal impact of the fast food industry. Professional athletes enjoy fast food because of their limited income upbringings and their rigorous practice schedule which enables them to burn 3,000-10,000 calories per day. (Please Note: McDonalds placed Larry Bird in this commercial so that the commercial wasn’t ‘too black’, and didn’t only appeal to new, young NBA fans.)

Another former African American basketball player, Charles Barkley starred in a Taco Bell commercial. He is known for being an ‘outspoken black talking head who we have all learned to love.’ Despite a gambling addiction and drunken sexual indiscretions, Taco Bell thought his silly brand would help them sell Taco Combo meals, served in a branded box. Do u want to buy a taco box from a 400 lb rhyming man in a huge suit? Do u ‘forgive him’ for past alleged ‘criminal’ activities? He seems to have evolved into a jolly, fat, radically opinionated man, as opposed to an ‘angry black man.’

Also saw that Bud Light attempted to ‘tap into’ the mainstream infatuation with the autotune phenomenon from 2k9. Thought ‘autotune was dead’ or something [via rap wars].

Feel like I’m going to improve my lifestyle and get more into a ‘lower calorie’ beer. This commercial shows Lance Armstrong on his ‘kick ass schedule’, but then chilling at the end of the night by drinking a Michelob Ultra. R u going to start drinking a low-cal beer instead of PBR/Hi Life/Bud Heavy/Sparks?

This DOVE commercial encourages men to ‘reflect on their lives’. The message of this commercial is that ‘you will have the same cookie cutter life track/experience as every1 else’, but you should still take time to make sure ur skin is chill. This seems to be the new message of products that appeal to ‘men.’ Instead of going ‘extreme’ to appeal to men, they are starting to get ‘reflective.’ Wonder what ‘the modern man’ will be all about in the 2k10s.

Heard there was ‘controversy’ about Tim Tebow’s pro-life commercial, discouraging humans from getting abortions. From what I have read, Tim Tebow is a conservative college football quarterback who embodies ‘positive family values [via alcohol-free virgin lifestyle].’ He appeals to residents of the Bible Belt who still consider college football to be a better product than professional football. This commercial didn’t ’say anything’ and was probably too abstract to mean anything to anyone. Tim Tebow just got to brand himself as a ‘goodhearted’ human who has a ‘Gift from God.’ From what I have read, he will not contribute to an NFL team, and will probably just coach and have a ‘Remember the Titans’ type of coaching brand.

Overall, the commercials were ‘the same as always.’ Nothing innovative, really, because Middle America isn’t responsive to innovation. It seems like all commercials will probably stay ‘zany.’ Just like giving consumers a way to ‘escape’ into an extreme hypothetical situation. This Doritos commercial captures the essence of the Bro in Extreme Situation With Zany Outcome Zeitgeist. Just want to be a bro who stars in a Super Bowl ad, representing a somewhat ‘offbeat’ human with a ‘different’ perspective on the world. Just want to be buried in a coffin full of nacho cheesier/cooler ranch Doritos.

What was ‘the best commercial’ of the super bowl? Did the Arcade Fire ’sell out’ more than Grizz Bear? Does the Super Bowl bring humans together? Is Hurricane Katrina ‘over’? Is Haiti Earthquake ‘worse than’ Hurricane Katrina? Should we pull troops out of Afghanistan? Will New Orleans be destroyed by a Hurricane withing the next 5 years, making this Super Bowl victory irrelevant? Who is the most marketable athlete? Do lifestyle brands ‘waste money’ on Super Bowl ads? What product r u gonna try because of the Super Bowl? Do sports ‘matter’? Is American Football overrated by Americans? Is the World Cup the only pure sporting experience?

Predicted Super Bowl Halftime shows performers for the next 10 years: 2011: Kings of Leon 2012: John Mayer + Justin Timberlake 2013: The Killers + Jay-Z and Beyonce 2014: Arcade Fire / Death Cab 2015: Lady Gaga 2016: Coldplay 2017: Vampire Weekend 2018: The Beatles [via hologram] 2019: The Black Eyed Peas 2020: Washed Out, Neon Indian, Justin Bieber

(Who do yall predict?)

Do u think Drew Brees’ son is down 2 listen to some chill wave/ternative mp3s [via his big headphones]? Do u feel like every day is sorta like the Super Bowl of Memes?

Why we’re so happy:

1. This is the debut release from Big Stereo Records. 2. Big Stereo is one of our favorite blogs. 3. Travis that runs BigStereo is a lovely boy. 4. Mixes from previously endorsed and well, close to heart JOCKS, SEAMS and GOLDEN BUG are set to follow.

BIGSTEREO is proud to announce our brand new 7″ single series, and no better band to start out with than one of our favorites, Baby Monster. “She Comes Alive” is a treasure: synth washes come like waves, built around a soaring vocal that unveils brilliant production and the kind of pop nous that only comes around every so often.

