The Manhattans - Follow Your Heart

Porsche released their first 911 as a 1965 model. This car instantly became a classic, and is still being built today in over 46 years of nonstop production. I've always had an affinity for these early 911's, for their purist design and complex German engineering.

Some things just become classics like that. They last as a zeitgeist for their era as well as leave a legacy that never goes out of style, and never ages. I feel like this song from the Manhattans, which came out the same year, produced just that effect. In their long history together, this is one of the few songs they recorded with the band's original lineup.

Ciara - Gimmie Dat

So, have you seen this video?
Dude, her fanny pack is amazing!
The moves in that first sequence are pretty hot too...and the moves through out the whole video are neat.
Ciara even memorializes Aaliyah in the last sequence, i've been on an Aaliyah kick lately and i'm not quite sure what i think of that.

Can - Vitamin C

This was the first track I ever heard by the German band Can, and it only took one listen to get me hooked. When I found out that this song from the record Ege Bamyasi actually came out in 1972, I was quite surprised. If I would have been made to guess, I would have shot for the 90's. Alas, being dubbed an "experimental" band, the mentioned record can be challenging to listen to at times if one's not accustomed to experimental or krautrock. However, their occasional clean, vacant sound, which can be heard on this track really showcases their influence on the post-punk and no-wave, and even disco-punk movements.

With a discography that spans 1968 to approximately the 90's, there's quite a bit of Can records left for me to sift through. This is definitely just the beginning.

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean (Muppet Version)

I'm not really sure how Cookie Monster fits in with the rest of the cast, but i totally wanna party and pass out while watching the Sun rise with him.

Gonjasufi - Sheep

Gonjasufi - Sheep by Boltsie

A little bit of research on Gonjasufi uncovered quite an array of labels he could be identified by - Musician above all, followed by rapper, singer, DJ, and even yoga teacher of half Mexican, half Ethiopian descent. Therefore, it's no wonder that his early 2010 LP debut, A Sufi and a Killer is as sonically diverse as it is, as he is apparently a man of many specifications.

I've wanted to feature him for a while, but it was tough shit deciding which track to post, as all of the music I've heard by him thus far has been equally mind-expanding. Take a look for yourself!

Gramatik - Lonely And Cold

Gramatik - Lonely & Cold (Original Mix)

Asculta mai multe audio diverse



"This world out here is so lonely and cold. Oh I guess I'll go back home."
Quite a theme for today considering it's suddenly winter again in Berlin and I'm set to go back home in early March.

I really can't get enough of this Gramatik guy, and with three installments of his 2009-present "Street Bangerz" series available, there's plenty of this Slovenian to go around.

Reggie Watts - Fuck Shit Stack

LOOSEWORLD x Waverly Films: Reggie Watts in F_CK SH_T STACK from LOOSEWORLD on Vimeo.

I just found out about Reggie Watts today when I stumbled upon his above video, and was quite intrigued. So I checked out some more videos by him and realized he's got a lot more appeal than just his humor. This comedian / musician is a talented beatboxer whose music is created largely on-the-spot with a loop machine. Reggie is also known for being the frontman of the Seattle group, Maktub. He, however released his first solo album, "Simplified" in 2004. More recently, he put out a vinyl 7" ep titled "Pot Cookies," consisting of two improvised tracks recorded live. Most recent is his latest released "Why S#!+ So Crazy?" a CD/DVD combo featuring live and studio tracks, his hour Comedy Central special, and lots of other video bonus features.

Here is another video for the song "I Just Want To," that showcases his performance method quite well.

Aaliyah - It's Whatever

As a lad who grew up in Chicago and spent many weekend afternoons (after Saturday morning cartoons) watching the Box, my love for Aaliyah grew and fell in love with her and her goofy eye-patch! 

Subway + Shades + Leather = Badass 90's Superhero

Back in 2001 when her plane crashed I was far from the R&B/Hip Hop music circle, so her death wasn't as impactful as it should have been.  Ten years later i find myself listening to her music, on heavy rotation, every few months.  This week Aaliyah's self-titled (and last release) has been playing on my ipod daily. 

HERE is a youtube vid of the Jam i've been listening to constantly this week; listen to the audio, an official music video was never made. Stupid plane crash!

Detroit Sex Machines - Rap It Together

I stumbled upon this groove a few years ago on my weekly raid of Columbia College's music library when I picked up the "Searching for Soul: Rare & Classic Soul Funk" compilation, a great collection of Motown-influenced funk, jazz and soul hits.

Apparently, their first 45 was "unearthed" by the Soul/Funk record exec Phillipe Lehman in a Michigan dealer's collection in late 2000. And thus, the Detroit Sex Machines live on!

Have a funky Saturday everyone.

Pinback - Tripoli (Starfish Pool Remix)

Listen Here

I'm about to go to sleep, and this song is setting the mood just right...

I somehow inadvertently inherited Pinback's discography a few years ago, and for this stroke of luck, I will be forever grateful. Every time they come up on shuffle in my iTunes library, they get my full attention.

