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DJWags Picks Oct. 15 2005
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Hey there all you “Beat-Heads”, Thanks for all the good thoughts and vibes since my last reviews. It was a tough time back there for a while. In times like that one looks deep inside and looks for answers to the hurt, I don’t know if we ever find the answer but fact that we even ask the questions are half the battle. I was in the somewhat sad position of being alone during all of that craziness … IT was an opportunity for me to find strength and conviction that I didn’t even know I had, I hope many of you that were affected did as well. But dispite everything things just keep moving forward and life goes on. I would hope that we all could keep our eyes, ears and hearts wide open, or things might always get worse. Take care of yourself and the ones around you, if everyone did that .. Well … we would all be living in a very different world right? It is something to strive for though. What’s stopping us? It isn’t just President GUMP ya know, we all have to take action at some level or we all suffer.
Also thanks for all your positive feedback on the last months picks. I am always glad to help get folks turned on to the new, or, missed gems out there in what I call Down-Tempo music.
I have been super busy here in London, but never too busy to do some diggin’ in the best record stores in the world! I have found so much great music over here I couldn’t possibly share all of it with you here. But having said that I do have a few choice selections from the DJWags decks and personal listening station. I have also been keeping up with the latest live music here as well. Bands like the Engineers. I saw them last week with Magnet in Kings Cross (Engineers were soooo LOUD! They really need to get a new sound guy. I think he is deaf, atone point he was holding out his hand and feeling the levels .. At least it looked like that. Not the best way to judge how far to push up the master audio level huh?) Also saw Thievery Corporation, they always work! Great show. Saw a great band that will be breaking the states in a big way soon called Arctic Monkeys.. They rock! Oh and a great group named Explosions In The Sky… wonderful instrumental soundtrack like tunes. They did the soundtrack for a movie called “Friday Night Lights” .. The movie was forgettable to be honest (sorry Joe Bob…) but the original score was amazing. They are touring now so check them out!
Well I am here to introduce you to some of my latest favorites … so without further a ‘do. Check It!
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Now Zero7 is one of my all time favorite’s …. Mozez is one of the vocalists for them; remember the track “Warm Sound” or “I Have Seen”? well, He is the man! If you have seen Zero7 live you will already know he is for real. His début record just came out here in London this last week. His record is full of warm heartfelt soul, as well as hope and positivity that isn’t heard often enough in music these days. His lyrics are full of wisdom and hope for the future. It takes me back to a time in R&B when guys like Marvin Gaye were sending a message with their music. Love and Happiness, it’s infectious in the best possible way. It brings hope to ears that are so flooded with negativity, spite, and the sounds of fear these days. Mozez’s music is calming and energizing too… a refreshing trend that I hope continues.
… Oh, and did I mention it also has a groove that will wash over you like warm fudge on soft-serve ice cream Sunday, until it all melts together into that wonderful sugary chocolate soup at the bottom that you simply can’t help but pick up and slurp down. YUMMY!
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Can this guy do wrong? Apparently not! Every mix on this record works like magic. Buscemi has been around for a long time now. Starting with a more down-tempo Drum and Bass sort of vein, then moving into a solid soulful NuBossa zone. His newer stuff is some of my favorite to play. Every remix he has ever done is on here I think, so it’s a great way to find out what I have been raving about. The epic remix of Calexico’s “Crystal Frontier” is in this as well as one he did for Suba a few years back called “Felicidad”. This guy is up there with Thievery Corporation and Kruder & Dorfmeister in my book. One of the Down-Tempo Master indeed!!
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Ragbull is becoming one of my favorite labels right now. Everything they put down is workin’ for me. I have not been disappointed yet. Gecko has been a round for a bit just doin’ the occasional 12” single or remix, but this record has a great blend of mid-tempo and down-tempo tracks that all work together. There is some solid, funky shit on this record. Very inventive production and sampling as well. Great melody and groove to please even the most fickle of you beatheads out there.
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Compilation - “The Raid” a trip into the vaults of Fort Knox Recordings and Jalaoeno records
Jalapeno Records 2005
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Mid – Tempo Breaks are were it’s at for me right now. I am Hungry!! But this record definitely satisfies me in a big way. Almost everyone worth mentioning in this sub-genre of Breaks is on here man. Ikon, Fort Knox Five and Skeewiff to name a few the later also blessed us with a whole continuous mix with the second disc in this comp. Slammin’!! Great party record, or just pop this on when you need a bit of an extra kick in the booty to get going and it won’t let ya down. Lovin’ It!!
