David Bowie’s “The Next Day”, his first album in a decade is online in full for your listening.
0:00 – The Next Day, 3:25 – Dirty Boys, 6:26 – The Stars (Are Out Tonight), 10:23 – Love Is Lost, 14:20 – Where Are We Now?, 18:30 – Valentine’s Day, 21:32 – If You Can See Me, 24:45 – I’d Rather Be High, 28:30 – Boss Of Me, 32:40 – Dancing Out In Space,
36:00 – How Does The Grass Grow?, 40:36 – (You Will) Set The World On Fire, 44:08 – You Feel So Lonely You Could Die, 48:46 – Heat
The much loved soul and blues singer-songwriter Alice Russell releases her fifth solo album, ‘To Dust’ her first solo album since 2008’s acclaimed ‘Pot Of Gold’
(courtesy of Tru Thoughts) Alice Russell is natural, pure natural talent, a natural presence, a force of nature. Whether on a big stage with her 16 piece band, charming a crowd of 4000 into staying out dancing in the rain (as she did at Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking out an intimate club set with a stripped down 6 piece band, she’s a singer who demands attention. Unfazed by taking to the spotlight after a sober Amy Winehouse or joining Roy Ayers live for ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’, there’s no wonder her powerful soul voice has attracted rave reviews from numerous national and international publications and praise from fans as diverse as Gilles Peterson, David Byrne, Dennis Coffey, Massive Attack’s Daddy G, and Groove Armada.
‘To Dust’ is the first solo album from Alice Russell since 2008’s acclaimed ‘Pot Of Gold’, marking the next step forward in a remarkable career which has seen this down-to-earth, diminutive Brit universally acknowledged as one of the best soul voices of our time. Whether on a huge stage with a 16 piece band, charming a 4000 revellers into staying out dancing in the rain (as at Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking an intimate club, Alice’s raw talent and charisma command attention and affection. Unfazed by taking the spotlight, singing with The Roots in Philly, or joining Roy Ayers for ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’, it is no wonder she has attracted worldwide media support, and fans as diverse as Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Dennis Coffey, Massive Attack’s Daddy G and Groove Armada.
Highly in demand as a vocalist, Alice has recently guested on Talking Heads leader David Byrne’s solo LP, to add to collaborations with Mr Scruff, Quantic, DJ Yoda and Nostalgia 77. But it’s her solo records with longtime musical partner TM Juke that she is best known for, and they have borne some of the most arresting blues soul since the glory days of Aretha. “We’ve both got a very open approach to writing songs,” Alice explains of the prolific relationship, “Our influences run from Sarah Vaughan to Bach, Kate Bush to Arvo Part, and J Dilla to Alice Coltrane. We love everything from dirty, squelchy dubstep to old school soul. We nudge each other in the right directions.”
‘To Dust’ sees Alice exploring every letter of the soul lexicon and beyond to create her own dynamic sound; from the punchy, Prince-esque strut of “Hard And Strong” to the epic intensity of the title track, which could easily be the next Bond theme. Through the heartstring tugging “I Loved You”; the sonically smooth yet emotionally raw “Twin Peaks”; to the pulse-quickening build of “Let Go (Breakdown)” and psychedelic social consciousness of “Citizens”, Alice Russell is never less than scintillating as she displays emotions so real you feel you could reach out and touch them, and a voice of unparalleled versatility. The idiosyncratic structure of the record, peppered with interludes and reprises, makes for a unique listen and a satisfyingly whole ‘album’ experience.
Tru Thoughts have signed ‘To Dust’ for territories including the UK, Americas, Australasia and Japan; reuniting Alice Russell with the label that introduced her to the world, where she released her first three albums, as well as myriad collaborations (including the BBC 6Music Playlisted “Look Around The Corner” single and LP with Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro earlier in 2012). A short, sold-out upfront tour in Nov/Dec saw Alice and her incredibly entertaining band premiering the new material. A full ‘To Dust’ tour will follow in April 2013 – dates TBA soon.
