Friday, August 31, 2012

R.I.P. Chris Lighty

Chris Lighty, 2007. Photo: Jim Cooper/Associated Press
Chris Lighty, founder of Violator Management, has died. NY Daily News reports he "died Thursday morning after he shot himself during an argument with his ex-wife inside his Bronx apartment, sources told the Daily News.

"Lighty, 44 — a longtime manager of 50 Cent, Diddy, Ja Rule and Mariah Carey — put a gun to his head and fired after a spat with his former wife, Veronica, inside the South Riverdale apartment about 11:30 a.m., police sources said.

"Law enforcement sources said Lighty — who divorced his wife last year — may have been dealing with financial struggles, including owing about $5 million to the IRS..."

New York Times reports that "In one of his most notable deals, Mr. Lighty negotiated a partnership in 2004 between 50 Cent and the beverage company Glacéau that gave the rapper a stake in the company and his own flavor of its Vitaminwater drink. When Coca-Cola bought Glacéau three years later for over $4 billion, 50 Cent’s take was estimated to be worth up to $100 million..."

Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about Chris Lighty courtesy of The Big Payback by Dan Charnas.

New York Times: He Took Hip-Hop From Gritty to Global...excerpt... "Acquiring wealth was an obvious strategy against irrelevance or being overlooked. So the goal was to build rappers — and their brands — from the streets up, without ever sacrificing their connections to their background. Scale big and don’t dilute: those were the rules. That meant endorsement deals, vanity clothing lines and more, anything that could bear the weight of a rapper’s image, anything that could extend a reach.

So when Mr. Lighty partnered some of his clients with Sprite, the results were some of the most viscerally hip-hop ads of the day. Or even later, when he helped negotiate 50 Cent’s stake in Glaceau, the company that makes Vitaminwater, it was with an eye toward not just lending his client’s credibility but also letting the client do so on his own terms. Mr. Lighty didn’t change his artists; he encouraged them to infiltrate."

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Jam this record



NZ On Screen have rediscovered this clip for NZ's first house record... Simon Grigg, who had a hand in it, has no recollection of this video existing... wonder who made it?

"NZ's first house record was a one-off studio project for Simon Grigg, Alan Jansson, Dave Bulog and James Pinker. With a nod to UK act MARRS' indie/electro hit 'Pump up the Volume' — and a sample from Indeep's 'Last Night a DJ Saved My Life' — it briefly featured in the UK club charts. The independently made music video borrows the record's original graphics (by novelist Chad Taylor) and marries them to a mash-up of 1960s black and white, music related archive footage (including C'mon) with the occasional novelty act and politician added for good measure." And there's Rob Muldoon. Woo.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Jules Issa 1994



Jules Issa single on Deepgrooves from 1994, produced by Andy Morton aka Submariner, one of his early productions - he later went on to produce music for Dam Native, Dimmer, Che Fu, and Tha Feelstyle. Ragga MC vocals from one like Tuffy Culture, who also featured on Sound Foundation's Ram Dancehall single.

Both versions featured on her 1995 mini album Found In You - the Tuffy Culture Remix was renamed as Tuffy's Dub on Found In You.

 

Monday, August 27, 2012

3 The Hard Way



I've been doing a few interviews about the digital reissue of Three The Hard Way's debut album that I worked on. I found a copy of the CD (none of the band had one, apparently, when they attempted to reissue it back in 2003) and wrote the liner notes for the digital reissue. Read more about that here.

I had a chat with Aaron Hawkins on Radio One in Dunedin, Chip Matthews on BaseFM, and Charlotte Ryan on BFM (listen above, and available for download on BFM's site).

Charlotte remembers dancing to Three The Hard Way at her school social (dance) in third form, and was pleasantly surprised to hear the songs again and discover they had aged well - better than she expected!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

I feel love



Found this great version of Donna Summer's I Feel Love on the blog of author Will Hermes, the man behind the book Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever.

He has some great excerpts from his book on his blog, to mark the 35th anniversary of the 1977 NYC blackout.

My favourite moment is the day after the blackout, when power came back on, and Hermes writes that "...most of us New Yorkers picked up our lives as we had left them. But quite a few kids across the Bronx and elsewhere were wiring up brand-new sound systems—determined, now that they had the gear, to learn how to DJ."

LISTEN: Will Hermes, author of Love Goes to Buildings on Fire talks to National Radio's Trevor Reekie about Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever." Listen to the interview on RNZ site here.

There's a great doco called NYC 77: The coolest year in hell (made in 2007) that is well worth watching, find it here on Youtube.


Also from his book, on the late Ms Summer...

"On May 13, 1977, Casablanca released Donna Summer’s I Remember Yesterday. A concept album about musical evolution, it ends with a song that is ostensibly the future: “I Feel Love.” She cooed, “Love To Love You Baby” style, over a chugging track made up entirely of synth beats and arpeggiated chord washes, a yin to Kraftwerk’s yang. New York DJs loved it instantly. As unprecedented as “Trans Europe Express,” it became just as essential, an electronic dance music template. 

Blondie covered it live, faithfully, with Chris Stein adding Santana-style guitar licks. In Berlin, Brian Eno rushed into the studio where he and David Bowie were working on Heroes with a fresh copy of the record, raving that it would change the sound of club music “for the next 15 years” (Eno was fond of grand statements). One can imagine the record spinning while the two Philip Glass fans listened to its hypnotic repetitions, the sonic possibilities blooming in their minds like flowers in a stop-motion film."

