So I had a few tracks brought to my attention recently. A real mixed bag; from some pretty melodic instrumental funky, to some bass heavy booty beats. Enjoy this little selection:
Ethix - Breakin' Bad by meanbucket
Tvyks - Mitte Riddim ft cmonts by meanbucket
And this one for download from our boy SHOOTING HORSES. Tearing it up as per usual:
The Living Graham Bond - Winter Hunter Feat. Fiona Bevan (Shooting Horses Remix) by Fat! Records
DJ Zhao is the man behind many banging super ethnocentric sets, and is also responsible for the artwork of the Ayobaness compilation as well as a load of other collabs with people doing epic things with afrobeat ish and world vibes...
This is his latest EPIC mix for Reboot FM:
DJ Zhao Live - Afromundial, Klub Fabryka, Krakow by reboot.fm
And to top things off you can also grab his mashup of a Mujava drums and a touch of Mandela here:
Mandela Derbuka Mujava by djzhao
Boom selection; some big remixes from some big names. The Very Best kicked serious arse at MELT festival, and if you get a chance go along and see them whenever they play near you.
The Very Best Remixes of The Very Best by cooperativemusicuk
I am pretty excited to be playing at Magnet next week. Having seen some amazing acts play at GET WAVEY over the last few weeks, and there are more coming soon too including; ZZK RECORDS (who I will post about later, who are just amazing and good, honest pioneers...), SOLO, EGYPTRIXX, EDU K, KINGDOM, and on Wednesday 21st - YOURS TRULY.
To celebrate, I have drawn up my current top 10, have a gander, and a listen, and a few downloads:
1.
Isa GT - Pa´Las Mamasitas (Daniel Haaksman Remix) by Daniel Haaksman / Man Rec
2.
Bert On Beats ft. Anbuley - Suomo by Bert On Beats
3. Zonora Point - Huachita Rica (Douster remix) - Download HERE
4. Seiji - Agua Riddim - Download HERE
5. Prince Nico Mbarga - Aki Special (Uproot Andy Remix) - Download HERE
6.
10 - THE TEST feat. Shunda K by Flore
7.
Mumdance - Eskimore Riddim by mumdance
8.
Arroz Con Pollo (feat Ogguere - MJ Cole remix) by MJ Cole
9.
Gregor Salto and Mokoomba - Messe messe (club mix) by GregorSalto
10.
Mugwanti (Shooting Horses Remix) - DJ Mujava by shootinghorses09
Download HERE
Enjoy.
Mugwanti is a massive track from DJ Mujava. Basically the anthem of the Ayobaness compilation which was blaring out loud all over the place during the World Cup, and now re-imagined by Shooting Horses.
It's a banger.
Mugwanti (Shooting Horses Remix) - DJ Mujava by shootinghorses09
You can download it HERE.
Well needless to say I have been balls deep in Baile Funk whilst here at Man Recordings, but this is a mix I have been enjoying a LOT. Made in 2005, but still a full energy blast and booty booom boom MESS...
Nice. Listen below, or download HERE
1. Abertura—Furacão 2000
2. Eu Vou Te Fazer Mulher—MC Edi
3. Baile Funk One—M.I.A./Diplo
4. Camarao—Funk Da Gente
5. Toca DJ—Funk Da Gente
6. Toma La Toma La Dentro—?
7. K-Delicia—Jhonathan DJ
8. Hoje Eu Vou Beijar Você—Pé de Pano
9. Baile Funk Three—M.I.A/Diplo
10. Tira Gosto da Madrugada—Lacraia
11. Montagem Gordinhas—DJ Paulinho Cabeção
12. Ela Me Gozou—Funk Da Gente
13. Mont. Candy Shop—Funk Da Gente
14. Taosu na Vava—Bonde dos Magrinhos
15. Beijando Seu Marido—?
16. Dedinho—G. das Popozudas
17. Ela Fogi—Funk Da Gente
18. Fogo no Pavio—Funk Da Gente
19. Chapadona de Vinho—Funk Da Gente
20. Me Engole—Funk Da Gente
21. Valsa da Meia Noite—Funk Neurotico
22. Isqueiro—Funk Neurotico 29
23. Baile Funk Two—M.I.A./Diplo
24. Venenosa—Funk Neurotico 29
25. Eu Vou Te Botar Tudao—Funk Neurotico 29
26. Mexe Caldeirão—Bonde de Vinho
27. Tem Que Ser Fiel—Funk Neurotico 29
28. Tango—Funk Neurotico 29
Plus a few extra gifts for you on this FINE day...