BIG001 – Baby Monster – “She Comes Alive” 7″ Vinyl

Side A: “She Comes Alive” Side B: “Sudden Symphony”

Limited to 350 copies with no repress. $6 plus shipping & handling. ORDER HERE

What can we say, the man has FIIIINNEEE taste

MP3: Baby Monster: She Comes Alive

Saturday February 13, 2010

10:00 pm

Erol will be hosting the fourth installment of his 6 Mix residency on BBC6 Music on Saturday 13th February at 10pm.

You can tune in to BBC6 Music online, on Sky channel 120, Freeview channel 707 or Virgin channel 909.

Last week we had an exclusive mix from Atomly.  This week we have a very charming mix tape from our French besties, Yelle. Bandmates Julie, GrandMarnier, and Tepr mixed up a Valentine’s special for you! Listen, love it, and share it with those you adore!

Song in featured Malente & Jay Robinson – Dwarfs (Sharkslayer remix)

Download: Mos Def x Robert Glasper – Dilla Tribute, Ann Arbor, MI

I’ve been avoiding the “Dilla-mania” that arises on the anniversary of his death and his birthday. Don’t get me wrong, I think J Dilla is one of the best hip-hop producers of all time, but I get mad when cats who didn’t even know who Dilla was 10 years ago start claiming that he’s the G.O.A.T. just because it’s the culturally acceptable thing to do. I’m glad his work is getting more exposure, but as Mos’s photographer Cognito said last week, we need to be into our icons in life just as much as we are in death. (That goes for Michael Jackson too).

Rants aside, I did think that this Mos Def x Robert Glasper Dilla tribute to be fitting. They covered 16 of my Dilla songs for some lucky Michiganders, including”Stakes Is High,” “Ms. Fat Booty,” and “Fall In Love.” Check it: (via Blind I and BamaLoveSoul)

01. Black Radio 02. Fantastic 03. The $ 04. Interlude 05. E=MC2 06. Jam 07. Ms. Fat Booty 08. The Look of Love 09. Players 10. Bass Solo 11. Jam 12. Interlude 13. Paint The World 14. Interlude 15. Stakes Is High 16. Fall In Love

If you ask some people the state of the major labels may be moving past panic mode and possibly entering a critical melt down. Between merges, firings and finger pointing - labels are struggling and working their marketing departments extra hard to create new and innovative ways to encourage music fans to actually go out and buy music.

One of those ways is by jumping on board ‘The Music Tee’ – a joint venture between fashion meets music company Invisible DJ and media marketing firm Girlie Action. The Music Tee is a t-shirt fashioned to act as a CD: the front of the shirt displays the artist’s album cover with the back displaying track listings, song lyrics and album art work (something I miss now that I’m all digital – but I’m happy that iTunes is starting to offer this with downloads) .

Most interesting is that what’s also included is an attached redemption code – which allows you to go to the artists’ website and download the entire album as an mp3. Even cooler, these downloads will be reported to Nielsen Soundscan and counted as actual ‘CD’ sales! This unique deal was arranged last year when the Tee was first implemented by Mos Def to launch his latest album Ecstatic through his label, Downtown Records.

Although the Mos Def Tee seemed to only make headlines on the low the concept is suddenly becoming more and more popular with it now being scooped up by the major labels. Digital Music News recently reported that Warner Brothers and Interscope are jumping on the ‘Tee’ Bandwagon and offering their catalogues  along with some lesser known cool labels like Shangri-La, Knitting Factory and Dim Mak.

The t-shirts were developed with the hopes of giving artists’ cool and inventive ways to platform and expose their new albums – which in turn would encourage music fans to go out and buy it, opposed to downloading it for free off the internet. Artists such as Bad Brains, Kid Sister, Wale, Robin Thicke and Amanda Blank are all down for the cause - and I think it’s kind of a cool idea. Everybody loves rockin’ their favorite artist on a tee so why not be able to do that and at the same time put other people on to new music.

However, my only concern is that I think one of the reasons a lot of people stopped buying CD’s in the first place was because the prices weren’t worth the quality of music you received. So will a T-shirt be a good enough incentive to change the minds of consumer’s and convince them to go ahead and give buing albums another try -especially with a $45 price tag attached to it…(!)??

I guess we shall see.

THE MUSIC TEE PROMO FROM TIM DILLON

Last week Erykah Badu released a new song with Lil Wayne which was thought to be her new single but turned out to be a web-only bonus track off her new album ‘New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)’.

The actual single is ‘Window Seat’ a song produced by she and James Poyser and set to hopefully put Erykah back on top of the R&B charts.

Very reminiscent of ‘old school E’  during her ‘On & On’ and ‘Next Lifetime’ era, Window seat provides a laid back beat coupled with Erykah’s sweet vocals and the results are quite nice.

Look for the album to drop March 30th.