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Aug 25



New age steppers - My love
Jah warrior -What is right with dub
Soul vendors - Swing easy
Dream warriors - Ludi
Devon Russell - Make me believe in you
Nightmares on wax - Finer
Concept neuf - The Path - Sofrito edit
Temptations - Masterpiece
Staple singers/Curtis Mayfield - New Orleans (off Let's Do It Again OST)
Lee Oskar - Haunted house
Deadly avenger - Malpaso
The Beat - Whine and grind/Stand down Margaret
Supercat - Dolly my baby - reggae mix with Trevor Sparks
Diplo w Sandra Melody - Newsflash
Rebel MC w Tenor Fly - Wickedest sound - Don gorgon mix
Kraftwerk - The model
The makers - Don't challenge me
House party - Dangerous game
Kas Futialo - Kaufeai le nu'u 
LeaLea Jones w Horace Andy - The road
Sound Foundation - Lethal dub
Stevie Wonder - Livin for the city - JT edit
Schoolly D and Joe Delia - The player - Ganja Kru remix
Youngblood brass band - It's all over - Nate compton remix
Sly and the family Stone - In time

Friday, August 24, 2012

Wake up



 First single off the new album from Aaradhna, produced by P-Money. Super soulful. Album out November.

Holding on to Jah

A cosy Sunday night event of inspiring cinema on deluxe sofas, with a 5000 watt soundsystem, Kohu Rd gourmet icecream, good coffee and a full bar. At Galatos....


Holding on to Jah film screening, 26th August 7.30pm


Holding On To Jah details the history of Jamaica, Reggae music, and the Rasta movement, bringing into focus the critical roles played by Marcus Garvey, and the 225th Emperor of Ethiopia, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie.

Reggae is the sound track that sets the history and struggle of the Rasta people, and of all Jamaicans, to music. Candid interviews with some of Reggae's greatest singers and musicians (some of whom are no longer with us) tell a collective story of hard times that were endured and overcome because of their great faith.

The film takes viewers on a journey to the heart of the Rasta movement and shows us how, against great odds, a message of salvation and redemption was born. With courage, tenacity, and faith, the Rastafarian movement emerged, struggled, and continues to thrive. Through all their tribulations they continue to stand firm in their convictions, HOLDING ON TO JAH.

Let it whip



Reissue on 45 thru Ximeno Records outta Japan - reggae versions of Let It Whip and Juicy Fruit (Susan Cadogan). Want! 200 copies only, rare as heck. Originally released in 1983 as Whip It.

Susan Cadogan pops up in the comments on this Youtube clip of the reissue, suggesting it's not her singing. "Dont know what this is!!.....I have never in all my years as a singer ever heard of two singers with the identical same name and especially not a name as uncommon as mine....I should make my own recording of this song... Sorry but this is a cold sound for a song that should be far warmer...."

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Adrian Sherwood mix



DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?h3arf0kigh1ntkt
"This week’s FADER mix comes from the legendary Adrian Sherwood, the English pioneer of dub and zonked-out production. Sherwood just released the supremely heavy Survival & Resistance, his third album under his own name, via On-U Sound, the label he founded in the early ’80s, and his mix traces its beginnings in transcendental roots reggae. Download the mix below, followed by an interview on production technique, running a label and Lee Perry lighting someone’s sock on fire...." Read the interview here. Excerpt below...

Sherwood on mixing/producing... "I tend to use certain delay speeds, reverbs, plugging a reverb into a phaser, mixing things backwards, turning the mix over, and things like that to make a kinda really interesting sonic picture. You can almost do a performance, which is what classic dub mixing is. That’s what I’ve always loved. By being the producer, dub mixer, whatever, you’re shaping something to the final execution of the mix, not just sitting back minusculely making it perfect with a computer, but it’s attacking the bloody thing and, you know, making it leap out at you with your fingers. That adds a big life to the end of it, when you push it off..."

New Liam Bailey



New single from Liam Bailey, out on Truth and Soul Aug 21 (45/digital). His last single When Will They Learn is very tasty.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Estère via Welli


Great tune, catch the Erykah soul diva thing going on... Couldn't find much online about this talented singer from Wellington, but Martyn Pepperell wrote something about her on Vanguard Red earlier this month...

"An ode to a fictional ex-boyfriend named Charlie, ‘Cruel Charlie’ is the latest work from Wellington based singer Estère and her partner in beats and songs, an MPC named Lola. As a beatmaker, Estère has an natural funk to her hip-hop informed soul/Rnb production work. Likewise, as a singer, she has a rich, syrupy delivery and tone, literally dripping goodness all over the track."   Estère Soundcloud

Akalepse - For God Sakes

'Bling47 Breaks takes you on a journey into samples used by J Dilla. Filmed, edited and animated and directed by Waajeed.' Very cool series to dig thru. Here's DJ Akalepse talking about the Lee Feilds album that Dilla sampled...


Get the full story at http://bling47.com/site/for-god-sakes-akalepse/

and one more... Rich Medina on the melancholy in Dilla's later records...


Monday, August 20, 2012

Prince x Dam Funk

"For the Wax Poetics ten-year anniversary and Issue 50 Prince Issue, Dām-Funk (Stones Throw) creates an exclusive Prince DJ mix, including a new Dām-Funk track..."