DOWNLOAD HERE
DOWNLOAD HERE
Another one bites the Baile... Download HERE
So NIKE are on the ball... sadly. And bad pun. Apologies.
Check the DIRTY PARAFFIN MYSPACE for more tracks from them.
Also this is a nice little mixtape from South African MC Spoek:
DOWNLOAD HERE
Tim Turbo f. Spoek Mathambo and Gnucci Banana, “Linyora” (SA)
DJ CNDO, “Terminator” (SA)
DJ Mujava f. DJ Menace, “Tshwara” (SA)
BB Ramazani, “Fouka Fouka” (Cote D’ivoire)
Dirty Paraffin, “Aha” (SA)
Pastor Mbhobho, “Ayobaness” (SA)
Shanaka, “2010 Football” (Cote D’ivoire)
Spoek Mathambo, “Mshini Wam” (South Africa)
And I just wanted to throw this in for fun...
So last night, along with a great selection of artist in my CD wallet, I met DJ Zhao... he seems to be pushing the whole African vibe in Berlin, and is in fact putting on the Ayobaness party here.
Check some mixes below:
And this one...
Man FM is the Man Recordings podcast radio that gives you access to exclusive first listens to all the new Man Recordings releases, interviews with all Man artists, DJ mixes by special guests plus brand new tracks and classics that inspire the Man Recordings crew.
Hosted by Tim Turbo.
This installment’s guest is Estonian stallion, “Kid Conga” remix competition winner and Tallin's most wanted DJ: BERT ON BEATS.
Tim Turbo talks with him about his first EP on MAN RECORDINGS, the SUOMO EP (featuring the gorgeous Anbuley), his music career in Estonia and of course he blesses the show with an exclusive DJ mix. On top you’ll get the usual heavy bass accessory parts added by our host.
Enjoy the show!
Man FM 005 - Bert on Beats by MANRECORDINGS
Lucas Hunter of Zombie Disco Squad (I think by default anyone interested in world music or world influenced house is a fan of ZDS) unveils not only his solo project, but also a new label; KLASSE RECORDINGS orchestrated by himself and fellow Berlin-dweller Daniel Zedelmair of the uber agency JACKMODE.
In preparation for the album launch this Sunday in Berlin, Lucas has released a super sick mix (I have had it on repeat all day) which includes a new track under his solo moniker; LUCA LOZANO
luca lozano & sacha robotti - process part 210 (klasse recordings) by modyfier
01. Intro
02. Martin Buttrich - Enough Love To Hate It - Desolat
03. Omar - Lay It Down (Andre Lodemann Remix) - Peppermint Jam
04. Kiki - Good Voodoo (Visionquest Remix) - Bpitch Control
05. Azari & III - Reckless (With Your Love) (Luca Lozano Unofficial Remix) - CDR
06. Luca Lozano & Sacha Robotti - Bartok (Siopis Remix) - Klasse Recordings
07. The Royal We, Hector, Shaun Reeves, Seth Troxler - Party Guilt (Acapella) - Crosstown Rebels
08. Stimming - Melodica - Green
09. Sacha Robotti & Hofhauser - Das FF - Takt Records
10. David Keno & Jaxson - Living Large - Yellow Tail
11. Hector Couto - Serio - Anabatic
12. Markus Fix - Research - Cecille
13. Christian Burkhardt - Doubledub - Raum...Musik.
14. Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner - Down - Dekandent Schallplatten
15. Radiohead - Nude (Justin Martin Remix) - Buzzin Fly
16. Bearweasel - Superhero (Boris Werner Remix) - Supernature
17. H.O.S.H. - Funk King (feat. Markus Homm) - Diynamic
18. Hoste - Bumps - Klasse Recordings
19. Sebbo - Elephanze Ce Danze - Souvenir Plus
20. Jaydee - Plastic Dreams - R&S Recordings
21. Marco Carola - Bloody Cash - Plus 8
22. Luca Lozano & Sacha Robotti - Bartok - Klasse Recordings
Exciting times...
