Getting changed…

Sooo I haven’t really posted much on here for a while…but I guess that’s for the better, ’cause I’ve just hit a load of hot tracks. I’ve been getting into the more garage/UK funky side of dubstep these days, a lot of it verges into house and techno but it’s still all really about rhythm. I was fuckin’ around on the internet earlier and stumbled into the recent Gilles Peterson Radio 1 show where he had Thom Yorke as a guest. Surprisingly, Yorke was quite relaxed and chatty – he seems like the temperamental sort usually. Anyway, Yorke and Peterson picked so many chooons, some of them from Mad Decent/Stones Throw/Warp/Hyperdub, some jazz, some Can, and a bit more leftfield dubstep, which was great! Yorke talked about collaborations with Madvillain, which sounds pretty interesting. He didn’t have much to say, but I could tell Gilles was excited about the prospect, but Thom wasn’t giving anything away.

Anyway, this reminded me I’d recently acquired a new remix of Radiohead by the up-and-coming mystery, SBTRKT. I think Gilles had him in the studio a couple of weeks ago but I missed that show…the tracklisting looks good, so if anyone can get hold of it gimme a heads up! Anyway, the SBTRKT track is only a white label I think, so it’s simply called “Right Place”. It uses a lot of interesting layering techniques in the intro, then gets it’s a shuffly riddim that would storm the decks any club any night. So see what you think, probably a good set-ender, right?

“Right Place” – SBTRKT (zshare)

And yeah, yesterday, a new track from the brand spanking GORILLAZ album surfaced. This one features the wonderful Mr. MOS DEF, as well as soul legend Bobby Womack, and is quite a sombre, 80′s-inspired affair (which sounds bad, but for a throwback it works surprisingly well). Hopefully the new album will be pretty fucking diverse, and so it should be – contributors this time include the usual De La Soul, members of The Clash, Gruff Rhys (of Super Furry Animals), Mark E Smith (of The Fall), Lou Reed, more from Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Kano and Bashy. The contrast of the last few should be interesting – two rappers from the US of very different styles, and two rappers from the UK of slightly different leanings. I really hope this one doesn’t disappoint – then again the last album took a while to sink in…

“Stylo” (ft. Mos Def & Bobby Womack) – Gorillaz (zshare)

Also new out is some new material from JOY ORBISON. I was tempted to lead with this, but that would be too obvious. Everybody loves the stuff this guy does. He seems like a bit of a shy horse…I think he was supposed to play at the NYE night I went to @ Plan B in Brixton but must’ve copped out or something (though we still got Tayo and Oneman, and more)! But yeah, this new stuff does not disappoint. I would put the lead track up, but I thought you’d be more interested in the B-side, as I’m sure the other track (“The Shrew Would Have Cushioned the Blow”) will be all over the blogs soon. Also, I managed to find a few rarities of his so I’ll pop one of those up too…

“So Derobe” – Joy Orbison (zshare)

“Missus” – Joy Orbison (zshare)

As I was talking about Madvillain before, thought I might check you a very new remix of the head single from Born Like This – “Gazzillion Ear”. And no, it’s not the Thom Yorke remix everyone’s heard, or that one with Kanye West (fuck him! What is he doing? Trying to ruin good music again). It’s by a producer from Philly called DR WHO DAT?, aka Jneiro Jarel (who produced some John Robinson stuff) and it’s pretty smoking hot. If I can get hold of the remix by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio, I’ll be sure to put that up soon too!

“Gazzillion Ear” (Dr Who Dat? Remix) – DOOM (zshare)

Another thing to drop in the last couple of days was the new FOUR TET LP, which is genius. I’m sure people will catch on and realise this is going to be one of the best albums of the year. I hope it does stand its ground that long – releasing stuff this time of the year is a bit of a flaw in my opinion. The track I found most interesting is a gradual, scathing beaut with female harmonies, 8-bit rhythm and the trademark Hebden percussion. It’s all cut up like a Clark track too, which is awesome. Have atcha!

“Sing” – Four Tet (zshare)

Anyway, as I set out to put up dance music, I’ll come back to it…I’ve recently noticed a young producer called JULIO BASHMORE, and he makes quite interesting stuff. He’s clearly realised what’s ‘hot’ at the moment, and drawn it all together in his sound. And yeah, it works. It fucking works. The best example is in his remix of the surprise new single from Buraka Som Sistema, as you can hear below. And I suggest you do, before you look like a douche. I also suggest you buy the Buraka Som Sistema Fabriclive.49 too. Or I will fight you.

“Restless” (Julio Bashmore Remix) – Buraka Som Sistema (zshare)

More interesting producers keep popping up too – one who seems a little harder to discover is this guy called MELÉ. He’s on Sounds of Sumo, and…I dunno…his tracks are all pretty bangin’, but this one stuck out for me. It seems all these high-profile producers try quite hard to produce a track like this, and this guy’s just come out of the blue with his first release (or so I know) and it’s stonkin’. Woah.

“Bingo” – Melé (zshare)

The remixes of El Guincho have been a long time coming, but they’re finally here. I’ve only heard another one, but the most tricky so far is by continental soundsystem AL HACA. Their beats are a reminder you can still make slow-style, simple tempo rhythms that don’t have to be dubstep, dark techno etc. I can’t think who else is like that. They hit it better than Poirier or Zomby in a way. It’s quite interesting. It’s moody, but still tribal. This remix does seem quite dark at times, but give it a try!

“Antillas” (Al Haca Remix) – El Guincho (zshare)

CONGOROCK have again hit us with IN YOUR FACE BIG TUNES. This one is accompanied by a hot-shit video too. I wish I’d thought of it! Fuck me in the A:

“Babylon” – Congorock (zshare)

Okay, I said I’d switch back to dance music…well…I lied I guess…my last feature is on a band I don’t know much about, but I’ve seen them crop up with a song or two every now and then. Their name stuck out for me, with its Spaghetti Western style, which is ironic considering when I heard this track it reminded me of Ennio Morricone‘s off-kilter riffs and signatures. And the song’s lovely in its own right. The vocals are a little like Simon & Garfunkel or Crosby, Stills & Nash, or a choir of Beck clones. I love how the track crackles along like a fried egg. Powerful stuff.

“Loves Dart” – Django Django (zshare)

As you’ve been so patient, I’ll give you some more cheeky dancy stuff. The first is one I myself found hard to find, so thought I’d help some people out – MARTYN‘s genius remix of one of my favourite tunes by Flying Lotus. Then there’s a new D’n'B-esque tune by RESO, and a pretty fit remix of Fever Ray from SCUBA. I thought I’d end things with L-Vis 1990‘s mate BOK BOK, who makes pretty crazy shit too, but doesn’t usually quite get the coverage (probably due to the fact he’s not signed to Mad Decent)…

“Roberta Flack” (Martyn’s Heartbeat Mix) – Flying Lotus (zshare)

“Mind Games” – Reso (zshare)

“When I Grow Up” (Scuba’s High Up Mix) – Fever Ray (zshare)

“Ripe Banana” – Bok Bok (zshare)