Track list
1. Prince & the Revolution – 17 Days (original version)
2. DāM-FunK – 17 Days (D-F Re-Freak)
3. Prince – Irresistible Bitch (Props Re-Edit)
4. Prince (featuring Andre Cymone & Pepe Willie) – One Man Jam
5. Prince – Wet Dream Cousin
6. Prince – Dirty Mind (1981 Live Version)
7. Prince – Soft & Wet (original version)
8. Prince – Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (D-F Extended Re-Edit)
9. Prince – Sticky Like Glue (Props Re-Edit)
10. Prince & the Revolution – All My Dreams

D'Angelo and Jesse


I was reading the Jesse Johnson (The Time) article in a recent issue of  Wax Poetics magazine at the weekend - their issue #50 has a ton of great Prince and Prince-related stories.

From Wax Poetics: "Guitarist Jesse Johnson was an instrumental part of the Time, crafting some of their most well-known songs before departing on a solo career. While continuing to collaborate with idols like Sly Stone or jam with protégés like D’Angelo, Johnson charts new territory while staking a claim to the Minneapolis funk-rock sound that Prince and his affiliates created."

Today there's been a bunch of folk on Twitter raving about some live show D'Angelo is playing right now Stateside. I remember seeing Jesse Johnson playing with D'Angleo at an awards show recently, and a mate sent me this video (cheers, Jubt), of Jesse and D'Angelo blazing away on the guitars. Dude can shred.



Promotional mix by FA celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Wax Poetics!

Track list
Prince and the Revolution “Erotic City (Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive)” (Warner Bros.)
The Time “777-9311 (propsEdit)”
Blood Orange “Champagne Coast (Krystal Klear Remix)” (Domino)
Jesse Johnson “Be Your Man (Specially Remixed Version)” (A&M)
Andre Cymone “Kelly’s Eyes” (CBS)
Larry Graham “There’s Something About You” (Warner Bros.)
94 East “If You Feel Like Dancin’” (Hot Pink)
Toro y Moi “Saturday Love” (Carpark)
Madhouse “Fifteen” (Warner Bros.)
The Family “Screams of Passion (Extended Version)” (Warner Bros.)
DJ Quik “Do Today (featuring Jon B. and BlaKKazz K.K.)” (Mad Science)
?uestlove, The Foreign Exchange, Zo!, and Carlitta Durand “Purple Flip”
Prince “Wouldn’t You Love to Love Me”
Frank Ocean “Songs for Women”
Prince and the Revolution “I Would Die 4 U/Baby I’m A Star (Live, Landover, MD, 1984)”
Frank Ocean “Voodoo”

Count Bobo and the Bullion

Hat tip to Jen F for putting me onto these cats. "COUNT BOBO AND THE BULLION, a new 6 piece Ska band from Bristol and Bath playing traditional sax led and vocal harmony ska music, including tunes by The Skatalites, Prince Buster and Roland Alphonso...."

Count Bobo Soundcloud for more. Count Bobo on Facebook // Count Bobo website
 


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Strummer Day


The Newmatics with guests The bankRobbers (feat Andrew Boak ex No Tag and Jed Town ex Features), The Skitz (formerly the Managers) & DJ Dubhead, celebrate Joe Strummer's birthday - it would have been his 60th. On at the Kings Arms, tonight. Expect some Clash songs.

"Strummer Day started as a celebration of the life and music of Joe Strummer. Strummer Day is held on or about the 21st Aug, Joes birthday. The first Strummer Day was celebrated in August 2004 on what would have been Joe's 52nd birthday . there have been six Strummer Days since then. Doors 8pm, $20."

Murray Cammick has dug out some of his photos from back in the day and posted them on FB, here's some old shots of the Newmatics, and Andrew Boak (ex-bFM, ex-No Tag) backstage with Doug Hood and Straitjacket Fits drummer John Collie.

Photo: Murray Cammick

Photo: Murray Cammick

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Aug 18

Bob James - Take me to the mardi gras
Cymande - The message
Gwen McCrae - 90% - Jim Sharp edit
Lumidee - Uh oh remix
Kolab - Sideways - Dub Asylum remix  free download
Lee Scratch Perry -You thought I was dead
Bim Sherman -Nightmare
Horace Andy - Cus cus
The Clash - Magnificent dance
The Beat - Whine and grind/Stand down Margaret (Aug 23 at the Powerstation)
Tiger Ranks - Party wit me
Skull snaps - It's a new day
Marc Mac - Runnin
Jazz not jazz - We dig
Depth charge - Bounty killers
DLT - Chains (unreleased hiphop version)
Jules Issa - Dangerous game (single version)
Curtis Mayfield - Underground
Dennis Edwards - Don't look any further
 Joi - Missing you
Melvin Jackson - Cold duck time pt 1&2
Jet jaguar - Radio rhodes
Trip to the moon - The gatekeeper
Superspirit - We belong to the cosmos - Jugoe remix
Pitch black - Flex - Son sine remix
Mad professor meets Frente cumbiero - Analogica dub
Patea maori club - Poi e - Peter Mac disco drums edit






Friday, August 17, 2012

Indie records stores in NZ

How many independent record stores are left in New Zealand? The folk at Amplifier.co.nz threw this question out on Twitter earlier this week, and pulled together this list. Any additions or corrections, please let me know in the comments.

"With the decline in physical music sales in NZ over the past few years and events like the Christchurch earthquake there seems to have been a lot of stores closing. 

Please note we've excluded stores that only sell second hand titles and also souvinier or book stores that have a tiny selection of music. The stores listed are either solely music retailers or at least have a large selection of new music. Also we can't say if we're 100% accurate so if you know of any others that we've left out then please leave a comment and we'll add them to the list.

And we've also left out online retailers like... us."

