Welcome To Monday…

July 31st, 2006

…it’s been expecting you. First of all, allow me to get nerdy for a minute or two. Now, RSS news feeds, in the past I’ve found them to be plain frustrating, but that’s mainly due to the RSS feed readers that I’ve tried. I hate the layout and concept of retrieving the feeds and reading them. It just feels like one way email. So I’d sort of given up on the idea, until… Google came to the rescue. You can always rely on those bods at Google Labs. They’ve devised the Google Reader, and I think it is great! To be honest it’s just horses for courses, but I already love Google Reader - it’s so simple. But, I also wanted to mention (in conjunction with Google Reader) that if you subscribe to any of the Hype Machine music feeds, you can play the tracks within Google Reader. So I subscribed to the Popular Tracks feed and now when I get a new track pop up in Google Reader, I can listen to it there and then without having to even browse to a different page. See…

It also means you can subscribe to the feed for all the tracks I upload on this blog… http://hype.non-standard.net/playlist/blog/1093/rss/1/feed.xml - you lucky buggers! If anything I’ve said about RSS feeds, Google Reader, or Hype Machine, doesn’t make sense to you, or you have some questions, fire away and I’ll try my best to help.

That nerdy info was about as much direction as today’s blog entry gets I’m afraid, so I’ll ramble. Been checking my blog stats, sooo many people continually searching for tracks from and reviews of The Outsider by DJ Shadow. Do you like hyphy Bay Area hip-hop and also Coldplay? If so, you’ll love The Outsider. If you don’t like those two things, but you say you do love The Outsider… then you’re lying - get over yourselves and listen to something decent. Apparently the Australian tour that DJ Shadow and Mos Def have been doing together has been really good - few incidents of bewilderment when the hyphy tracks have been dropped, but naturally loads of appreciation when the classics have been played. Will the teasing anticipation of the live Organ Donor drop ever get boring? Probably not.

Elsewhere, Dan The Automator is gonna be producing the new album for the band Little Barrie, I don’t know who they are, but I know Dan The Automator is a shit-hot producer. Makes me laugh though how other news sites have to introduce Dan as the producer for Gorillaz - guess they need some frame of reference for the ignorants that know only what NME throws at them. Whilst we’re on the subject of Gorillaz though, Damon Albarn has formed a new band. Together with Danger Mouse he is making an album called The Good The Bad And The Queen. They have a debut single out in October.

Not much else happening on this slow Monday. Should be getting a write-up from Splendour In The Grass sometime this week. That was the two day musical festival last weekend in Byron Bay, Australia. If you’ve been to a musical festival recently and fancy doing a write-up for this blog, just give me a shout. Naturally you’ll get full accreditation, just give me around 1000 words (no more than 1500), and some photos if you’ve got some (no problem if you don’t), and I’ll get it sorted.

Anyway, I’ll end this entry with a song…

Razorlight - America
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted fromyour computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 7th August.

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Unearthing MySpace Gems

July 30th, 2006

Today I have a special edition of Unearthing MySpace Gems to share with you. Each of the five artists are from the New York label Palms Out Sounds. But before I get started, here’s a run down of how Unearthing MySpace Gems works; all of the artists and groups I feature have one thing (at least) in common; all have had less than 10,000 page-views. If you know of any artists on MySpace, with less than that many page-views, that you think I should feature, please let me know. You can either email me to the address at the left, or send me a message and/or friends request (if you are an artist or band) at my personal MySpace page or the >>just like music MySpace page.

Haldan - http://www.myspace.com/palmsout

Hip-hop and trip-hop producer based in New York and seemingly the front-man for the Palms Out Sounds collective. Haldan creates smooth and funky beats, much in the same vein as the older Shadow and RJD2 stuff, although for a more modern comparison think along the lines of Wax Tailor - the track Cleanliness particularly displays those comparisons. Where as tracks like Crab Apples and No Real Stops show off the more trip-hop’ish sounds. It’s a classic modern blend of genres; trip-hop sounds on top of hip-hop’esque beats. A talented individual for sure.