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Does it get any better than this? Solid and Right on mid-Tempo Funky Break bliss friends! A track “Keep On Searching” actually uses a chicken sample.. that’s right a f’ing chicken. A Funky chicken man… oh would have ever thought of that? Genius, just genius is what I am saying. If you are diggin’ anything from the Fort Knox label, then you gotta grab this one. My favorite Funky record of the year so far. I think you will find that anything from Jalapeno Records will feed your appetite for the FUNK! Great work guys!
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“Valldemossa” - Richard Dorfmeister / Madrid De Los Austrias 12”
Sunshine Enterprises & G-Stone Recordings – 2003
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Dorfmeister is the master! I bow down. This is one of the tightest remixes he has done so far! I just love the slight housey feel under a solid World music vibe … it is a mover too… great for the early club crowd or an after party warm-down. I found it in a second hand shop in Brighton. I never even new it existed until then, what a great surprise! If you dig the NuBossa/House vibe you will be wanting this.
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Trio Exclusiv – “International Standards” (*import)
Universal Records 2005
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I really like this one. It reminds me of what I got so excited about when I first heard groups like Jazzanova (before they went all broken beat 2step assed!) and Truby Trio, Les Gammas etc… They have a nice latin/world feel but a very original take on this as well. Some electro elements, some Dub elements some Funk in there too if I’m not mistaken. I am just enjoying the holy heck out of it really… what else can I say?
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No I have not fallen back into the 70’s and I am not talking about a weird guy with a beard playing a flute. Aqualung is a very different thing altogether. I first heard him through a great compilation that Chris Coco put together called “Acoustic Chill vol2” It’s the same place I first heard Gemma Hayes too (I Love her) and also one of my favorites Kings of Convenience. Aqualung could on first listen be put into the same pop category as Magnet, or Johnathan Rice but, to me he is more in the same camp as James Blunt. Great pop songwriting and sense of melody and lyric. It all comes together with a nice energy and surprising grace. If you’re in the mood for a just plain solid pop record with a down-tempo edge, then this is your pick of the week.
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The Five Corners Quintet – “Chasin’ The Jazz Gone By”
Ricky-Tick / Milan Records 2005
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Hey welcome to one of the hottest cool jazz spots in the world right now … Helsinki Finland!! This is a group I have been following for a few years now, but this is the first full album they have released so far. I must tell you it is Jazz, I mean it NAILS it man! I would play a track called “Trading Eights in SF, and heads are bobbin’ asses shakin’ … some extremely good playing on this record. Great songs and awesome musicians too! Great laid back Latin tinged grooviness brothers and sisters! Dark, smoke filled room, sippin’ whiskey, dressed to kill, out on the town, Jazz for yo ASS. They have a few tracks on here that could well put butts on the dance floor in just about any club I’ve ever been too. I will tell you that if you ever get a chance to see these guys play live… well it’s more than worth the ticket price. If you are a fan of Nicola Conte, Jazzanova, Truby Trio etc… I highly recommend reaching out for this one. You will be boppin’ and hoppin’ all night long with this one.
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Richard Hawley – “Coles Corner”
Mute Records 2005
Also
“Lowedges” & “Late Night Final”
Mute Records 2003 & 2001
www.richardhawley.co.uk
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Okay, Okay … I know I’m goin’ out on a limb here, or taking you out into the “weeds” AGAIN. TUFF!! So what … I’m allowed an off the beaten path pick once in a while aren’t I? This is down-tempo for sure though guys and gals. Richard has a voice so deep it will rip your heart out man. I do prefer his earlier record “Late Night Final” to his new release “Coles Corner” but not by much. That’s why I’ve put both down here. The older one may be harder to find so if so “Coles Corner” is also a sweet way to get introduced to Hawley’s specific brand of Pop. Big Deep guitars and jangley steel string acoustics all riding on a soft pillow of brushed snare and faint strings … Each record has a little different quality but all have the same soulful deep voiced sorrow. A track “Man on the Moon” I’m listening to right now as I type this … so simple yet so very DEEP man. Really beautiful track. For those of you who like groups like Cousteau will love this. I would say he sounds like a cross between Morrissey meets Bert Bacharach. A true Troubadour with some real song writing chops. If you go to his website you can grab a few choice tracks off the download section for free, WOW what a concept music for free!! I love listening to Hawley on my iPod while takin’ a long ride on the train… looking out the window watching the world go by … putting the miles and all my hurt behind me … moving forward into the future with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. Music can be like that; it’s one of the only things in life that can move even the most scarred heart to keep beating and the most jaded living.
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