1. Luanda/Lisboa (feat. Dj Znobia) - Buraka Som Sistema
2. March Of The Soundbwoyz - Original Mix - Tayo
3. Morning Drums - Gregor Salto
4. Dama Salon - DJ Gregory, Sidney Samson
5. Beach Brazil - DJ Sany Pitbull
6. King Riddim feat. Lady Chann - Warrior One
7. Jump n' Shout - Basement Jaxx
8. King Of The Dancehall - Beenie Man
9. Insane (feat. Warrior Queen) - The Bug
10. On a Ragga Tip '97 (Original Mix) - SL2
11. No, No, No (You Don't Love Me) - Dawn Penn
DOWNLOAD PODCAST 9 HERE
So as expected the above look is rife here.
But there are a few more fashion blips on my OH DEAR radar that have to be highlighted. These include;
The Terminator:
The Stand By Me cast:
And the Almost Boys Noize:
All thriving styles here in Berlin.
You can drink on the Tube here. Beer bottles are worth money, and can be cashed in at newsagents; thus there are less smashed in the streets/on heads.
I got the chance to go to the Havana Cultura release party; beautiful German girls who were all taller than me filled the room. It was ace.
There have been squat parties, bonfire parties on building sites, swimming in lakes, very little payment for travel to anywhere, outdoor raves, clubs that are open for days on end...
I also got the chance to sit down for dinner with Daniel Haaksman and Edu K; something which made me want to wee just a little bit.
More coming soon...
Using the revolutionary blueprint of afrobeat as a launching pad, the dozen-strong members of Antibalas weave a rich tapestry of latin, jazz, classical, funk and soul into their rhythmic, horn-driven mix.
As distinguished as their recordings may be, Antibalas has truly become renowned for their relentless live shows. The band has averaged over 100 concerts a year, incessantly traversing the U.S, Canada and Europe in venues large and small be they the sweaty clubs of Brooklyn or in front of hordes of festival goers around the globe in exotic places like La Reunion and the Canary Islands.
The New York Times, the New Yorker, Rolling Stone magazine and a slew of others have taken serious notice.
Last year, Antibalas spent their time working as arrangers, orchestrators, composers and performers for the Off Broadway show “Fela!”.
Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura: Remixed
Podcast 7 featured a number of songs from the Havana Cultura CD series. Out today, Havana Cultura: Remixed, an album that is well worth your attention in our view.
'Havana Cultura: Remixed' is the follow-up album to the outstanding 'Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound', that was put out by Brownswood in October at the end of 2009. The original album was the product of an in-depth two-year exploration of the underground Cuban hip hop, afro-jazz, reggaeton and funk music scene, and a series of recording sessions taken over twelve months in the world famous Egrem Studios in Havana, culminating in a double CD release.
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band - Roforofo Fight (Louie Vega's EOL Mix) by Brownswood
The first of the two CDs featured cover versions, as well as some original material as played by Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band; The result of hours of improvisation in the studio. It is these tracks that have been remixed by a whole host of exciting global electronic dance artists on the latest album.
Picking highlights from the album is a tough task but there are some stand-out tracks. The three remixes of 'Arroz Con Pollo' by Carl Cox, MJ Cole and Gotan Project's Philippe Cohen Solal, are all incredible songs in their own right. Whereas Carl Cox takes the track down the spaced-out dubstep route reminiscent of a Benga tune, MJ Cole keeps much of the upbeat Latin soul from the original, adding a driving bassline to some processed soca rimshot rhythms. Meanwhile the 'Solal "Soy Cuba" Remix' is a downtempo afro-beat take of the same song, but focuses much more on the playful vocal aspect of the original.
Also worth mentioning is the remix of 'Chekere Son' by Wichy de Vedado, who was specifically chosen as a Cuban remixer, and presented with the opportunity to fully exploit the Havana vibes from the Egrem recordings. His remix is a beautifully percussive, organic Latin explosion that really hammers home the origins of the overall release.
'Havana Cultura: Remixed' also comes as a double CD. On the second CD is an hour long mix by Gilles Peterson himself, that brings together all the remixes from the first CD including the four already mentioned and the remaining remixes by Seiji, Productor en Jefe, Michel Cleis, Skinner, 4hero, Rainer Trueby and Louie Vegas, plus a few extra remixes that do not feature on CD1. Below is a teaser of what you can expect from both CDs.
Havana Cultura Remixed Podcast with Gilles Peterson by Brownswood
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band - Chekere Son (Seiji ReRub) by Brownswood
Dickon was also lucky enough to be at the release party for the album in Berlin, with live music from Kumar, one of the artists from the original release:
Gilles Peterson is playing at East Village in Shoreditch this coming Friday with support from Seiji, get yourselves down for a spot of dirty UK funky, broken beat and of course, plenty of Havana sounds.