City Product - http://www.myspace.com/cityproduct

City Product is a hip-hop duo made up of previously mentioned producer Haldan and also emcee/poet Scheme. Their track Get Up beautifully combines Haldan’s thumping beats and Scheme’s clever flowing vocals - a fresh slice of hip-hop. I really do appreciate hip-hop artists trying to create new sounds, or at least trying to step away from the tried and tested methods, and City Product do just that. I also really enjoyed listening to their, almost a bit electro sounding, track; Fresh - once again it’s good to see artists using more experimental sounds. Fans of hip-hop and down-tempo sounds will dig this.

Old Money - http://www.myspace.com/oldmoneynyc

This rap duo features Cadence and also Scheme (of City Product). Their track Go For Mine is easily one of the best tracks I’ve heard this month, and if you know how much music I listen to in an average month… then you’ll know that’s a big compliment! They’ve got flowing rhymes, kicking drums, and even some brass - such a tune. Only the one tune on their page at the moment, but I’m eager to hear more.

Lance Drummonds - http://www.myspace.com/lancedrummonds

Lance Drummonds is a soul singer, and man does he have some soul. His track My Type shows off his fantastic voice in style. This is smooth, but powerful, soulful and energetic - like a classic voice of solid oak, from years gone by, brought up to date and expressed via this talented individual. Again, only really one track to check out on his page, and again… I wanna hear more! Like soul? Love Lance Drummonds.

In Situ - http://www.myspace.com/insituislove

Krista, Joel, Haldan, Dave, and some friends make up In Situ, an indie rock group that’s part of the Palms Out Sounds crew. Just the one track on their MySpace page, No Arms, and it’s great. Krista’s haunting vocals intertwine with the music like a vine round a tree, a very organic sound indeed. This isn’t indie rock as we know it, this is a genuine hybrid as shown by the deep kicking drums and raw guitar sounds. Definitely worth a listen - but it seems the Palms Out lot are just teasing us with this lack of tracks to hear!

As you can probably tell by now, the Palms Out Sounds crew are a bit like Stones Throw where the mish-mash of collaborations is concerned. That’s all cool to me, I think it’s great when a group of talented individuals come together and work on different projects with each other. Anyway, don’t forget to check out the Palms Out Sounds MySpace page, their website, and also their blog. Enjoy!

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Ch-Check It Out

July 29th, 2006

Have I got some treats for you today! Firstly though, reading the Slutty Fringe blog yesterday reminded me to tell you all bout something. Some will know already, but others need to know… Rappers Delight Club y’all! They’re a bunch of elementary school children from Maryland, USA. The kids are aged 5 to 12 and rap their little hearts out under the tutelage of a high school teacher. You have to check out their MySpace page, add them to your friends and then leave a comment - apparently the kids go wild when they hear that another comment has been left. So, get those tracks checked on the MySpace page and download First Ladies Anthem from Slutty Fringe.

Also, Stones Throw and Adult Swim have announced Chrome Children, a CD and DVD due out 3rd October. They say… “The CD: music from Madvillain, J Dilla, Madlib, and many others - this will also be released on 2/LP. The DVD: a full-length live hip hop show headlined by MF DOOM and Madlib. The concert was filmed at this year’s SXSW in a tent. That’s how we do it. Filmed & edited by the Adult Swim crew.” Full details can be found on the website. Oh and also on that site you can download a Peanut Butter Wolf Chrome mix…

PB Wolf’s Chrome Mix
>> download <<
This download is totally free and must be listened to on your computer or ipod after downloading. This download link will be up until it’s taken down by Stones Throw.

So, those treats I promised, well first one is a track featured on the film Lost In Translation, and then also a remix of that said track. You might have heard of this guy before; Sebastien Tellier. His track La Ritournelle is just unreal. From the very first time I heard it on his MySpace page, I was like… whoah. The original version is over seven minutes long and pure class. Funk drums, emotional piano, atmospheric strings, then your reward for patience shown… the vocals - complete composition, more than satisfied…

Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 5th August.

