Produced primarily by Oddisee whose album 'People Hear What They See' was released just 3 months ago , the new album from Maryland MC Substantial, 'Home Is Where The Art Is' makes all the right sounds. In the usual Oddisee way, we have some great crate digging yet again with soulful samples galore.
Lyrically on point this is a grounded album concerned with community and its state of affairs whilst eschewing the materialism that seems prevalent in some rap circles. Perfect for the Autumn and changing seasons, you get the impression that he's appreciating life more too, with the album ending with the sung lyric 'i'm so grateful'.
"1990s boom-bap, soulful instrumentals, and furious record scratches" - The Washington City Paper
One of life's worries can often be the questions 'will people remember me when i'm gone?', will people know i'm here when i'm here. Will there be a lasting legacy from my life?
From a Christian perspective, watching recently released film Searching For Sugarman threw up some interesting answers, amongst lots of questions.
So last weekend I went down to Cineworld Fulham for the first time ever and parted with £11 to see this film.
Before you read further, please note this article contains some spoilers >>
Mottled with beautiful shots of the city, amazing music, poignant interviews and archive scenes, this music expose documents the life of Detroit born singer Sixto Rodriguez.
Sounding a bit like Bob Dylan, Rodriguez' lyrics are steeped in love, politics and telling it how it is.
His debut album Cold Fact was produced by Motown's Dennis Coffey and released in 1971. The album was a commercial flop in his native US, but a single copy of record made it into South Africa, where it went on to shift 'half a million copies' either via bootleg or sold. The word of mouth was incredible and sold the record, even with todays media machine this is one of the ultimate examples of a recommendation from a friend being worth more than any advert.
By the mid nineties Rodriguez was still none the wiser to this, in the 20 years since he'd released an excellent follow up which also didn't move in any great volume in the US and had consequently continued to raise his family and work on building sites as a tradesman.
He simply had no idea how famous he was in South Africa. Luckily he had some super fans who tracked him down to let him know that he was a star out there. And in 1998 sold out shows ensued as he played in front of 20,000+ people. All those record sales, which he was never paid for, started to earn him some money which he promptly shared amongst friends. It was great to see him get the recognition so many people thought his album deserved, a real good moment in the film.
There is so much more to this story, but it's well worth watching. And Rodriguez's music? Timeless.
Crate digger supremo Joey Negro, aka Dave Lee, has often sought to bring rareified gems back into the public consciousness, and so here we have 'Go Go Get Down- Pure Ghetto Funk from Washington DC'. Two discs of music with what seems like 3 hours of magic on each CD.
Whether or not Lee has an actual magic wand, he still has a good ear for a tune with this impressive collection of lesser heard jazz funk rap. Most of the tunes on offer here owe a debt to Sugarhill Gang's Rappers Delight, but there's enough of a story here to be told involving tales behind DC's 'Go Go' funk scene from '79 onwards into the late 80's. The sleeve notes are extensive as those involved in the local scene recall what happened at the time, plus there's a write up for each of the acts featured and how Joey Negro discovered each on his journey, acting as a good supporting compendium.
Whilst it's possible the cream of the crop could perhaps have been squeezed onto one disc instead of two, here we have a better view of the complete story of DC's Go Go scene. As goes the lyric 'There's a party over here, a party over there…', this is well worth checking out.
Leading with a deliciously snowy arctic tundra as their cover art, Daptone's Menahan Street Band took to Facebook today to announce new album 'The Crossing' will be released October 30th. This is the follow up to their acclaimed 2010 debut Make The Road By Walking, an album i'm a huge huge fan of and which has gained the band an authentic fanboy following since. More recently the group provided the backbone to Charles Bradleys excellent 'No Time For Dreaming' as well as touring with Bradley to various festivals in the US and Europe.
"Recorded over a period of nearly two years, The Crossing is an
11-track sonic testament to the fruitful creative relationship that
exists between the band, which consists of Brenneck, drummer and band
co-founder Homer Steinweiss, bassist Nick Movshon, trumpeter Dave Guy and tenor saxophonist Leon Michels. " - KVUE.com
The title track is available for preview on Rolling Stone's website and, if this is anything to go by, the signs are very very good already. Expect more undulating, beautiful, spine tingling instrumental funk from this talented Brooklyn based troupe
Marc Mac- Extend The Knowledge/It's Right To Be Civil (Omniverse)
If you're interested in black politics, particularly the story of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and the race protests of the 60's and also like hip hop then this double album from Marc Mac could be the perfect album for you. Not only does the 4Hero producers 53 track opus make for a good piece of soundtrack but it's also an incredible education in soundbites as history and music meet.
Digging up both popular and lesser publicised vocal recordings and interviews, this "..was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Detroit Red and the 1000's that made a difference". Clearly a subject close to his heart, the looped production and beats are Dilla-esque and the voxes are neatly placed alongside the music. Where Mac wants us to listen to the historical aspect, there is no music, just speech and that's as raw and powerful as any of the musical notes on offer.
All things considered, this is an excellent and meritable piece of work from the 4Hero man, and a great addition to any record collection.
"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
If You like this try: J Dilla- Donuts // The Avalanches- Since I Left You
Whilst at Rise Records last weekend I picked up this album from late Beach Boy drummer Dennis Wilson. It was only a fiver so thought i'd finally take up the offer. He was the first Beach Boy to release a solo album which surprised many, but it's definitely stood the test of time.
Copious smoking and alcohol abuse sent Wilsons voice gravelly and barotone and resulted in his untimely demise (he died whilst intoxicated and deep diving to rescue items he'd thrown off a yacht at a marina 3 years earlier). But without his voice sounding as well worn this LP would sound vastly different. The album provides a juxtaposition to the trademark Beach Boys melodies.
The cover art is striking too, with Wilson staring into the lens looking pretty disheveled. The title reminds me of the beach, and whilst it's pouring down with rain here in the UK, this album takes me to a place with a sunnier outlook.
Here's one of my favourite tracks from the 1977 album:
Released slightly under the radar in late March , (and something i gratefully discovered earlier this month) was Georgia Anne Muldrows first album entirely produced by another, the soulful cuts of hiphop producer Madlib on new album 'Seeds'
I first became aware of her music when scouting out tracks for Welcome To Jazz Club Vol 2, and ended up adding 'The Black Mother' from her 2010 album Ocotea.
Instrumentally this album contains alot of cleverly put together samples, afro-rhythms, horns and beats and has an organic sound, captured neatly by the faux well-worn vinyl sleeve on the artwork, complete with Muldrows Cleopatra Jones styled hairdo.
So what about her distinctive style? Well here she's focused her old skool hewn vocals on the spiritual element, of togetherness and rolling her idea's and thoughts on praise, worry, and life across each record. Not having to concern herself about the production of the album, which previously she would have done herself, has led to a slightly free'er, laid back style on this LP.
Highlights include Best Love, a classic 1980's era R&B groover, album opener Seeds is all big horns and piano tinkles, in Husfriend she repeats 'everything I want is here' and Kali Yuga sounds like a Oneness of Juju cut with Muldrows vocal doing most of the work.
Fans of the recent THEESatisfaction album via Sub Pop, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott could easily look to this for their next fix, though there's more to the Muldrow than meets the eye and no doubt her next album will again bring something completely fresh to the table.
