Kutiman

If you read my Best of 2007 post last week you would have noticed that I included Kutiman’s self titled album. His soulful afrobeat creations, with a hint of Tel Aviv goodness, had those in the know grooving to the funk since the first 12″ (“No Reason For You”) dropped on Melting Pot Music last March (or maybe even the 45 (“No Groove Where I Come From / Chaser”) on Afro Kats back in 2006!). The full album then dropped in October, but for my Stateside friends, you will see an American release 12th February, so definitely look out for that.

Incase you missed the track I posted on last week’s entry, here it is again…

Kutiman - Music Is Ruling My World
>> download track / YSI
>> pre-order Kutiman @ Amazon.com
This download link will expire on 2nd February.

Also, a new video has been made for that very track. Directed by Gotam Gendelman, it features both Kutiman and the vocalist Karolina. The video pays homage to Blaxploitation films, but in a Tel Aviv style - it’s very cool!

If you are in Israel then you should be aware of a very special gig coming up soon, because Kutiman, Karolina and Sabbo will premiere their new soundsystem show on 2nd February, as the opening show for Erykah Badu’s first concert in Tel Aviv!

Useful links:

• Kutiman MySpace page
• Melting Pot Music website
• Afro Kats website

Twelve of Twelve

So here is December - a symbolic month if nothing else. The last month of the year, an opportunity to look back on the last twelve months. I will write an obligatory “best of 2007″ style post, but most likely in January - before then I have a bit of catching up to do, or more specifically, I need to help you do some catching up! I’ve been so busy of late, but I have listened to so much good music, I just need to spit it all out over this here blog.

Before I get into listing talented artists and their respective wares, just wanted to give a shout-out to Ohmega Watts and DJ Manwell. I met those two the other week in Brisbane and they are two sound fellas. Spent a fair amount of time talking to Ohmega Watts before his performance. Couldn’t have met a more humble and approachable guy. I asked him if we were likely to see any more Lightheaded material any time soon and he told me that they owe Tres Records one more album… so it is coming… I just don’t know when! Anyway, he was in town to promote his new album Watts Happening and the live show was brilliant. Supported by the excellent DJ Manwell, Ohmega Watts performed a wide array of tracks from his new album as well as some older material too. The dude has great stage presence, and for someone who (and I quote) says he is “mainly a producer”, he certainly is a formidable emcee! Make sure you cop Watts Happening, out now on Ubiquity Records.

Radiohead and Prince have been giving their latest efforts away, but what about those poor souls still trying to actually sell their music? Well this is some of the stuff I’ve been digging of late…

Cookin’ On 3 Burners - Australian funk trio that includes Lanu of The Bamboos. A sort of ground down blend of organ driven funk with jazz stylings, this talented group have just released their debut LP on Freestyle Records, it is called Baked, Broiled & Fried. Check out their mean cover of Feel Good Inc. originally by Gorillaz.

Cookin’ On 3 Burners - Feel Good Inc.
>> download track / YSI
>> buy Baked, Broiled & Fried @ Amazon.com
This download link will expire on 17th December.

The Dynamics - Soulful dub act based in Paris, France. The Dynamics shot to the forefront of the DJ radar with their seven inch release of 7 Nation Army, obviously a cover. They then followed this up with a few other covers on seven inch vinyl, including a cracking one of Miss You by the Rolling Stones. Recently signed to the Groove Attack label, their debut album Version Excursions has literally just dropped. Here is that Stones cover…

The Dynamics - Miss You
>> download track / YSI
>> buy Version Excursions @ Amazon.com
This download link will expire on 17th December.

Little Dragon - Based in Sweden, you might recognise the vocalist from this ethereal act from her appearances with the Koop. Little Dragon’s downtempo jazzy slant on r’n'b is aurally soothing, whilst reassuringly refreshing. These guys have been around for a while but struck a cord with the recent seven inch double a-side release of Twice and Test, then subsequently their self-titled album on Peacefrog. Check the dreamy chasms of Twice…

Little Dragon - Twice
>> download track / YSI
>> buy Little Dragon @ Amazon.com
This download link will expire on 17th December.