I also have a Mr Dan remix of that track. Much shorter, and no doubt more radio-play friendly - but Mr Dan has beefed the track up a little bit. Nothing will ever beat the original, but Mr Dan’s remix is still definitely worth checking out…

Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle (Mr Dan’s Magic Wand mix)
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 5th August.

This guy is still a total enigma to me at the moment. All I know is that this track was in Lost In Translation and Sebastien is good friends with the director of that film; Sofia Coppola. Needless to say I shall be scouring the earth for more Sebastien Tellier music. Be sure to check out his MySpace page.

On to your next treat for this fine Saturday. Know an alternative pop artist from Sweden called Jenny Wilson? Well you do now. Watch this amazing video for her track Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward here. Instantly love the track? Of course you do, here you go…

Jenny Wilson - Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 5th August.

Jenny is also good friends with compatriots The Knife, and as such they’ve actually done their own remix of this track - I prefer the original, but it’s a good remix in a typical Knifey vein, get it checked…

Jenny Wilson - Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward (The Knife Remix)
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 5th August.

Jenny shot to fame in Sweden last year with the album Love and Youth, which she actually produced and played all the instruments on herself. Check out a few other tracks on her MySpace page.

Don’t I just spoil you lot?!

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Track of the Week

July 28th, 2006

Got that Friday feeling? You should have… it’s Friday. So, track of the week time. These Australian fellas blew your headphones a few years back with an album called Since I Left You, they’ve since remixed a lot of stuff, changed some personnel, upset some Jamiroquai fans, and supposedly have a new album coming out some time in the near future. But, unless you are more than an avid fan, the chances are you wont have ever heard this track…

The Avalanches - Run DNA
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 4th August.

This is a rare track from way before that famous album Since I Left You, but if you remotely liked that album, then you’ll love Run DNA - it’s one of my most played tracks ever. Experimental hip-hop at its finest, learn those lyrics quick sharp you rastclarts! Oh and play it loud!

Wondering what The Avalanches did to upset the Jamiroquai fans? Well, apparently they were opening for him last year on the Sydney leg of his Australian tour, so they come out and do their thing - only with 17 minutes into the proposed 2 hour set, the Jamiroquai fans got a bit bored and restless. The boys get Mentos thrown at them, so left the stage. Still, something to tell the grand-kids.

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Szamár Madár

July 27th, 2006

Open your mind, sit back, embrace and immerse…

Venetian Snares - Szamár Madár
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 3rd August.

This isn’t new, far from it, but I thought I’d share something that many of you might not ever have heard before. Venetian Snares pioneered the genre drill & bass, although it’s now more widely known as breakcore, or as my mum calls it… ‘crap’. Venetian Snares wont be to everybodies taste, but electronica and dnb fans will no doubt appreciate at least aspects to this experimental sound. Szamár Madár is from the 2005 album Rossz Csillag Allat Született, a pretty damn good album, although too much in one sitting can leave me feeling nauseous. However the album prior to that one was Songs About My Cats, and that album really was a test of one’s patience. In his earlier years Venetian Snares fired on all cylinders where creating experimental electronic music was concerned - however it was more than just a tad to the left of the field and a lot of people gave it a miss. But with Rossz Csillag Allat Született it seemed Snares had refined his sound, taking a more firm direction with his compositions - the result being a diverse mish-mash of chaotic beauty.

Anyway, Cavalcade of Glee and Dadaist Happy Hardcore Pom Poms the new album with a long name is out now and I am very interested to hear it, so I’ll have to grab it some time. I don’t see each passing album as Venetian Snares taming himself, but rather refining his sound. As well as sampling the track Szamár Madár above, please make sure you watch the amazing video here at YouTube.

Sorry for the minimalist blog entry today, I’m pretty tired and also convinced I’m suffering from some sort of post-new-Shadow-album-depression. I’ll snap out of it soon enough. Still, Track of the Week tomorrow, that’s something to look forward to!

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