Auckland
Rhythm Compact Discs (Ponsonby)
Southbound Records (Mt Eden)
Alien (New Lynn)
Conch Records (Ponsonby)
Real Groovy (Akl City)
Marbecks (Brown's Bay)
Musiquarium (Mt Eden)
Rockin Records (Epsom, shares space w Abbeys Antiques)

Northland
Musicor (Whangarei)
Noise Company (Dargaville)

Central Nth Island
Tracs (Tauranga)
My Music (Taupo)
Vinyl Countdown (New Plymouth)
Raw Music (Whanganui)
Zinc Records (Taradale)
Hi Fi Gallery (Napier) Vinyl Only
Electric City Music (Napier)

Wellington
Rough Peel Music (Wtg Central)
Slow Boat Records (Wtg Central)
Parsons (Wtg Central)
Evil Genius (Berhampore)
Lo-Cost Records (Petone)
Wonderland (Wainuiamata)
Vinyl Heaven (Masterton)

Nelson
Everyman Records

Christchurch
Galaxy Records
Penny Lane * 2

Dunedin
Portil
Too Tone Records
Disk Den

Invercargill
Play It Again (closed?)
Rock N Rolla






And for a contrast: From the Telegraph "Where are London's best independent record shops still selling vinyl?"

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Ride to the Pharcyde


"Hell, with the advent of YouTube, you can just make your own rap career and you never have to put out a record." - Imani, The Pharcyde

Imani and Bootie Brown (Tha Pharcyde) with assistance from DJ Vick One and Computer Jay (on visuals), will bring The Pharcyde experience to New Zealand for the first time - Thurs in Wanaka (Mint), Friday in Wellington (SFBH),  Saturday in Auckland (Studio), Sunday in Chch (Dux).

Martyn Pepperell did a great interview with the band earlier this month well worth a look, read it at UTR. Snippet below...

...Now, a lot of people out here don't know seem to know that you were dancers before you were rappers. I was wondering if you could talk about what the hip-hop dance scene was like back in the day for you guys?

Bootie Brown: In LA we called it the Trendy scene. That was what it was. It was sped up electro, hip-hop, Afrika Bambaataa, rock, Cybotron, Kraftwerk. It was just really that electro type of music. We would play it at 45 [not 33 on the record player] sometimes. It wasn't like a big thing, but if you met someone, you could tell if they were doing the dancing, just by the way they dressed. It was a complete style, a complete whole thing that was going on.

Imani: It was loose man. It was nothing official, there was no president, no vice president. It was just cats that liked music, and it was like a scene. You know what I mean? It was just a scene. You knew these people were connected to the scene because of their hairstyles or the way they talked.

Bootie Brown:
I would say that was kinda like the start. That was where I met Imani. It was like a little stage where hip-hop was coming in. The whole thing was changing over and we had this contribution.

How were you guys dressing in that scene?


Bootie Brown: Doc Martins. Creepers, I don't know if you guys had Creepers out there? We were like mods. In a Mad House mod type of way. It would have its own twist sometimes. Some people would wear tuxedos and suits. Depending on what groups you were in, you had a certain kind of style in the group.

Imani: Imagine if The Warriors didn't have chains and knives! [Laugh] You know the movie The Warriors?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Ranking Clash

A while ago I posted a clip with audio of The Beat's Ranking Roger toasting over Rock the Casbah from The Clash.

Ranking Roger came across the clip on Youtube in 2010 and commented on it, saying "Nice to see this cut up here. I recorded this for the Clash in London around 82-3 when the clash and the beat toured quite a bit in the U.S.A together.

"I also did a toast/rap over red angel dragnet which i have not heard since. I did it as a one take in the studio.The Clash split up shortly afterwards so it was never released. What you guys are hearing here was just a rough mix for us to go away and listen too. it was never finished."

The Youtube user who posted that Casbah version back in 2008 and has recently found the audio of the Red Angel Dragnet that Roger mentions, and posted it, go have a listen...

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The vinyls

Photo: Renuka Phadnis/The Hindu
The vinyl makes a comeback, from The Hindu, in India. Check the photo of the vinyls - Iron Maiden!

"... Indronil, Assistant Manager, Time Out, which stocks titles of records in a separate section within a bookshop in a city mall, told The Hindu that 100 records had been sold in the past one year and people were asking for more titles in addition to the current 40.

This particular retailer — who claimed it was the only place in the city to offer records — has Hindi and English records. The titles are a mix of old and new. The covers are glossier than the ones that were around a few decades ago. The Hindi records have titles such as Vande Mataram by A.R. Rahman, Pakeezah, Dil Toh Paagal Hai, Veer Zara, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The English music is of bands such as the Beatles, Eagles, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Metallica, and Iron Maiden. The latest addition is an album called ‘California 37’ by Train. The records of English music sell more, Indronil said.

... Bannu Fernandes, a self-employed businessman, said he used to collect records but now has only two records left with him. Both the records belong to 1950s or 1960s and are of Hindi film music.

He said the person who borrowed the rest of his collection never returned them and passed away, after which he has found it extremely difficult to retrieve them. He said, “If you have old records, you can try to see if the retail shop will buy them.”

Monday, August 13, 2012

JB Hifi ups and downs

JB Hifi are reporting their NZ stores have turned a profit for the first time in their 5 years here.

NZ Herald reports their " local sales climbed 18 per cent, more than for the entire Australian group. The Victoria-based company's 13 New Zealand stores reported pretax earnings of $3.6 million in the 12 months ended June 30, compared to a loss of $1.6 million a year earlier, while sales climbed to $222.2 million from $188.7 million.

The group's net profit fell 4.6 per cent to A$104.6 million, or $1.059 per share, while sales rose 5.7 per cent to A$3.13 billion."