This is from a VICE interview...
An introduction please:
Ninja: Yo, wat pomp? I’m Ninja (shows tattoo on hand), and this is my homegirl Yo-Landi Vi$$er. We’re kicking it here by Snoekies, at the harbour in Houtbaai.
Yo-Landi: That’s right. Just eating a chip roll and some fish.
How’s your day working out so far?
Ninja: Fokken lekker. I just made up this track today thinking of that whole Yin-Yang concept we were talking about. The lyrics was going something like, um… Yin, Yang/Yin, Yang/Good, Bad/Happy, Sad/Kwaai, Kak/Life’s tough (beat box)… It’s gonna be duidelik.
Right. So, are you hip-hop or what?
Ninja: Ja we’re from the hip-hop family, but we do rap-rave next level shit. Die Antwoord started with my one homeboy, DJ Hi-Tek (shows tattoo on hand)—He’s got his own PC computer and he makes basically like phat rap-rave beats. I was checking out his shit, and we started making some beats, you know, next level shit. So then I was speaking to my homegirl Yo-Landi, you know she’s got some funk and super flavour, so we started with a kind of, like, 2Unlimited, C+C Music Factory kind of thing… but a bit more gangster, with a street edge. Then we found out you can put the songs for free on the interweb, no problem. Now the album’s pumping worldwide, like some next-level futuristic shit. Scotland, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Japan… In like, one second we’re in the overseas, it’s instant—like the matrix.
Umm, rave’s been a bit quiet lately.
Yo-Landi: It’s never been quiet in our homes.
Ninja: Here in South Africa the taxis play rave music fokken loud my bru. You can hear it from the next city when the taxi comes through, you hear DOOM DOOM DOOM—they gooi the rap-rave megamixes pumping like a nightclub. So my main inspiration is the taxis. The whole album is based on the sound it’s gonna make when it’s pumping through a taxi—It’s that high energy shit you can’t compare.
Yo-Landi: Our whole philosophy basically is, like, drive fast and play kak music loud. It’s a zef rap-rave jol, with lasers, smoke machines, 3D graphics, rappers… and everyone’s gonna be there.
Zef?
Ninja: Zef is our flavour, our style. It means fucking cool. But even more cool than fucking cool. No one can fuck with your shit. Zef’s the ultimate style, basically.
You reckon zef rap-rave in Afrikaans has any potential beyond, say Sunnyside or Parow?
Ninja: Our first album we decided to dig into our own personal flavour and just keep it real you know, and represent where we’re coming from and how we speak. The next album we’re working on is called Ten$ion, and on this album we want to rap more like tour guides of South Africa, like maintain our SA style and flavour but still bring it for people in the overseas to understand… with like 95% English and then just a bit of Afrikaans
Yo-Landi: Afrikaans for all the swearing bits.
Ninja: To sum it all up, in this place, South Africa, you get a lot of different things: whites, coloureds, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, watookal—I’m like all these different things, all these different people, fucked into one person.
That may be true sir, but nobody from South Africa ever really makes it overseas. You do realise that?
Ninja: Ja, check it, but it’s like the long distance runners from Ethiopia—they always come to the Olympics and fuck everyone up heavy! Now why is that possible my blaar? It’s ‘cos in Ethiopia the air is fucking thin. There’s like fuck-all air there basically, so when they come to the levels of the Olympics they’ve got like super oxygenated lungs and fuck everyone up ten-nil. So that’s basically how I’m feeling about this; South Africa’s the fucking shit. All my inspiration, all my funk, all my flavour is from here but also we’re training at minimum oxygen levels, so I’m basically like a Ethiopian runner just waiting for the fucking Olympics. Give me the mic, give me the baton and we’ll see whose gonna take these motherfuckers out. I’m feeling that shit, I’ve got fucking goosebumps my bru.
Yo-Landi: Mmm, these pickled onions are very nice
Ninja: Ja these onions are pumping.
Diplo has released fairly groundbreaking stuff to date; his Piracy Funds Terrorism Mixtape was amongst this awesome output, along with Favela On Blast and Favela Strikes Back - 2 grimey and pretty amusing insights into the world of Brasilian Baile Funk; helping bring that sound to a wider audience.
The Favela On Blast film is all over torrent sites, and things seems to be going rather well for old Dippers...
...And then...
My scepticism about Diplo's latest collaborations leads me into this mixtape rather sheepishly; La Roux and Tiesto in the space of a couple of months? Really Diplo?