The first single, “Heartbreaker”, is out now, highlighting the crisp, cutting edge production and eclectic influences which nestle alongside a love of vintage soul and gospel at the core of Alice Russell’s style, a sound honed with co-writer/producer TM Juke. Showcasing Alice at the top of her craft – and with a video starring Harry Shearer (The Simpsons/Spinal Tap) which has had 50,000+ views – it has gained BBC 6Music and Radio 2 play and tastemaker love from The Fader, Rankin’s Hunger TV, Okayplayer, NTS, KCRW and more. Recent radio features include a BBC 6Music Lunchtime interview and sessions on Loose Ends (BBC R4) and Monocle 24, with more features upcoming including Jamie Cullum (BBC R2), Craig Charles (6Music Live Week) and Huey Morgan (6Music).
‘Take The Space Trane’, out 4th February, is the new album from producer, composer and musician Mark de Clive-Lowe in collaboration with the Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra. Joining forces for the first time here, they deliver big orchestral jazz grooves with a nod to club productions for a modern, experimental take on the big band sound. The LP brings together bespoke compositions alongside existing cuts from across MdCL’s prolific career, plus a cover of the jazz standard, “Caravan” – all realised with traditional big band arrangements and instrumentation.
Japanese-New Zealander Mark de Clive-Lowe is a complex producer, keyboardist, composer and DJ. He embraced the piano at age four, soon becoming an accomplished Jazz musician. Before moving to LA last year, MdCL spent a decade in London where he honed his production skills working alongside the likes of Bugz In The Attic and Jody Watley. Having deployed his varied talents on more than 250 releases – both his own and in collaboration – he released his 14th solo album ‘Renegades’ on Tru Thoughts last year, featuring luminaries including Omar, Tawiah, Pino Palladino and Sheila E; continually touring, with his live improvised music shows, DJ sets and self-promoted jam night, Church (LA/NYC), he is becoming increasingly recognised as a lynchpin of the international live scene.
The idea for this project was born when MdCL met the trumpeter Rob van de Wouw at an improv festival where he was performing, in Rotterdam; on hearing him play, van de Wouw asked if he would guest with his big band. Having played in big bands back in high school in New Zealand, while cutting his teeth as a jazz pianist, MdCL seized the opportunity to revisit it from this whole new standpoint: “Big band was the sound of dance music in the ‘20s and ‘30s so to apply that aesthetic and sound to my own music was going to be fun”, he says.
In preparation, MdCL selected some of his own releases to be adapted to the band, wrote two new compositions especially, and chose one classic jazz standard – made most famous by Duke Ellington – to round out the repertoire. The RJO’s arranger and conductor, Johan Plomp, then created the arrangements, bringing the big band voice to the tunes. ‘El Dia Perfecto’ (originally out on Universal Jazz in 2000) was an obvious vehicle for this kind of project, with its horn-like melody lines and harmonies; but when he chose vocal cuts like “Money (Don’t Let It Catch Ya)” and “Relax…Unwind” – originally voiced by Bembe Segue and Abdul Shyllon, respectively – it was impossible for MdCL to imagine the big band arrangements. When he heard them for the first time, he says, “it was unreal! He’d taken the vocal melodies and harmonies and transposed those to saxophones, trumpets and trombones.”
The new compositions that MdCL wrote for the project allude to the different influences and thread the concept together. “Blues For Six” has an old school bluesy swing intro and then goes into an Afro 6/8 groove. The title track, another new one, is a melding of the ‘60s Coltrane and McCoy Tyner feel with a UK brukstep rhythm – the avant-garde aspects of the jazz tradition head to head with the driving beats. The album title is a play on Duke Ellington’s big band classic “Take The A Train”, “but with the modal jazz influences a la John Coltrane and undercurrent of beats and electronic elements, it just made sense to be ‘Take The Space Trane’!”, MdCL elaborates.
The band had a half day rehearsal and then hit their first show at Amsterdam’s Melkweg. The next day was the second show, from which this album is cut (subject to some edits for the confines of the CD format). And the next time they performed this repertoire, it really divided the audience: “Some older big band music fans were walking out in disgust (“that’s not big band music!”) while the younger music lovers were revelling in hearing something totally fresh… Nothing like ruffling a few feathers!” says MdCL.
Change The Beat: The Celluloid Records Story 1979-1987 collects two discs worth of classic sides on the Celluloid label, spanning major contributions from early in the era of recorded hip-hop, experimental dance music, and world music fusions.
Celluloid Records embodies so much that we love: classic early DIY hip-hop, punky disco, world music electro fusions, French new wave and more. Formed by Jean Georgakarakos in Paris during the late ’70s after a decade co-running French record shops and the spiritual jazz label BYG, the label gathered steam following Karakos’ fateful early ’80s trips to New York. After a chance meeting Bill Laswell who had himself landed fresh in the Big Apple from Michigan, Karakos began releasing the full spectrum of Laswell’s early work, from the avant-rock cacophony of Massacre to his fluid, dance/post-punk production outfit, Material.
Strut Records will pay tribute to Celluloid with a two-disc retrospective of this brilliant and eclectic label. You can pre-order Change The Beat: The Celluloid Records Story on limited 180 gram vinyl right now on the Strut webstore. There will also be a full 2CD and digital release.
Tracklisting
12″ Vinyl Double Album (STRUT102LP)
Shockabilly – Day Tripper
Ferdinand – Télé, après la Météo
Mathematiques Modernes – Disco Rough (Long Version)
Modern Guy – Electrique Sylvie (Full Length Version)
The Last Poets – Mean Machine Chant / Mean Machine
Winston Edwards|Blackbeard – Downing Street Rock
Futura 2000 feat. The Clash – The Escapades of Futura feat. The Clash
Material – I’m the One (Dance Version)
Time Zone – Wildstyle
Manu Dibango – Abele Dance (’85 Remix)
Fab 5 Freddy – Change the Beat (French & English Rap)
CD Double Album (STRUT102CD)
Shockabilly – Day Tripper
Massacre – Killing Time
Ferdinand – Télé, après la Météo
Mathematiques Modernes – Disco Rough (Long Version)
Thomas Leer & Robert Rental – Day Breaks, Day Heals
Snakefinger – Living in Vain
Winston Edwards & Blackbeard – Downing Street Rock
Lightnin’ Rod – Sport
Futura 2000 feat. The Clash – The Escapades of Futura feat. The Clash
Time Zone – Wildstyle
Deadline – Makossa Rock
Bobongo Stars – Koteja
Toure Kunda – Amadou Tilo
Nini Raviolette – Suis-Je Normale
Modern Guy – Electrique Sylvie (Full Length Version)
Sapho – Carmel (12“ Mix)
Ginger Baker – Dust to Dust
Last Exit – Big Boss Man
Mandingo – Harima
Manu Dibango – Abele Dance (’85 Remix)
Time Zone – World Destruction (Original 12″ Mix)
Material – I’m the One (Dance Version)
Grandmixer D.St – Home of Hip Hop
Beside with Bernard Fowler – Odeon (Dance Mix)
Fab 5 Freddy – Change the Beat (French & English Rap)
The Last Poets – Mean Machine Chant / Mean Machine
Full length documentary about MEL CHEREN and WEST-END RECORDS feat. bits & pieces by Danny Krivit, Louie Vega, Nicky Siano, Joey Llanos, Kevin Hedge, Barbara Tucker, Joi Caldwell, Tony Humphries, Johnny Dynell, Louis Benedetti and some of the greatest West-End Records Releases
Solid Steel (8th February) Our guest this week is Group Modular who are Markey Funk and Mule Driver – two producers living on two ends of the Jerusalem-Tel-Aviv route, that recently released their debut space age library groove LP – “The Mystery of Mordy Laye”. In their mix they put together a great selection of electronic and way-out music, mixed up in a continuous journey through space and time.
In Hour 2 DJ Food takes up the 25th Anniversary slot with volume 8 of his Kraftwerk Kover Kollections in time to celebrate the band playing 8 nights at the Tate Modern in London. These mixes have become a regular feature on the show over the years, unearthing incredible and bizarre cover versions of Kraftwerk tracks. A Bollywood version of The Man Machine, The Model played on church bells, sung by a choir and covered by comedian Adrian Edmondson are just some of the treats along with jazz, piano and acoustic versions of their classics and a couple of comedy skits commenting on the ticket meltdowns surrounding the band’s shows.
PLAYLIST — 8/2/2013
PART 1 — Group Modular
ARTIST
TITLE
LABEL
Suzanne Ciani
Discover Magazine (tv Spot)
Finders Keepers
Sandy Nelson
Beat From Another World
Sunset
Celio Balona
Tema De Batman
World Psychedelic Funk Classics/bemol
Brian Bennett
Ergon
Qdk Media/kpm
Mort Garson
The Ride Of Aida
Qdk Media/kpm
Florenci Salesas
Caravana Polar
La Olla Express
Benoit Kaufman
Jingle 1
Lo Recordings
Large Number
The Creaky Ok
White Label Online Ltd
Mr. Chop
The Red Baron
Jazz&milk Recordings
Michael Leonhart & The Avramina 7
Jaipur
Truth & Soul
Johnny Pearson
Product Efficiency
Kpm
Mel Kaiser
Medium Freq. Sweeps
Folkways Records
Wojciech Karolak
Instant Groove
Polskie Nagrania
Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra
Zero Zoom Novembra
Bungalow
Beta Hector
Payback
Tru Thoughts
PART 2 — Group Modular
ARTIST
TITLE
LABEL
Men Of North Country
People Of Tomorrow (the Visitor Remix By Markey Funk)
Solid Steel (1st February) DK opens proceedings with a track from the new 0181album from Four Tet featuring his productions from 1997 and 2001(of which one track was made on the 2001 Solid Steel US tour!) and we follow with classic Fela Kuti from a new compilation by Knitting Factory. Then it’s a brand new track from Bonobo, Daphni from last year and forthcoming music from The Heliocentrics.
As part of our 25th Anniversary we welcome Nick Manasseh part of the Manasseh Sound System who had a regular slot late Saturday night on Kiss FM directly after Solid Steel in the 90’s. They specialised in Roots Reggae and also had a regular slot at Notting Hill carnival from 1985, but as with everyone we asked for something different and we get a fine selection of music from across the board ranging from classical music from Eric Satie to Jimi Hendrix, an unknown 30’s Chinese tracks to favs from Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones. We also get a taste of familiar territory with Lone Pilgrem vs Manasseh and the track ‘Barefoot Skank’.
PART 1 – DK twitter.com/DK_SolidSteel
Four Tet _ 0181 _ Text
Fela Kuti _ Everything Scatter _ Kalakuta Sunrise
Bonobo _ Cirrus _ Ninja Tune
Daphni _ Cos-Ber-Zam Ne Noya (Daphni mix) _ Jialong
The Heliocentrics _ Wrecking Ball _ Now-Again
Eric Satie _ Gnossien No4 _ Brilliant Classics
Stevie Wonder _ Jesus Children of America _ Motown
Resonators _ Transmission _ Wah Wah 45s
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss _ Trampled Rose _ Rounder Records
Sidney Bechet _ Les Fleurs _ Discofoon
Lena _ A Troll’s Trail _ Bruit Clair
Unknown _ Shanghai Style _ Unknown
Jimi Hendrix _ Moon Turn The Tides _ Reprise
Coolhipnoise _ Dama Dada (Sonia) _ NorteSul
Lone Pilgrim vs Manasseh _ Barefoot Skank _ unknown
Quincy Jones _ Summer In The City _ A & M
Bach Aria Di Capo (Goldberg Variations) _ Opus 111
“Got the Hunger?”
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