Podcasts Revisited

April 25th, 2007

Nearly a year ago, May 2006 to be precise, I made my first ever Just Like Music blog entry and it was about podcasts. Eleven months have passed, things have come and gone, I’m still listening to podcasts, but are you?

I’ve always maintained that the functionality of podcasts has a lot to do with when you may get the opportunity to listen to them. Fortunately for me (or perhaps unfortunately?!) I have to spend nearly two hours a day on trains, so I spend a lot of that time listening to new albums and… podcasts. These bad-boys have really exploded now. A year ago it was bedroom DJs, the select label, and some radio stations pumping them out - but now every record label, radio show, artist, DJ, club night, and blogger has one! So, now we are spolit for choice, but with this gift comes a great burden, which ones to download?! I can help there.

Firstly, to all of those people still ignorant to podcasts: check yo’ self, before one wrecks thine self! If you think podcasts cost money, they very rarely do, from personal experience only Ricky Gervais’s podcast costs any money. If you think downloading podcasts is complicated, please understand that the very existence of podcasts is to counter the effort of individually checking sites periodically and manually downloading files. If you use iTunes it is as simple as clicking a button or pasting a URL just the once, after which iTunes will check daily (without any user prompt) if there are new episodes of the ‘casts you are subscribed to available - if there is, it will grab them for you. Minimal effort, minimal fuss.

On to some podcasts you should check out. I have a list of feed URLs in the sidebar of this blog, although I do need to update that, but below I shall give the actual webpage URL and details on some podcasts I have discovered since last years blog entry (which you should def visit for details on those classics).

>>justlikepodcast - Yup, this is the podcast for this blog. Weekly (or there abouts) I upload a new one containing a selection of tracks that have been catching my ear for the past week. Usually a blend of hip-hop, electronica, funk, jazz, anything really, but be sure to let me know what you think!

The FADER Magazine - This is quite a unique one, if you subscribe through iTunes, not only do you get the 40 min long audio podcast that accompanies this mag, but you can download the PDF of the latest issue. So as you listen to the sounds fresh from the streets… you can also read about them too!

Funkydown Podcast - One of my favs at the moment. Dr Rubberfunk hits us fortnightly with an hour of solid funk gold. Unlike my podcast, he actually speaks, which is cool. The doc has regular features too, like the big band brawl and an album of the week, a good listen indeed.

Diesler Podcast - Less frequently, but equally as enjoyable, Tru Thoughts’ Diesler releases a monthly podcast of funk and latin sounds in a leftfield style. This one has it all, guests, chit-chat, remixes, live mixes, rare sounds, fresh sounds, you name it!

Tru Thoughts - The Brighton label now have their own podcast and it is a great way to hear just what is going on with those guys. The first one was presented by label head Robert Luis and he explained where the label has come from and where it’s going, all the while sharing the rich sounds from then and now. A must have to keep in the know.

RiotControl NYC - I featured Sonny Noir, presenter of this podcast, in a blog entry a while back. This one comes out monthly, but is well worth the wait! With Burt Fox on the turntables, anything could happen, but it will always be good. From hip-hop to soul to electronica and back again, anything goes and it sounds good.

Plug Research - These dudes release little mixes here and there to promote their new releases, so good to be subscribed just to hear what the new stuff sounds like. Plug Research ARE the sound of L.A., home to Flying Lotus, The Lifeforce Trio and Old Podrida to name a few.

Gilles Peterson Worldwide - This fella needs no introduction, but he releases a podcast sometimes monthly… sometimes fortnightly. Recent episodes have included the guests; Nostalgia 77, Skream, 4hero, and Pete from BBE. Genuinely interesting conversations and genuinely educational in a very relaxed manner! A valuable podcast for sure.

Fat City Recordings - Manchester based store and label Fat City have their own podcast too. Usually an hour long and containing fantastic mixes, somewhat in a similar vein to Ninja Tune’s Solid Steel podcast. These guys have been the music lovers alternative to straight up dance in the Manchester area and beyond for years.

Eardrums Shall Fail - The amazing Linda shares with us what she is digging whenever she can be arsed. Can contain anything from RJD2, Georgia Ann Mudlrow, to obscure Japanese pop or indie rock. They’ll always be something that will catch your ear. A good opportunity to grab things that might ordinarily not show up on your aural radar.

dublab - A collective of dudes that couldn’t give a shit how weird things can get, but if you enjoy it, then that’s even better. Not everything they kick out hits the spot with me, but quite often it does! Regularly features Daedelus, Frosty, Carlos Nino, Egon, and plenty more talented folk. Nowhere better for genuine alternative music.

Do make sure you check out my original podcast blog entry too, cos that contains the links for podcasts such as; Stones Throw, Solid Steel, IndieFeed Hip Hop and KCRW’s Today’s Top Tune. Similarly, if you know of any decent podcasts that I haven’t mentioned, I’d love to hear about them. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions, I want you to be able to make use of these things too, so if you still haven’t got a clue how to get started with podcasts, give me a shout.

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Rawville

April 1st, 2007

As promised, here’s a full review of the upcoming album from The Bamboos on Tru Thoughts: Rawville. The album will be available from all good retail stores on 7th May, just over a year after they released their debut album Step It Up. Rawville features twelve tracks that span a total of just over 48 minutes - each staying true to the Bamboos’ patented funk sound, but with a few twists this time round.