Sounds like someone wants another slice of the Commercial cake... or maybe the Royalties Pie...
The opening remix of the uber-overplayed "ladies' favourite" Bulletproof features pitched up vocals teamed with half step dub vibes.
As if, after a remix competition, I could stand to hear those same naff vox again, at yet another BPM... This orchestral take on La Roux's hit wouldn't have won the remix contest. And I have unticked it from my iTunes... That song is OVER.
My faith returns somewhat with the next dubby number; a delightful Jamaican heartbeat with pretty dreamy harmonies from La Roux. Something different; refreshing.
A few tracks later and a few either; " La Roux A Cappella + new instrumentals" or "La Roux instrumentals + new vocals" formulas into this mixtape, and, although I am mildly enjoying what's going on (and there is a lot of stuff I recognise as a result of La Roux's successful radio runs and I think at this point 'recognition' can be mistaken for 'enjoyment'), this whole concept seems disgustingly contrived...
And oh god here comes the autotune ghetto vocals. Get me out of here..!
Hold on, next track, that sounds like a Rusko bassline...
Yes. It's a Rusko bassline.
Funny, for a little while I thought Major Lazer had an ounce of integrity, but this is pure pop, pure money making.
I knew Diplo was a business man, but this is pretty ridiculous. It isn't that the music is in anyway BAD, it just isn't nearly as interesting, groundbreaking, experimental as I hoped it would be; total and utter radio-friendliness.
This is an album for La Roux fans, (The Death Of) Dubstep fans, and girls with skull candy headphones...
The 'SMD does Boy 8-Bit'-esque remix of Quicksand is pretty cool, that has to be said, but i would take those steel drums over it any day.
I feel like Diplo is confused. I feel like he is naive even, to work with such big artists and not expect fans like me to moan...
This mixtape is fun. I will admit that. And i know umpteen girls that will have it on repeat on their iPods... BUT I wanted something more; I wanted something special, and instead I have been given a faux lo-fi faux Jamaican-market-cassette rip of La Roux covers.
Lazerproof is an interesting take on what is going on in the contemporary mainstream, and certainly a good listen, but I find a lot of it baffling. Some odd decisions, and I was really hoping for something with an edge.
Meh.
Get yourself a copy of the Lazerproof Mixtape HERE
Ok. So, I was going to start a seperate blog for my Berlin adventure, but then it just seemed entirely relevant to Curriculum; since I am out here doing an internship at our recent Label Of The Month (for May) - Man Recordings.
I am going to try not to waffle, and to keep things concise and relevant, and post music I find to be in line with what we have been doing with Curriculum.
So, first of all, I arrived, I met a friend of a friend at the airport, we went to a bar, we got some drinks, we ate an awesome keb'ub (4% of the Turkish population or something resides in Berlin).
We headed home and got shitfaced on 1 Euro bottles of red wine. I was introduced to this:
Next day we trammed and trained into Alexanderplatz to meet some friends...
I wanted to have a look about so we split up and I headed to see some culture, since I had 2 hours to myself.
I walked a while and found some incredible buildings at Lustgarten. Google it to see what I mean. There were a lot of Bosnian refugees who constantly harassed for money. Obviously a tourist hotspot.
Next we went to a flat in Friedrichshain for a curry, and I met some ace people. One of whom is supporting Steve Aoki on the 17th, and another who has a friend who runs a Brasileiro radio show who he thinks I will get on with... so, BOOM.
Lots of beers, lots of banter. Tomorrow I meet Daniel Haaksman. Hooray.
This is an interview I found of him, which is interesting...
Tracklist:
1. What Is Guru? - Renaissance Man
2. Habibi (Shir Khan remix) - Malente and Dex
3. Midgets In Bricklane - Solo
4. Asian Taiko Drum Music - Drums of the World
5. Call for Dawn Prayer - Ahmad Abd Raffur
6. Pmc Boliyan - Punjabi MC
7. Vix Itn Tappe - Lehmber Hussainpuri
8. Electro Jugni - Swami
9. Flight IC408 - State of Bengal
10. Equation - Equal 1
11. Desert Search For Techno Allah - Mr. Bungle
My picks today are pretty varied... Starting with one of my favourite tracks from Gregor Salto, it gets a bit techy after the initial carnival beginning, but it comes back...
Yo Majesty are ace. I couldn't find a full length version of Booty Clap on youtube, so you'll have to deal with these kids swinging their lovely hats about instead. HAHA!