The Sweet Vandals - A Spanish funk outfit, mixing elements of afro-beat and soul, signed to Unique Records. Their emphasis on creating a live, raw sound, fueled with powerful brass and mesmerizing keys will be sure to attract any funky mutha. Not forgetting, of course, the absolutely beautiful vocals of Mayka Edjo - she simply has a voice to die for. Listen for yourself…

The Sweet Vandals - Beautiful
>> download track / YSI
>> buy The Sweet Vandals @ Amazon.com
This download link will expire on 17th December.

Speeka - Hip-hop boys Rob Mac and Matt Smooth combine with instrumentalists and vocalists to create a loungey nu-jazz feel on Wah Wah 45s similar to lots yet also…nothing - a roundabout way of describing uniqueness I suppose! The point with Speeka is that their debut album, Bonfire, is packed with sounds edging on various genres, but each track is packaged up in quite a sincere way, the execution is remarkable…

Speeka - Rag Doll
>> download track / YSI
>> buy Bonfire@ Amazon.com
This download link will expire on 17th December.

Really just a small taster of some great records that have come out recently. Before I forget, if anyone has yet to check out the latest release by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings on Daptone Records, 100 Days, 100 Nights, then you want your head checking! Need I say more?

Coming up shortly will be a full review of the new Nostalgia 77 Octet LP Weapons of Jazz Destruction on Tru Thoughts, so look out for that. Also, I am well overdue releasing another JLM podcast. It currently stands at around 42 tracks long, so once I’ve whittled it all down to something a bit more appropriate, I’ll get it released!

Useful links:

• Cookin’ On 3 Burners MySpace
• The Dynamics MySpace
• Little Dragon MySpace
• The Sweet Vandals MySpace
• Speeka MySpace

Alice Russell - Live In Paris

I’ll cut to the chase, this DVD is an absolute must for all Alice Russell fans. Due for general release on 11th June, this 79 minute long presentation shows Alice and pals in all their musical glory. Recorded live in Paris last year it is set in a spacious, yet intimate, venue, jam packed with faithful fans from France (don’t try and say that a few times after some drinks!).

Alice is accompanied by a fantastic band that includes TM Juke, Michael Simmonds, Benjamin Jones and Daniel Swaine and launch straight into things with the mellow Soul Felt. Highlights include; Mean To Me with fantastic fiddle work by Michael Simmonds, a brilliant cover of Andre 3000’s Dracula’s Wedding, and of course the famous cover of Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes. The full set list looks like this…

1. Soul Felt
2. What We Want
3. Humankind
4. Taking Hold
5. Mean To Me
6. To Know This
7. Something That’s Real
8. Search The Heaven’s
9. Munkaroo
10. High Up On The Hook
11. Dracula’s Wedding
12. Hurry On Now
13. Seven Nation Army
14. My Baby Just Cares For Me
15. Fly In The Hand

Alice Russell - Seven Nation Army (feat Nostalgia 77)
>> download track
>> buy Under The Munka Moon II @ EtchShop
This download link will expire on 28th May.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnrTQngkjLE]

The production quality, on what is amazingly the first ever DVD from Tru Thoughts, is superb. All recorded with three cameras on the night, the final edit is simply sublime. There are no swanky DVD menus and extras, but there doesn’t need to be - a great example of WYSIWYG, the main event is all we need. The good news is that this wont be a one off, expect more DVD releases from Tru Thoughts. Rumour has it the next one will be a live recording of Spanky Wilson and The Quantic Soul Orchestra, so look out for that one later in the year!

Back on subject, Alice and co. clearly show what great entertainers they are on this DVD and give those that have never seen her live the opportunity to see what they are missing, and those that have seen her live a choice reminder of what they have seen previously. Only a few weeks till this one comes out officially, so make sure you remember to pick it up! You can get this directly from the EtchShop or at Amazon.

Useful links:

• Alice Russell MySpace
• Tru Thoughts website
• EtchShop
• Buy Live In Paris @ Amazon

Rawville

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

Usfeful links:

• The Bamboos website
• The Bamboos MySpace page
• Download - The Bamboos - Head In The Clouds feat. Tyra Hammond
• Tru Thoughts website
• EtchShop

Breakestra @ The Columbian, Brisbane

First off, sorry (sincerely) for the lack of action lately, I think I’m slowly getting into the swing of things with this new job and managing my “me-time” - plus I was reading issue #10 of the incredible Wax Poetics magazine on the train home today, and it really inspired me to get writing again. I don’t want to be rigid and make promises I wont keep, so for now let’s throw out the window all talk of doing certain things on certain days - I’ll just write about what I want and when I can - if that encompasses other peoples’ desires, then great, that is what this blog was always meant to be about. So, as the title suggests, Breakestra played at The Columbian in Brisbane, it was last Wednesday night and I was lucky enough to be there.