From The Australian: JB Hi-Fi shares rise despite profit fall
"Shares in electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi are up by almost five per cent after it posted a small drop in profit and like-for-like sales in the year to the end of June.

From the Sydney Morning Herald...
MC chief market strategist Michael McCarthy said JB Hi Fi stock will likely rise today, after profits met earlier guidance. “The big issue here is that electrical goods have been commodified. “They can be sold from anywhere and bought online – that is the big structural issue they’re facing,” he said.

Dr Who?

Hat tip to The Joint radio show for this one... Mankind doing the disco version of the Dr Who theme... want more? Go watch Mankind playing this tune live on Top Of The Pops over at The Joint.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Gensu Dean Wantchu

Gensu Dean - "Wantchu feat. Olivier Daysoul" - free download, featuring Olivier Daysoul, who also turns up on the new Sola Rosa album.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

FACT mix 341: The Orb & Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

Via Fact Mag: "The Orb, innovators of ambient house and one of Britain’s all-time most celebrated electronic acts, have teamed up with the inimitable Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, one of Jamaica’s greatest ever musicians, for a new album, The Orbserver in the Star House (out Sept). 

As The Orb’s Alex Paterson put it, in an interview earlier this year, “we wanted to do a souly type, modern, minimal album with some reggae influences with [Perry's] vocals on top. I think its one of the best bits of work we’ve ever done.”

To toast the album’s forthcoming release, The Orb and Perry have also teamed up for a FACT mix...."  139MB download.

R.I.P Carl Davis

Producer Carl Davis, architect of ‘the Chicago sound,’ dies at 77, from Chicago Sun Times.

"The iconic music producer who shaped what became known as “the Chicago Sound” died Thursday at his home in Summerville, S.C. He was 77 years old. Mr. Davis had been suffering from lung disease. Mr. Davis and wife Dedra Davis relocated from Chicago to South Carolina in 2009.

Mr. Davis was one of the first African-American A&R directors and produced numerous hit songs for the Columbia Records subsidiary Okeh Records.

He was to Chicago soul music what the Chess brothers were to blues. His first multi-million-selling song was Gene Chandler’s 1962 smash “Duke of Earl.” Follow-up production efforts incuded Jackie Wilson’s 1967 hit “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” Major Lance’s “Monkey Time” (recorded in 1963) and the Chi-Lites 1972 ballad “Oh Girl.”



Mr. Davis connected with singers in a direct manner that translated to the listener. His other major hits ranged from the 1970 smash “Turn Back the Hands of Time” by Tyrone Davis (no relation) to the Dells’ beautiful “Stay in My Corner,” which was a hit in 1965 and 1968.

Beyonce’s hit “Crazy in Love” samples the Davis-produced Chi-Lites tune “Are You My Woman.”

One of Mr. Davis’s most underchampioned artists was Walter Jackson, who turned the listener’s heart inside-out on his cresting 1964 ballad “What Would You Do.” Mr. Davis liked to tell the story of how Elton John pitched him songs to get to Jackson, who died of a stroke at age 45 in 1983. Jackson had polio and performed on crutches, but Mr. Davis was enamored with his powerful voice and in 1962 encouraged Jackson to relocate from Detroit to Chicago.



Zara McFarlane - Police & Thieves



Sweet, jazzy take on Junior Murvin's classic. Here's his version redone as Bad Weed...

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Aug 11

Frank Strazzeri - Cloudburst
Gladys Knight and the Pips - On and on
Eric B and Rakim - Don't sweat the technique - Jim Sharp edit
 Rockers Hifi - What a life
Cedric Im Brooks - Mun dun go
Jackie Mittoo - Sidewalk doctor
Karl Bryan and the afrokats - Money generator
Sound dimension - Heavy rock
Junior Murvin - Bad weed
Woman of Hortense Ellis - the ghetto
Serge Gainsbourg -Aux armes et cetera
Tommy McCook - KT88
Incredible bongo band - Let there be drums
Jay Epae - The creep
Love unlimited orchestra - Strange games and things
Odyssey - Broken road
Barbara Lynn - This is the thanks I get
Darlene Love  -Too late to say you're sorry
Bobby Womack - Find me somebody
Chicago gangsters - Gangster boogie
Prince Tui Teka - Let's stay together
Dizzy Gillespie - Matrix
Donna Summer - State of independence - Justin's get it edit
Nona Hendryx - B-boys
Saskwatch - Celery sticks
Colm K and the freestyle mellowship - Dancing skulls - main mix
Sugar Minott - Inna dancehall style
Augustus Pablo - Dub organiser
The Beat - Hands off shes mine (Live in AK August 23)
Clive Smith - Conscious mind

Friday, August 10, 2012

The Now! Here! Festival

Rare Akld live performance by the Dead C, just one of the many highlights... 

PLUS The Coolies, Greg Malcolm, Rachel  Shearer, and Pieters/Russell/Stapleton - Kim Pieters, (Flies Inside the Sun,Dadamah) Bruce Russell (Dead C) Peter Stapleton (Handful of Dust, Eye) First time playing together since 2004.

"Audio Foundation is very excited and proud to present the Now! Here! Festival - a three-day celebration with New Zealand / Aotearoa's inventive and accomplished sound artists and musicians championing the experimental and avant-garde in all its multitudinous, intriguing and unpredictable forms."

More information here... happening at Audio Foundation HQ, Whammy Bar, and Wynyard Quarter.