But never fear... Party Hardy will pick you up...
Big tune from The Bug...
The Steel Drums are the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobego... This is a SICK version of Toto - Africa. I don't think you cannot smile to this... it is immense.
The term ‘Ayoba’ is an exuberant expression of general delight or approval, rather than a word with a specific meaning. It has its origins on the dance-floor, and is an evolution of expressions like ‘ayeye’ / 'ayoyoyo’ used to express approval or appreciation of good dancing. As with many slang words, no one knows its exact origins but it is believed to have evolved in Johannesburg township culture.
Outhere presents:
Ayobaness - The Sound Of South African House
South African DJs started playing Chicago house in the 80s and were selling mixes out of their car boots. By the time apartheid finally came to an end in 1994, the South African township youths had created their own club music called Kwaito. In the early days, Kwaito was not much more than slowed-down house beats overlain with raps in Zulu, Xhosa and broken township English. Soon Kwaito became the soundtrack for celebrating a free South Africa and catalyzed the rebirth of a new black entertainment industry.
(Here's a track from a man dubbed "the King of Kwaito"... he starts with 'AYEYEYE'...)
Even throughout the Kwaito boom, house music was always around. DJs started to fuse and produce their own local version adding uniquely South African sounds from Kwaito vibes, Zulu Mbaqanga bass lines to Hugh Masekela samples, and local house duos like Revolution or BOP were instant chart breakers. With the Kwaito craze somewhat fading in recent years, house has again taken the lead as South Africa’s number 1 party music and the heartbeat of urban SA music. Today South Africa is the only country on the continent that has its unique local house culture. It is also the only country in Africa where kids dream of being a DJ or a producer - not a singer.
The most well-known artist on the compilation, known far beyond the suburb of Pretoria he hails from and South Africa as a whole, is of course DJ Mujava whose 2008 single “Township Funk” (released in the UK on Warp Records) became a global club anthem and as such first introduced many people to SA house.
Buy the full Ayobaness album, and have a cheeky listen, HERE
But here are a few of my favourites from the album in their entirety. Really big stuff.
WHAT A NIGHT!?
Not only did we manage to coax our unsuspecting friends to a
refurbished toilet, but we also managed to coax some strangers to a
refurbished toilet... AND play them a plethora of music from around
the globe... AND have them break sweat dancing to it.
In no way was the mission statement of Curriculum jeapordised; we
stuck to our guns, and it paid off in a way that made me smile from
ear to ear.
Every forehead glistened with the proof that we have something special
to dish out, and as a result. We will be back very soon.
CURRICULUM CLUBNIGHT IS TONIGHT (21.5.10) at Public Life, 82a Commercial St, Shoreditch.
FREE ENTRY before 10pm. Do not miss out.
1. Intro - African Underground
2. Pasa el Borrador - Los Aldeanos
3. Bukom Mashie - Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band
4. Death of the Revolution - Flowering Inferno
5. Kahaloopo - Erisu
6. Mugwanti - DJ Mujava
7. Roforofo Fight (feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés) - Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band
8. Homenaje a Benny Moré - Gente de Zona
9. Individual - Danay
10. Arroz Con Pollo (MJ Cole Remix) - Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band
11. Chekere Son (Seiji ReRub) - Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band
12. Bangkok - Malente, Dex
13. Gathina - Genghis Clan
You can download this podcast HERE.
I thought it was about time to unleash a bit of the quality hip hop that has been tickling me recently.
Straight out of Tanzania and Uganda, this is some awesome stuff.
Also, big up to Danny from Un Bongo for bringing the Clarkes video to my attention. Enjoy that!! THEY LOVE THOSE SHOES!
So, Spoonfed got in touch to find out a little more about the night... which COINCIDENTALLY is TOMORROW NIGHT at Public Life, 82a Commercial St., Shoreditch. It's FREE before 10pm...
What can Londoners expect from a night like Curriculum?
You can expect to find music from almost every continent, hand picked for it's specific energy, rhythm, or some unique nuance that makes it viable for a London clubnight experience.
As well as retaining the Curriculum world vibe.
I think we certainly challenge the contemporary club norm; since we don't just play straight up house, or purely clean well-produced, well mixed music; there really is a great deal of variety in the selection, with BPMs all over the place, and yet retaining this energy that will be familiar to the contemporary clubber over the course of the night.
