Radius - Neighborhood Suicide

Chicago native Radius recently dropped his debut LP on The Secret Life Of Sound - a label you may remember from my Invisible Superstars feature a while back. The Radius LP is called Neighborhood Suicide and it’s a kick in the tits for all those that think they’ve heard it all before where instrumental hip-hop is concerned. This one’s a keeper.

Neighborhood Suicide is an eleven track journey into the leftfield of the modern beat-maker’s laboratory. It’s a progressive sound with tight production and mean breaks. Throughout the LP you get essences of artists like; Four Tet, Blockhead, Dilla and Premier - but this is most definitely a unique sound. Each track is like an individual, beautifully crafted, futuristic soundscape. Rich in detail and with a story to tell, this LP will hit home hard with the introspective hip-hop listener.

Tracklisting:

01. Humboldt Park (3241982 Intro)
02. Uptown (Awaken)
03. Logan Square (Rents Due)
04. South Shore (Baahumbug!)
05. Bucktown (Fuck Work)
06. L.S.D. (Interlude)
07. Englewood (Necessary Growth)
08. Hyde Park (I Miss You)
09. Rogers Park (North Pole Bakery)
10. 90/94 (Interlude)
11. South Chicago (The Journey)

Elements of jazz flow throughout, countered blissfully by orchestral sections and finely cut layers and beats. The production quality is wholesome and exquisite. Sonically it’s a busy record, but I always felt more immersed than overwhelmed whilst listening, such is the well accomplished balance Radius has achieved with his creations.

mp3: Radius - Logan Square (Rent’s Due)

You’ll need to buy two copies of this on vinyl cos you will wear the hell out of your first one through repeat plays. Personally I cant wait to drop the stylus on this one - there’s a special something bout hearing a sonically ethereal record on vinyl, takes the aural experience to the next level. I saw a girl the other day with some kitsch bag that had a vinyl record glued to the side of it, sort of made me smile. Sure it is viewed by some as an old fad dragged up from time to time when the fashion suits, but genuinely… modern vinyl collecting is a movement you can only truly appreciate once you start buying vinyl and playing vinyl. You get to learn which records will raise that wry smile at the corner of your mouth when listened to on vinyl, and Neighborhood Suicide is that kind of sweet.

Roots Manuva - Again & Again

Video to the new Roots Manuva single Again & Again, taken from his upcoming album Slime & Reason (out September!).

Speaking of which, I received my advance copy of Slime & Reason from those good guys at Big Dada last Friday. Gave it a good listening to over the weekend and it is hot stuff indeed! More evidence of the evolution in sound that Roots Manuva is going through, but I wont spill all the beans right now, wait for the full review coming soon enough! Until then, a reminder of the first single…

mp3: Roots Manuva - Buff Nuff

Natural Self - The Art Of Vibration

Natural Self is without a doubt one of my favourite producers. His ability to shape and manipulate the bass elements throughout his creations is unique, he is the percussive demon. A prolific DJ and fine purveyor of genres from hip-hop through to funk, Natural Self is the unsung hero of the independent British music scene. With previous releases on both Breakin’ Bread and Tru Thoughts, Natural Self is back with his second full LP on Tru Thoughts. It’s called The Art Of Vibration, it literally just dropped and is available now!

Tracklisting:

01. Introduction
02. Welcome To The Ascension
03. The Rising feat. Andreya Triana
04. In The Morning
05. Alright Turn It Up Now
06. Faultlines
07. Breathe Deep feat. Abdominal
08. Ghost In The Machine
09. The Crush
10. The Laws Of Motion
11. Feet Keep Moving
12. Another Land
13. Alexander And Gabriel

The Art Of Vibration is a 13 track monster of a record. It kicks off with a stomping Introduction, firm beats with mean brass stabs, then it is straight into Welcome To Ascension, a dramatic hip-hop track laden with multiple layers of strings. Here we find trademark Natural Self arrangements - exquisitely placed sounds, spliced and presented with finesse and grace. The sound throughout this LP is unique in comparison to the alternative material you might currently find on the shelves. There are beautiful orchestral elements to this music that take it above and beyond what you may ordinarily expect from a funk breaks or hip-hop LP - both strings and brass used perfectly to create such tight and wonderful creations.

This isn’t purely instrumental though. Andreya Triana, who you may recognise from the Flying Lotus track Tea Leaf Dancers, appears on the fantastic track The Rising (out now on 12″) - plus Canadian emcee Abdominal features on the track Breathe Deep, lending an ever impressive and (literally) breathtaking cypher. Oh and don’t forget that Natural Self (real name Nathaniel Pearn) himself lends vocals to a few tracks on the album - a man of many talents indeed!

mp3: Natural Self - Feet Keep Moving

Essentially, The Art Of Vibration is an eclectic blend of hip-hop beats, funk stylings and latin rhythms. What makes this LP standout from the crowd, besides the obvious production qualities, is it’s execution - easy enough to spot the influences, but composed to such a high grade that it feels as one. Plus as I mentioned previously, no-one seems to craft bass in their beats quite like Natural Self. Obviously subjective, but from my point of view there is not much better than well crafted, organic beats - and Natural Self is the organic-bass-break master.

The Art Of Vibration is one of 2008’s winners and I hope it receives the attention and accolades that it duly deserves.

Upcoming Live Dates:

Jul 25 2008 - 10:00A - CARGO, London
Aug 1 2008 - 8:00P - Armenistis, Armenistis
Aug 23 2008 - 10:00P - CULT CLUB, Moscow
Sep 6 2008 - 8:00P - BIG CHILL BAR, London
Sep 11 2008 - 10:00A - SALA APOLO, Barcelona
Oct 4 2008 - 10:00A - JELLY JAZZ, Bristol

Esbjörn Svensson Sadly Passes

I was distraught to learn the tragic news of modern jazz maestro Esbjörn Svensson’s untimely death at the very young age of 44.

On 14th June, Esbjörn was diving with a group of divers near Stockholm. Contact with his party was lost and later he was found unconscious on the seabed and badly injured. Sadly all attempts to resuscitate Esbjörn were fruitless.

I first became aware of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.) a couple of years ago when a friend pointed me in their direction. I was amazed with what I discovered. Such exquisite compositions encompassing intricate piano melodies with percussion (provided by Magnus Öström) and double bass (played by Dan Berglund).

As a pianist and composer Esbjörn Svensson was an absolute marvel. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end right now as I recall the first time I heard his music. He was credited with bringing jazz to a younger audience and also for pushing the boundaries of the genre, often pressing from classical, through to jazz and as far as funk and post rock. I sincerely regret never having the opportunity to see such an immense piano trio live in concert.

If you are not familiar with the work of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio you may find great delight in exploring a rich back catalogue of work, spanning from 1993 to present.

mp3: Esbjörn Svensson Trio - Tide of Trepidation

Esbjörn Svensson won’t be missed by jazz fans, but dearly missed by music fans. Such was his eclectic reach that people from all corners found sweet solace in his beautiful compositions.

Esbjörn Svensson is survived by his wife and two sons. May he rest in peace.