Michael Kiwanuka, We were evergreen, Nick Mulvey @ The Hope.

This was a nice surprise. I had a text from my mate last week asking if i wanted to go and see Michael Kiwanuka. D.E.F.O! was my response. 
See, you take your eye off the ball for a moment and you risk missing what promises to be one of the gigs of the year.
I haven't been keeping up with what's on for a few weeks and if i'd have missed this . . . . well, i would have missed this. Tickets have gone.
Thanks Ollie and your hawkeye!
I first heard of Michael Kiwanuka back in the spring, when his sublime debut track 'tell me a tale' first broke.It sounded like an old track, booming soulful vocal, jazz style drum shuffles and afro horn stabs.
I was really pleased to find that he is a talent at a tender age of just 23. He has already been drawing comparisons with the likes Van Morrison and Bill Withers. High praise indeed and just. His first 2 releases have come via Communion records on ltd edition 10" vinyl. Tell me a tale is fetching a tidy £70 on Discogs.

There is stellar support from We were evergreen  - who i have to confess to having never heard of - and the excellent Nick Mulvey from the Portico Quartet. 
Gonna be a real good , feel good winter warmer!

New Julio Bashmore - Well wishers

Lovely new tune from the man like Julio Bashmore.

It's been a big year for this talented young producer.
I have at least 2 of his tracks in my top 50 of 2011.

I think this will lift the roof off many a club night. Big!!

Kinshasa One Two - The worldwide sound of DRC!

The Drc (Democratic republic of Congo) project is an Oxfam initiative spearheaded by former Blur frontman Damon Albarn, which saw a troupe of UK based musicians travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo to record an album with local musicians.
Damon is a partner in the Honest Jon's record label and is no stranger to the sounds of World music. Having been involved in numerous projects; none more so than the excellent 'Honest Jon's chop up' which i was lucky to see recently.
He was joined on the voyage to Central Africa by a varied cast of musicians including XL record label boss Richard Russell, Actress, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Dan The Automator, Jneiro Jarel, Marc Antoine, Alwest, Remi Kabaka, Rodaidh McDonald and Kwes.
The album, entitled Kinshasa One Two, was recorded in Kinshasa over a five day period in July this year and will see release via UK label Warp

All of the proceeds from the album go to Oxfam's work in the DRC, worthwhile indeed

I have just bagged a heavyweight vinyl package, which comes with an automatic download of the album.Whatever your flavour, check this album out and support by buying one of the formats.

Flaoting points on point.

For me, having listened to all 5 promo tracks on Floating points new Shadows EP, on Eglo records, i am of the opinion that this uber talented producer is one of our finest Electronic music pioneers.

I have been following him since his first releases back in 2009 and i think that his music has developed a mature sound of someone well beyond his 25 years.
From the outset, he has released lush atmospheric deep house music and over the last 3 years or so his sound has become instantly recognisable.

Check out this new EP, scheduled for release on the 21st Nov.

October charts

Howdy folks.
Are we really in November? Jeeez! Where has the year gone? It seems just moments ago that i was preparing for Christmas 2010. Scary this time lark innit.
Anyhow, we are up to October in the charts, this year has been one of the best i can remember for Electronic music. Killer new producers and productions at every turn. Last month was no exception.

A lot of old heads in my Oct charts as well as new blood. Check them out and as always, BUY your music!

1/MARTYN - Ghost People - BRAINFEEDER 2 x LP
2/DAPHNI - Ne Noya/Yes, I Know/Jiao – JIALONG 12”

3/BRYAN FERRY - Alphaville / Me Oh My (Todd Terje & Quiet Village Remixes) - VINYL FACTORY

4/FLOATING POINTS - Danger - EGLO RECORDS 7''

5/SUN RA - The Mike Huckaby Reel To Reel Edits Vol 2 - Kindred Spirits Holland

6/SIMON, Jay - Faith - Wild Oats US limited 1-sided white etched vinyl 7"

7/PANGAEA - Hex - Hemlock Recordings (HEK 013) 12"

8/MAURICE DONOVAN – Call my name - WHITE LABEL 12"

9/JEFFRECLOOSE aka RECLOOSE - Romantic Remedy - Whatchawannado US  12”

10/FINK / RED RACK'EM - Move On Me (Worgull Edit) / Kalimba - PHILOMENA 12

11/MAXIMILLION DUNBAR - Everyday / Stayin Away - L.I.E.S. 12"

12/KENNY DIXON PRESENTS URBAN TRIBE - My First Mistake (Moodymann mix)- rush Hour Holland digi download

13/MARK E - Call Me - Merc 12"

14/CHRIS READ - Sons D'Afrique / Dub Afrique - BREAKIN BREAD 7''

15/KON AND THE GANG - Sunlight – Hands of time gold 12”

16/MR SCRUFF - Feel It! - Ninja Tune 12"

17/MPESE MPESE BAND/CANADOES DANCE BAND - Highlife Underground - Sofrito Super Singles12"

18/ZED BIAS - Badness - Tru Thoughts 12”

19/T. WILLIAMS 12" – Break broke/Go in /Analog tour - LOCAL ACTION

20/XXXY - Kerpow - ALL CITY 12"

Zed Bias - Music deep inside

Dave Jones aka Zed Bias/Maddslinky is possibly one of the hardest working men in elctronic music today.
Dave made his name in the UK garage scene and is possibly best known for his track 'Neighbourhood', which bothered the UK charts in Summer 2000. He has admitted that following that success, he turned away from the more main stream sound in search of more underground pastures. A place he feels much more comfortable.
This year has seen the release of his album 'Biosonic hotsauce' under his Zed Bias alias. This has been closely followed by another album 'Make a change' released as his other alias, Maddslinky. Both are laden with ear rattling basslines and the usual dubbed out house sounds that you would associate with either
pseudonym. For me though, one of the tracks of the year is the wonderful 'Music deep inside', forthcoming on Swamp 81.  On neither of the albums, it is a stand alone release and still with no official release date. Stop teasing us people, let it go!