"That's when my Spunk got Hot"

Phew..............


Camper than a row of tents- say what!

Introducing Mellow Dois

Now this is a little more to my taste. I honestly try to find out a little sumthin' sumthin' about what I post up here. "Find out" equates to a Google search, and isn't it just so annoying when the only info I find is links to Download the CD !

Of course looking at the track list reveals that what we have here is a compilation which includes a lot of what I already have (Freddie J- I got you covered ). The good thing is though this compilation brings these tracks together in a nice easy chunk. Indeed the compilation works well as an introduction to ...stuff I like. It's hard to define the genre, "lo-fi, Jazz, electronic, turntablism" maybe?

It turns out it's from Japan (nice tie in with my last post) and a great example of how those Labels can cherry pick the best of a genre and produce something rather fine. Outside of single track downloads and Bandcamp this might be the only real CD release for some of these tracks. So sod it I'm going to buy this this one. Then in 10 years sell it on E Bay and make a few quid.

Shuya Okino - DESTINY

I've noticed the last few posts on here have been a bit lite on words. In my rush to get up the tracks,links, and pictures I seem to be loosing my way with the text. Sorry about that.


Shuya Okino's new CD is currently talk of the town. I recently read on face book someone calling it "CD of the Year".  My first impression of it is that it's rather expensive. One can't help but wonder if this isn't half the reason for it's popularity among the Modern Soul Set. I've seen posts on EMS where people almost boast about it costing £25.00 and above. £25.00 is more than I spend a week on food- and I'm not exactly thin (hell it's more than 10 percent of my net weekly wage). Of course the argument is as ever, "we must support the Artist", and I can't really disagree with that. It's just the distributor and the import duty I worry about having to support. 


So what are we left with here. Well, typical Jap fodder in truth. Great playing some good guest vocals but....rather dull rather fast music. IMHO It's House for old folks. The only track I've played twice is the one that isn't fast. It's good but not £30.00 worth.

Get it here

Le’Andria Johnson

Yet another TV and talent show tie in Le' Andria Johnson has a CD this month. She has something special about her. 




This is the best track on the CD (IMHO).

Lanu- straight from the left field

Lanu Her 12 Faces provides me with my first "left field" track on the blog. The CD itself does not fit into the rest of the music I post about and like.


The title track on the other hand- is rather nice to these old ears. It's got that plodding upright bass but it's those chunky chords that win me over. At two minutes long it's just about right- always hinting at something simply waiting to take off, it never does.


I like that.

James Ziegler - Better

Just because you're worth it- a nice track from his new Gospel CD.

See here

Jack Freeman

Much as I love Bandcamp there are some strange things going on there. Take Jack Freeman's CD Dark Liquor. It's still Free (and well worth it) but the tracks individually cost 99 Cents each ?  (EDIT: I've managed to E Mail him about this- so soon one hopes people might have to pay for the CD- probably a name your own price amount)


First released in 2010 it's worth a listen.


I'm also a fan of the track released this year called Lynnie's World. In fact I think it's rather wonderful- messy but underneath it a real old school bit of Soul. 

Committed

Having won the NBC "Sing Off " show with some fine performances, the Alabama gospel group now  have a CD out (or leaked all over the internet). 


This sort of Music perhaps isn't best suited to CD- maybe it works better live. The choice of material doesn't help here. 


They can sing though.


Here is perhaps the best of the cover versions.

Gretchen Parlato

Gretchen Parlato is one of those Jazz Singers who is widely admired. Her first CD released a couple of years ago met with acclaim as do her many live sets. 

This is a track from her CD of this year. It's very smooth and washes over the listener. 

14th Hide Yourself

New track from London duo 14th. 
It's a strange mixture of all genres and still one feels a "work in progress".


I like it though. Free download as well.
For more info see HERE




14th - Hide Yourself by 14th

Yiddish Northern Soul

So what's the deal with Northern Soul ? It's a musical form for beer bellied old farts who come from the UK. They collect records and pretend that the 1980t's never happened unless it was Chi Town House. I've nothing against beer bellies or the UK and I do have an empathy with people who bury themselves in time capsules. Can't be doing with the music though. Of course in the modern world I listen to retro sounding tracks with a degree of horror when they "Sound like Northern". Few if anyone does it good enough, Shawn Lee yeah maybe?, Cee-Lo Green- yes certainly. Mayer Hawthorne though ?  Fact is most Northern Soul people and old Soulies will probably despise him. Which in my eyes makes him worth it.......

Anthony Hamilton leaks like a Colander

If you are putting together a mix for EMS or perhaps a Radio Show and need a reaction- one good rule of thumb is to stick in a track by some "attractive" Soul Singer because it pleases the Ladies.


In other words Anthony is like calcium -an important supplement for Women of a certain age.


For the rest of us the guy is a  wonder talent and a true original . 

Kimbra Settle Down M Phases remix

MOOVMNT BLOG posted up this remix earlier today and as ever -it's rather good. This is a poor quality encode and I urge you to go and buy the real thing on itunes. I also urge you to visit MOOVMNT and give them some support and praise.

Ayanna

New today via Bandcamp and produced by 4 Hero stalwart (bloke with two names). It's one of those down tempo organic thingymebobs. Classy track posted below:

Chris Walker - 'Zone'

I was listening to this new CD a couple of days ago. It's got some modern soul "props", in that he is old had a hit a long time ago and this sounds really very dated. I call this style Kedar as when it's good it's really good. Few though can quite turn it out the the Kedar rosta.

I am reminded of it because I'm reading a REVIEW of it.

GET IT HERE