Stunna

One of my favorite drum+bass artists Stunna (aka J. Cappo) out of Chicago. He has a regular show on BassDrive.com His stuff is very melodic. He has live track on SoundCloud that has a 5-6 minute piano solo. I'd say he has taken the LTJ Bukem downtempo/dnb vibe to a new level. Check out his set at the United DnB Battle in Brooklyn last month if you like more of the live MC/Jungle based vibe.

Blues Control, Chris Forsyth

Still getting used to the new Blues Control, Valley Tangents.  There's a lot of sound on here that kicks me the wrong way (hence some of the "classic rock" references in reviews, as well as references to different genre exercises), but it's starting to grow on me.

I just found out that I will be opening for Chris Forsyth here in Louisville on July 8.  I've seen his stuff on the Family Vineyard site before, but I'm just now getting around to checking it out.  Both FV records are very nice; I am especially fond of Dreams.  You can listen to both of them at his SoundCloud page.

Two little gems to help you beat the heat!

Fly Lo

Funny how things come around in cycles.  I've been listening to Flying Lotus' "Los Angeles" on back-to-back-to-back repeat, perfect thing to work to lately.  That's my personal fave of his output.

Thought this was somewhat post-worthy as it was the topic of the very first WWALT BLOG post from almost 4 years ago.  Time flies, no?

Hope you guys are having a good summer. Later.

dc

Burial/Boduf Songs/Lower Dens/Coltrane

Lately I've just been loading up stuff on my iPod, hitting shuffle, and zooming off here and there.
If something pops up that I like, I will take a look at the Pod and see who it is.
I finally got around to checking out Burial (I know, about 6 years after the fact) and it's pretty amazing if you're into that sort of thing.  Really dark, sparse, washed-out dubstep with heavy garage (UK garage, not garage rock!) and 2-step influences. 

Also Boduf Songs is killing me.  Is nobody else into this guy???  It's pretty fucking amazing.  Reallllly dark stuff....and sad.  But not "boo hoo woe is me" kind of sad, more like "the world can be dark and sad, and that's pretty beautiful too."  Anyway, the mood of all the albums is perfect for late night mellow listening with a darker edge.  Plus there's song titles like That Angel Was Pretty Lame and I Have Decided To Pass Through Matter.

Also killing it is the new Lower Dens record, I think it's called Nootropics.  Solid indy rock, but with a noise/creative aspect a la Deerhunter or Sonic Youth but not as aggressive.  Really interesting rhythmic ideas, which is usually what makes my ears perk up before other things.  Interesting sonic textures, too.

This afternoon I pulled out some of the Sunday jazz stacks, despite the fact that it's Saturday.  I know enough has been said about this group to last until the end of time, but fuck man, the John Coltrane Quartet is just genius.  A lot of jazz to me feels very confined by it's predetermined rules about what's "right" and "wrong" and what makes jazz "sohpisticated," but the Quartet just sounds like pure liberation.

Genius Mixes on iTunes

What does yours look like? Here's mine. Anyone know how "Genius" compiles mixes? I added a few Stevie Wonders and my Classic Funk mix turned into Classic R&B mix. I want my Funk mix back!

Continuing the Discourse.....

Take a couple minutes to read this thoughtful, well-written article on downloading/generation "free"/Spotify, etc, etc.

Here's another post praising Jahtari. They just keep getting better. This is a heavyweight straight outta Leipzig!!

MMM

I'm not a big turntablism guy really but Mix Master Mike is killing it on this little promo thing:



dc

Julia Holter, "Ekstasis"

I've been feeling this album, has a lot of interesting elements: classical, eastern modalties, ambient sound flourishes, pop. Definitely worth checking out.

Also, saw a band called Monogold at a rooftop party in Bushwick recently. They had a real buzz going, jaded hipsters suddenly stopped posing and grouped around to check it all out. They sound a little like Modest Mouse meets Wild Beasts, if you dig that. Their album "The Softest Glow" is on Spotify.

New Peaking Lights Joint!

You can stream the new Peaking Lights CD on this website:

http://m.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/jun/13/peaking-lights-lucifer-album-stream?cat=music&type=article

Their last one made my top three of 2011.  Haven't check this new one yet, assuming it is money.

dc

Here is a new 7" I got a few weeks ago on the Peckings label. I don't have much from them but what I've heard is top shelf reggae. Kind of a blending of old school and new school - this 45 uses the rhythm from the Maytal's 54-46. The Macka B track is great. It was released this year - proof that vital reggae is still being made.

Been listing to new and old hardcore/punk lately as well. Agnostic Front's "Victim in Pain" and "United Blood EP", Classics of Love, a weird German punk 7", strange Canadian grindcore. Also hit the public library the other day and checked out the 2010 reissue of the first 4 Off! EPs.

The library also had some Numero Group CDs. I'm way late to that party but I'm really digging the three CDs I've heard so far - Capsoul, Deep City and Prix. The CDs covers are pictures of 45s so I was instantly drawn to them.

LET'S GOOOOOOO

No posts in like 2 weeks??!?!?1

I've been listening to a a lot of Black Sabbath, got my 4 and 6 year olds on the wagon.  It's cute as hell when my 4 year old is singing the riff to N.I.B.

If you do Netflix check out the VHI "Greatest Albums" documentaries (i think that's what they are called).  The Sabbath "Paranoid" one is sweet.  I have Def Leppard "Hysteria" documentary queued up.

I'm also on a Boards of Canada jag.  I love that band so much I want to eat them.

Somebody hit me with some new new new shit, please.

dc