Jose James Interview @ on-point.be
on-point sent me a link to a wicked interview they did with Jose James…
Original link here. Props to the boys at on-point for conducting a great interview with Jose James and sending me the link - make sure you visit the site for other cool videos.
mp3: Flying Lotus - Visions Of Violet (feat. Jose James)
Roots Manuva Mini Documentary
An eleven minute long mini documentary to whet your appetite for the forthcoming LP Slime & Reason by Rodney Smith, AKA Roots Manuva.
I previously posted up the video for Buff Nuff, and now here’s your chance to hear some thoughts from the man himself about his new LP. Roots Manuva’s Slime & Reason is out on Big Dada on 27th August and the aforementioned first single, Buff Nuff, is out on 7th July.
Upcoming Live Dates:
Aug 2008
Fri 1st - Big Chill Festival, Eastnor
Sat 23rd - Creamfields, Liverpool
Sep 2008
Sat 6th - Bestival, Isle Of Wight
Mr. Scruff - Donkey Ride & Giant Pickle
Fresh produce for the first time in what seems an age, Mr. Scruff is back with a brand new vinyl/mp3 series under the name Ninja Tuna!
Set to be a series of EPs released on Ninja Tune throughout 2008, the first release is Donkey Ride & Giant Pickle - the former of which was co-produced by Quantic. It is available now and you can purchase direct from the Mr. Scruff site or from any reputable retailer, I suppose!
If the first in this series is anything to go by, then the rest will be gold. It’s a welcome return from Scruff - delivering that blend of dancefloor beats with trademark melodies. Plus the contribution by Quantic on the catchy Donkey Ride is perhaps even better than 2006’s Giraffe Walk.
mp3: Mr. Scruff - Giant Pickle
Upcoming Live Dates:
Jul 2008
Sun 6th - The Garden Festival, Zadar, Croatia
Sat 12th - Keep It Unreal, Manchester
Sun 13th - Summer In The Park, Manchester
Sat 19th - Dour Festival, Belgium
Aug 2008
Sun 3rd - The Big Chill, Eastnor Castle
Sep 2008
Sat 6th - Keep It Unreal, Manchester
The Herbaliser - Same As It Never Was
Same As It Never Was is The Herbaliser’s sixth LP and it’s out now on !K7.
As I mentioned the other week, this is somewhat new territory for The Herbaliser. Incorporating extra members on a more permanent basis with a focus on finding a more organic sound than before. I’m sure, like me, you’ve seen The Herbaliser travel through the various elements of hip-hop, turntablism and electronica, and although these stylings can be heard throughout Same As It Never Was, there has been a definite shift… as promised really.
What we have here is an LP spanning twelve tracks of pure dynamite. Don’t be alarmed, at times it will sound very different to what you’ve come to expect from the guys, but that is exactly the point: Same As It Never Was.
01. Same As It Never Was
02. On Your Knees (feat Jessica Darling)
03. Just Won’t Stop (feat Yungun Aka Essa)
04. The Next Spot
05. Can’t Help This Feeling (feat Jessica Darling)
06. Amores Bongo
07. Street Karma (A Cautionary Tale) (feat Jean Grae)
08. You’re Not all That (feat Jessica Darling)
09. Blackwater Drive
10. Game Set &Match (feat More Or Les)
11. Clap Your Hands (feat Jessica Darling)
12. Stranded on Earth (feat Jessica Darling)
The horn driven intro track of the same name, Same As It Never Was, contains elements of turntablism and features emcee samples. It’s a perfect appetizer for what lies ahead. Live instrumentation coupled with exquisite vocals, whilst keeping the hip-hop foundations that were shaped and formed over many years.
Vocalist Jessica Darling features throughout and lends her strong, yet gritty, skills to no fewer than five tracks on the album. Jessica is the perfect compliment to this new found sound - a sort of musing between big beats and funk in a typically Herbaliser fashion. I think it is important for artists to branch out and grow, discovering new avenues and sounds, but it is also key to ensure that your newer creations keep elements of what has served so well in the past. For me The Herbaliser have done just that. This is totally different to Take London, or pretty much any of the previous albums, but you can still hear that it’s The Herbaliser, no mistaking that.
Same As It Never Was doesn’t abandon pure hip-hop by any means. Just Won’t Stop features UK hip-hop emcee Yungun. A bouncing track featuring a cultural narrative from the aforementioned lyricist. Also, long time collaborator and female emcee extraordinaire, Jean Grae is back once more on the track Street Karma (A Cautionary Tale) - the guys did well to get her on board considering all the rumours circulating about Jean’s supposed retirement. Anyway she delivers as strong as ever on this track. Another emcee on Same As It Never Was is the American Canadian rapper More Or Les. He commented on Jus’ Like Music when I initially mentioned the imminent release of this album and man does he have skills!
There are some killer tracks on this album, like Can’t Help This Feeling - an absolute banger of a funk-hop track featuring Jessica Darling. You’ll recognise the lyrics for sure - but once that chorus kicks in… wow… gives me goose bumps. Stranded On Earth is also an amazing track - absolutely beautiful and serves as an outro to the album, yet again laced by the wonderful talents of Jessica Darling, it lies somewhere between The Cinematic Orchestra and Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra - just magic.
mp3: The Herbaliser - Can’t Help This Feeling
The album seems to evenly space the tracks by their specific styles. So that the vocal funk tracks are separated by instrumental and hip-hop tracks - This works well as there is a consistent, unique, element throughout. Would be easy to miss the target with such a tactic, but with strong material and tight production, I doubt there was ever a concern that this wouldn’t work.
For some, Same As It Never Was, may not immediately hit the target, especially if you have preconceptions of a typical Herbaliser album. However I do genuinely believe that the tide is changing and people are, generally, more accepting and willing to keep an open mind when hearing new music today. The ‘growers’ often turn out to be the best LPs in the long run anyway. I shudder to think what my life may have been like if I’d only listened to certain albums just the once and then abandoned them. Personally, I have quite eclectic tastes anyway, and although I was slightly surprised by the change in direction for The Herbaliser, it was a very pleasant surprise. With an open mind anything is possible. Great work guys.
Filed under Links, New Release, Review | Comments (3)Jose James - Park Bench People
The Park Bench People 12 is out now on Brownswood Recordings. The b-side is Visions on Violet, a collab with Flying Lotus.
Jose James‘ debut LP, The Dreamer, is also out now on Brownswood - make sure you cop it, absolutely beautiful music.
mp3: Jose James - Park Bench People