You could start by sitting enjoying a glass of red with a candle to some Ugandan hiphop, or an Asian aria, and end it bouncing off the walls to South African House or some twisted bass heavy Lambada...
I guess basically, we will make you sweat, but it wont be to stuff you would expect - though maybe a baile funk rendition of Kernkraft 3000... Haha
So world music seems to be your thing, why? Is there an importance in branching out, and getting a sense of what's out there? Where, when and how did your love for world music begin?
I think the thing that grips my ears most of all about 'world music' is simply hearing noises that are new.
There are sounds that I couldn't even fathom before. And the fascination is not only on an aural level, but reading the history and the evolution of sounds and rhythms and dances etc. just blows my mind.
Tuvan throat singing for example, or listening to Alla Rakhar playing a tabla solo 108 cycles long, made up of cycles formed in 10 beats divided 2 3 2 3... WHAT!? Just, totally rinsing everything I ever learned about music theory.
I think there is a certain staleness about western music, and there is so much out there... its just fun to hear how other people do it.
How did the idea come about?
Curriculum is my baby.
My friend TLGB came up with the name when I said that i wanted a word that had Latin roots and also a powerful meaning surrounding notions of a journey; and Curriculum does
just that.
Not only does it have connotations of flowing, exploration, learning, and knowledge, but it also rolls nicely off the tongue..!
I think the idea really came about after Rob Swaine (Shooting Horses) and I were in his car listening to a CD with loads of Brasilian and Latin influence on it; stuff like Daniel Haaksman and Riva Starr, but a few years ago, when Riva Starr was making stuff like La Conga...
Then we all went to my house in the middle of nowhere to play with music and I did a mix with some wacky tracks from Mowgli and Solo and Justin Martin and I was just in love with the noises and the beats... So much soul.
From there it just blossomed I guess, exploring 'other' sounds, but also moving away from the likes of Fidget, and trying to find something a bit more organic.
Any comments on the other chaps hitting the decks come Friday night?
I think Rob and I are both stoked about Tom's (Trol23) set. Cant wait for the dancehall!
Other than that I think Friday sums up what we want from Curriculum; a get together of people for a good time. I'm not going to make any money from it, it's just an excuse to have a good dance and play some tracks I love with my mates, to my mates.
And if anyone else wants to come along then awesome.
What kind of tunes can we expect?
Best way to get a grasp of what we play is to listen to the PODCASTS, we upload them weekly and you can hear anything from a Greenlandic shaman hitting sticks together, to Sambass, to Baile Funk, Indian Jazz, all the way to Dub, Reggae, Dancehall, and then the more upfront dance like Midget, House, and Ghettopop.
So if we were jumping on a jet plane, heading off to find the music you'll be playing, where would we go?
I think you would have to go on google maps and just spin the Earth as fast as you could. That blue and green blur would probably be pretty close to Curriculum's sound.
What came first, the podcasts or the club night?
We put out a podcast most weeks. They go up on mixcloud, but soon you'll be able to subscribe on itunes.
The clubnight came first, a long time ago now, but the podcast and the blog have become really intrinsic to the evolution of the night, and I suppose to the broadening of our horizons.
Every time we get together to make a new podcast we just end up throwing music into the pot and getting hyped about something new that one of us has found.
It's a constantly growing beast. I love it.
What makes Curriculum so original?
There are other nights that have influences from various nations, or, which employ gimmicks to bring the carnival vibe, or whatever, but there seems to always be this desperation to be "cool" beneath all that and it just falls into yet another future garage night...
I think there is a rawness in Curriculum. We aren't pretending to be anything we are not. We just love this music. And here is a platform on which to play it. We aren't going to be playing THE LATEST TRACK FROM THE COOLEST DJ. I dont care about that kind of thing.
If Curriculum was an animal, what animal would it be and why?
A duck billed platypus; cute, cuddly, a total mish mash of constituent
elements, and just a little bit poisonous... with plenty of intrigue.
What are your hopes for Curriculum? Where do you see it going?
I hope people come down to see how we do things. I hope people tune into the podcasts and get excited by this kind of thing. It isn't going to be "London's biggest clubnight"; we aren't appealing to the masses, we aren't putting a boucey castle and playstations in a club. We aren't claiming to be in a wearhouse, or a squat, and we arent having a fancy dress night.
It is just purely about the music and the atmosphere. And if that appeals to people then I will be happy. Come down and try something different.
Looking to the future I hope to get the label up and running by 2011. I cant find the music here, so I'll bring it here. And maybe someone will buy it.