Welcome to nowhere

To be launched at the Now! Here! Festival (10th August 2012), the book Erewhon Calling is a survey of how a bunch of antipodean misfits and malcontents have forged new ways and new reasons to make noise, here at the end of the earth.

Edited by Bruce Russell (the Dead C), in association with Richard Francis and Zoe Drayton; the aim of this book is to survey the full range of "non-standard" audio practices in contemporary NZ culture. 

The book's remit runs from the borders of composed art music, through improvised noise, to deconstructed "rock'n pop filth"; and every genre, every scene, every permutation of unconventional audio practice in-between. 

A range of artists and informed commentators mainly tell their own stories, describe their own work, and outline their own goals in working on the fringes of audio culture. 

Included are Phil Dadson, Bruce Russell, Michael Morley, Alastair Galbraith, White Saucer, Andrew Clifford, Jeff Henderson, (Taite Music Prize judge) Jon Bywater, Campbell Kneale and Antony Milton, Vitamin S, Rachel Shearer, Richard Francis, Rosy Parlane, Kiran Dass and many others. http://www.audiofoundation.org.nz/

Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas

Just because. Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas!

 

Musically Mad

A cosy Sunday night event of inspiring cinema on deluxe sofas, with a 5000 watt soundsystem, Kohu Rd gourmet icecream, good coffee and a full bar. At Galatos....


Musically Mad 12th August 7.30pm 


Musically Mad takes you into the hearts and heads of the singers and soundmen, the backbone of the UK roots reggae sound systems. With them they bring the deepest bass and the highest chants, delivered by massive stacks of speakers and custom-built sound equipment. For some, attending a sound system dance is a religious experience, channelled through the music and the message. For others it`s the natural way to connect with the music they love. Either way, sound system culture is growing and changing.

The dances were crucial in lifting the spirits of the Caribbean exiles in the UK, helping them to forget their hardships. Something that reggae and sound system culture now does worldwide, regardless of colour or nationality. Musically Mad  is the story of the people pushing reggae to the masses.

Thursday, August 09, 2012

R.I.P. Rob Winch

Photo by Esther Bunning
Rob Winch (brother of fellow guitarist Martin Winch, who passed away last year) has died [source: Simon Sweetman via Twitter].

Born in England in 1952, he lived in New Zealand since 1963 and made his name in bands such as Sonny Day’s band, Tamburlaine, Streak (which eventually became Mi-Sex), The Heartbreakers, Midge Marsden’s Country Flyers, the 1860 Band and the Rodger Fox Big Band [source].

He performed overseas, "playing concerts in Poland, London (at Ronnie Scott’s), Hong Kong, New York, LA, two appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, as well as having the opportunity to travel to London’s famous Abbey Road Studios to record with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa....  he wrote material for well known New Zealanders; Mi-Sex, Sharon O’Neill, Rodger Fox Big Band, Jon Stevens and Annie Crummer..." [source: robwinch.com]

ADDED Tributes to Rob Winch, via ashack.co.nz, who report Rob died "8th August 2012 from infection complications after receiving a bone marrow transplant for leukemia."


I first met Rob about 1968, he was like a breath of fresh air, so positive and happy about everything he did. He played bass on my first solo album in 76' along with Billy Brown on drums, they were known as the best rhythm section in Wellington. Rob was the total professional, and such a nice guy, sadly missed, but, thanks Rob for sharing your talents and friendship - Steve McDonald
So sad to hear this news, so soon after his great brother Martin died - George Burrell
RIP Rob Winch...a Great Kiwi Musician. Sadly - Ray Columbus
Rob Winch was truly a musician I have always admired.  Not just for his superb musianship, but for his passion for those in the music industry.  I did not do a lot of work with Rob, but I always felt the love of his music in his sunny and wonderful personality.  A great man....who will be truly missed, by me, and all musicians - Gray Bartlett MBE
I am very saddened to read this news, although I'd didn't know Rob well, I saw him perform many many times at the 1860.  We played the same stage many times and he was always a man on a mission.  A consumate musician, a great roll model and mentor - Bruce Aitken
Another good man down. Will be sadly missed - Alan Galbraith
Yes, Rob was one of the nice guys - Rick Bryant
Sad to hear about Rob, he was the musical producer on a "Keeping Safe" audio/visual programme I was involved with years ago, very professional, talented and pleasant to work with - Rochelle Vinsen
Such sweet memories of working with you Rob.  See you on the other side to make more music.  RIP - Bridgette Allen
This is a sad loss of one of our most talented musicians - Neil Harrap

Satellites

Dense, blippy electronica mashed with hiphop tempos, listen to Paradoxi or Slow Motion Reflex.

"For nearly ten years, LA's Erik Nava made, released, and hustled his art with little help from the “industry”. More than just a musician, Nava is a one-man creative force. On his own, Nava booked himself concerts, including national and international tours in Europe and Japan, ran his own record label Kid Without Radio, handled his own PR and publishing, and took care of all web design and animation, all while recording under his Egadz, Matterhorn, and Satellites monikers.

Here is a person obsessed with creating his own destiny. When the “standard” controllers and computers were unable to keep up with Nava, he BUILT HIS OWN, from design to programming. His new live controller, which he premiered at the 2012 Snowball Music Festival, changes the game once again.

Legendary club night the Low End Theory in LA has been inviting Nava to play regularly since 2007 and encouraged him to keep experimenting..."

The latest release from Satellites is called Ghost - listen below... buy it direct from the artist for a mere $5....
 

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Flight plan

Free three track sampler off new album from J Bizniss...

