fick soul

flat pocket (twit one & lazy jones) - fick soul (mixtape)

the outsiders are back

perhaps one of the most pleasantly suprising debut records to be released this year comes in the form of this brilliantly infectious funk/soul LP from kings go forth on luaka bop records. this 10-piece soul unit from milwaukee, wisconsin consist of seven players and three singers. this band have created their own sound from a broad palete of classic rhythm & blues, from mid-60s chicago to early-70s philadelphia, and those even more obscure. groove-heavy and horn-powered, 'the outsiders are back' cements its place in the exciting soul-revival.


kings go forth - fight with love

heritage

"hypnotic brass ensemble are one of a kind. graced with soul, funk, and spirituality these guys have captivated audiences worldwide. their music is a combination of all genres. with the undeniable drive of hip-hop, the freedom of rock and the melodic thread of R&B these guys are nothing short of unique.

all band members are the sons of legendary sun ra trumpeter phil cohran. the group began performing together as children (some as early as 3 years old). in 1999 they formed what is now known as the hypnotic brass ensemble and have performed or collaborated with some of the greatest musical stars of the last two decades. from mos def to maxwell, wu tang clan’s ghostface killah to UK superstar damon alburn, erykah badu to fela kuti’s drummer tony allen. if you don’t know these guys you’re missing out.

during one of their many stays in dublin with choicecuts, hypnotic decided to shack up in a studio located high in the dublin mountains to rehearse for a week and write new material. hypnotic and choicecuts had a bit of down time in between these sessions and with plenty of guinness and jameson in tow chose to rework some of their favourite records from other artists that have influenced them both.

hypnotic know their fans. they also know their fans know real music. the heritage EP released by choicecuts with hypnotic is a nod to that fact, a sprinkling of the hypnotic dust over some of the tunes that influenced the band and their musical direction over the course of their lives."

hypnotic brass ensemble - spottie (free download)

ain't no sunshine

this reissue courtesy of now-again records picks out a lost dark soul/funk masterpeice from a classic high school funk band of the '70s. the equatics were hampton, virginia high school champions of pepsi's 'new sounds of 1972' challenge. 'doin it!!!' combines funk, soul, blues and psychedelic-pop to create some real beat-heavy tracks. make sure you check out the full liner notes and buy the record. below you will find the band's mournful cover of bill wither's 'ain't no sunshine' which is also available as a free download.


the equatics - ain't no sunshine

if you're looking for love

this track is lifted from the 'home schooled: the ABCs of kid soul' compilation by the numero group . the triads are some great kid soul from the florida scene of the 70s and this particular track moves at a quick pace with frenetic guitar and drums setting the groove, with a topping of harmony kid vocals that perfectly blend with the urgent funk.


triads - if you're looking for love

good things

aloe blacc is a soul singer/rapper/musican and is fluent in spanish, it's beginning to seem like there's not much this guy can't do. his fanbase has been steadily growing since 1995 when he collaborated with hip-hop producer exile and became something of a 'stow away' on the lootpack tour of europe in the late 1990s. his public profile was significantly raised after HBO decided at the 11th hour to use the lead single from his sophomore album for the opening credits to their show 'how to make it in america". the track "i need a dollar" is reminiscent of a 70s soul number with its urgent piano and haunting vocals, originally derived at a time when blacc was listening to old field recordings of black convicts from the south working on chain gangs. the first rough recording of the track was made with his friends back in 2007 sitting in their front room stomping on the wooden floor and clapping their hands, much like a kind of spiritual you could find yourself singing in church.

there is an absence of rapping on the new record, with blacc concentrating on the delivery, and in particular the emotional aspect of his soulful voice. production comes from truth & soul at the soul fire studios in williamsburg, some might remember their remix of dinah washington's 'cry me a river'. the retrospective track 'good things' starts off quite relaxed with a funky guitar riff bubbling under the surface, the introduction of brass acts as a catalyst in bringing this song to life, and the backing vocals create a sweet soul harmony that seems to be so rare in modern music. 'you make me smile' is nothing short of a delight, 'politician' features a heavier presense of funky horn licks, 'if i' is a delicate number where blacc's vocal talent really shines, and tracks 'momma hold my hand' and 'green lights' pay homage to traditional rhythm & blues. 'hey brother' has a crazy psychedelic groove and 'miss fortune' highlights a broader musical influence of reggae.