Bout a month or so ago I read that Breakestra were coming to Australia. If you are familiar with Breakestra then you’ll know that it didn’t take me more than a millisecond to confirm I would do everything I could to see them. If you aren’t familiar with Breakestra and you like your music with a heavy dose of funk… then consider this your official instruction to check them out with immediate effect. Breakestra are a ten-piece band fronted by a chap named Miles Tackett - they are often labelled an hip-hop orchestra/funk band/soul group, take your pick but I’m sure you get the idea. They’ve been around since 1996 and hale from Los Angeles, California. For the most part of their existence they were a live covers band, reproducing funk and hip-hop classics with style and grace. However, just last year they released their first LP containing entirely original material; Hit The Floor, on Ubiquity Records. The album is unreal, a fusion of ye olde influences and fresh execution. From start to finish it contains what I can only describe as a funky excursion into an orchestrated world lacking in pretension and generously overstocked in the department of exquisite instrumentation. These words not to be taken lightly must surely explain why Breakestra coming to town is nothing but a good thing.

The day of the gig arrived and I had to figure out a way that four of us were going to get back from the city (an hour away from ‘home’) at two in the morning. In the end the best I could do is book a taxi costing $60AUD… “hmmm, more than worth it for Breakestra”, I thought. My companions and I arrived fashionably late by train, catching the last15 minutes of the support act; Neighbourhood Groove Collective, who were from what I heard very good. For the next half hour or so British funk DJ Russ Dewbury kept us all happy on the decks, playing everything from Tru Thoughts‘ finest, right back to the rarer stuff - it was the funky warm up we all wanted. The moment arrived and Breakestra made it to the stage; bassist, lead guitarist, Korg player, saxophonist, trumpet player, bongo hitter, drummer, and soul singer Choklate. In honesty, the next two hours are a blissful blur. I remember being uniquely amazed at individual times with each member of the band - one moment it was Marshall Thompson on the keys, then the next it was James “The Penguin” King on the sax, each taking their turn to amaze the hell out of me. Lead man Miles Tackett is stellar in his role of singer/bass player/bass guitarist and was backed up beautifully by the immensely talented Choklate. One highlight for me was when the band played their album track Family Rap, which usually features Chali 2na, Soup, and Double K, naturally those three fellas weren’t there, so Choklate actually rapped all three parts herself - she did the track proud, really good stuff.

Breakestra - Family Rap (Feat. Chali 2na, Soup And Double K)
>> download track
>> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download link will expire on 4th December.

The two hours Breakestra played were non-stop, seriously not one stoppage in play, and they contained a mixture of improvised covers and their own material - often teasing with a cheeky bar or two of a crowd pleasing funk and/or hip-hop classic - these guys really knew how to play the crowd and their immense collective talent evidently did all the proverbial talking for them. One major thing I noticed was that the atmosphere inside The Columbian was so cool, everyone was relaxed and just concentrating hard on what was unravelling before their very eyes - so much so that people were hardly talking to each other. It felt like a two hour long funkadelic trance that you never wanted to end. When they finally wrapped it up, sweat soaked, they walked off stage and through the crowd to a multitude of appreciative back-slaps… then the claps started for an encore, getting louder and louder as each second passed. Within a few minutes our wish was their command and back up they went. It sincerely felt like those last few tracks were a thank-you from them to us for being such an appreciative crowd, but in all honesty it genuinely felt like we were still immensely indebted to them on that front. The Columbian proved to be a worthy venue, intricately laid out to keep it all feeling small and intimate (in a non-romantic way!), it would be interesting to know what Breakestra themselves thought of the gig, but all I know is that a couple of hundred people left that place feeling a thousand times happier than when they went in, big smiles all around - if you ever get the chance to see Breakestra play live… just do it, you’ll always regret the things you didn’t do, more than you’ll ever regret the things you did do.

Useful links:

• Breakestra MySpace page
• Breakestra @ Ubiquity Records
• Breakestra website
• Download - Breakestra - Family Rap
• Buy Hit The Floor @ Amazon US / Amazon UK