"Kicking off the Mello Music Group Instrumental Series is J Bizness with Flight Plan, a 24-track collection of instrumentals inspired by the miracle of flight.

The accomplished Ontario, CA producer (Red Bull Big Tune LA Champ) creates a relaxed feeling of ease with his production that is well contrasted by just the right measure of funk. “Landing Gear” has spacey synth patches and electro accents while “Turbulence” is darker and grittier, alluding to its namesake. The rising and falling synthesizer lines in “Nonstop” mirror the path of flight."

 

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Lord Echo vs Brooklyn



Bastard Jazz presents Lord Echo, Mobius Collective, Greenwood Rhythm Coalition playing live at Studio BPM, 237 Kent in Brooklyn. Sat. August 18. 10pm start, $10 suggested.


 

Going Up In Smoke

Monday, August 06, 2012

Vinyl comeback faker


"... His finest hour came thanks to the New York Times. In April, the paper ran a piece on vinyl record collectors and Holiday was quoted declaring them to have "a fuller sound".

PR strategist Ryan Holiday decided, by way of an experiment, to get himself quoted as an expert source by the writers of articles and blogs on as many different subjects as possible. The big catch: he wasn't an expert in any of the subjects in question, and some of the time, he wouldn't even speak to the writers.

Holiday's stunt, which aimed to promote a book about his career as a publicist called Trust Me, I'm Lying, was facilitated by a website called Haro, or "help a reporter out".


Holiday's quote from the NYT... "There is a fuller sound to it, and more depth to the sound," said Ryan Holiday, the New Orleans-based marketing director for American Apparel. He’s a new devotee of jazz and David Bowie, thanks to LPs. “I could hear hands going up and down the frets, and stuff that they probably didn’t want you to hear. Which is a nice little surprise,” he said.

The original NYT story now has an editor's note amending the story to inform readers of Holiday's deception, also indicating that Holiday does not own a turntable. 

Listen: Iva Lamkum and P-Money - Doo Bop



Debut album 'Black eagle' from Iva Lamkum out August 24.

Infrasonic

"Infrasonic Sound cuts masters for records (among other work), and the vinyl renaissance means business is good. One issue: The equipment is old and delicate...."

Fascinating story from the LA Times...

excerpt..."Almost all the machinery needed to do so is decades old (Infrasonic's other lathe, a Neumann AM-32, dates back to 1956) and the repair techs who know these units are quite literally dying off.

Infrasonic's move into a prominent 4,000-square-foot Sunset Boulevard location expands its capacity for both processes. As the vinyl format returns as a necessary part of a band's commercial output, Infrasonic wants to demystify this crucial step in making records.

"We want to educate people about what vinyl's supposed to sound like," Lyman said. "You can't skimp on this last part of the process. It's your art."

Infrasonic has a full-service recording studio in another facility (Beck and the Mars Volta have recorded and mastered there), and the mastering shop's three full-time engineers — including Jeff Ehrenberg and Grammy winner John Greenham — have full slates of digital mastering work as well..."

Saturday, August 04, 2012

Sofrito groovers

Free download off the latest compilation Sofrito International Soundclash....out now on Strut Records...

"The Midnight Groovers, led by local legend Chubby, are one of the most influential and longest running bands to come out of the small but musically fertile island of Dominica. This late ‘70s track is a masterclass in cadence-lypso, mixing an angular cadence rhythm and rolling bassline with ominous synths and a minor key vocal."
   

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Aug 4

Round four feat Tikiman - Find a way - Vocal/version
Love grocer - Sitting on the fence
Keith Lawrence feat Rodney P - Style and fashion
Guts - And the living is easy - Dynamics remix
Boss tres bien - Quartet tres bien
Loopless - Pink blue hotel
Beastie boys - EVA humdinger - Hansi edit
DJ Kormac - Korma's scratch party
Three the hard way - Many Rivers
Ermehn - Walls of steel - Radio mix
Liam Bailey - When will they learn
Roots manuva - Agian and again - Moody boyz remix
Prince Fari - African queen
The Yoots - Me he manu rere
Willie Bobo - La descarga del Bobo - MAW remix
Youngblood brass band  -It's all over - Nathaniel Compton remix
Eddie Kendricks - The thin man
Cool breeze - Charlie dont surf
Wu tang clan - Gravel pit
Combinations - Many styles
War - Sing a happy song
Dub traffik control - Fresh prince of babylon
Fat freddys drop - Hope - Sonsine remix
Jules Issa - Dangerous dub

Friday, August 03, 2012

Jonwayne and Mono/Poly



A STONES THROW/BRAINFEEDER SPECIAL - JONWAYNE AND MONO/POLY

On the 3rd of August Los Angeles' Jonwayne (Stones Throw/Alpha Pup) and Mono/Poly (Brainfeeder, Planet Mu, Warp) make their New Zealand debut.

Two of the leading lights of the new wave of Low End Theory associated beats artists to emerge out of California in recent years, Jonwayne and Mono/Poly will be supported by a shimmering collection of progressive local producer and DJ talent, underscoring the global vitality of the movement they're both become so central to.

Newly associated with Stones Throw Records, Jonwayne produces idiosyncratic, blunted beat music, sometimes pairing it with verbose yet slick West Coast microphone prowess. Sitting on a perfectly formed collection of Alpha Pup Records and Stone Throw Records released EPs, albums and an acclaimed series of mixtapes, Jonwayne is in peak form.

More established, musical genre polymath Mono/Poly has been releasing music which mixes celestial textures with sub aquatic bass pressure and hard edged drums for several years now. Along the way he has attracted support from Brainfeeder, Planet Mu and Warp Records as well as nods of affirmation from Radiohead, Erykah Badu and Jay Scarlett (1Xtra).