This is something a little more obscure from their catalogue - a rare version of the very first song from their very first record which also became their very first single. This remix by Starfish Pool is a b-side included on the 2000, "Tripoli" CD single. It's a deserted soundscape devoid of Pinback's melodic guitar plucking, replaced by a vast icy dream-loop of percussive echos.

If you're also a fan of Pinback, rejoice, as they have already announced as far back as 2009 that their next release is slated for this year.

Dudley Perkins - Falling (Instrumental)

Listen Here

Free Music Downloads

I came across this Dudley Perkins (A.K.A. Declaime) track from his 2003 Madlib produced record "A Lil' Light (Instrumentals). It was the middle of fall last year when I first heard it, and it became an anthem for the season - not only for its name, but its ghostly lo-fi twinkling keys and moody string arrangements indicative of the feeling of change of season.

As it turns out, the original song it samples was featured on the recently featured 1972 French library-music record "Stringtronics - Mindbender." Here I've posted the original track "Dawn Mists" by Barry Forgie to compare and enjoy.

Roger Roger - Safari Park

What a strange star-crossed find... When I was compiling my "best of 2010" list last December, this song was on the list - alas, it didn't make the cut because all I could identify it by was by its only known name "Track 04" from master collaborator J. Rocc's "Supreme Take 2" mix he put out last year for the Supreme store opening in L.A. Since his mixes are mostly "anonymous" with no credits or proper track names, I decided it wouldn't be a very viable addition to a 2010 playlist.

Turns out this gem didn't belong on a 2010 playlist after all, as it was part of a 1972 French library record titled "Stringtronics - Mindbenders," which I stumbled upon through the Mutant Sounds blog. As it turns out, Madlib has already sampled this in a Quasimoto song I have yet to hear.

Stay tuned for more features from this release and other reused library music.

Flying Lotus & Declaime - Whole Wide World (Feat. Pattie Blingh)

Declaime (a.k.a. Dudley Perkins) seems to team up with some pretty amazing producers. This 2009 take isn't a bad example, and Pattie Bling's soulful vocals only add to the appeal for me. The "Whole Wide World" EP came with some pretty awesome instrumentals from Flying Lotus, so if you're even halfway as in to instrumental hip-hop as I am, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Rye Rye Mixtape

Rye Rye is the first artist to sign up with MIA's N.E.E.T. record label.  Her actual album doesn't come out for another week or two, so hears a first listen:
http://www.mediafire.com/?y9b1l7ha65x17vl

Mixtapes in general are a funny thing; they're never really that great and this is no exception.  I think she mixes a Ke$ha song in there at some point, that was knives stabbing my ears for 3 minutes. stabby stabby.

Here's a better representation of a fun Rye Rye track:

20 Fingers - Short Dick Man (Feat. Gilette)

Here's my Valentine's contribution. Completely 90's, totally jackin' house, quite Chicago, and rather cheesy.

I had a bromantic singles loser-dinner with my room mate Thomas. And we ate like kings. I prepared a modified version of this baked Diarrhoni and Cheese that Kaelie turned me on to. Ours featured a parmesean / flaxseed crust, fresh broccoli, and ficken (vegan chicken), which comes in this amusing chicken-form-moulded package.

Valentine's Day

Since its a holiday i thought i'd post something in theme.
Outkast's Happy Valentine's Day is the perfect choice.

Outkast's  SpeakerBoxxx/The Love Below is a classic that constantly gets played semi-regularly.  Best part of this song? It's followed by Spread, guess what that song is about? heh heh heh.

Blackalicious - Brain Washers (Feat. Ben Harper)

Free download here.

I was just about to ask myself why it's been so long since Blackalicious dropped any new material. Just then, I stumbled upon some online jabber proclaiming that the rapper of the duo, Gift of Gab, announced mid last year that a new record is in the works, due for an early 2011 release.

In the meantime, enjoy this 2002 release from Blazing Arrow.

ELO - Evil Woman (InnerWestSoul Piano Power Edit)

Part One (Evil Woman) by InnerWestSoul

If anybody can source a download link for this 2010 tune, I'd be forever grateful! It seems to be pretty underground for the moment, with only a vinyl promo version floating around out there and no official online representation for this Sydney-based crate-digger besides his Soundcloud page.

I'd also like to know where all of this epic piano was summoned from! I sure don't remember it from Electric Light Orchestra's 1975 original version. So perhaps its sampled from a rare alternative version, or possibly added by InnerWestSoul himself. Again, if you know some more info about this track, I'm the first who wants to know!

Nostalgia 77 - Quiet Dawn (Bonobo Remix)

Free download here.

My room mate Thomas kept pumping silky jazz from behind his closed bedroom door last week. On Sunday, I finally interrupted him to ask if he would share the album with me, and ended up with a copy of Nostalgia 77's 2008 "One Off's, Remixes & B-Sides".

This track brings together some great talent, with music from the prolific Benedic Lamdin (a.k.a. Nostalgia 77), drifting vocals by Beth Rowley, and narcotic chillout treatment by Ninja Tune's own Bonobo. I'm really digging the metaphorical lyrics that envision a very psychedelic sense of reality. The original is equally as lovely.