Things kick off with The Bamboos Theme, a four minute long, exhilarating entree to the proceedings. It’s high energy stuff, crammed with melody and fast paced beats. The culmination of different instrumentation, intertwined and fused within one-another, makes for quite an intro. Straight after comes the first guest appearance, Tru Thoughts queen-bee Alice Russell on Bring It Home. On this track we see the funk sounds of The Bamboos combine with the soulful tones of Alice Russell to create an extremely addictive and melodic track that wouldn’t be out of place somewhere in the back-catalogue of any famous old-time funk soul combination - alas with the unique, and very modern, grit of these highly talented individuals.

Last week I featured the first 7″ release from this album Get In The Scene feat. Ohmega Watts and that track is actually number three on Rawville. Like I said in that feature, this track is an upbeat affair, with a fantastic blend of funky guitar, brass and wood along with the smooth and dynamic flow of Ohmega Watts. The track has a very laid back air about it, but manages to maintain the upbeat groove, perfect summer time track really. The next track is one of the main reasons I purchased The Witch by The Broken Keys on 12″, it’s the Bamboos’ very own remix! Those that know the original track will know what to expect, but for those that don’t… The Witch is a heavy track with a killer bassline and The Bamboos have worked their magic with an all instrumental version with that distinctive Bamboos funk sound.

My Baby’s Cheating (I Sure Got The Feeling) feat. Fallon Williams sees the third use of a guest vocalist on the album thus far. Fallon lends his gravelly, yet deeply soulful, voice to a track that rides along the crest of a Hammond organ wave whilst carving it up around the sharp brass stabs. I can just tell that performed live this would really get a party started - I defy you to sit still whilst this one is playing! Now switching slightly further into the soul realm we have I Don’t Wanna Stop feat. Kylie Auldist - think roughly along the lines of the latest Amy Winehouse material, but perhaps in a more optimistic vein. This reeks of 60s soul, laced with brass and keys, chirpy melodies and genuinely authentic and silky vocals from Kylie Auldist. This will appeal to anyone from casual pop-picker right up to dedicated soul enthusiast - very accessible stuff indeed.

Still on the soul tip Head In The Clouds feat. Tyra Hammond sees the variation in sounds visit heavier beats and slightly darker melodies. This track in particular really expresses how The Bamboos are moving with their sound, the subtle blend of styles and sounds - in particular the heavy beat matched with the soulful vocal, where the track breaks down and builds again. Like the last track it is accessible to anyone, but if you are wanting to look deeper, there definitely are details there to be found. It’s these intricacies that fascinate me most, how upon first impressions things can seem simple enough, but if the right efforts are applied, then so much more can be discovered. Listen for yourself…

The Bamboos - Head In The Clouds feat. Tyra Hammond
>> download track
>> buy album @ EtchShop
This download link will expire on 8th April.

Happy is a track that has been previously released on 7″, it’s dark, it’s instrumental, and it’s bloody infectious! A steady funk beat starts, joined by a tentative bass and some cool keys, slowly building and teasing. It’s quite tense in an upbeat kind of way, then half way in *boom* the brass crashes the party… but it’s still building, it eventuates into an organ crescendo of blaxploitation proportions, then back into that steady chorus before a crazy percussion breakdown. Huge replayablity factor with this one and sure to get a funk crowd moving - class. Then we are graced with the second appearance of Ohmega Watts on Rockin’ It. Essentially it is Ohmega, a steady beat, groovy bass and some brass stabs - but melodically speaking this is fresh, like something Ugly Duckling might look to achieve if they played with a live funk band.

Pussy Footin’ was on the same 7″ as Happy and is another instrumental track oozing with class. Along similar lines as Happy, Pussy Footin’ is not as dark, but as equally focused on the progressive nature of building melodies. Stacked chock full of groove, armed with crazy keys, deep bass and an atmosphere that was resurrected from somewhere in the 70s. The penultimate track on the album is actually the title track: Rawville. It’s an instrumental track that beautifully marries the organ and the brass, with percussion and bass playing their parts as groomsmen and bridesmaids respectively. The enter a cameo from guitar and you’re left with what would appear to be the soundtrack to a million different funky situations. The final track is Tongan Steel, which funnily enough does have some pretty mean drumming going on. This is as groovy and catchy as can be expected, The Bamboos excel in this area, it’s no secret. Tongan Steel proves to be a good outro piece, with its consistent melody and tight instrumentation - just another example of what sharp talents these fellas are.

Rawville says a few different things to me, I’ll condense and conclude these thoughts thus; I’m satisfied, personally, that the guys are progressing their sound by furthering themselves with how they create their music. This is evident via the collaborations seen on this album and the sounds presented. The Bamboos have proved that they can indeed create funky tracks that are also soulful and match their skills wisely with vocalists, and also an emcee in the shape of Ohmega Watts. Albeit too easy to type cast a funk outfit and pressure them into experimenting, I feel that they’ve pushed the boundaries without losing touch with their roots. They’re as funky as ever and it was good to hear as many instrumental tracks as tracks featuring vocalists. This album will definitely help to attract new fans, but I’m sure will also please the already existing fanbase.

EDIT: Forgot to mention some live dates for The Bamboos as they are on tour very soon…

* Fri 04 May ‘07 Derry
* Wed 09 May ‘07 Dundee
* Fri 11 May ‘07 Plymouth
* Sat 12 May ‘07 Newquay
* Tue 15 May ‘07 London
* Wed 16 May ‘07 Birmingham
* Thu 17 May ‘07 Southampton
* Thu 24 May ‘07 Berlin
* Sat 26 May ‘07 Kortrijk

For more details check out the gigs page on the Tru Thoughts website: http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/gigs

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