Due to release new albums this year, Jonwayne and Mono/Poly are two incredible talents, both sitting on the cusp of global recognition. On the 2nd and 3rd of August, catch them in concert at two intimate shows. Chances are you won't get another chance to see these talents this close up.

Friday 3rd August, Khuja Lounge, Auckland
Jonwayne and Mono/Poly w/ local support from Christoph El Truento, Julien Dyne, Mr Mime, Milo B and KXVGXN
Tickets available from UnderTheRadar.co.nz Real Groovy & Conch Records

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Going Global Music Summit 2012

I went to the Going Global Summit last year, had some very interesting speakers, especially for those in the indie scene. Here's this year's lineup and info, and it's free...

Going Global Music Summit 2012 - What you need to know before you go.

"Independent Music New Zealand is proud to announce that the GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2012 will include  Christchurch  as well as repeat visits to Wellington and Auckland this September - the dates are listed below.

If you are looking to take your music overseas, come and hear from people who are working with both new and established artists on the global stage.


GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2012 – Announcing The Delegates:

· Greg Vegas (International Rescue Artist Development / Cooperative Music, USA)
· Peter Jesperson (Newwest Records, USA)
· Brooke Black (Big Hassle, USA)
· Lisa Hresko (CMJ, USA)
· Cary Caldwell (Great Escape UK, SXSW USA)
· Andrew Dubber (author 'Music in the Digital Age', UK)
· Nick O'Byrne (Australian Independent Records Labels Association (AIR), Australia)
· Rene Chambers (Spotify, Aust/NZ) note, Wgtn 6th / Akld 7th ONLY
· Graham ‘Asho’ Ashton (Footstomp / Bigsound, Australia) note, Wgtn/Akld ONLY

Delegate bios & photos are available at www.goingglobal.co.nz


Venue Locations / Dates:
Thursday 6th September – WELLINGTON
Seminars: CQ Conference Centre, 213-223 Cuba St, Cuba Rooms 3-5 (free entry)

Showcases: Ten artists, two venues
Mighty Mighty, 104 Cuba St (free entry)
San Francisco Bath House, 171 Cuba St (free entry)

Friday 7th September – AUCKLAND
Seminars: IMNZ members only, not open to public

Saturday 8th September – AUCKLAND
Seminars: The Langham Hotel, 83 Symonds St, Hauraki Room (free entry)
Showcases: Ten artists, two stages
Galatos Upstairs, 17 Galatos St, Newton (free entry)
Galatos Downstairs, 17 Galatos St, Newton (free entry)

Monday 10th September – CHRISTCHURCH
Seminars: CPIT, 60 Madras St, Imagitech Theatre (free entry)

Showcase: Five artists, one venue
Dux Live, 363 Lincoln Rd (free entry)

If you’re an artist or band who would like to be part of the live music component of the Summit apply via the link below:

http://www.indies.co.nz/going-global-2012-info-for-musicians.html

Artist applications close this Friday August 3rd at 5pm.

Bastard Planet

From the folk at Bastard Jazz: " Here's a preview of Captain Planet's upcoming cassette entitled Mystery Trip Vol. 1 - coming out on Bastard Jazz in mid September. "Bokazo" is a heavy and pulsing journey into Ghana mixed with deeper modern dancefloor vibes. Catch a FREE DOWNLOAD of this tune on our Soundcloud."

 

Walls of steel

I got my hands on a stash of Deepgrooves CDs  earlier this week, and have been digging my way thru them. Found a Jules Issa mini-album I've never heard before. And this gem popped out...

Ermehn - Walls of steel (radio mix) off the Deepgrooves cd single from 1995.  This is a different version from the one on Ermehn's 1998 album Samoans Pt II. Additional vocals from The Fieldstyle Orator (now known as Tha Feelstyle). Produced by DJ Nasty Nige/DJ Mamafa. Recorded and mixed at The Lab by Chris Sinclair. 

DJ Nasty Nige was later known as DJ Sub-Zero, and DJ Mamafa was an alias for Manuel Bundy. Thanks to Manuel for that info re DJ names.


 

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion

Snoop Dogg has announced he's changed his performing name to Snoop Lion, following an extended stay in Jamaica. A lot of folk are kinda sceptical about it, but here's the trailer for the documentary on his new album, recorded in Jamaica with Major Lazer (Diplo/Switch).

From LA Times:
"... The identity change, which he first announced last week, is suprising but not unprecedented in contemporary hip-hop (Nas recorded a collaborative album of reggae-infused tunes with Damian Marley). But it is a major re-imagining of the music and image of the man born Calvin Broadus.

A forthcoming album of straightforward reggae, "Reincarnated," is due soon on Vice Records, and features production by noted Jamaica-philes Major Lazer.

A documentary film of the same title, about the trip to Jamaica that spurred Snoop's new spirituality, will debut at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

Snoop has been wearing Ethiopian-themed clothes at recent concerts, including his headlining Coachella appearance, and the documentary suggests it's the start of a real and profound new path for Snoop. In the trailer, he implies that the identity of Snoop Dogg is truly over.

In a statement, he described the change as a spiritual awakening. "I wanted to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion, but I didn't know that until I went to the temple and received the name Snoop Lion from the Nyabingi priest,” said Snoop. “From that moment on, I started to understand why I was there and was able to create something magical in this ['Reincarnated'] project ... something I haven't done before in my career.”

View the trailer for "Reincarnated" below: