New: Baths

Baths is the alias for L.A. musicmaker Will Wiesenfeld, releasing his debut album 'Cerulean' under the new name after releasing a few albums as [Post-Foetus]. Awkward DJ names aside, what we have here is another solid beatmaker to come out of California, definitely taking some inspiration from Flying Lotus, Prefuse 73, Bibio... and sometimes even managing to sound a little like one of my favourite Japanese DJs 'Nujabes' (and if you haven't checked him out yet you really should). Baths released his CD is June this year and it has been on solid rotation on the iPod recently. It's a great debut with intricate beats, well timed glitches, unique and infrequent vocals (I'm convinced that the lead singer for Passion Pit is singing on track 12) and an overall perfect summer feel. Check out his single below, his myspace site, and look out for Baths in 2010... Enjoy.

Baths - Lovely Bloodflow

www.myspace.com/bathsmusic

R. Hunter

Shit hot track

The new Bag Raider's track has been doing the rounds on Triple J at the moment and I have to say, I'm kinda digging it. Dark, moody electro - just the way I like it. Their new self-titled album is due out in October and this track has gotten me all sorts of excited.

Way Back Home - Bag Raiders

C x

I hope I'm the first to tell you about...

Alex B

I saw this guy open for Jamie Lidell way back in July and don't know why it has taken me so long to write about him. He hails from Colorado and has recently produced a mix titled 'Brain Food' for Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder record label. Listening and watching this man perform you can definitely pick up on his attention to detail and love for the music he is producing, which is evident in the layering of his tracks and the way he moves when he is creating them.

With obvious influences including Flying Lotus and Jay Dilla, Alex B has put together his debut album titled 'Moments' (released in April) and according to his website: "The tracks on Moments are intricately crafted with painstaking care and attention to detail — a careful mix of analog and digital sounds elevated by imaginative samples and the insight of a classically trained musician. The result is a blend of timeless warmth and future beats that is as easily adaptable to introspective time with one’s headphones as it is to group mania on a mobbed dance floor."

I would have to agree. Here is one of the tracks off the 'Moments' CD... Enjoy

Alex B - You And I Both Know


Also, make sure that you visit his myspace page and download the 'Brain Food' mixtape for FREE at:

http://www.myspace.com/pnuma

R. Hunter

New: Lupe Fiasco

The latest of the tracks to get leaked in the lead up to releasing his latest album titled "Lasers". Anyone who had the chance to see Lupe live recently would have heard a few of the tracks that will be featured on the new album and should be suitably excited about what he has to offer up. The latest track is titled "Go To Sleep" and there is not much to say about it except that if you like Lupe, and if you like good hip hop, then you will like this... Enjoy

Lupe Fiasco - Go To Sleep


R. Hunter

I hope I'm the first to tell you about...

S. Carey

As the story goes, S. Carey (or Sean Carey) approached Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) during one of his first shows and told him that he could play and sing all the songs on the album. They set about playing a few together and Sean got hired on the spot to join the band. If you have ever had the pleasure of seeing Bon Iver live you may recognise Sean from sitting behind the drumset or piano (apparently Chiara has met him and said he was a lovely guy). Sean has been slowly putting together a collection of his own songs over the last couple of years whilst touring with Bon Iver and it's clear that he has been heavily influenced by fellow muso Vernon (Bon), and also shades of Sufjan Stevens come through on a few tracks. The album is called "All We Grow" and it is due to be released on the 24th of August (pretty soon). All in all, and I hesitate to say, it's almost a spin-off CD from the regular Bon Iver catalogue. Like Joey did from the tv show 'Friends' except that this S. Carey album doesn't suck.

In fact it's pretty spot on for the genre, you know the music you want to listen to when you're feeling a little down, maybe taking a long train trip, maybe just broken up with a girlfriend/boyfriend, maybe you just want to chill on a rainy Sunday afternoon... this CD is perfect for that kinda stuff. I have selected two tracks that best represent this feeling, so check them out and then get the rest of the CD... Enjoy.

S. Carey - In The Dirt


S. Carey - Broken


R. Hunter

Kanye West's New Single Remixed

Kanye released his new single 'Power' back in June 2010 and I must admit that I completely missed it... It wasn't until I heard it today that I dug a little deeper and found the official remix that has only been around a couple of days since it was unveiled last Friday on the radio station Hot 97. Kanye is back doing what he does best: heavy beats, crisp rapping, teaming up with Jay-Z, and more importantly NO VOCODER! Check out the remix below and also the youtube 'teaser' clip featuring Kanye in a 'moving painting' with a massive gold chain, surrounded by semi naked god-like women. I must admit, it's been a while, but once again Kanye has impressed me... Enjoy.

Kanye West - Power (remix) feat. Jay Z & Swizz Beatz




R. Hunter

Get Funked...

'How long has this been going on?'

Some more funk for your trunk. This week I'm serving up some 60's funk, a slice of soul and some 70's rock... Enjoy

The Buckinghams - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy


Luther Ingram - (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Wanna Be Right


Ace - How Long


R. Hunter

New: Sufjan Stevens

Very excited about this one! It's been a while since Sufjan has released a 'real' album as his last 3 have been: an outtakes and offcuts CD for Avalanche, a christmas CD, and an instrumental CD dedicated to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway... it's safe to say that he is not your average musician, but I think that's what I like about him.