this record addresses current social and political issues, commenting on unemployment, homelessness, the unsustainable use of natural resources, and the pitfalls of capatalism. thought-provoking and decisively mature lyrics contribute to a growing musical character in which blacc strives for positive social change. 'good things' places aloe blacc at the forefront of modern soul, head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries, emphasising social consciousness and inducing compassion.

come on back

brothers of soul were a trio consisting of fred bridges, richard knight, and bobby eaton. hailing from detroit, their music was characterised by motown-esque harmonies and a rich, funky beat. below you can find one of their gems from what was a short and often overlooked career.


brothers of soul - come on back

we can rap

carleen & the groovers were a 1970's funk band from south carolina. after only releasing a couple of singles during their time and until recently were largely forgotten, we can thank stonesthrow for this wonderful re-issue.


1. Right On
2. The Thing
3. Can We Rap
4. Hot Pants

carleen & the groovers - we can rap (12") [mediafire]

cold beats

this is a track by producer koushik and underground hip-hop artist percee p that features on stones throw's 'science class: heavy funk & raw disco soul' compilation. the song samples the deep funk classic 'cold heat' by lil' lavair & the fabulous jades which can be heard in its original form here.


listen...


download...

koushik - cold beats (featuring percee p) [mediafire]

wanda vidal

this is a track from one of madlib's projects that takes a distinct step away from traditional hip-hop - yesterday's new quintet. recently i have been on a journey discovering all the madlib-related material out there and with each new turn the music takes, my appreciation greatens. this jazz-based quintet, made up of four fictitious characters, has released a few albums that i highly recommend you check out.



download...

yesterday's new quintet - wanda vidal [mediafire]

j dilla

j dilla was a hip-hop producer from detroit, michigan. having only discovered his work recently, i was instantly intrigued by his use of sampling and the misty, almost nostalgic atmosphere his music creates.




download

j dilla - stop [mediafire]

superfly

curtis mayfield's 'superfly' album is a classic of 1970s soul and funk. it would be wrong however to dismiss it as merely a funky sounding record with no substance or rooted meaning. in fact, we also saw deep political meaning in mayfield's first solo album entitled 'curtis'. songs like 'keep pushing on' and 'people get ready' were commenting on the civil rights movement and gave people's belief at the time another avenue of expression.

in 'superfly' he uses each song to focus on a different aspect of what he saw was going wrong on america's streets at the time; offering probing questions of his own community. he presents a critical perception on drugs, dealers, and leading a life of such nature. mayfield doesn't slip into the trap of becoming too moralistic, but simply observes what black life was often like in the early 1970s. in particular, 'pusherman' uses the metaphor of a drug dealer as a means of earning a living and running a business. talented lyricism is evident with the incisively written... "i'm your mamma, i'm your daddy, i'm that nigga in the alley; i'm your doctor when in need, want some coke, have some weed". the latin percussion used throughout the record also helps i think to convey this theme of the streets.

curtis mayfield - 'superfly' [mediafire]

curtis mayfield - 'superfly' [yousendit]

the philadelphia experiment

the philadelphia experiment - not to be confused with the alleged US military experiment where a naval ship was rendered briefly invisible - is a collaboration between ahmir thompson (otherwise known as questlove/?uestlove, drummer for acclaimed hip-hop act the roots and producer for artists including common and al green), uri caine (jazz pianist and composer), and christian mcbride (jazz bassist). this one-off album was dedicated to recognising philadelphia's profound legacy of jazz and soul.

even though each member hails from philadelphia, they all bring their unique musical style to this collaboration. caine's avant-garde piano, mcbride's jazzy bass, and thompson's hip-hop drumming style all result in a very funky album unrivalled in originality. they have achieved a completely fresh approach to a style of music which consistently features in 'greatest albums of all time' lists; bringing that style of improvisational jazz into the 21st century. this album is a flawlessly executed homage to the greats of music. in particular, 'trouble man theme' is a rendition of marvin gaye's 'trouble man' which has been transformed into what some people have described as a 'revival-like groove'. not to be overlooked is the hidden gem of a track at the end of the album where mcbride plays a stripped back cover of 'just the two of us' by grover washington jr with a slapped bass rhythm line and handclaps. with repeat listens you can really appreciate the influences behind this highly successful experimental venture.

the philadelphia experiment - 'trouble man theme' [mediafire]

the philadelphia experiment - 'trouble man theme' [yousendit]