Massive thanks to Skye at Spoonfed! You could check out the preview HERE
Lady Chann is making waves in the UK music spectrum right now.
And she's also bloody lovely.
After tearing up Trouble Vision last month at the launch of Toddla T's label Girls Music - her single Sticky Situation being it's first release - Lady Chann is opening up the doors of public affection to Dancehall.
Who are you? Where are you from? And what do you do?
I'm a female Dancehall artist, originating from West/North West London, from a group called Suncycle who consisted of Gappy Ranx, Dolamite (Producer/Artist/CEO), Vigilante, and Infra Red Man.
I sing and MC... In a dancehall style, and fuse electro beats, dancehall, grime, whatever; with my vocals.
What is your musical background?
Musical background is everything from Madonna, Boys II Men, Michael Jackson, The Fugees to Capleton, Beenie Man and Bounty Killah.
How did you become involved in Dancehall?
My dad was from the sound Exodus... And was on pirate radio... And toured with some artists like Beenie Man, Dennis Brown, who I had the privilige of meeting when I was very small.
Why do you think this kind of music is becoming more and more accepted
by mainstream audiences in the UK?
I think dancehall has become much more popular because of artists like Patra, Sean Paul, Rhianna, Movado, Ward 21, TOK, Suncycle, Lady Saw etc. banging out GREAT songs and presenting the whole genre in a more adaptable and mainstream way...
The image, the lifestyle, the swagger, fashion of Dancehall has a mass appeal.
What's life like for an artist emerging into the limelight? How have
things changed for you, if at all?
Life is good, though it's harder work as a solo artist, and is a bit mind boggling; flattering receiving the love that I have been all around the world...
I'm here to work and provide a service; a very grounded bubbly fun girl, and have been in music many years, but led a very normal life before this 'limelight'.
It's different from 'hood limelight' where you're popular in you're ends.
But being 'normal' for a long time, I know myself, and had time to be myself without all the focus, so has kept me grounded and I appreciate that.
I've always been apart of Reggae/Dancehall as my father and uncle were in the soundsystem business... Suncycle discovered that although I could sing, they honed my craft into dancehall spitting.
When your around the best, you gotta step your game up and match it!
Who do you see as your biggest influences, firstly throughout your
life, and secondly artists right now..?
Well the artists I named previously did and still do influence me... But recent artists in any genre doing their thing inspires me too.
Who do you think is responsible for the music scene shifting ever
further towards the territory of alternative rhythms?
The alternative thing has become a big movement... With the likes of Toddla T - who at heart is a Dancehall fan big time - who has the love for big bars and riddims, so he's combined a sound, with broken beats and has made this very popular, alongside producers like Chase and Status, Scream, Benga etc.. The sound just seems unique to the UK, but has been adopted world wide it seems.
Sticky Situation came out in at the end of '09, what do you have lined
up for 2010?
Sticky Situation actually first got played on a British radio station in December 2008(!) by Target from Roll Deep, who loved the song, and always featured it...
But the song's just going from strength to strength and building even more; being played in the clubs, with my other Sticky produced track Eye Too Fast.
It's amazing really, to have 2 simultaneous club tracks, so that's why when we realeased through Toddla T's new label Girls Music as his first signing of a project, Eye Too fast was included on the 3 track EP - which charted on the Japanese electro Itunes chart at number 13!
Lucky number for me now!
It's out now on all digital retailers (You can get it HERE).
We then left it til last to shoot the video, as sometimes artists shoot videos to songs that aren't even being supported on the radio, or there's no real demand for it.
So the vid's out now... And in it there're a few faces from the music and entertainment world, who I'm flattered came.
What was it like collaborating with House producers like Warrior One?
Working with Warrior One was a lot of fun, they played me a few beats, and the King Riddim stood out to me by a mile, and decided this was the track.. We're all friends now too, and occassionally hang out.. So we always have a load of fun.
What do you listen to at home?
At home I'm currently just listening to the newest Alicia Keys album, I've just bought Ushers new album which is a banger! Also I'm listening and bought Ellie Gouldings Starry Eyed ep, ... My itunes at the moment consists of Mclean, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys, Lemar , Tinchy and also have Chipmunks re-packaged album...
Crikey. What a busy lady. Hit this LINK for Lady Chann's myspace for more tracks and updates, and you can also download her MEGA mixtape DUM DEM: Volume 1.
Keeps your eyes open for more from this one.