His latest EP contains 8 tracks that are built around 2 versions of the title track 'All Delighted People', and it has been available for digital download and streaming since August 23rd from here.

To really get a taste for it please listen to the title track in its absolutely epic, instrumental, 11 minute glory. Sit yourself down and take some time to enjoy Mr Stevens at his eccentric best. Oh, and see if you can spot Leonardo DiCaprio on the front cover... awesome.

Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People (Original Version


R. Hunter

New: School of Seven Bells

This one has been on regular rotation for me this month. It is a slight departure from the feel of their debut album 'Alpinisims', released in 2008, as the group from NYC seems to shoot for a more upbeat, pop-ish, more radio-friendly sound. It's easy listening with some nice harmonies and simple backing instrumentals. There are a few tracks on the new CD that are just begging for a remix. Below you can check out their first single from that album, titled 'Disconnect From Desire"... Enjoy.

School of Seven Bells - Windstorm


www.myspace.com/schoolofsevenbells

R. Hunter

New: Ray LaMontagne

"Gotta get back up in the country, have a couple of drinks with the good ole boys"

The man with the golden voice is back, and this time around he has teamed up with the Pariah Dogs (kind of like Ben Harper did with the Innocent Criminals). His latest album is titled "God Willin The Creek Don't Rise" and from what I've heard of it's taking Ray down a more country-music path. And even if that's not your cup of tea rest assured that his vocals are just as breathtaking as his previous CDs. Below you can check out one of my favourite tracks from the CD (and quite appropriately named too)... Enjoy

Ray LaMontagne - New York City Is Killing Me


R. Hunter

Old school jam

Oh Dave.

C x

New: Jens Lekman

"a broken heart is not the end of the world"

The Swedish crooner is finally back with a new single. It's everything you've grown to love about the perpetually broken-hearted songwriter: dramatic, funny, poignant, smooth. Enjoy.

Jens Lekman - The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love


R. Hunter

New: Titus Andronicus

I feel as if our cousin Rory should be a contributor to this blog with all the spot-on musical recommendations that he has given to me over the past couple of years. Perhaps we could give him a 'special comments' position a la Dennis Commetti from the AFL commentary team.

Last week Rory sent me the link to the live-streaming of Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden and in return made me promise to check out this group called Titus Andronicus. It has taken me a few listens to really get into them but now I'm hooked. Their latest CD, released in March this year, titled 'The Monitor' could possible be described as 'angsty', 'violent-folk', and at times very humorous, but on the whole is very entertaining. They play songs that you would love to hear at a seedy pub at the end of a boozy night out with your mates, songs that you can swing your fist to and shout the lyrics, off-key and out of tune, at the top of your voice. In fact the picture above pretty much sums them up perfectly.

The two tracks that I have chosen below are the stand outs on the CD and possess an epic and captivating story-telling quality that you could compare to that of The Pogues (minus the awesome Irish accent). Listen to them a few times and you'll be hooked.

Titus Andronicus - Theme From Cheers


Titus Andronicus - To Old Friends And New


www.myspace.com/titusandronicus

R. Hunter

Shit hot track

Nothing else to say but this track is shit hot. Man, I looooove me some steel drums.

I intend to find out more about this guy and report back accordingly.

In the meantime, check 'Bombay' by El Guincho

C x

New: Maps and Atlases

Just stumbled across these guys today as I was scanning the gig guide for this week, and I instantly warmed to their sound. They hail from Chicago, have been around since 2005, and seem to work well in that musical space between folk and rock. They present an impressive instrumental smorgasbord, neatly mix upbeat and easy listening tracks, and the lead singer sounds a lot like the frontman for TV on the Radio. Their new CD titled 'Perch Patchwork' is a great offering, and has made me change my plans for Thursday night as I have just purchased tickets to their concert. Check out a couple of standout tracks from their latest album... enjoy.

Maps and Atlases - The Charm


Maps and Atlases - Solid Ground


www.myspace.com/mapsandatlases

R. Hunter

Save the date

Kings of Leon have just announced their new album, Come Around Sundown, will be released on October 24th. That leaves us 76 days to get excited...

C x

Get Funked...

Some more funk/soul/jazz selections for your Friday. This installment takes it down a notch a smooths you out with some classics. A nice way to start the weekend... enjoy.

Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me


Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street


The Stylistics - You Are Everything


R. Hunter

I hope I'm the first to tell you about...

Jukebox Collective

To be honest it was my friend Mikey who alerted me to these guys as he had tracked them down from a song that was used in a French Axe (Lynx) commercial (nice reconnaissance work there Mikey). I checked these guys out and it seems like they are causing a bit of a stir on various music blogs with only a few songs released so far. I don't know too much about them, just that they are from the UK and sound a lot like The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem, which is never a bad thing. Check out their latest release below:

Jukebox Collective - Icon Parade

R. Hunter